Stratford deputy fire chief promoted to fire chief and director of emergency services
Stratford Deputy Fire Chief Neil Anderson has been promoted to fire chief and director of emergency services. Posted September 27, 2023.
B.C.’s wildfire crisis was forecast, but it arrived decades sooner than expected
The onset of significant, intense wildfires posing a recurring threat to communities in British Columbia has occurred earlier than anticipated by earlier research. Experts emphasize that the unprecedented 2023 season should require immediate action.
Millions added to B.C. funding for rural, volunteer and First Nations firefighters
The government of British Columbia has allocated additional funding to support rural, First Nations, and volunteer fire departments throughout the province. As per a statement from the Office of the Premier, this financial assistance will be directed towards enhancing the equipment and training capabilities of these local fire departments.
Wildland firefighters in many parts of Canada struggle to get compensated for serious illness
For decades, Dr. Tee Lamont Guidotti has dedicated his research efforts to understanding the extensive health impacts of smoke and other exposures on firefighters. He has collaborated with various jurisdictions in North America to establish guidelines aimed at providing improved support for firefighters grappling with illnesses.
While there is a wealth of established research affirming presumed connections between specific cancers and cardiovascular diseases in urban firefighting, the same level of automatic association hasn’t been observed for wildland firefighters, he noted.
A Smoky Cloud Swirl
During much of the summer of 2023, fires raged through the boreal forests in northern British Columbia and Alberta, as well as in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories. These infernos prompted evacuations as they neared towns and sent billows of smoke drifting occasionally south into the United States.
In mid-September, strong winds from a passing cold front interacted with some of the fires, giving rise to an extensive swirling cloud suffused with smoke. This smoky tempest, stretching across hundreds of kilometers, is clearly visible in the image captured by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) aboard the NOAA-20 satellite on September 16, 2023.
New technology helps battle electric car fires
Firefighters in the Phoenix region are introducing cutting-edge technology to combat electric car fires.
‘It was the fight of our lives’: West Kelowna fire chief addresses UN about wildfires and climate change
Firefighters in the Phoenix region are introducing cutting-edge technology to combat electric car fires.
Canada’s Space Agency Wants to Become Firefighters’ Eye in the Sky
In the fight against uncontrollable wildfires, Canada’s fire forecasters will soon have a new tool at their disposal. During this year’s unprecedented fire season, provincial and federal wildfire agencies had to rely on a combination of European and NASA satellite instruments to assist in monitoring and predicting fire behavior. However, the Canadian Space Agency is now on the verge of launching what they tout as the world’s inaugural public fire-monitoring satellite into orbit.
The threat of wildfires is rising. So are new AI solutions to fight them
Wildfires, intensified by climate change, have wreaked havoc on communities from Maui to the Mediterranean this summer. These disasters have claimed lives, strained firefighters, and amplified the call for innovative solutions. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play.
Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress
This summer, federal wildland firefighters bravely battled some of the most severe wildfires to strike the U.S. and Canada. However, as Congress approaches its September 30 deadline to secure government funding, these firefighters face the potential loss of half their salaries.
Regardless of whether a government agreement is reached, rent remains due on October 1st.