How to Become a Fire Prevention Officer
How to Become a Fire Prevention Officer: Fire prevention officers and fire inspectors play a key role in ensuring fire and life safety. This position includes tasks such as inspecting buildings to ensure compliance with fire prevention regulations, investigating...
Q&A: NFPA 1030 Updates
The recent updates to the Emergency Response and Responder Safety Consolidation Plan (ERRS) to introduce the new NFPA 1030 standard is the cause for many questions. Staying informed about the latest updates and standards is essential for maintaining the high-quality...
The Evolution of the Fire Service
When facing the force of fire, firefighters have long been our communities' front line of defence. Over the years, the fire service has undergone a remarkable transformation, adapting to changing environments, embracing technological innovations, and expanding its...
Hot Summer Nights: Bringing Fire Departments Closer to the Community
Hot Summer Nights: Bringing Fire Departments Closer to the Community Engaging with the community is an important aspect of a fire department's work, and one initiative that has proven to be successful in building these connections is the Hot Summer Nights program....
Smoke Alarms – Early Detection Saves Lives
Smoke alarms are a crucial piece of fire safety equipment, but they only work if they are maintained. A working smoke alarm can save lives by alerting people to fires as early as possible. However, not all homes have working smoke alarms. In fact, the National Fire...
How the Volunteer Firefighter Shortage is Affecting Canadian Communities
Lieutenant Seann Wells recently returned from a two-day boot camp hosted by FireWise Consulting in the Village of Zeballos. A town where the Fire Department had temporarily closed its doors due to unsafely low member numbers. We sat down to discuss why this may have...
We regret to share the passing of Bruce Morley Cousins.
We regret to share the passing of Bruce Morley Cousins. Bruce was a founding partner in FireWise and spent many years as the Regional Fire Commissioner for Northern British Columbia. His commitment to the fire service, his wonderful sense of humour, and his friendship...
Navigating the Rise of Empathy Fatigue
First responders’ continuous exposure to traumatic events can lead to various occupational stress injuries. The Centre for Suicide Prevention carried out a study that concluded that "first responders experience PTSD at twice the rate of the average population."...
Changes to the building code – that can save lives
Material burning characteristics have changed, so it is time to change the building code. Author: Bob Turley Recently, three children perished in a house fire on Sandy Lake First Nation in northern Ontario. A CBC news report said the victims were aged nine, six, and...
The deadliest fire in the Bronx
The deadliest fire in the Bronx in three decades took the lives of 17 people including 8 children in an apartment building on January 9, 2022.
Recent floods in British Columbia
Recent floods in British Columbia show firefighters how have become an all-hazardous emergency provider.
The ongoing fire threat to First Nations communities.
Did you know that the incidents of fire are 10 times higher within Indigenous communities versus other Canadian communities? This statistic comes from the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council Project and highlights the ongoing fire threat to Indigenous homes and...
Building an Emergency Kit for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
This blog is intended to provide specific tips that will give people who have physical limitations the peace of mind that they have done as much as is reasonable and practical to prepare for an emergency event at their residence. Emergency Kit Checklist for people...
Fire Apparatus Drive-Bys
During these unusual and unique times many fire departments are being approached to provide drive-bys for birthdays, graduations, front-line workers, and other community events. Here are some of the numerous good reasons to fully consider such requests: One that comes...
Time to Change Your Fire Inspection Delivery System
Is your fire department charged with performing fire inspections but having difficulty meeting your targets? Do you send inspectors or firefighters into buildings that are fully compliant or have only minor deficiencies? If you answered yes to either of these...
Why Legal Actions can be Brought Against a Fire Department?
Fire departments, through their insurance provider, frequently have legal actions brought against them at fatal, injury events or significant dollar loss incidents. These incidents are not restricted exclusively to fires. FireWise has been called to provide support as...
Capacity Building in the 21st Century
“Do More with Less” is a sentiment we are hearing a lot more of lately. While the words vary from community to community, the context is generally the same; taxpayers are unhappy with taxation levels, communities expect great services and there are many competing...
Standpipe and Hose Systems
Often during fire inspections, the building owner or manager will ask if the standpipe and hose system in their building is required. They will comment that they understand that the firefighters will not use the hose in the cabinet so why do they have to pay to have...
