Does Alberta have a wildland firefighter ‘retention problem?’
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees claims Alberta’s wildfire force is understaffed and undertrained due to recruitment and retention issues. High turnover drives firefighters to leave for better-paying, more stable jobs in B.C. or with Parks Canada....
Fort McMurray fire moved more quickly than expected, official says
Gavin Hojka, an Alberta wildfire incident commander, said firefighters were surprised by the speed of this year’s fire near Fort McMurray, which burned through the path of the 2016 blaze. Despite reduced fuel, the extended drought intensified the fire, known as...
Flame retardants in car seat foam may expose Americans to carcinogens, study suggests
A new study suggests that flame retardants in car seat foam may increase exposure to potentially cancer-causing chemicals, especially during the summer. Researchers are urging government officials to amend regulations to prohibit the use of flame retardants in cars,...
Can Canada fight wildfires at night? What to know
As Canada’s wildfire season begins, firefighters hope for favourable weather to aid their efforts. However, some Canadian provinces are exploring a different strategy: nighttime firefighting. globalnews.ca
Washington state mother and daughter duo show the importance of mentorship in the fire service
Debbie Powers, a seasoned firefighter with decades of experience, vividly recalls when her daughter, Jenna Norwood, expressed her desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps in her early twenties. iaff.org
NASA and FAA Partner to Develop New Wildfire Technologies
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across the United States present a critical challenge for emergency responders. NASA and the FAA are actively addressing this threat. aviationsourcenews.com
British Columbia wildfires generate record emissions for May
Wildfire emissions in British Columbia, Canada, have reached their highest levels for any May on record. EARTH.ORG
Firefighters in three cities begin to transition to PFAS-free gear
San Francisco is phasing out firefighter gear containing PFAS. The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance requiring all personal protective equipment to be PFAS-free by June 30, 2026. IAFF.ORG NEWS
How the deadly heat dome changed firefighters’ jobs in one B.C. city
Firefighters in New Westminster, B.C., with the highest death rate during the 2021 heat dome, can now provide more medical interventions during emergencies. The City announced that fire department members are now "emergency medical responders," enabling them to assess...
Yellowknife to Fort McMurray: lessons from the frontlines of Canada’s worst wildfires.
Lessons from the frontlines of Canada's worst wildfires show that while stopping a fire can be challenging, learning how to get out of its way can save millions of dollars. The Narwhal Canada wildfire evacuations
Volunteer firefighters see doubling in tax credit.
The federal government announced on Wednesday that tax credits for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue crews will double in 2024. Firefighters with 200 or more volunteer hours will now qualify for a $6,000 credit, up from the previous $3,000 My Bulkley Lakes...
Oro-Medonte fire chief smokes out several ways to boost revenue.
Oro-Medonte Township’s new fire chief, Ralph Dominelli, swiftly acted on KPMG’s recommendation to find new revenue streams. Within three months of his appointment, Dominelli presented over a dozen new fees to the township council for consideration on Wednesday. The...
Ahead of likely ‘ferocious’ wildfire season, fire chiefs lament drop in volunteers.
As Canada braces for another potentially devastating wildfire season, fire chiefs express concern over the decreasing number of volunteers available to combat the increasing threat. Calgary News
Wildland firefighters’ respiratory health to be studied by UBC
After more than a decade of battling smoky wildfires in British Columbia, firefighters report significant physical tolls. In recent years, devastating fires across the province have exposed thousands of firefighters to smoke with minimal protection. New research now...
Vancouver firefighters get $2.8M from city to procure gear free of cancer-causing chemicals.
Vancouver's fire department is set to be the first in North America to provide gear free of cancer-causing chemicals, thanks to over $2.8 million in municipal funding. City council unanimously approved Vancouver Fire Rescue Services' request to purchase bunker gear...
Civil service preps to boost wildland firefighter numbers
Around 40 Island civil service workers are preparing for wildland firefighter training, which could nearly double the number of provincially paid firefighters if all succeed. The province is collaborating with Natural Resources Canada to boost wildland firefighting...
B.C. to open first-of-its-kind wildfire training, education centre in Kamloops.
Kamloops will host North America's first school for wildfire training and education, a collaboration between TRU and the BC Wildfire Service. The school will offer subjects from basic wildfire training to post-doctoral research, with credits applicable to...
‘It’s never been this low’: Connecticut fire chief sounds alarm on paramedic shortage.
A national paramedic shortage is severely impacting the New Haven Fire Department. According to Fire Chief John Alston, with 53 vacancies among over 300 budgeted firefighter positions, the department is operating with only about one-third of its usual paramedic staff....
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