No scientific basis for arson ruling in fatal 1985 blaze
Philadelphia fire investigators had no scientific basis to conclude that a 1985 rowhouse fire in Oxford Circle was arson, a defense expert testified about the blaze that killed two boys and sent their father to death row for their murder. Click here to read more.
Montreal cancels 2017 World Police and Fire Games
Montreal has cancelled its plans to host the 2017 World Police and Fire Games, one of the largest international multidisciplinary sporting events on the planet, following a growing union movement to boycott the games.
Passenger`s phone catches fire mid-flight
An Alaska Airlines passenger`s phone burst into flames on a flight en route to Hawaii, and the airline and the FAA say they are investigating. Click here to read more.
Residents want NRC facility shut down after water contamination
Residents of a Mississippi Mills, Ontario neighbourhood who recently found out their drinking water has been contaminated with chemicals found in firefighting foam want the neighbourhood National Research Council facility shut down until the problem is resolved. Click...
First Nation communities hope to improve fire prevention
Fire prevention strategies for First Nations communities can still be improved on, according to the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC). Richard Kent, AFAC secretary and treasurer, spent a week in Ottawa as part of a delegation discussing ways to...
Fire extinguishing chemicals accidentally released, killing 8
Eight people died at the headquarters of one of Thailand`s largest banks when workers accidentaly triggered the release of fire extinguishing chemicals during an upgrade of the building`s safety system. Click here to read more.
BC increases wildfire fines, targets drones near blazes
The B.C. government stepped up its efforts to prevent human-caused wildfires by announcing tough new penalties for people who ignore the rules or interfere with firefighting efforts. Click here to read more.
Lack of training, staffing contributed to firefighter deaths
A lack of training to fight a wind-driven fire, the lack of a sprinkler system, inadequate staffing, and an inadequate assessment of risk were factors in the deaths of two Boston firefighters in a 2014 blaze that tore through a Back Bay brownstone, according to a...
March in fire history – the Lasalle Heights disaster
In the early morning of March 1, 1965 in the city of Lasalle, Quebec a gas line exploded, destroying a number of low-cost housing units. Twenty-eight people lost their lives, 39 were injured and 200 were left homeless. Click here to read more.
Fire explosions linked to e-cigarettes spark safety concerns
A Kentucky man is recovering from second-degree burns after he says an electronic cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. Click here to read more.
UN panel approves ban on lithium battery shipments on planes
A UN panel has approved a temporary ban on cargo shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries on passenger planes because they can create intense fires capable of destroying an aircraft. Click here to read more.
B.C. announces new jet to fight wildfires
The province has announced a "made in B.C." tool to fight forest fires this summer. B.C.'s aerospace sector has been engineering the latest in aerial firefighting technology. Click here to read more.
B.C.’s Fire Safety Act to be revamped
A law that mandates fire safety in B.C. is getting a much needed update. The new Fire Safety Act will modernize the regulatory framework for fire safety in the province. Click here to read more.
Australian firefighters to boycott Montreal Police and Fire Games
Thousands of Australian fireighters will boycott the annual World Police and Fire Games in Montreal next year due to an ongoing dispute between the city and its firefighters over pension reform. Click here to read more.
Time to redesign the big old red fire truck?
City streets are getting slimmer. Shouldn't emergency vehicles do the same? Anyone who lives in a city has watched large, boxy fire trucks and fire engines struggle to squeeze through traffic. It's no wonder firefighters call for wider roads. It's a safer design, they...
Fatal apartment fire sparks debate over inspection laws, sprinklers
A fatal fire at a Toronto apartment building for low-income seniors has provoked renewed scrutiny of provincial laws regarding inspections and automatic sprinklers - the latter a safety measure that the city's deputy fire chief says, "certainly would have made a...
February in fire history – Parliament Hill fire
It's difficult to imagine the scale of the trauma, the wartime anxiety, the shock, the anger that would have engulfed the nation 100 years ago when the seat of the federal government went down in flames. Click here to read more.
Applications for funding for 2nd Wildfire Preparedness Day being accepted
Building upon the success of the inaugural event in 2015, the second National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day in Canada will be held on May 7, 2016. Starting January 25, 2016 communities across Canada are encouraged to apply for funding to support local events to...
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