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....
Saskatoon Fire Department year-in-review highlights increase in calls
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...
Solar Chimney Dual Purpose Aids in Home Heating and Fire Safety
Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a solar chimney that's both energy-efficient and fire-safe, a first-of-its-kind innovation for sustainable building features. Click here for an additional 7 interesting facts about solar panels. Click here to read...
Broken power pole and downed wires caused the largest fire in Texas history, investigator says.
A Texas A&M Forest Service investigator's report released on Friday revealed that a power line sparked the largest wildfire in Texas history. The investigation pinpointed the decayed base of a power line pole as the cause of the Smokehouse Creek fire. AOL News...
San Francisco introduces new fire code for lithium-ion battery safety.
San Francisco's Fire Department announced implementing a new fire code policy, focusing on charging and storing lithium-ion batteries for Powered Mobility Devices (PMDs). This policy responds to a notable rise in fires attributed to lithium-ion batteries. Henceforth,...
Thompson at crisis point on firefighter vacancies union.
The Thompson Professional Firefighters Association raises concerns about escalating call volumes and stagnant staffing levels, warning of potential impacts on public safety. The fire department in the northern Manitoba city is currently short eight full-time members,...
Forever chemicals in protective gear could be killing Colorado firefighters.
A recent report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reveals concerning levels of cancer-causing PFAS and persistent chemicals in the textiles used for manufacturing firefighters' protective coats and pants. CBS News Colorado
Recent Articles
Yellowknife to Fort McMurray: lessons from the frontlines of Canada’s worst wildfires.
Volunteer firefighters see doubling in tax credit.
Oro-Medonte fire chief smokes out several ways to boost revenue.
Ahead of likely ‘ferocious’ wildfire season, fire chiefs lament drop in volunteers.
Vancouver firefighters get $2.8M from city to procure gear free of cancer-causing chemicals.
