May in fire history – Slave Lake wildfire
The Slave Lake wildfire, which destroyed roughly one-third of the Town of Slave Lake, Alberta, burned through the town from May 14 to May 16, 2011. The town hall, library and radio station were completely gutted and 732 residents were left homeless. Insurable damage...
Tokyo F.D.’s new test room imitates extreme heat, cold
The Tokyo Fire Department recently unveiled its new testing room where extreme climate conditions can be artificially created. The testing room will be used to conduct research on countering heatstroke in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and to develop...
Winnipeg bylaw will expand fire safety inspections, introduce fees
A proposed fire prevention bylaw in Winnipeg would include mandatory fire safety inspection standards for food-trucks and illegal rooming houses, prohibit the use of sky lanterns and allow fees to be charged for new fire safety inspections. It would also allow fire...
Saint John lacks centralized emergency plan
Saint John's industrial area is home to Canada's largest oil refinery, a LNG terminal, natural gas pipelines and rail lines that carry a variety of industrial cargo. Fire Chief Kevin Clifford wants to use a new approach to emergency response plans that would have the...
Firefighters suffer ongoing health problems after Fort McMurray fire
A University of Alberta study that surveyed 355 firefighters involved in battling the Fort McMurray fire found one in five suffering respiratory problems and one in six experiencing mental health issues. Researchers hope to find out which factors caused long term...
Software blamed for Oakland F.D. inspection lapses
Staff at Oakland's Fire Prevention Bureau, whose job it is to annually inspect all commercial buildings and some residential properties in the city, are using an older database that is not user-friendly. Problems with the system may have contributed to lapses in...
Ontario bill in memory of two firefighters closer to becoming law
A bill, the Rea and Walter Act, which would make it mandatory for all lightweight constructed buildings to be identified as such has passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature. The bill is named after two firefighters who lost their lives while fighting a fire...
Scientists accelerate work on plan to map wildfire probability
Since early 2016 a group of scientists from the Canadian Forest Service and colleagues from the Canadian provinces, the United States and Mexico have been working on a two-year plan to map the probability of wildires in most of the permanent settlements in Canada's...
Exposure to high heat may increase firefighter heart attack risk
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh found firefighters exposed to extremely high heat experienced elevated core body temperatures for up to four hours after exposure and their blood became "stickier" and more likely to form clots. Click...
April in fire history – Oklahoma City bombing
On April 19, 1995 domestic terrorists carried out a truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The explosion killed 168, including 19 babies and children, injured more than 680 and destroyed or damaged 324 other buildings within...
Most Canadian homeowners not protected from carbon monoxide
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs says most Canadian homeowners don't have to have CO detectors in their homes. Only homes built in 2010 or later require the lifesaving devices. Click here to read more.
Newspaper’s project highlights connections between poverty and fire
The Hamilton Spectator's Code Red Project has highlighted the connections between socioeconomic factors and fires. Fires in Hamilton happen more frequently and are more likely to be deadly in the poorest parts of the city. Click here to read more.
Radical change to Canadian approach to interface fires needed
The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction has released its final report on the Fort McMurray wildfire. The report, written by Alan Westhaver, concludes the Canadian approach to wildland/urban interface fires "requires a radical sweeping strategic shift that brings...
Ford recalls vehicles for fire risk, door latch problems
Ford is recalling more than 570,000 vehicles with 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbocharged engines because problems with coolant circulation could lead to engine fires. So far 29 fires have been reported in the U.S. and Canada. A separate problem can cause door locks to...
State of the art Six Nations facility training Ontario firefighters
Six Nations Fire Department is training firefighters from all over Ontario in a new 50,000 square foot facility that includes an open concept classroom and interior training house. The department is seeking private career college designation.
BC firefighters trying to help wounded Kandahar fire chief
The Langford BC Fire Department is looking for connections to help Chief Ghulam Hazrat, who was seriously wounded in a 2011 suicide bombing in Kandahar and requires further treatment to save his life. Hazrat took part in training in Langford in 2008. Click here to...
Fire separation of waste materials
The Waste Industry Safety & Health (WISH) Forum has pubished updated guidance on waste stack separation distances. The revised guidance takes into account the findings of "waste burn trials" carried out in 2015 and 2016. Click here to read more.
BC changes building code to require balcony fire sprinklers
The Fire Chiefs' Association of BC is applauding the provincial government's decision to require fire sprinklers to be installed on balconies of all new four-storey woodframe residential buildings. The new regulation takes effect July 20, 2017. Click here to read...
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Movers & Shakers
Clarington Fire Chief Dave Speed recognized for Ontario Leadership Award- Mt. Pleasant introduces new Fire Chief Mark Kraisinger
- Orillia Fire Chief Capt. Glenn Higgins retires after nearly 30 years
- Canyon Fire Deputy Chief Wiley Harp retires after 42 years of service
- Captain Mark McCarthy retires from Butte Silver Bow Fire Department after 30 years