June in fire history – the Great Vancouver Fire
On June 13, 1886 what began as a land-clearing brush fire was spread out of control by strong winds. The fire claimed dozens of lives and leveled all but a few structures in the newly incorporated city. The fire went down in history as the Great Vancouver Fire. Click...
Body of Cache Creek Fire Chief found
The body of Cache Creek Fire Chief Clayton Cassidy has been found near the bridge washout where he disappeared nearly a month ago. Chief Cassidy was with the Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Department for over 30 years and received the Medal of Good Citizenship from...
Health Canada warns of potential dangers of oil lamps sold by Firefly
Health Canada is warning consumers that lamp oils and other related products sold by Firefly do not have child-resistant closures or display proper warning information. Health Canada has asked Firefly to voluntarily recall the products but has received no response....
New technology helps Seattle Fire responses
What to do if your pants are on fire
Fatal foster home fire blamed on bolted door, loose rules
A seventeen year old girl and a caregiver died in a fire in a group home near Lindsay, Ontario in February of this year. The victims were trapped in a room where the exit door was bolted shut. In Ontario foster homes and group homes operate under different licensing...
Recruitment huge issue for volunteer fire departments
In towns in Canada served by volunteer fire departments recruitment has become a huge issue. Because many volunteer departments follow the same training guidelines as paid fire departments the time commitment, for people who in many cases already hold down a full-time...
FireSmart Home Development Guide now available to all Canadians
FireSmart Canada, in partnership with The Cooperators, has developed the "FireSmart Home Development Guide". The Guide contains specific measures homeowners can take to reduce the risk of wildfire damage, including choices of building materials and building design....
Carrier Corp. recalls heat pumps due to fire hazard
Carrier Corporation has recalled certain heat pumps because the capacitors in the control board may stop working, causing the unit to overheat, posing a fire hazard. Approximately 2,000 of the units were sold in Canada. Click here to read more.
Inquest told ice rescues risky, rarely successful
An inquest looking into the deaths of two Ontario firefighters during training for ice rescues has heard rescue operations in icy, swift water are rarely successful. Private safety training courses in the province are unregulated and the Ontario Fire College does not...
May in fire history – Slave Lake wildfire
The Slave Lake wildfire, which destroyed roughly one-third of the Town of Slave Lake, Alberta, burned through the town from May 14 to May 16, 2011. The town hall, library and radio station were completely gutted and 732 residents were left homeless. Insurable damage...
Tokyo F.D.’s new test room imitates extreme heat, cold
The Tokyo Fire Department recently unveiled its new testing room where extreme climate conditions can be artificially created. The testing room will be used to conduct research on countering heatstroke in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and to develop...
Winnipeg bylaw will expand fire safety inspections, introduce fees
A proposed fire prevention bylaw in Winnipeg would include mandatory fire safety inspection standards for food-trucks and illegal rooming houses, prohibit the use of sky lanterns and allow fees to be charged for new fire safety inspections. It would also allow fire...
Saint John lacks centralized emergency plan
Saint John's industrial area is home to Canada's largest oil refinery, a LNG terminal, natural gas pipelines and rail lines that carry a variety of industrial cargo. Fire Chief Kevin Clifford wants to use a new approach to emergency response plans that would have the...
Firefighters suffer ongoing health problems after Fort McMurray fire
A University of Alberta study that surveyed 355 firefighters involved in battling the Fort McMurray fire found one in five suffering respiratory problems and one in six experiencing mental health issues. Researchers hope to find out which factors caused long term...
Software blamed for Oakland F.D. inspection lapses
Staff at Oakland's Fire Prevention Bureau, whose job it is to annually inspect all commercial buildings and some residential properties in the city, are using an older database that is not user-friendly. Problems with the system may have contributed to lapses in...
Ontario bill in memory of two firefighters closer to becoming law
A bill, the Rea and Walter Act, which would make it mandatory for all lightweight constructed buildings to be identified as such has passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature. The bill is named after two firefighters who lost their lives while fighting a fire...
Scientists accelerate work on plan to map wildfire probability
Since early 2016 a group of scientists from the Canadian Forest Service and colleagues from the Canadian provinces, the United States and Mexico have been working on a two-year plan to map the probability of wildires in most of the permanent settlements in Canada's...
Recent Articles
Springfield Fire Department now using new technology to alert drivers to move over
This device can detect the one lightning strike likely to cause a wildfire
Enhancing Fireground Effectiveness Amid Staffing Challenges
Edmonton needs different approach for dealing with homeless encampments, police chief says
Bangladesh gets female firefighters for first time
Movers & Shakers
Trevor Pike Retires as Sechelt Fire Chief After 35 Years- Assistant Chief of Operations Daniel Walston appointed as next chief
- Clay Fire Chief Timm Schabbel retires after 35 years of service
- Winter Harbor welcomes new fire chief Roy Chandler
- Leonard Whitney, has been hired as the new Melfort fire chief
- Christopher Clarkin Sworn in as its new Fire Chief/Fire Marshal