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 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
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.
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.
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 aims to understand the impact of these conditions on firefighters’ respiratory health.
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 free of Per-and-Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), known as ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer.
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 capacity.
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 undergraduate degrees. Program design begins this year, with training at existing facilities starting in 2025. A state-of-the-art building is planned, though costs are yet to be determined. Ralston expects the facility to attract students from B.C., Canada, and beyond.
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.
In 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department handled 25,176 calls for service, a 57% increase from 2019’s 16,029 calls. This incident rise was highlighted in the 2023 SFD Year in Review presented at this week’s environment, utilities, and corporate services committee meeting.