On September 1, 1972 three young men who had been refused entry set a fire on the staircase that served as the only regular entrance for the Wagon Wheel bar in Montreal. The resulting fire killed 37 people.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Ralph Goodale announced the Government of Canada has set aside the second Sunday in September as National Firefighters Memorial Day.
For weeks this summer residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Northern California lived in a pall of wildfire smoke. NPR’s Jane Greenhalgh met with Dr. Gopal Allada, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Oregon Health & Science University, to find out whether all that smoke can harm lungs.
After the catastrophic 2003 wildfire season former Manitoba premier Gary Filmon was hired by the province to conduct a review. His report, “Firestorm 2003”, warned that action had to be taken to reduce fuels in forests near communities. Communities are now saying the province needs to do more.
Wilfred Laurier University and the Brantford Fire Department staged a dorm room burn on campus to demonstrate how quickly people need to react to a fire.
When the Scorpion Fire put the Gold Butte Lookout in danger firefighters wrapped the historic structure in fire-resistant material.
Scientists have developed lithium-ion batteries that are explosion and fire resistant while still producing enough energy for use in household electronics.
Teams of firefighters from Taber, Coaldale, Lethbridge, Willow Creek, Calgary and Cardston arrived in Waterton National Park to protect the townsite from a raging wildfire. They employed high volume pumps, hoses and sprinkler systems in their efforts to save structures including the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey Houston residents are being warned to take precautions before returning to flooded homes. Houston’s fire chief has told residents to wear breathing masks to protect themselves against sewer bacteria and to be aware that alligators and snakes may be lurking in their homes.