Halifax fire department admits to gender discrimination
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service has admitted that its female firefighters have faced systemic gender discrimination for years. The City of Halifax publicly apologised to one former female firefighter in December. Click here to read more.
Regina Fire works with community to prevent child fire-setting
When cases of children 12 and under setting fires escalated in Regina the fire department, working with community partners, introduced a new intervention approach that has reduced the number of fires set by children to record lows. Click here to read more.
Fire chiefs take steps to prevent cancer among firefighters
Following a series of newspaper articles that detailed the high cancer risk among firefighters Ohio fire chiefs are purchasing gear and equipment and implementing new procedures to protect their crews from harmful exposures to carcinogens. Click here to read more.
December in fire history – the Halifax Explosion
Fire Department Christmas lights
Scientists build fire extinguishers into batteries
By tweaking the chemical mix of the electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries scientists at the University of Tokyo have developed a battery showing negligible volatility up to 150 degrees Celsius. Click here to read more.
Serious consequences for man who deliberately set grass fires
A Saskatchewan man who started several fires near the community of Hall Lake in 2015 has been fined and ordered to pay restitution as well as to perform 100 hours of community service and refrain from consuming alcohol for six months. Click here to read more.
Architecture student develops easy-to-build shelter for evacuees
Victoria McCartney, a master's student at Ottawa's Carleton University, has developed a modular, flat pack shelter that is easily erected and reusable. Click here to read more.
2018 NFPA Fire Code released
The NFPA Fire code NFPA 1-2018 has been released. It includes new chapters on "Marijuana Growing, Processing, or Extraction Facilities" and "Cleaning and Purging of Flammable Gas Piping Systems". Click here to read more.
First responders need to de-stigmatize mental suffering
Andy McDonald, a veteran firefighter and first responder community consultant, told attendees at Benefits Canada's 2017 Mental Health Summit that the first responder culture of silence is making it harder for that community to get help when they need it. Click here to...
Open flames highly dangerous for homeless people
When homeless people sleeping rough try to stay warm using propane, candles or other sources of ignition in makeshift shelters the results can be highly dangerous. Click here to read more.
Swift Current firefighters, RCMP rescue dog from icy stream
After Fernie tragedy rink operators scrutinizing procedures
In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of three men at the Fernie Memorial Arena rink operators across Canada are scrutinizing their safety and operating procedures. here to read more.
Is this the fire truck of the future?
November in fire history – the Cocoanut Grove fire
On November 28, 1942 a catastrophic fire at Boston's Cocoanut Grove nightclub led to reform of safety standards and codes in the U.S. and major changes in treatment of burn victims internationally. Four hundred and ninety-two people were killed and hundreds more...
Kidde recalls millions of fire extinguishers
Kidde Corporation is recalling 134 different brands of fire extinguishers because they can fail in an emergency. Click here for the list of affected Canadian models. Click here to read more.
UBC develops new wildfire early warning system
University of British Columbia researchers have developed an early warning system that tracks greening vegetation to predict the risk of human-caused wildfires with ten day accuracy. Click here to read more.
San Francisco to ban sale of furniture containing flame retardants
Following the lead of Maine, San Francisco will ban the sale of upholstered furniture containing flame retardants. Flame retardants are linked to cancer and birth defects. Click here to read more.
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Vancouver firefighters get $2.8M from city to procure gear free of cancer-causing chemicals.
