National Fire Fighter News

The heated debate over fire staffing in West Vancouver shows no sight of abating this week.

On Monday, the North Shore News received the most strongly worded letter to date from the West Vancouver Fire Fighters Union. It clearly implies the fire chief’s decision to take the municipality’s platform and rescue truck out of service for 25 shifts in August because of an exhausted overtime budget is “reckless.”

A retired West Van fire captain has also written to chronicle fire staffing issues over the years in the municipality. Even more concerning are the letters and calls from readers who happened to note that the City of North Vancouver shifted fire resources eastwards Sunday night to cover off the fact that 20 District of North Vancouver firefighters on three trucks and two boats were fighting a house fire up Indian Arm. The question raised was whether West Vancouver is in any position to offer similar “backup” capabilities and, if so, with what level of staffing and equipment.

That is, in the circumstances, a legitimate question that needs addressing either by the West Van fire chief or the mayor.

We have said before that no fire crew should arrive on scene without the resources (crew or equipment) to do their job properly and to WCB safety standards. That should be a funding priority in any municipality.

If West Vancouver cannot pay for the wages to meet that standard, the time has indeed come to look at amalgamating our fires services under one administration.

 

West Vancouver Fire Fighters Say Cuts Raise Fire Risks
North Shore News (08/12/09); Alldritt, Benjamin

West Vancouver Fire and Rescue was forced to take its ladder truck and heavy rescue truck out of service for two shifts due to a spate of injuries and an exhausted overtime budget. More staffing shortfalls are expected this month, putting residents at risk, according to the firefighters’ union, which said in a statement that this service level reduction significantly compromises the safety of the citizens of West Vancouver. “We’re very concerned about the impact on public safety,” said Jay Brownlee, union secretary. “They are deeming the aerial ladder and the heavy rescue as expendable.”

Web Link

Attention Canadian Affiliates

 It has come to our attention that an individual is cycling across Canada and stopping at firehalls on a purported mission to raise awareness about human-generated electricity. The individual, Randolph Steepe, claims to have the support of the IAFF, but he does not. An internet search turns up numerous complaints against an individual by this name in Canada and other countries.

 Please exercise caution if approached by this individual.

 IAFF Canadian Office

 

New Brunswick Enacts Presumptive Legislation

New Brunswick is now officially the seventh Canadian province to enact presumptive legislation for professional fire fighters. Regulations specifying coverage for 10 cancers plus heart injuries that occur within 24 hours of duty are now in place, meaning the province’s 482 IAFF members now have this important protection.

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Economic Crisis News Headlines

The economy is affecting IAFF members throughout this union through staffing reductions, station closures, cost shifting and wage concessions as local governments lose revenue. To help IAFF members get a clearer understanding of the depth of the financial crisis, the effect it’s having at every level of the economy — including local and state budgets — the IAFF has prepared the following summaries of and links to “economic crisis” news articles related to cuts in state and local budgets, fire fighter staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of the economic downturn.

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Surrey Fire Fighter Stoked for Games
Abbotsford Mission Times (07/17/09); Fontaine, Paul

The World Police and Fire Games are scheduled for the end of the month and Abbotsford athletes — and the city — will play a big role in the major sporting event. The Games, hosted in British Columbia July 31-August 9, attract more than 9,500 police, fire fighters and corrections staff from 55 countries. Corey Walters, 47, a member of Surrey Local 1271, is taking part in the open slalom, barefoot water cross and trick skiing at the Games. He is in the unique position of being a competitor and part of the host team since he is president of the Fraser Valley Water Skiing Club.

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British Columbia Fire Fighters Achieve Breakthrough on Pensions
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/30/09)

Professional fire fighters in British Columbia have taken a major step toward solving a longstanding pension problem — a step that takes full advantage of a regulatory change the IAFF won at the federal level in Canada in 2003. On June 16, Surrey, BC Local 1271 signed a landmark agreement with its employer to move into a newly-created group within the provincial pension plan that covers municipal employees. The group qualifies for an increased annual pension accrual rate of 2.33 per cent for each year of credited service, compared to the 2 per cent available to most working Canadians. The higher accrual rate will significantly improve a retired fire fighter’s monthly pension.

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Edmonton Fire Fighters Face Toxic Working Conditions
Edmonton Sun (07/09/09); Hanon, Andrew

Captain Bob Chalmers never regretted being a fire fighter, even as he lay dying of work-related cancer. A 35-year veteran of the Edmonton Fire Department, Chalmers died July 6 at age 60, following a six-year fight with leukemia. “It’s so much more dangerous than ever before because of the creation of new synthetics (in building materials),” said Greg Holubowich, president of the Edmonton Fire Fighter’s union. He said in the last five or six years, fire departments across North America have seen an increasing number of long-serving veterans being diagnosed with cancer in their early 50s. On average, 10 fire fighters die of job-related cancer every year across Canada, said Jim Lee of the International Association of Fire Fighters in Ottawa.

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Burned in the Line of Duty
Winnipeg Free Press (07/07/09); Kives, Bartley

A pair of fire fighters injured in a West Kildonan house fire suffered second-degree burns to their faces and necks after escaping from a blaze so hot that it burned through their water hose. Fire fighters entered a home that caught fire while a resident stepped out to visit a relative. Believing the fire was on the second floor, two fire fighters walked up a flight of stairs and found themselves trapped on the upper story by flames billowing up from the main floor. As good fortune would have it, the two individuals jumped out of second-storey windows — separate windows, in fact — and landed on a shed. They didn’t have a long drop to the ground. The fire fighters wound up with second-degree burns to their cheeks, chins and backs of their necks. They had spent less than three minutes in the home but only seconds on the upper floor.  

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Protecting Fire Fighters: ‘It’s the Right Thing to Do’
Whitehorse Daily Star (07/03/09); Davidson, Justine

A fire fighter’s job is to go into a potentially deadly situation — namely a burning building — and to control and monitor that situation until it no longer presents a danger to the public. While most people can refuse to work if they feel the job at hand is an overly perilous one, fire fighters cannot. In spite of extensive training and constantly advancing equipment and safety standards, fire fighters still die in burning buildings. “There’s probably no single issue more important today to fire fighters than occupational injury and health,” says IAFF trustee Alex Forrest.

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Winnipeg Firefighters Take Swine Flu Precautions
Canada.com (06/14/09)

Fire fighters and paramedics in Winnipeg have begun taking extra precautions when responding to medical calls in an effort to stop the spread of the swine flu. According to Alex Forrest, the president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, fire fighters and paramedics will now begin wearing goggles, masks and gloves when responding to calls from citizens with unknown illnesses. Fire fighters and paramedics in Winnipeg already wear goggles, masks and gloves when responding to a suspected case of swine flu.
(Web Link)

Ontario Tells Council: ‘Seconds Count in Emergencies’
Niagara This Week (06/19/09); Forsyth, Paul

Top fire fighting officials in Ontario had a sobering message for any Thorold city councillors who might be thinking of scaling back fire fighter responses to medical emergencies. Mark McKinnon, executive vice-president of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, and Shayne Mintz, an executive board member with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, said doing so could lead to residents experiencing life-threatening medical emergencies dying. McKinnon and Mintz appeared before city council to speak after councillors asked John Cunnane, director of Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS), to speak about how responses to medical emergencies are handled.
(Web Link)

Register for the World Police & Fire Games
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/05/09)

Don’t miss your chance to experience the World Police & Fire Games, scheduled for July 31-August 9, 2009, in British Columbia, Canada. June 15 is the last day to register without paying a $25 late fee. More than 9,200 athletes have registered to compete in 63 sports at 40 venues across British Columbia. This international sporting event, open to all full-time or retired fire fighters, law enforcement and customs and correctional officers around the world, brings together the emergency services community for 10 days of sport, comradeship and competition.
(Web Link)

Barrie Local Credits New Firehall to Political Action
International Association of Fire Fighters (06/09/09)

After numerous delays, the City of Barrie, Ontario, is finally getting funds for a new firehall and emergency operations centre, thanks to political action by Barrie, ON Local 1753. Funding for the project was announced June 5 by local member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Brown, member of Provincial Parliament Aileen Carroll and Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden. The cost of the $14 million building will be split between the federal provincial and local governments.
(Web Link)

Alberta Municipality Votes to Keep Fire-based EMS
International Association of Fire Fighters (05/15/09)

Ft. McMurray, AB Local 2494 and the Wood Buffalo Regional Council are rejecting the Alberta province’s quest to take over ambulance services province-wide. Concerned about what effect a change in ambulance service would have on public safety, the council has voted to keep the ambulance service within the fire department.
(Web Link)

Penticton City Bolsters Fire Department Ranks
Penticton Western News (05/20/09); Depner, Wolf

The city of Penticton is planning to add a deputy chief and four fire fighters to its fire fighting force by early 2010 over the opposition of Mayor Dan Ashton who favoured a less-costly option. Council approved the additions after receiving a report from Penticton Fire Chief Wayne Williams, who presented council with three possible options to increase staffing levels. Williams prepared the report after council agreed to allocate $200,000 towards the hiring of additional personnel.
(Web Link)

Canadian Labour Congress Reopens Annual Intensive Program
International Association of Fire Fighters (05/12/09)

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has announced that the Labour College of Canada (LCC) is resuming its annual Intensive Program following significant changes to course design and delivery. The IAFF will sponsor one participant for the upcoming four-week session beginning January 3, 2010. The sponsorship covers the cost of tuition, plus $1,000 for travel and incidental expenses. IAFF members in good standing will be evaluated based on demonstrated active participation within their local.
(Web Link)

Firefighter Beats the Odds
Toronto Globe & Mail (Canada) (04/24/09)

A Vernon, BC Local 1517 fire fighter has returned to full fire fighting duties only a year and two months after undergoing heart transplant surgery. Brian Parsons’ stress and physical fitness test results were high enough to place the fire fighter back on full-time duty. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, Parsons is only the second professional fire fighter in North America to return to frontline fire fighting duties after a transplant.
(Web Link)

Manitoba Broadens Occupational Disease Coverage
International Association of Fire Fighters (04/17/09)

Through a collaborative effort between Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan and the Manitoba Professional Fire Fighters Association, new provincial legislation that will expand fire fighter occupational disease coverage was introduced April 15. The new cancer legislation will add testicular and esophageal cancer for fire fighters. Brain, bladder, kidney, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, ureter, colon, rectal and lung cancers are covered under previously passed legislation.
(Web Link)

Former Flame Fights Fires
Calgary Herald (03/14/09); Fortney, Valerie

After nearly a decade in the NHL — playing for such teams as the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames — being in the limelight is second nature to Brad Ference. But the native Calgarian chose last year to trade in his hockey jersey for a new kind of uniform, that worn by our city’s fire fighters, as well as trading a life in the limelight for one behind the scenes. “I always knew I wanted to do something like this rather than retire to a desk job,” says the 29-year-old just before he takes his place with his fellow 24 recruits who are graduating.
(Web Link)

Hero to Hero Canada Sends Shirts and Hats Overseas
International Association of Fire Fighters (03/23/09)

From Kamloops, British Columbia, to Kennebecasis Valley, New Brunswick, Canadian emergency service personnel donated 2,000 shirts off their backs and 450 hats off their heads to send to Canadian troops overseas. Sarnia, ON Local 492 member Kevin McHarg has been organizing the Canadian Hero to Hero program since it began three years ago. “It has been extremely gratifying to watch this program grow,” says McHarg, a 28-year veteran fire fighter. “We shipped 228 shirts in 2007 and 1,200 shirts in 2008. And, we nearly doubled last year’s number this year.” McHarg attributes most of Hero to Hero Canada’s popularity to word of mouth, the T-shirt collection tour and special speaking engagements, such as the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Convention.
(Web Link)

British Columbia Fire Fighter Wins Body for Life Challenge
International Association of Fire Fighters (02/17/09)

As an extra incentive to get back in shape, Surrey, BC Local 1271 fire fighter Rob Best entered fitness guru Bill Phillips’ Body for Life Challenge 2008. The contest was just the motivation he needed: Best was named the 2008 Canadian Grand Champion. In a February 28, 2009, ceremony, Best will be presented with $10,000 in cash, a $5,000 travel gift certificate, a jacket and ring. “When the Body for Life people called to tell me I had won, I didn’t believe it at first,” says Best. “I thought it was my friends playing a trick on me. Now that it is sinking in, my family and I are thinking about taking a vacation to celebrate.”
(Web Link)

New Study Focuses on Crew Size
Firehouse.com (02/06/09); Kyle, Susan Nicol

When the engines rolled up and four fire fighters jumped off and grabbed ladders and hoses, it appeared to be just another drill at the Montgomery County Fire-Rescue Training Center. But, that wasn’t the case at all. Those involved in the exercise were part of a study to determine if crew size really does make a difference when it comes to saving lives and property. Funded by a FIRE Act grant, the study is being conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in cooperation with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and International Association of Fire Fighters.
(Web Link)

British Columbia Local Signs Historic First Collective Agreement
International Association of Fire Fighters (01/28/09)

An IAFF local in British Columbia is celebrating the recent signing of a landmark first collective agreement that brings fire fighter salaries and working conditions into the modern era while securing efficient and effective fire protection 24/7 for the citizens of a fast-growing community. The remarkable rise of Langley Township, BC Local 4550 is due to a potent mixture of hard work and dedication by the local executive board, grassroots community activism and timely political action, backed by the resources of the IAFF.
(Web Link)

And the Most Stressful Jobs Are …
Toronto Globe & Mail (Canada) (01/08/09); Grant, Tavia

New research ranks fire fighters among occupations that have the highest levels of work-life stress. “High levels of interaction at work may lead to increased fatigue and depletion of personal resources needed to fulfill family role obligations,” explains Erich Dierdorff, assistant professor of management at DePaul University, co-author of the study. The researchers controlled factors such as demographics, schedule flexibility, time pressure, workload and support offered by co-workers. In addition to social interaction, workers are now more responsible for the work quality, health and safety of co-workers. New employee training and support services should focus more on “work-life stress generated by the nature of work roles,” adds Dierdorff. The study, which considers 126 occupations, appeared in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
(Web Link)