We’re ready to respond. LPG Emergency Response Corp. is made up of a highly skilled group of professionals dealing with compressed gas incidents across Canada. Our teams are trained in the areas of product transferring, grounding and bonding, vapour and liquid flaring and container purging. We’re equipped to handle a wide range of products including: Propane, Butane, Propylene, Butylene, Isobutane, Isobutylene and Butadiene, inhibited. Our teams always ensure an incident is controlled timely, efficiently and safely.
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INCIDENT REPORT
Steve Sorensen describes the response to a poultry barn fire in Sooke, B.C., and the valuable lessons learned.
INCIDENT COMMAND
As fire officials from across the country explain to James Careless, the Incident Command System is gaining popularity in Canada but some flaws in the system need working out.
19 NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT
Andrew Sanojca deciphers the complicated response system at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.
OPENING DOORS
Pete Methner explains how to best gain access to patients. 40
MODEL BEHAVIOUR
People don’t like change. Chief Len Kulpak examines two systems for managing change in the fire hall.
48 LESSONS LEARNED
While fire schools are recognized for their top-notch teaching, we look at the lessons that can only be learned on the job. James Careless reports.
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BY LAURA KING Editor lking@annexweb.com
CCOMMENT
Strengthening our community of communities
anada is a large, sparsely populated place where, for great chunks of the year, the climate forces us inside, restricts our travel and makes us wonder what our ancestors were thinking when they came here.
But with spring in the air, like the legendary groundhog, firefighters and other first responders are poking their heads out and seeing . . . other firefighters.
It is the trade show season for our industry, a time to see and be seen, to work the network, to share experiences from the long winter and to recharge and inspire. These are not opportunities to take lightly.
Sure, the myriad trade shows and conferences are important venues for the commercial suppliers to the industry to show off the latest technology. But the shows/conferences are also a rare chance for firefighters – professional and volunteer alike – to engage in some intellectual cross pollination, discussing in practical terms in face-to-face conversations the lessons they have learned.
cheaper communication technology that could benefit a remote volunteer fire service. Those things are all just experiences. That is, until you tell someone about them. And then they are transformed from experience into shared knowledge. Someone else takes the idea home and tries it, and then it becomes applied knowledge.
ON THE COVER
The ICS is widely used by the fire service but other agencies are still learning.See page 14.
In any profession, meeting and networking is critical. In an industry with such unique demands and such commonness of purpose, information transfer – sharing the wealth of knowledge – is vital. It would be easy to think that the demands and challenges of the job in downtown Toronto are a world away from Fall River, N.S., or Kelowna, B.C., or Wainwright, Alta.
Every region has challenges that make the job different, but I’ll make the case that just the opposite is true. Big-city firefighters do the same jobs. They just do it in a big city. Extricating teenagers from a car wreck, promoting fire safety to a Grade 4 classroom or dealing with a residential kitchen fire are things that happen in every corner of Canada every day, like discovering a new technique in vehicle extrication or integrating new,
Few industries regard themselves more passionately as a calling than the fire service. Part of that calling has to be to communicate, to share, to learn. Find out where your provincial or regional fire service trade show is this spring. Look at the agenda. Identify what you can get out of it. Take your golf clubs.
Canada, as the former prime minister Joe Clark once said, is a community of communities. And so it is with the fire service. Your strength is your shared passion for the cause. Your opportunity right now is to fuel that passion by sharing your knowledge. Get out and support each other.
After more than 20 years and hundreds of stories and columns, Lorne Ulley has hung up his Innovative Ideas hat. Lorne’s column has been a staple of Fire Fighting in Canada for years and its often simple, but creative solutions to everyday challenges in the fire station have been shared and copied by departments across the country. Thanks, Lorne, for you your commitment to strengthening the fire service across Canada.
PRESIDENT MIKE FREDERICKS mfredericks@annexweb.com
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STATIONtoSTATION
ACROSS CANADA: Regional news briefs
Calgary’s new rescue trucks loaded for extrication
ALBERTA
Around the time Calgary residents were setting their clocks back in the, the Calgary Fire Department was falling back to the basics of rescue with the addition of three new rescue trucks.
Two of the trucks are similar to two others delivered in 2006; the third is stationed downtown and has an added transverse compartment in the body that holds high-angle rope equipment.
The new trucks are all built on Spartan Gladiator chassis with body work by SVI from Loveland, Colo., and were delivered by Safetek Emergency Vehicles. Many new features on the trucks are popular among the firefighters staffing the units. Starting with the new roomy custom cab, air conditioning and slideout/drop-down equipment trays, everything is designed with firefighter comfort and safety in mind.
The trucks also feature a six-light command light that is recessed into the top of the
body. A 30 kilowatt PTO generator helps power the lights and any other electrical equipment that is used on the truck.
Hydraulic tools certainly are not new to Calgary’s rescue trucks but the Holmatro CORE tools stored on these trucks are new to the department. The hydraulic tools have been moved from the curbside of the old trucks to a rear compartment. The tools are all preconnected to 100-foot reels that hold the new CORE technology hoses. Tools in the arsenal include a cutter, spreader and two rams. The compartment that holds these tools has a slide-out tray that contains the tools in custom trays. The operator has the ability to have the truck “kneel” so that equipment can be more easily accessed. With the press of a button on the onboard computer, the air in the rear suspension is drained, dropping the body of the truck so equipment can be loaded and unloaded.
Other tools on the trucks include electric and gas-pow-
THE BRASS POLE
Promotions & appointments
RHEAUME CHAPUT is the new as the new director of fire and emergency services/fire chief for the city of Belleville, Ont. Chaput was chosen from among 30 candidates for the position, which was left vacant when Gord Gazley retired in January. Chaput, 48, was the fire chief in Pembroke, Ont.
Retirements
Chief STEVE THURLOW of the Burlington Fire Department in Ontario will retire in December after 35 years of service. Thurlow began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1973. He was appointed chief for the City of Burlington on July 6, 1999. Thurlow serves as the regional fire co-ordinator for the Region of Halton.
ered fans, rotary saw, ventilation saw, chain saw, airbags, electric tools, hand tools and pneumatic tools. When asked about the impact gun and sockets stored on the truck, firefighter Randy Schmitz, a vehicle extrication instructor for the department, said “an assembly line can put a door on a car in seconds, there’s no reason why we can’t take one off the same way.”
Fire Prevention Officer CHRIS TODD was to retire at the end of April from the Prince Edward County Fire Department in Ontario. Todd, who is 56, was hired 30 years ago after a two-month stint as a volunteer firefighter. Todd worked for nine years at the Picton Fire Department. He became a prevention officer in 1998 after the municipality’s 10 ward amalgamated.
Public information officer Jeff Budai says, “As the automobile industry is continually changing their use of materials and building practices, the CFD has had to make changes to keep up with the evolving technology.”
“In 2007, CFD performed 421 extrications, a 6.9 per cent increase over 2006,” said Budai.
-Robert Evans
Last alarm
Capt. PAUL KELLY of the Toronto Fire Services passed away at home on March 31 at the age of 52. Capt. Kelly joined the Etobocoke Fire Department in October 1980 and was promoted to captain in December 2000.
New rescue truck includes six-light command light.
PHOTO
Board urges local responders to take charge
ONTARIO
OTTAWA– Local leaders are the best people to lead the response to security and public safety emergencies, the Conference Board recommends in a report released April 2.
As threats such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism, outbreaks of infectious disease and others grow in intensity and frequency, multiple organizations – fire departments, police forces, governments, business and not-for-profit organizations – have to respond simultaneously to these threats. Each organization brings its own culture, capabilities and operating procedures to the response, heightening the importance of developing strong leadership capabilities.
“The best leaders are often local people who know their region, have deep relationships with others and a respected track record to spur effective collaboration and cooperation. Leadership and accountability must be clearly defined and
recognized when responding to an incident,” said Trefor Munn-Venn, associate director, National Security and Public Safety at the Conference Board.
A detailed knowledge of a region allows the leader to assign tasks and resources with an understanding of how they can be used most effectively.
Local leadership is essential, but additional resources under the control of other regional, national or international organizations are often required. For example, on 9/11, local responders in New York and Washington did not have jurisdiction to close the airspace over North America, but transportation authorities grounded all flights in support of the response on the ground.
This report, Building Resilience: Leadership and Accountability, is the second in a series of reports from the Conference Board’s Centre for National Security. Other opportunities for action covered in the report include:
• Pre-select leaders wherever
possible. Whether threats are predictable, such as natural disasters, or more difficult to anticipate with certainty, such as pandemics or terrorist attacks, the leader of a response should be identified in advance.
• Base leadership selection on experience. There is no substitute for experience when responding to crises.
Leadership selection should be blind to politics, and focus on credibility, legitimacy and knowledge.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise. Training exercises help leaders develop the relationships during joint exercises they will need to perform more effectively in times of emergency.
• Promote the national adoption of an incident management system. Originally developed to aid the response to large forest fires in California and now broadly adopted across the United States, these systems help identify which leaders play which roles and eliminate confusion.
The report is available at www.e-library.ca.
Calgary hiring 100 firefighters in 2008
ALBERTA
The Calgary Fire Department is recruiting more than 100 men and women in 2008 as it expands to meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing cities in North America.
Calgary FD officials will attend two job fairs in May: the Sport Chek Mother’s Day Run & Walk Fitness Fair on May 9 and 10 from 4-9 p.m. at Mount Royal College; and the Calgary Fire Department
recruitment expo on May 31 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at its multi-agency training centre.
To find the Calgary Fire Department website, do a web search for Calgary Fire Department.
Heritage buildings burn
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Two buildings in an historic Kootenay village in southeastern B.C. are in ashes after a fire in the town that was once called the Monte Carlo of North America.
The Tin Cup Cafe in Sandon, and the property known as Dr. Gomm’s house burned to the ground in late March but heroic efforts by volunteer firefighters kept the flames from spreading to two other buildings across the street.
The fire occurred just weeks before a heritage group was due to assess the remaining historical sites in the preserved and restored ghost town just east of New Denver.
That review is part of a Central Kootenay Regional District application to turn the Sandon area into a regional park.
During the height of the silver rush through the Slocan valley in the 1890s, Sandon boasted 29 hotels, 28 saloons, three breweries, one of the largest red light districts in Western Canada and a population of more than 5,000 people.
Falling silver prices ended Sandon’s glory but it remained as a nearly intact ghost town until devastating floods in the 1950s wiped out most of it old frame structures, including an entire street suspended over Carpenter Creek.
-The Canadian Press
DARRYL TOPLEY, who joined the Toronto Fire Services on June 7, 1982, died March 20.
Centre in Newmarket, Ont.
He joined the Toronto Fire Department in August 1930 and was promoted to captain in September 1972. He retired on July 1, 1990.
was promoted co captain in November 2007.
Retired East York firefighter
CALLING ALL DEPARTMENTS
Retired Capt. JAMES ROBERT GRAY died March 17 at the Southlake Regional Health
Capt. RON MCMANN died suddenly on March 12 at the age of 51. He joined the Toronto Fire Department in June 1982 and
JOHN EAMON MCGURK died on March 12. He retired in 1993 after serving 31 years with the East York Fire Department.
Retired Etobicoke fire Capt. RONALD MATHE passed away March 2 after a short battle with cancer, in his 74th year.
Departments are encouraged to send news and photos of promotions, awards and retirements for The Brass Pole, and Last Alarm announcements, to Fire Fighting in Canada at lking@annexweb.com.
STATIONtoSTATION
BRIGADE NEWS ACROSS CANADA: continued
THE DISTRICT OF HOPE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, under the command of Chief Tom DeSorcy, took delivery in February of a HUB-built pumper on a Freightliner M2 chassis with a Mercedes Benz 300-hp engine, an Allison 3500 EVS automatic transmission, a Hale QFLO125 pump and a Foam Pro 2001 foam system. It has Amdor doors, Akron valves and a Whelen lighting package.
THE DELTA FIRE DEPARTMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, under the command of Chief Gordon Freeborn, took delivery in November of a HUB-built command unit on a 2007 GMA TC5500 chassis, with a Duramax 300-hp engine, an Allison 1000 automatic transmission, a Whelen lighting package and an Onan 5.5KW generator.
THE ROSSLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, under the command of Chief Gerry Woodhouse, took delivery in October of a HUB-built apparatus on a 2007 Freightliner M2 4 x 4 chassis with a 300 hp Mercedes Benz engine, an Allison 300 EVS automatic transmission, a Hale QFLO 125 pump, a Foam Pro 2002 dual foam system, a Whelen lighting package, a Honda EM 3800 generator and Hub custom SCBA storage for eight bottles.
NOVA SCOTIA
Lunenburg to host MFCA
The Lunenburg Regional Fire & Emergency Service is hosting the 94th Maritime Fire Chiefs’ Conference 2008. We are extremely pleased to have historic Lunenburg, N.S., as the host town with all its beauty and history as a backdrop for our conference.
The program starts with the traditional memorial service to be held at St. John’s Anglican Church, which has been completely restored after a devastating fire in 2001.
Monday morning features the opening ceremonies, and first business session, followed by two hours of exclusive time with the manufacturers, giving everyone a chance to see the trade show without missing any of the educational sessions.
Monday afternoon highlights are guest speaker Dr. Harry Carter, PhD, CFO, MIFireE, a municipal fire protection consultant based in Adelphia, N.J. Carter is the past president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. After his presentation, there will be a round-table discussion with provincial representatives.
Tuesday features the regular business session, and Chief Billy Goldfeder (Fire Fighter Close Calls.com) who has served on several NFPA and IAFC committees.Heis vice chairman of the IAFC safety, health and survival section. This is a four-hour session with a lunch break. The trade show concludes at noon on Tuesday.
Wednesday features the usual sessions, with the featured speaker Lt. Mike Wilbur (The “Apparatus Architect”), a career firefighter with the New York City Fire Department for 21 years and also a volunteer firefighter. Lt. Wilbur is nationally recognized in emergency vehicle operations, apparatus placement and purchasing. For more details visit mfca2008@eastlink.ca or www.mfca2008.com.
Windsor FD receives grant
The Windsor Fire Department is receiving $250,000 from the province’s emergency services provider fund.
The fund has provided money to 222 fire departments and emergency organizations.
Windsor Fire Chief Fred Fox said the money will be used to replace non-compliant, aging, worn-out or outdated equipment. Nova Scotia’s $5 million Emergency Services Provider Fund was announced in September and is a one-year program for volunteer fire departments and emergency response organizations and promises $5 million for equipment and infrastructure needs.
The application-based program was established to help volunteer fire departments and emergency first responders get the necessary equipment and facilities to respond to hazardous and emergency situations.
Volunteer fire departments/stations, non-affiliated emergency medical services organizations, ground search and rescue organizations and non-affiliated, not-for-profit hazardous material organizations were eligible for funding.
Projects eligible for funding included firefighting and emergency response equipment. The program provides up to 60 per cent of the cost, to a maximum of $250,000, for new construction.
HOPE
DELTA
ROSSLAND
INCIDENT REPORT
Barn structure posed challenges
By Steve Sorensen
Just as Sooke volunteer firefighters prepared to enjoy dinner with their families on March 23, 2007, pagers alerted them to a reported structure fire.
As a structure fire is a general-alarm type of call, firefighters from both Sooke fire stations were notified. First arriving on scene was Engine 205 from Station 1, with the officer reporting a large, twostorey, metal-clad farm building with heavy fire showing from the open doors on the east end of the building.
The building measured 65 x 15 metres, was wood framed in construction and covered with sheet metal on all the walls and roof. Exposures included a second barn, the same size and construction as the building on fire. Separated by less than a 10-metre space, this building contained more than 11,000 chickens and was in danger if the fire managed to penetrate the sheet metal covering the original fire building. A large propane tank was adjacent to this second building and there were numerous overhead power lines.
First-in crews immediately laid a four-inch supply line to a nearby hydrant and quickly mounted an aggressive attack using two 1.75inch lines. With the fire spreading rapidly, mutual aid for additional manpower was requested from the nearby Otter Point Fire Department.
Additional apparatus was now arriving on scene. Engine 201 from Station 2, arriving from the opposite end of town, laid in an additional four-inch supply line to another hydrant on an adjacent street. As the fast-moving fire began to tax the water supply, third due Engine 204 was used as a relay pump to boost the pressure from the second hydrant. By now, several 1.75-inch lines, one 2.5-inch line and a master stream device were all trained on this fast-moving fire.
With the sheet metal construction, penetration into the building was very difficult. Crews working with pike poles and circular saws fitted with metal cutting blades managed to cut openings into the structure at strategic points to allow water to penetrate into the seat of the fire.
The fire building housed workshops, storage areas and horse stalls on the main floor and chickens on the second level.
The fire, feeding on the open wood construction and the large quantity of combustible storage quickly travelled through the building. Firefighters managed to halt the fire spread at the horse stalls, saving approximately one-third of the building. Open staircases helped spread the fire up to the second level.
In one section, portions of the floor collapsed due to fire damage of the beams and support columns. As this was the area of origin, the fire damage was most significant in this section of the building. At one point during the incident, arriving firefighters commented that the building became so hot that the metal siding appeared almost transparent as they could see right into the building.
After two and half hours of aggressive attack, the fire was knocked
Floor collapse above area of origin in a chicken barn.
down with no damage to exposures. Crews working on the second floor commented that a lot of insulation had fallen down and that it was difficult to walk through the wet piles. After the smoke cleared and some additional lighting was provided to the second floor, it turned out the insulation firefighters thought they were walking through was actually hundreds of dead chickens that had succumbed to the fire and smoke. A total of 5,500 chickens was lost in the incident, although the other 11,000 in the second barn suffered no ill effects.
Cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. Two teenagers, one the grandson of the owner and a friend, admitted to starting the fire. They had been dipping wooden sticks into a can of gasoline, igniting them and waving the sticks around like swords. One tripped and knocked over the gas can, igniting the contents. With the fire quickly spreading, they ran for the house and called 9-1-1. No charges were laid but the majority of the building and all the contents were destroyed. Damage was estimated at more than $300,000. The remainder of the building was torn down and later replaced with a new barn. While insurance covered the cost of the building and the chickens lost, there was a substantial loss to the owners in the form of lost revenue from the sale of the chickens and eggs during the subsequent rebuilding process.
A total of 30 firefighters, manning four engines and one CAF unit, fought the fire. No injuries were reported, although one firefighter did manage to get stuck in a large manure pile while attempting to take a hose line around the side of the building. While not injured, he did suffer the humiliation of being stuck in the sodden and somewhat smelly pile.
Lessons learned
Due to the collapsed floor area, firefighters had to be continually reminded to stay out of this area during the overhaul stage.Taping off or flagging the area may have assisted in marking this area as a danger zone.
• Access into the building was very difficult due to the sheet-metal siding and roofing.Having additional firefighters on scene to facilitate in making cutting holes and gaining access was critical in the suppression efforts. Early requests for mutual aid are critical in ensuring adequateresources are on hand to fight these types of fires.
• Using relay pumping methods to boost pressures in areas of low water supply require practice and training by pump operators to be most effective.The engine used in this operation for the relay pumping could have been positioned in a better location and closer to the hydrant to be most effective.
• Playing with fire inside a barn is probably not the best idea of entertainment for teenagers.
PHOTO COURTESY STEVE SORENSEN
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The evolution of effective communication puts all responding agencies on same page at major incidents in Canada and U.S.
ByJAMES CARELESS
On March 25, a runaway freight car loaded with lumber crashed into a commuter train carrying 300 passengers in Massachusetts. The emergency response to the chaos involved dozens of agencies, all trained in the incident command system or ICS.
“Everyone was delegated an authority, and it was agreed to in the command post,” Fire Chief Thomas J. Ronayne III told www.boston.com. “Everyone knew what the action plan was, and they knew what their responsibilities would be.”
According to boston.com, Amtrak officials shut off power to the tracks. Police barricaded streets and established security. State police sent a helicopter to monitor the tracks and emergency medical crews established communications channels with hospitals.
Within 65 minutes of the first emergency calls, 123 people had been taken to hospitals, and within 95 minutes the train and surrounding area were checked three times for any last victims, the botson.com website reported.
“If you were to lay the plan out, this was the way the incident played out,” Chief Ronanyne said. “All the training we had done came to work.”
Adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as its national standard for first responder incident scene management, and widely used in Canada as well, ICS is “an all-hazards approach to any kind of critical incident management,” says Richard Smith, an ICS instructor with the Emergency Response Institute Canada (www.ericanada. com) in Calgary.
“ICS defines a standard command-and-control structure for incident scenes that covers fire, police, and EMS,” he says. “It lays out common terminology and practices for everyone to follow, so that there’s no confusion at the scene.”
In other words, “ICS ensures that we are all working from the same page,” says Roger Gibson, regional co-ordinator for the Office of Emergency Preparedness at Alberta’s CapitalCare.
This said, the current ICS approach have some limits. In particular, ICS does not
always include natural gas, water and local electrical commissions, says Greg Solecki. senior business continuity and emergency management planner of water services/water resources for Calgary’s Department of Utilities & Water Protection. “This means that they are left out at mutual-aid incidents, causing the exact kinds of problems that ICS is meant to address.”
The history of ICS
During 13 days in 1970, wildfires in California killed 16 people, destroyed 700 structures, and burned half a million acres of land. In the post mortem that followed the disaster, it became clear that problems in inter-agency communications and co-ordination had made matters worse. As a result, the U.S. Congress ordered the U.S. Forest Service to "make a quantum jump in the capabilities of southern California wildland fire-protection agencies to effectively coordinate interagency action and to allocate suppression resources in dynamic, multiplefire situations.”
The result was FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies). In 1973, FIRESCOPE started work on an integrated command-and-control approach, which evolved into ICS.
By 1981 ICS was in widespread use by southern California fire departments. Eventually, the ICS was harmonized with the Fire Ground Command System developed by the Phoenix Fire Department, with additional work being done in a unified fashion by U.S. firefighting agencies. By the 1990s, the result of their efforts was the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which has since been mandated by Homeland Security as the U.S. national incident command standard with ICS as an integral part.
“ICS began to be used by Canadian agencies in the early 1990s,” says Roger Gibson.“The B.C. government was the first to adopt it as standard operating procedure mid-decade, with other provinces following suit since then.”
How ICS works
Simply describing ICS as a unified command-and-control incident management system is like calling Wayne Gretzky a great hockey player. Both statements are true, but woefully lacking in detail.
In the case of ICS, the system is really a philosophical and strategic approach to incident management in all its aspects. Recognizing that a unified command works
LEFT: A Toronto firefighter checks in with an entry control officer while putting on air before entering a working fire at a two-alarm response on Queen Street East.
ABOVE: The Incident Command System was used effectively at a mock disaster exercise in Toronto in November.
PHOTO BY JOHN HANLEY
PHOTO BY JOHN RIDDELL
best to prevent confusion and minimize risk to first responders, ICS defines who is in charge and which specific responsibilities each responding agency has at the scene. ICS also specifies the terminology to be used by everyone present, and the ways in which they must work together in varying circumstances. In addition, the ICS approach covers the importance of establishing “incident action plans” before things happen, so that everyone knows exactly how they are to work together when trouble does occur. Also dealt with are integrated communications, pre-designated incident mobilization center locations and facilities, deployment and information and intelligence management.
Again, even this description isn’t enough either to fully explain ICS, or to teach it effectively. It is for this reason that ERI Canada, Greg Soloecki, and many other organizations offer ICS courses to first responders. Designed to be taught in the span of a few days or less,
these courses walk responders not just through the philosophy and details of ICS, but get their brains into it through tabletop exercises where scenarios are laid out for them to solve.
“There are four levels of ICS courses, and depending on your jurisdiction, you may find yourself taking two or more of them,” says Gibson.
ICS-100 provides an introduction to the Incident Command System, laying out the basics of ICS and preparing first responders for further education.
ICS-200 takes this theory and applies it to ‘single resource and initial action incidents’, Gibson says, the kind of basic events that most rural and small departments deal with regularly. In many cases, he says, this is all the classroom learning many first responders require.
According to Solecki, ICS-300 is an intermediate course that teaches responders how to work in multi-agency response situations
where the ICS command system is in full deployment.
Finally, ICS-400 is the most complex course aimed at people who may face 9-11 type situations. This is high-end ICS training for large departments and those in sensitive locales.
The importance of real-life training
The tabletop exercises that take place in ICS classrooms give first responders a chance to take what they’ve learned and apply it to actualscenarios; sitting and talking with fellow students to find the best solutions within an ICS-style approach. However, nothing can substitute for real-life ICS field exercises, where participating agencies apply their classroomacquired knowledge to physical locations, instructor-imposed scenarios, and volunteer ‘victims’ (members of the public who look like and act like seriously-injured casualties).
“For ICS to succeed, you really have to get people using it in the real world,” says Roger Gibson. “ICS-based field exercises face people with the kinds of problems they deal with at true-life incidents. Besides, they force commanders to park their egos, and to get accustomed to the idea of doing so during multiagency situations.”
ICS was used in Toronto in November at a mock-disaster exercise comprising almost 1,000 members of urban search and rescue teams and provincial and federal medical units. It became clear early on that although the system worked almost flawlessly for the highly trained USAR teams and other fire services personnel, other responders need to learn and embrace the system in order for it to work at major incidents.
Current limits
All three of the Canadian experts agree that ICS is making a difference today, by improving inter-agency co-operation and functioning at mutual aid incidents. But there is more that could be done, says Greg Solecki.
“Successful incident response doesn’t just require fire, EMS, and police to work together; you also need the people who control the gas lines, hydro, and water to be in the loop to do things right,” he says.
“Sadly, a lot of ICS-driven bodies still don’t understand that everyone who might turn up at an incident needs to be up to speed on ICS. They need to bring in utilities and indeed any other agency that might turn up at an incident scene, for ICS to work fully.”
This notwithstanding, ICS remains the best apparent solution to the challenge of inter-agency command-and-control. This is why Homeland Security has embraced ICS as part of its NIMS, and why ICS continues to gain traction among Canadian agencies and governments too.
PIT passes hang from the entry control board during a four-alarm fire in Toronto.There were more than 80 personnel on scene and more than a dozen firefighters coming and going inside two dwellings.
BY SEAN TRACEY Canadian Regional Manager NFPA International Ottawa, Ont.
YEmbracing innovation: Changing tactics and tools
ou have all heard the old line about the fire services boasting more than 100 years of tradition unheeded by progress. This may be true, in that as a group we tend to look with skepticism on any new technology. We, as standards development bodies, have also done a great job conditioning the fire services to always look for certification.
The problem is that this can often result in the fire service not considering some of the newer technologies that are at our disposal. Codes and standards bodies are often no better at incorporating changes because we either wait for significant push from the fire services or broad acceptance of the technology.
When new technology is introduced, and it is held by one company, the standards are often not rewritten because of concerns about favouring one company. This should not result in these technological innovations being dismissed.
There are great innovations on display at your association trade shows, many of them from Canadian companies we can be proud of. Some of these innovations represent technologies that have evolved out of necessity because today’s fires grow faster and are more deadly than just 20 years ago.
The fire service needs greater innovation because the threats we face today are changing. We cannot assume that the standard practices we followed 20 years ago will continue to safeguard our personnel. We have more contents in our homes today and they are made of products that behave differently than when the building codes were being developed in the 1950s. We know from National Research Council of Canada and other testing that typical fires burn faster and hotter and produce more toxic products.
Part 9 of The National Building Code for houses has no stated requirement for minimum fire performance; therefore, many new construction products are being introduced without any need to consider their performance in a fire.
in a battle against fire and we need to evolve.
In my opinion, there are a number of gems in the current lineup of trade-show products out there that warrant a greater interest from the fire services. The makers of each of these products have invested significant resources and each innovation has the potential to push the fire service into modern times. These products therefore warrant closer consideration by the fire service. I won’t mention the company names because of concerns that it would be perceived as endorsement from NFPA but I will mention the technology.
• Training publications
While most training publications are still produced on paper, additional learning points are widely available from web-based sources. Today’s fire-service recruits are tech savvy so our teaching materials should reflect current publishing trends and Internet advancements.
• Internet-based training programs
Programs that are up to date and managed for the department via Internet delivery allow for uniform delivery across multiple sites. Training time for volunteers is at a premium so companies that facilitate this and assist in managing the process help set the new benchmark.
• Compressed-air foam systems
These are small units that can be run from a vehicle’s 12-volt system
The fire service needs greater innovation because the threats we face today are changing. ‘‘
’’
Many of our assumptions have changed, therefore our tactics and tools should also evolve. Furthermore, we are constantly fighting for resources in our communities with less funding and fewer volunteers. We need to continually upgrade our training, fire-ground tactics and use of new technologies.
Think of this being analogous to warfare – the tactics of warfare are constantly evolving and military forces constantly seek out and encourage innovation. Warfare of today is significantly different from the 1940s because of evolution in tactics, technology and training. We are
Sean Tracey, P.Eng., MIFireE, is the Canadian regional manager of the National Fire Protection Association International and formerly the Canadian Armed Forces Fire Marshal. Contact him at stracey@nfpa.org.
and small water supply. They can be deployed in any number of vehicles that can stop a fire in the incipient stages or handle a small car fire, and they multiply the effectiveness of limited personnel. Earlier suppression will alleviate pressures on volunteer resources.
• Dry powdered aerosols
These non-toxic, portable devices can be thrown by a single first responder and knockdown or suppress a fire in a contained space up to 60 m3 in less than 30 seconds. Fire can be stopped in its tracks while resources are still mustering. Early suppression can help the volunteer resources and significantly reduce property losses.
I believe that all of these exciting technologies have great potential to advance our fire-service capabilities.
Unfortunately, we are often reluctant to buy into these innovative methods as we wait for others to lead the way. Do not ignore innovation: we need to evolve because fires have evolved.
Nuclear Management
Unique incident command system at Point Lepreau combines plant personnel, local and regional departments
ByANDREW A. SANOJCA
TOP: Saint John firefighters advance on an industrial firefighting prop at the Point Lepreau Generating Station during a training exercise.
RIGHT: The accountability board set up in the back of the Musquash Fire Department van,showing personnel assignments with timers to track "on air" time.
The adage that two heads are better than one has been expanded on at Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear generating station. The Point Lepreau Generating Station (PLGS) is operated by NB Power and uses three chief officers from three organizations at its command post during an incident. How they all arrive is a story in itself.
Hazards within a nuclear facility are the same as would be found at most large manufacturing plants. Fires would likely involve office spaces, Class “B” fuels such as lubricating oil and Class “C” hazards such as electrical panels. There are also many support buildings, used for office space or materials storage. The processes involved for the
production of nuclear power are all within a contained structure and present little fire risk. The concern is with all that is required to support the process.
When an incident is reported to the main control room, the plant’s response team is notified via the public address system. The response team comprises employees who work at various jobs throughout the plant and in adjacent offices. The seven members include a plant operator, who assumes the role of incident commander, and is called the response team leader or RTL. There are four members designated as firefighters, who form an attack team and a backup team. Two other members, who are also firefighters, assume the role of medical
PHOTOS COURTESY ANDREW SANOJCA
(first aid) and accountability but are fully equipped and can enter the hot zone if the other four require immediate assistance. These response team members meet at a muster room within the plant to don their gear then proceed to the incident location.
The RTL assumes command and radios his findings back to the plant’s control room, which can ensure that power is cut off to certain areas or can let the RTL know of any other hazards in the area. The RTL and the control room operator co-ordinate how the incident, whether it is a fire or spill, will be dealt with.
For a report of a fire or fire alarm activated, the control room will call 911, which puts it in contact with the Saint John Public Safety Communications Centre (PSSC). PSSC will dispatch the Musquash Volunteer Fire Department and the Saint John Fire Department, which holds a contract with NB Power to provide fire suppression at the plant.
When Musquash Fire Department arrives on scene, the role of the first two arriving members are to take over accountability from the response team member, and for the senior officer or firefighter to establish a joint command post with the response team leader. Once the PLGS accountability member has briefed the Musquash accountability member, he can then become an escort for incoming firefighters. An escort is used because of the complexities of the plant and the hazards within it, which would not be well known to outside firefighters. It has become policy that a response team member is required to
accompany all outside agency firefighters. The medical officer will also be relieved, either when an ambulance arrives to standby or when a first-responder trained firefighter has arrived on scene. This person will also then be available as an escort for incoming firefighters.
The Musquash incident commander will take over control of the situation and lead the tactical operations of the firefighting crews. The Lepreau response team leader stays with the Musquash IC and assists by providing technical knowledge and checking with the control room about hazards in the area of the fire.
Additional resources from the Musquash Fire Department will stage at an appropriate location and be prepared to relieve the first in crews from the response team. If available, a staging officer and rehab officer will be designated from the Musquash resources.
When the Saint John Fire Department arrives, the district chief will report to the command post and receive a briefing from the Musquash incident commander and the Lepreau Response team leader. When ready, he will then assume overall command of the incident. The Musquash IC will remain at the command post and change radio channels to communicate with the accountability officer. The responsibility of the Musquash commander then shifts to providing resources to the SJFD incident commander and maintaining staging and accountability.
During each of the hand offs of incident command, the new commander operates on the tactical fireground channel. The outgoing
incident commander changes to a separate channel to continue in his new role. Once all three people are at the command post, three separate radio channels will be in use, allowing for a smooth flow of information back and forth. The Musquash IC will have switched to a separate channel to talk directly with accountability and staging so that as additional resources are required, he can call for them to be sent to their assignments.
The staging and accountability officers will operate on the Musquash Fire Simplex channel with the Musquash IC, but will also each monitor the fireground operations channel, now in use between the firefighters and the Saint John district chief. This additional monitoring allows for two things: it lets the accountability and staging officers know a step earlier that additional resources will be called for; but, more importantly, it provides two extra sets of ears to monitor the firefighting operation in case of a distress call.
Wayne Pollock has been the fire chief of the Musquash Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years and has remained a constant through the development of this system. He has worked with different response team leaders and district chiefs over the years and is happy with the system as it stands.
“This is a system that we have built as a team, between our department, the nuclear plant and Saint John. It is specific to our requirements, and through many years of drills we’ve learned what works well and what needed changed and improved. We’re at a point now where everyone knows their role, and is comfortable with each agency’s capabilities.”
Angus Monks, the nuclear training officer at Point Lepreau, called the unified command structure the best in the Maritimes.
“By working together we have become more team based and hands on. We understand the task and challenges ahead through pre-fire plans, fire assessments and by developing good training programs that incorporate classroom, live fire and drills, we have developed open relationships among all agencies.”
While the explanation of this system may sound complicated, it does indeed work quite well. The system is practised regularly, with briefings and hand offs of command during exercises held among all three agencies on a regular basis. A fire incident at this facility may involve a small out building or a ruptured oil or lubrication pipeline. The use of this unified command model ensures that all incidents are handled safely, using the knowledge of the response team members and the firefighting resources from the Musquash Volunteer Fire Department and the Saint John Fire Department.
Staging and rehab is generally set up in the area of the Musquash Rescue unit allowing firefighters a chance to rest before their next assignment.
PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW SANOJCA
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Opening DOORS
Today there are many challenges that rescuers face when considering access through a driver’s side or passenger front door. With side-impact protection systems (SIPS) deploying from the inner door skin toward the driver, and rollover protection systems being introduced from that same location, rescuers must be more cautious and better trained. Knowing the proper technique for removing doors will benefit the rescuer and the patient in case of accidental airbag deployment.
Preparation
There are things to consider before starting an extrication that may affect the removal of the patient from the entrapment. We will assume that the scene and vehicle have been stabilized, that fire or EMS has made patient contact and the patient(s) have been protected.
Often we may see EMS personnel make easy access to the patient from the opposite side of the vehicle through an undamaged door or window. From this awkward position, we may see rescuers muscle a patient over the centre console to get the patient out of the wreckage. With today’s tool technology and the training that firefighters obtain and continually practise, there is no reason to handle any patient this way. We must always consider the potential long-term injuries and recovery time of the patient(s).
Upon arrival to the accident scene, it is imperative that all rescuers read the collision damage and establish a sound plan and back-up plan. When performing an inner circle of the vehicle, firefighters must look for side-impact protection systems and see if any have deployed or if any even exist. Side airbags can be found in one of two places: either in the outboard side of the seat back; or in the door. The door-mounted airbag typically deploys above the arm rest from behind the inner door panel.
The Porsche Boxster has a new airbag (2006) that is located in the door and it
Airbags, rollover protection challenge rescuers
By PETE METHNER
ABOVE: Rescuers should open the spreading tool significantly to create the largest possible opening to enhance access to the lower hinge.
INSET: Vehicle airbag identification that identifies the door ROPS bag location.
PHOTOS BY PETE METHNER
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Continued from page 24
deploys upward on the inside of the door window to protect the patient during a rollover. This is referred to as the roll-over protection system (ROPS). If you face this vehicle you will have ROPS protection from the door as well as thorax protection from a bag that will deploy from the outboard side of the seat.
Important purchase-point consideration
It’s important to know that the inflation cylinder for the ROPS in this Boxster is
located in the interior, top portion of the door near the door handle. This is the only vehicle with this type of ROPS to date and the only vehicle with an inflation cylinder in the door.
Departments that may squeeze a door with the spreaders to gain a purchase point must avoid this technique on the Porsche Boxster to prevent compressing the pressurized inflation cylinder.
This said, rescuers should look at the external impact damage of the door. The deformation of metal will tell you its own story. It may tell you where the side impact beam is located beneath the outer door
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skin. It may also expose the upper and lower hinge location as well. Purchase points should naturally present themselves.
Patient position
Rescuers must consider the patient location prior to extrication and determine if they are going to open the door at the latch mechanism first or the hinge side first. If the patient is sitting in the upright position and a rescuer has C-spine immobilization in place, then you may want to remove the door at the hinge location first.
Door removal
Once rescuers have scanned the interior for airbags they should then strip the trim to remove any interior trim that may cover an inflator for the airbag system (rescuers want to avoid inflation cylinders, not only when cutting but also when spreading – a spreader’s tip could inadvertently and dangerously press against the pressurized inflation cylinder).
If rescuers have determined that there isn’t an inflation cylinder present (in the “A” pillar), they can place the lower spreader tip on the door and open the spreader until the top tip makes contact with the “A” pillar. Keeping the tool on about a 40- to 60-degree angle (into the “A” pillar) will ensure that the door will be pulled down and away from the vehicle. Failing to create this angle could push the door downward and not outward.
Continued on page 38
PHOTO BY PETE METHNER
PHOTO BY PETE METHNER
Cutaway shows location of airbag cylinder.
Start by removing the trim around the door.
TRAINER’SCORNER
Interface decision making
ByED BROUWER
As the number of people moving into the scenic wildlands increases, so does the probability of wildland fires posing some threat to homes and other structures. Wildfire plays an important role in our forests and grasslands. It recycles nutrients by clearing out accumulated dead vegetation, thins tree stands and cracks seed casings, thereby creating a diverse wildlife habitat. So, like it or not, living in forested areas means living with fire.
Most firefighting methods deal with fire that starts inside and burns out whereas a wildland fire starts on the outside and tries to get in. Fire needs fuel to burn and a continuous sequence of vegetation can carry flames from the forest to a structure. We can help prevent this by placing a defensible space
around the structure.
Few, indeed, are the wildfires today that don’t threaten something. We will never have enough fire apparatus or personnel to set up in front of everybody’s homes. Increasing firefighting services may help, yet in the extreme conditions posed by a wildland urban interface fire there never seems to be enough.
The 2003 fire season that ravaged British Columbia is a clear example of the complexity of protecting the wildland urban interface. There were three firefighter fatalities, 335 homes lost or damaged, 38,009 people evacuated and 148,695 hectares lost to fire.
When dealing with interface fires consider the following:
Before deploying, assure that all personnel are in full protective equipment, all water tanks are full, all engines have adequate fuel and all radios work.
When water conservation is important, don’t wet down ahead of fire, extinguish only
what is absolutely necessary. When possible, coat structures with foam or gel.
Let everything burn that is not vital to fire control or not an exposure hazard to objects of value. (What is burned up can’t re-ignite.) Our fire crews have had to leave hose lines at a fastmoving fire. Should this happen to you, take the fittings with your apparatus if possible.
Survey ahead of fire and give priority of protection considering construction type, topographical factors, availability of equipment and personnel and the rate of fire spread. Do not waste time and energy on structures that will be lost no matter what effort you expend.
Company officers, strike team leaders, division supervisors, and operations section chiefs must be capable of making one of the most difficult decisions on a wildland fire: which houses to try to save, and which ones to write off. This is called structure triage. As cold as this may seem, firefighters must see
Continued on page 34
STRUCTURE TRIAGE
1. Type of construction. (The most vulnerable part of structure is the roof.)
a. Shake or wood shingles.
b. Siding.
c. Decks or overhangs.
•Structure
•Structure is hopeless and cannot be saved. Trying to save indefensible structures may spread the available resources too thin, resulting in the loss of those that could have been defended.
Outbuildings are generally not included in this triage decision. Outbuildings will generaly be written off. However, their proximity to the house and their contents could be negative factors in triage.
The following are typical structural/ wildland (interface) physical characteristics that may cause problems for the firefighter.
d. Wood and debris piles.
2. Wildland and structural fuel.
a. Proximity of wildland fuel.
b. Proximity of other structures.
3. Topography (the lay of the land).
a. Valleys.
b. Ridges – saddles.
c. Box canyons.
4. Ingress-egress-support.
a. Narrow roads.
b. Bridge carrying capacity.
c. Enforcement – clearances.
d. Water supply.
e. Available firefighting personnel and apparatus.
f. Limited use of normal suppression resources.
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TRAINER’SCORNER
Continued from page 30
structures as “fuel.” This can be especially difficult when the house is owned by another firefighter, family or friend. Stay focused: eliminate the hopeless; ignore the unnecessary; and deal with the rest.
Much as a medic would assess mass casualties on the battlefield, efforts must be concentrated on those that stand a reasonable chance. It is a given that not everyone will survive. Those who are essentially hopeless will be passed over in order to save those that can be saved with the time and resources available.
This philosophy applies to houses exactly as it does to victims. If firefighters do not stand a reasonable chance of saving the house, they must move on to the next house. (See sidebar, page 30.)
Keep in mind that if fire conditions change and become more severe after a triage decision has been made, an otherwise defensible home may no longer be savable. Strong winds can overcome positive factors in the above list. Our fire crew saw first-hand the adverse effect of high winds at the Okanagan Mountain Park fire in 2003, as we fought hotspots up to 2.4 kilometres ahead of the fire front.
be used to illustrate the three priorities of structure triage. Show clear-cut examples of homes that need little protection – homes that would probably survive with extra protection and those that probably would not survive even if protection resources were available.
Fire conditions can change quickly (a wind change, fire spotting, equipment malfunction) to the point that the battle is no longer winnable. The bottom line is that the structure must be abandoned if further efforts place firefighters in harm’s way.
It is time to retreat to a safer place when:
Spot fires are occurring on roofs or around the structure more rapidly than they can be extinguished.
Fire ignites the roof and involves more than one-quarter of it in windy conditions.
Fire ignites an interior room in windy conditions.
The escape route is about to be blocked.
Thompson, Manitoba
204-778-7123
In many cases the most important factor will be the slope of the ground where a home is situated and the direction the fire is moving. Fires usually move faster up hill due to convection and radiation preheating the fuels.
The most important consideration is safety. Can your crews safely defend the structure? Are adequate safety zones and escape routes available and accessible?
Warning: If fire threatens your escape route, abandon all structures and get out.
You may want to prepare for a practice night regarding structure protection and triage by taking photographs of area homes that can
Resource: III Edition Fundamentals of Wildland Fire Fighting, S-100 Basic Fire Suppression & Safety Student Work Book, National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program
Ed Brouwer is the chief instructor for Canwest Fire in Osoyoos, B.C., and the training officer for West Boundary Highway Rescue. The 18-year veteran of the fire service is also a fire warden with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, a first responder, level III, instructor/evaluator and fire-service chaplan. E-mail: ed@thefire.ca
The 2003 fire season in British Columbia was a clear example of the complexity of what can happen when wildfires turn into urban challenges.
BY LYLE QUAN Deputy Chief Guelph Fire Department, Ontario
TCORNERSTONE
Fostering resilience in trying times
hroughout our personal and professional lives we have all encountered the anguish of being uncertain about a decision we have made. Whether it’s trying to decide on moving to another community for the benefit of our family or taking a new position at work, we must all deal with these decisions and need to be comfortable with the outcome. Many of us in the fire service have agonized over decisions we made on the fire ground or back at the station when dealing with personnel problems. We second guess ourselves, go home and lose sleep over those decisions.
Uncertainty is not something to fear, rather it should be something that we acknowledge and embrace. Uncertainty, in many ways, is like our “fight or flight” reaction to a situation that doesn’t require a split-second decision; it makes us think about possible options. By understanding this, we can manage this uncertainty through several methods.
Let’s look at two books that will help us understand and control this form of apprehension, whether it’s in our personal or professional lives.
The first book, Embracing Uncertainty, by Susan Jeffers, deals with the personal conflicts we encounter and how we need to understand what uncertainty is and how to deal with the uncontrollable. Yes, I said uncontrollable; this is what causes much of our anxiety because we in the fire service feel that if we can’t control something then we have lost the battle. In fact, good incident commanders understand that some things are simply outside of their control. So, what is the option? In essence, incident commanders don’t give up because surrendering simply is not an option at an emergency scene. Rather, they regroup and deal with the problem from a different angle. By doing so the incident commander demonstrates the ability to be flexible and conscious of the fact that perhaps we can’t save the original structure but we can definitely save the units on either side of that structure.
to relax and enjoy life. One of the more refreshing points Jeffers notes is that through time, generations have thought that the speed of change in technology and other facets in their lives was almost too much to handle. Yet, today, we look at those past times as more relaxed, saner times that were less hectic and less confusing. So 20 or 30 years from now will the next generation think the same about our wildly hectic times?
Embracing Uncertainty is a book that helps readers relax and deal with those tumultuous times in our lives. I’m sure you will find this book quite refreshing and even comforting to read.
The second book, by Phillip Clampitt and Robert DeKoch, titled Embracing Uncertainty: The Essence of Leadership builds on Jeffers’ book by taking us into the realm of our professional lives and helping us better understand how we can make uncertainty work for us in a positive way.
Clampitt and DeKoch note in their book that, “ . . . there are many benefits to squarely facing up to the uncertainties of life. In fact, the chaos, complexity, and speed of change in modern organizations require that effective leaders become masters of embracing uncertainty.”
Clampitt and DeKoch continue to explore the sources of uncertainty and by doing so help readers understand that there are methods for dealing with these issues and finding some closure. As I read the book,
Uncertainty is not something to fear, rather it should be something that we acknowledge and embrace. ‘‘
’’
It’s up to us to make the best of a bad situation. And, quite simply, this is what we need to do in our personal lives: understand that we cannot control everything but we can react to situations in a manner that will help us make the best of them.
In her book, Jeffers quotes Bertrand Russell who once wrote that “the trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.” Jeffers points out that we cannot know everything, and by accepting this fact we can create a level of freedom and understanding that pushes us to honestly learn more. The book has numerous exercises to help readers ease the pain in their brains and learn
Lyle Quan is the deputy fire chief – administration with the Guelph Fire Department in Ontario. A 26-year veteran of emergency services, he is a graduate of Lakeland College’s Bachelor of Applied Business: Emergency Services and Dalhousie University’s Fire Service Leadership and Administration Programs. Email: thequans@sympatico.ca
I kept finding myself thinking just how simple and yet profound some of the suggestions were. The authors use real-world examples to make their case for embracing uncertainty.
I have found these two books not only refreshing but of great assistance to me during times of uncertainty. As such, I keep them close by to remind me that we all stumble once in a while and that’s OK; it’s how we regain our footing that makes us who we are.
These two books will help us create that resilient approach to uncertainty. Most of all, let’s not forget that in the fire service and in our personal lives, we have a strong support mechanism in our family and friends.
Embracing Uncertainty (2003) is published by St. Martin’s Press and can be purchased through Chapters Books and Amazon.ca.
Embracing Uncertainty: the Essence of Leadership (2001) is published by M.E. Sharpe, Inc. and can also be obtained through Chapters Books and Amazon.ca.
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Whatever the spreading capacity of your spreader, you should open the tool significantly to create a big opening so that you will enhance the access to the lower hinge.
Once the lower hinge is spread off, you may be able to just pull on the door handle and the door will come away from the latch mechanism without further use of your spreader. If the door can’t be opened by hand, take your spreader again and place it on top of the latch mechanism area and open the spreader up until the latch mech-
anism releases off of the Nader bolt. Just prior to spreading the door off, a continuous loop strap should be wrapped around the door to stop it from being violently released.
An alternative is to start at the latch mechanism side first. This method and location would be ideal when a patient is leaning forward over the steering column, or near the “A” pillar, or if there are deployed airbags in the door and outboard side of the seat. For this method, the tool angle will be essentially vertical; the lower spreader tip would be positioned over the latch mecha-
Get Ready Get Set
nism and the upper tip would be positioned vertically – directly into the roof’s edge.
Once we have placed the spreader in position (adjusting the angle of the tool’s base, slightly upward from horizontal so that the door is pulled outward, away from the patient), we can slowly open the tool sufficiently until the latch releases from the Nader bolt. By wrapping the door first with a looped strap, we can secure the door, preventing the door from releasing quickly. Again, we can thereby maintain safety for rescuers as well as patient(s).
Once the door is open, we can either cut the hinges or continue to spread the door off of the hinges. If we decide to spread the hinges off of the “A” pillar, we should spread the bottom one first. If we spread the top one first, we risk the possibility of driving the door down into the ground and lifting the vehicle off of the cribbing. If we remember to spread the hinge closest to the ground first all the time, we should avoid lifting the vehicle from the stabilization. Rescuers must always remember to place some form of hard protection between the work being done and the patient as well as the medic. Failing to protect both parties may result in further injury to the patient(s) or medic.
Removing a patient from the damaged side of the vehicle may create less stress and anxiety for the patient.
With many hands, firefighters can assist in patient packaging and removal.
Teamwork and good communication are always the key issues in a safe and speedy rescue.
Pete Methner is a firefighter in Niagara Falls, past education chairman for the Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee for Canada and the president of ON SCENE Rescue Training. He has competed both regionally and internationally and has taught firefighters from around the world. Contact Pete at autoexed@cogeco.ca.
PHOTO BY PETE METHNER
Cutting the front door hinge.
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Managing change in the fire hall
By LES KARPLUK
Model BEHAVIOUR
Pick up any fire-service publication and you find that our profession is affected by global, technological and economic forces. There is no such thing as a first-class department, in the absolute sense, because a department that is highly effective in one area may be inefficient in another. For this very reason the fire service must continue to change and evolve in order to serve our communities and staff in an effective and efficient manner. Managing change is easier said than done, and many departments have progressed through a change process without clearly identifying the who, what, how and why, of the change process.
The responsibility for change in the department rests with the fire chief and the management team. For our purposes, the term “change” will refer to planned change. Change for the sake of change will only frustrate and demoralize staff, which then creates barriers to effective change management for the future.
Fire chiefs should not expect staff to initiate change in the department, rather, they should expect staff to report for duty and do their best during the change process. Numerous models exist on planned change and an examination of Lewin’s Change Model and Positive Organizational Scholarship can assist the fire chief in the change process.
Lewin’s Change Model
In the 1950s, physicist and social scientist Kurt Lewin created Lewin’s Change Model. This model is based on a three-step process for successful change known as unfreezechange-refreeze.
Unfreeze: This is the stage during which the organization is prepared to accept that change is necessary. This is where the beliefs, values and attitudes of members need to be identified and will include the recognition of existing behaviours of members versus those behaviours desired by the organization. In this stage the fire chief must closely examine the mission, vision and values of the department and set the stage for change.
Lewin’s Change Model and Positive Organizational Scholarship can help fire chiefs with the process of change.
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Change: The stage during which staff need to understand why change is occurring and the role they will have in the change process. The fire chief must take a leadership role in this stage, as staff need to have an active role in identifying the new behaviours, attitudes and values of the department. This is the time to review the department’s existing mission, vision and values and, if necessary, take the department through a communicative process to create new mission, vision and value statements.
Refreeze: The third stage of Lewin’s model identifies the supporting mechanisms put into place to reinforce the new
behaviours,attitudes and values. At this stage staff are embracing the change process and are also incorporating the change into the daily operations.
A simple breakdown of Lewin’s change model can be applied to a fire department implementing a mandatory seatbelt policy.
Unfreeze: The chief and the occupational health and safety committee (OHSC) recognize that the department’s current culture does not reinforce the wearing of seatbelts. Because the chief and the OHSC recognize the value of wearing seatbelts, a communication strategy is implemented to educate staff in the department regarding
the use of seatbelts.
Change: The chief and representatives from the OHSC meet with staff to inform them of the value of wearing seatbelts and solicit feedback. Staff may support the concept and understand the necessity of wearing seatbelts, and, through the change process, may request a six-month probationary period to ease into the new behaviour.
Refreeze: A department SOP/G is created “to buckle up” before the apparatus leaves the station. For the first six months, the officer demonstrates leadership by reminding personnel on the truck to buckle up. After the six-month period members are held accountable for not buckling up.
Positive Organizational Scholarship
Our departments are living organisms and personnel provide the good, the bad and the ugly. If our personnel have a mental image of the department being dysfunctional and an unhealthy work environment, they will find the behaviours and attitudes to prove themselves right. Conversely, if personnel look for those things in the department that are healthy and creative, they will find these behaviours and act accordingly. Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) promotes member involvement in creating a shared vision, which, in turn, creates a powerful image of what the department can be. The vision becomes the guiding light for the department, where decisions are based upon the shared vision.
Cameron and Caza (2005), while writing for the Michigan Ross School of Business, identified POS as, “the investigation of what goes right in organizations (rather than what goes wrong), what is lifegiving (rather than life-depleting), what is experienced as good (rather than bad), what is inspiring (rather than depressing) and what elevates individuals and systems (rather than diminishes them).
To create change in the department while implementing the POS model, the chief can adhere to five basic phases.
Inquire: This is the information-seeking phase during which the subject of change is determined and personnel are engaged in the information- gathering procedures. The focus of change must be vital to the department and personnel so it takes on positive attributes.
Best practices: Personnel look at the best practices in the department and expand upon them. New ideas may be discovered, gathered and recorded during this phase.
Envisioning the future: By analyzing the subjects of change and best practices, the department is ready to envision the preferred future. This is where the department
Continued on page
BY STEVE KRAFT Deputy Chief, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Plenty of techniques for handling slacker issue
Thank you to everyone who commented on the scenario in the first instalment of Your Call in February, about firefighter Lansing, who didn’t do his part of the fire-hall workload. (Visit www.firefightingincanada.com and click on past issues to see the February column). Your responses were great. Here are a few examples.
Dave West, company officer, Richmond Hill Fire Department It states people are becoming frustrated. Is this true? As a leader and captain of the crew, I would have a good understanding of what has been going on and I would make sure this accusation is true. I would have individual meetings asking all members of the crew if they feel everyone is pulling their weight. This would be done to make sure this is not a personal conflict between two members of the crew. If the general message is that Lansing isn’t pulling his weight, I would first look at how I handled FF Lansing. Have I given him special treatment? Have I looked the other way hoping this problem goes away? If this isn’t true and I handled it right, I can only presume this has been going on without my knowledge. I would request an informal meeting with Lansing. I would ask him if everything is OK. If his response is yes, I would have to take his lack of performance at work to be caused by motivation for the job. Understanding Adams’ and Homans’ Equity Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, I would make sure there is no underlining work-related problem and all other needs seem to be satisfied. I would proceed with informing him I (not the crew) have noticed that his performance is slipping. I would indicate I have had meetings with the crew so I am not hiding anything. I would also state this is a concern for FF Lansing and that this is not a witch hunt. I would let him know that I would assist as much as I can in getting this problem rectified. I would counsel him, if required, in my limited role and provide the required assistance that may be needed. I would build him up and give him positive feedback on how important he is to the crew and department. I would inform him that people only notice a lack of work by someone when that person stops working and being helpful.
tation would be required and the chain of command would have to be implemented with a review of policies and or SOPs.
Shane
Caskenette,
deputy chief, City of Woodstock Fire Department
These types of issues are common in the fire service but if not addressed they can have a demoralizing effect on the crew and seriously hamper the crew’s performance.Eventually, other crew members begin to think that if one can shirk their duties and get away with it, why can’t we all, and the issue begins to escalate as performance decreases.
First, assess the problem for yourself: are the allegations true? Perhaps while others are cleaning the truck the other firefighter is cleaning the bathroom? Look at the big picture – perhaps there is more to it.
Secondly, ensure you have communicated expectations to all crew members.It is hard to perform to expectations if you don’t know what they are.
Thirdly, discuss the firefighter’s performance in a closed-door coaching session.Set “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) objectives to help improve performance.If you conduct regular coaching sessions with crew members this won’t be
The main thing to remember is as a manager you are constantly encouraging your firefighters to improve behaviour. ‘‘
’’
perceived as disciplinary. Regular coaching sessions are a great way to reward good performance as well as address opportunities for improvement and reinforce team goals and concepts.
After giving him positive feedback I would tell him he is needed. He would be informed this problem will remain in house (our crew) and there will be no formal documentation. I would advise him his performance is being monitored and that I hope to see an improvement that I know he is capable of. If the problem persisted then documen-
Steve Kraft is the deputy chief and a 19-year member of the Richmond Hill Fire Department. He has completed the certificate in fire service leadership though Dalhousie University and is a graduate of the fire protection technologist course at the Ontario Fire College. He is a certified Community Emergency Management co-ordinator and is enrolled in Western University, where he is completing his diploma in public administration.
Fourthly, performance management is not a one-time intervention.Like any management skill, it requires time and constant attention to build and maintain crew performance. To be successful, company officers need to constantly monitor, evaluate and manage the performance of each individual crew member in order to build and maintain crew performance.
“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual” ~ Vince Lombardi, football coach for the NFL (1913-1970)
Andy Brzozowski, captain, Niagara Falls Fire Department In a perfect world the manager would know all of his firefighters very well and understand why Lansing is not participating. Lansing could
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have family trouble, medical problems, issues with alcohol or even drugs; he could even be harassed by one of his peers. Any one of these items, or a hundred others, could cause someone to pull away from the team. However, according to this scenario, the lack of participation is only when work around the fire hall needs to be done. As the manager I will first thank the firefighter for his input. Second, I will find out if the allegations are true. This can be done in a couple of ways.
A: Is this the only time (or firefighter) that has complained about Lansing’s participation.
B: I may observe Lansing myself to confirm the accusation.
If I have had more than one complaint and have not seen Lansing around the hall when work needed to be completed I would be compelled to speak to him. I would say something like this. “Lansing, can I share something with you? When you don’t help with the daily apparatus checks or when you don’t participate when the trucks are being washed here’s what happens. You don’t maintain proficiency with the equipment, you create more work for the other firefighters and I feel that it disrupts the team we have built here. What can you do differently?” Lansing has a number of ways to answer this, of course. He could say “I will work on participating better” or he could give some other reason that he is not working as a team member. The main thing to remember is as a manager you are constantly encouraging your firefighters to improve behaviour.
The scenario/dilemma in the March issue of Your Call was about a firefighter who did not wear his seatbelt. (Visit www.firefightingincanada.com and click on past issues.)
Most of us know what to do in this scenario, but the question is, will we do it? Will we stop the apparatus until the firefighter buckles up? Will we write up the firefighter? Will we write a report to the chief, telling him what happened? Will we be the reason a firefighter gets suspended?
Continued on page 70
Here’s the next scenario:
There’s lots of talk in your department about an issue that’s making the news –it could be two hatters or the controversy over stickers on fire service vehicles that express support for military troops. How do you, as an officer, manage the message in your department?
Please e-mail your reply to skraft@richmondhill.ca. Include your name, rank and department. Please remember to keep your reply to 250 words.
Ingleside, ON
Lessons LEARNED
No matter how detailed and in depth a firefighter’s education, there are many lessons that can only be learned after joining the department. Some of these lessons come from training; others are learned in the heat of battle – literally.
When probies start working at their first fire hall, it’s not just experience they lack, but a range of specialized skills. “This is because the firefighter level one course covers a broad spectrum of basic fire fighting, but it doesn’t cover anything external to that,” says Lt. Tim Jenkins of the Charlottetown Fire Department. “Those extra skills have to be taught after the recruit has left college.”
At the Cornwall Fire Department in Ontario “our people are taught skills such as hazmat, water/ice rescue and confinedspace operations,” says Capt. Richard McCullough. “Right now, we’re learning about high-angle rescue at my department. That’s something I never knew about when I started the job.”
“The use of the Incident Command System and how it is implemented at an actual scene is another thing you just can’t learn in school,” McCullough says.
“Officers’ skills are another thing that they don’t teach you at school,” adds Lt. Jenkins. “What they also don’t teach you is that, at the end of the day, how you deal with people is still your most important skill.”
For firefighters, this skill is particularly vital because “you are usually dealing with members of the public when they are extremely vulnerable,” says Deputy Chief Vern Starling of the Victoria Fire Department in B. C.
“You can teach people manual things in school like how to tie a knot or raise a ladder, but you cannot teach the kinds of behaviours firefighters need to do their work safely and effectively,” observes Deputy Chief Starling. “Staying calm in an emergency situation, understanding and dealing with the range of emotions you
Continued on page 52
On-the-job training, experience necessary to become well-rounded firefighter
By JAMES CARELESS
Specialized skills such as hazmat training and dealing with media are generally learned through on-the-job experience and additional education long after firefighter school.
BY
PHOTO
KEITH HAMILTON
Lessons Learned
Continued from page 48
experience on different types of calls; these are things that you can only learn on the job, and only after you’ve gained confidence from working a number of fires.”
Caution is another thing that doesn’t come naturally to new firefighters, but is learned as they get a handle on the realities of the job.
“With experience, you learn to take that extra few seconds beforehand to figure out what you should be doing, rather than rushing into a fire a few seconds sooner,” says Lt. Jenkins.
“Sizeup is an extremely important skill that only comes with experience on the job,” adds Capt. McCullough. “As a site commander, you learn to properly size up situations, to ensure you understand precisely what you are dealing with before making any rash decisions. Sizeup starts when you leave the firehall; both from what you can learn from Dispatch and any clues you can detect on your own, from how the wind is blowing to the kind of smoke there is at the scene.”
“One thing they just can’t teach you in school is the experience of being in an actual fire,” says McCullough. “You can take part in all the mock incidents you want, but it’s only when you are working with the real thing that you find out what it’s like.”
Fortunately for newbies, fire departments put a lot of emphasis on mentoring. “Training can never replace the experience that veterans can offer newbies,” Jenkins says. “It’s a real learning culture in the firehall and out on the incident scene, with experienced members looking out for the rookies.”
What do they consider the most important advice?
“Ask a lot of questions before you do anything,” says. Jenkins. “And don’t do anything that you are not comfortable in doing.”
“When you are training new recruits, help them build their confidence through mentoring and on-the-job guidance,” says Deputy Chief Starling. “As they gain experience and confidence, they will be able to carry the emotional load that goes with the job more easily, and make better common sense decisions when it counts.”
Finally, for wisdom combined with wit, Capt. Nick Antoft of the Halifax Regional Fire & EMS Service notes that “not everyone moves out of the way of a 20-tonne vehicle bearing down on them with lights flashing and sirens blaring and “things can catch fire when it’s -30 C in a raging snowstorm, or in the middle of a downpour. Given enough heat, everything eventually burns.
Offering: A 2 course certificate in incident command for experienced incident commanders. Please contact our office for more information.
Are you looking to take on more responsibility in your Department? Trying to round out your technical ability with leadership skills? Preparing to advance your career?
At Dalhousie University we offer a three course program, the “Certificate in Fire Service Leadership” to career and volunteer fire officers.The 3 courses Station Officer: Dealing with People,Station Officer:Dealing with New Operations and The Environment of the Fire Station are all offered in each of our 3 terms, September, January and April. The program can be completed in one year.
For more information and a program brochure please contact: Gwen Doary,Program Manager Dalhousie University Fire Management Certificate Programs 201-1535 Dresden Row,Halifax,Nova Scotia B3J 3T1 Tel:(902) 494-8838 • Fax:(902) 494-2598 • E-mail:Gwen.Doar y@Dal.Ca
You will also find the information in our brochures or at the following internet address:Web site:http://collegeofcontinuinged.dal.ca
BY E. DAVID HODGINS Managing Director, Alberta Emergency Management Agency
MLEADERSHIPFORUM
Thinking outside the box: Imagine the possibilities
any contemporary leadership textbooks contain mostly traditional suggestions about how to become a competent leader. The standard advice focuses on behaviours such as the need to develop good planning and communication skills, personal growth opportunities like the “from cop to coach approach” and learning to lead from beside, and the importance of reward and recognition programs as they relate to building morale. That’s good but my experience is that an essential component of successful leadership also involves the ability to “colour outside the lines.” That means bringing your big-picture thinking and your imagination to the table. As Albert Einstein once said, “Logic will get you from A to B, imagination will take you everywhere.”
The list of accomplished Canadian leaders whose success is attributed to their superior ability to think big and imagine what could be and then actually get there is quite impressive. Individuals include beverage entrepreneur John Molson, activist and one of Alberta’s “Fabulous Five” women, Nellie McClung, FirstNations chief and respected elder Dan George, the father of medicare, Tommy Douglas, and peacemaker extraordinaire, Lester B. Pearson. The key character trait that contributed to their success was their innate ability to use their imaginations.
An outstanding example of the power of one’s imagination is the acclaimed British fiction writer J.K. Rowling. Rowling is most famous for authoring the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has gained international attention and has won multiple literary awards. In February 2004, Forbes magazine estimated her fortune as US $1.4 billion, making her the first person to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books. Rowling is also the wealthiest woman in the United Kingdom, well ahead of even Queen Elizabeth II. Her tremendous success is based on her imagination and then her ability to put her imagination to good use. Now this is the application of imagination!
big-picture thinking and imagination. Its senior leaders go to great lengths to create an atmosphere that allows the creative juices to flow. It’s natural therefore that most aspiring emergency services leaders develop cognitive skills based on what is being modelled within their environments. They tend to copy what others are doing – the “follower” approach. Therein lies the dilemma and challenge in encouraging aspiring leaders to exploit their imagination.
In our world, the follower approach tends to dissuade one from imagining what could be beyond the artificial boundaries created by our traditions and culture. Being different is not necessarily a good thing. Here’s a personal and, I am sure, not a unique experience related to how the work culture can influence our thinking. I can remember some advice given to me more than 30 years ago as if the conversation had taken place yesterday. I was told by a senior fire officer in no uncertain terms that the road to inclusion into the “brotherhood” of firefighters was paved with stones that had been shaped by blood, sweat and tears during the past 150 years and to stray from the beaten path would not be a good thing. It was further suggested that I
Companies such as Microsoft know how important the work environment is in encouraging big-picture thinking. ‘‘ ’’
might even get lost while on my career journey should I choose a different path. The message, loud and clear, was that I should simply fit in and become a clone on the platoon.
With respect to leadership thinking and the workplace, it’s understood that leaders and their adopted styles are often a product of their surroundings. Companies such as Microsoft know how important the work environment is in encouraging
David Hodgins is the managing director, Alberta Emergency Management Agency. He is a former assistant deputy minister and fire commissioner for British Columbia. A 30-year veteran of the fire service, he is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s public administration program and a certified emergency and disaster manager. E-mail: David.Hodgins@gov.ab.ca
This is my long-winded way of saying that if one decides to mimic the habitual thoughts and actions of immediate supervisor and if the leader is thinking and behaving in the same way as his or her boss did, then chances are imagination will not be put into play. If imagination is not part of our leadership repertoire how can we expect to create the best possible future for emergency services in the interest of life safety and the public we seek to serve? There are approximately eight fatalities every week in Canada. Imagine a world with no fire fatalities. How do we get there?
As Rowling so aptly wrote: “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.” –Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
TRUCKCHECKS
More transmission tips
ByDON HENRY
Picking up where we left off in the March issue of Fire Fighting in Canada (go to www.firefightingincanada.com and click on past issues), each transmission has a governor.
The governor is connected to the transmission output shaft and the faster the shaft spins the faster the governor turns. This rotation causes weights in the governor to fly outward because of centrifugal force, and to open ports in the governor valve body.
It is through these ports that transmission oil flows and causes the transmission to up shift or downshift.
Different governors will have very different shift profiles and must be matched to the valve bodies.
The modulator valve in the transmission is also another input source. Its position is determined from the throttle pedal in cab.
These two pressures are used to decide when the transmission up shifts or down shifts.
A two- or three-digit number is inked on the head of each governor. (See photo 2.) This number must match the information in the parts book. If a shifting complaint is received, it might be because an incorrect governor has been installed or because the governor is defective. Either of these problems will cause the transmission to shift too early (no power) or too late (very harsh shifts).
The governor is the closest thing this non-computerized transmission has to a brain. Like any mechanical parts, over time, the governor can wear out, causing erratic shifts You may wish to keep one of these units in stock if you have several with the same number.
Inspect the gear on the governor for wear. The governor is powered from the tail shaft and the faster the governor turns, the higher the governor pressure.
This pressure is used to indicate to the shift valves in the valve body when to shift (either up or down).
If this gear were to break at a high road speed it would cause very, very rapid downshifts. After the truck was stopped, you would find that you had only first speed forward or reverse speed and you could never up shift to second gear. Inspect this gear for wear.
The governor valve receives its oil from the main pressure oil gallery. Before the oil can get to the governor valve, it flows through a governor filter. If this filter were to plug up, then the governor could not get the correct oil pressure. This filter is often neglected during service work. There are two different types: a conical type or a barrel type. (See photos 3 and 4.)
THE TORQUE CONVERTER RATIO
(See photo 5.) The proper torque converter ratio is selected after the information on the engine horsepower and torque, the rear axle ratio, the size of the tires, weight of the vehicle, terrain the truck will work in, and the number of transmission gears (four or five speed).
These numbers can be as low as 3.04:1 or as high as 1.82:1. What do these numbers mean? Like any transmission ratio, the number is given as something to one (i.e. 3.04:1). This means that the engine will turn 3.04 times for one turn of the torque converter output shaft.
Model MT 643 serial number 0101818, with an assembly number of 6884350.
Governor valve, number 53.
PHOTO 2
An MT 643 four speed with a conical style governor filter.
PHOTO 3
A typical barrel-type governor filter, located behind the large nut on a MT 653 five-speed Allison transmission. PHOTO 4
TRUCKCHECKS
This reduction in speed means an increase in torque. In this case, say the engine could develop 400 foot pounds of torque (1779 N), then the maximum the torque converter could output to the transmission would be 400 foot pounds times 3.04, or 1,216 foot pounds of force (5409 N).
This would only happen if the engine were at full throttle and the truck was just starting to move, such as during a quick acceleration out of the fire hall.
This is called a stall condition and it only happens when the torque converter is at maximum vortex flow. This high vortex flow comes at a price and that price is a development of very high heat generated in the oil flowing inside the torque converter.
This heat is very destructive to the oil and therefore also to the transmission if allowed to continue for long.
Your truck should have a transmission oil temperature gauge. If it did not come with one, get one at the assembly plant and have it professionally installed.
The torque converter ratio is further multiplied by the transmission ratio. For example, in first speed, an MT 643 has a forward ratio of 3.58 to 1 and when multiplied by the torque converter ratio of 3.04 to 1, you have a stump-pulling ratio of 10.88 to 1.
With an MT 653 deep-reduction model, using the same torque converter, it would be possible to produce a very low ratio in first speed of 24.42 to one.
Each torque converter is matched to the truck and any changes to the tire size, rear axle ratio or engine may require a change in torque converter ratios and valve body adjustment, for which you must see
Continued on page 66
A typical torque converter.
PHOTO 5
Looking up at a radiator transmission oil cooler assembly.
PHOTO 6
TRUCKCHECKS
Continued from page 62
your authorized Allison dealer for support.
Warning: Make sure that when you rebuild or replace a transmission you use a torque converter of the same ratio. There are very few identifying marks on the outside of a torque converter and it is very easy to mistake the ratios.
ENGINE RPM
The engine rpm is very important for several reasons. When a driver accelerates out of the fire hall, the transmission is designed to up shift to the next highest speed, about 250 to 100 rpm below full governor engine rpm (also called no-load governed or high-idle speed by some manufactures), depending on the model.
For example, if the engine were intended to run at a maximum of 2,100 rpm, then at a full throttle up shift on this model, the up shift should happen at 1,750 rpm. (Note that information on throttle up shift is in the service manual; get a copy.)
If the engine could never reach 1,800 rpm, then the transmission would never shift to a higher speed when the throttle pedal was fully depressed.
I have seen this done by well-meaning souls who honestly thought they were going to make the engine last longer if it did not go as fast.
The maximum engine rpm that the transmission is rated for must match the maximum rpm that the engine is rated for. This information is available on the engine and on the pump panel. Not only must these numbers be the same but the engine must be able to actually access this rpm. (See stall test for further info on the relationship between the transmission, torque converter and the engine.)
MODULATED LOCKUP
When the transmission is in either second or third speed (depending on the model – again this information is in the service manual) of a fourspeed transmission, the torque will lock up and, in effect, go into a oneto-one condition as you travel down the road.
This means that the engine torque and speed will not be changed by the torque converter; this is done to improve engine fuel economy.
But it also has another effect, that of ‘engine braking’ as you come to a stop. With the foot off of the throttle, the truck’s engine will act as a brake to help stop the truck. A good driver can use this to increase the life of the service brakes.
The job of the modulated lockup is to hold the torque converter in this lock-up condition as the truck slows down. In some models, this engine-braking condition can be held almost until you come to a complete stop; in others until about 10 miles a hour. Not all models have this modulated lockup. The assembly number will indicate whether your transmission has a modulated lockup. Please refer to these numbers in the parts manual before you disassemble the transmission to repair a defective modulated lock-up valve on a transmission that does not have one. Really. Trust me.
Now you can see how important these SAM (serial, model and assembly) numbers are. It is almost impossible to do any maintenance, repair or diagnostic work if you do not have this information.
As we have seen, the transmission oil can get very hot. This high heat is destructive to the oil. The normal oil operating temperature is between 160 and 200 F (71 to 93 C). The temperature should never exceed 300 F (149 C). Transmission oil cooler is used to remove this destructive heat from the oil. This cooler used coolant from the radiator to remove this heat. (See photo 6.)
After a transmission is rebuilt, it is not common for the oil-cooler lines to get re-connected incorrectly, but it can happen. This will not cause an overheating problem right away but on the first hot day, on a trip with hard accelerations, the transmission oil will begin to overheat.
If the transmission uses a transmission retarder, then an even larger capacity cooler must be specified when the truck is assembled, as this retarder will use the transmission’s oil to convert the forward speed and energy of the truck into heat, just like the wheel brakes convert the forward motion into heat when they stop the truck.
If this heat is not removed from the oil, the oil will very quickly deteriorate. This oil will have a black or dark colour instead of the normal red colour of Dexron. The oil may also have a burned smell. This overheated oil will develop a sticky varnish coating on the valves in the transmission. This varnish will cause erratic and unpredictable shifts both up and down. If this condition is allowed to continue, then the clutch packs may not get the correct pressure to ensure that they are fully engaged; this will cause the clutch packs to burn as they will slip under engine power. This will release more contamination into the oil and further deteriorate the oil.
If there is one thing I have found that will extend the life of this transmission, it is the maintenance of the transmission oil. At Lakeland College here in Vermilion, Alta., we have 15 trucks with various models of the Allison transmission. Students drive these trucks very hard all spring, summer and fall. These transmissions get their oil and filters changed once a year and they have not had any lubrication or filtrationrelated problems.
An excellent source of additional information is, of course, the Allison website http://www.allisontransmission.com There are numerous free PDFs on all Allison transmissions. The operator tips files are prefixed by the letters OM and the mechanics tips are prefixed MT. In my opinion, you should only use genuine Allison parts and filters when servicing your transmissions.
Continued from page 42
identifies new service levels for its community. Plan: The phase during which the design and delivery of ways to create the future is finalized. The plan is implemented, carefully monitored, evaluated, and revised regularly.
Commitment: By being active participants in the process, members of the department will be committed to the envisioned future. If new levels of training have been identified to achieve the envisioned future, it is the responsibility of the chief to take the
Your Call
Continued from page 46
There is absolutely no excuse for not wearing your seatbelt. There are many examples of firefighters getting seriously hurt, or killed, because they neglected to wear their seatbelt. Nationally, so far this year, three firefighters have died in the line of duty because they were not wearing seatbelts on the job. We don’t have to look very far to find a friend who has been seriously hurt because he didn’t wear a seatbelt.
Firefighters are supposed to wear their seatbelts either by law or because of fire department SOPs or SOGs. In Ontario, the
necessary steps to provide this training. On the other hand, personnel in the department must be committed to take the training to achieve desired competencies.
Fire departments do not change because new systems or processes have been put into place. Change occurs because personnel have a say in the change process, understand the envisioned future and are allowed transition time. Lewin’s Change Model and Positive Organizational Scholarship are two tools to identify the who, what, when and why of the change process. The change process requires significant effort from all
highway traffic act states: “a firefighter occupying a seating position behind the driver’s cab in a fire department vehicle . . . is exempt from wearing a seatbelt where the performance of work activities makes it impracticable to wear a seat belt assembly”. The question is whether firefighters perform any work activities that make it impracticable to wear a seatbelt assembly? My answer – no. In my department, our SOP states, “The management team is of the opinion that NO fire fighting activities make it impracticable to wear a seatbelt assembly.”
members of the department. Yes, change is good and our communities deserve nothing less from the men and women in the fire service.
Les Karpluk, CFO, BAppBUS: ES is Fire Chief of Prince Albert Fire and Emergency Services. He is a graduate of the Certificate in Fire Service Leadership and Fire Service Administration programs at Dalhousie University and graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Business: Emergency Services from Lakeland College. Contact him at l.karpluk@sasktel.net.
I realize seatbelts can be awkward. I realize we have some big firefighters and the seatbelts need to be bigger. I realize there are 101 reasons, as firefighters, we try to justify not wearing them. But I will give you one reason to wear them: your family. A brother doesn’t let a sister die because she didn’t wear her seatbelt. Just as you wouldn’t let your child ride in your car without being buckled up, don’t move your apparatus until everyone is buckled. It just isn’t worth it. Ask someone who has been through the devastation. They will make it perfectly clear. Wear your seatbelt!
OUR MISSION YOUR SAFETY
Meets the new 2007 NFPA Standards, 1981 & 1982
A PASS Alarm that can Take the Heat “Bullet-Proof” electronics
Straight-talk communications
Fireground management capabilities
Extended protection
Lightweight and easy to use
Platform for the future
PROTECTION ENGINEERED FOR YOUR
If
this must be your notebook.
Youhave enough fires to put out. Your equipment shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why you partner with a company that’sup to the challenge. Panasonic Toughbook notebooks are builtto exceed military standards, withstanding the rigors of in-vehicle mounting and in-field use.Equally important is the fact that we work closely with your team to ensurethat every Toughbook PC has the software and technological enhancements to get the job done.Lives,after all,are in your hands. It’sgood to knowthe right technology is in your vehicle.
A.H.Stock Mfg.Corp.has been in business since 1943 and is the original manufacturer of the Newton Kwik-Dump Water Valve.Get your water tanker emptied and on its way FAST! Don’t accept look-alikes.Ask for us by name.For prompt, timely delivery, call today.
A.J.Stone Co.Ltd.has proudly served the needs of the Fire/Rescue and First Responder Services of Canada since 1972, featuring quality products, knowledgeable sales reps, and training support.
AIR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
CANADA INC.
251 Queen St.S., Ste.512, Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
Tel:905-826-6682 Fax:866-511-6904
Toll Free:1-866-735-1480
e-mail:info@airmation.ca
website:www.airmation.ca
Randall Weber, VP Marketing & Sales, Canada Air Technology Solutions is dedicated to our Clients, offering updated, timely, full service Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) solutions.Air quality concerns are mitigated using a unique combination of professional indoor air quality assessment coupled with solutions.Off the shelf or customized site specific air cleaning equipment is available to resolve IAQ issues. Our technical experts review client requirements and budgetary availability.The finest appropriate air cleaning systems are provided.Air Technology Solutions is a leader in Diesel Exhaust Remediation. Building and facility managers, business owners, contractors, architects, and engineers have been working with Air Technology Solutions since 1986 to resolve IAQ needs.Employee and personnel safety and health are key issues.Breathing safe air in the workplace is of utmost importance. We provide global customized solutions to control contaminants, pollutants and odours in your facility. We look forward to servicing your requirements.
AirBoss-Defense’s “Ultimate Protection Mission” assures our ever broadening client base of high quality personal protective equipment (PPE). AirBoss-Defense is specialized in the design, fabrication and sale of Fire Fighter boots and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) protective hand wear, footwear and gas masks. Besides being the only Canadian manufacturer of rubber FireFighter boots, AirBoss-Defense is also proud to supply Defense Forces and First Responders Worldwide.
Rick Singer, VP of Sales District Managers: Eastern Canada - Normand Gareau; Central Canada - Ray Thompson; Western Canada - Jeff French; Customer Service Representative Michael Kling, 330-287-7071, mkling@akronbrass.com;VP of Sales, Rick Singer, rsinger@akronbrass.com
American Rescue Technology offers a complete line of Genesis® hydraulic rescue tools, Matjack air bags and First Responder® self contained rescue tools.
See our complete line of Boron Capable Cutters at www.genesisrescue.com
AMKUS,INC.
2700 Wisconsin Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515
Tel:630-515-1800 Fax:630-515-8866
Toll Free:1-800-59AMKUS
e-mail:experts@amkus.com website:www.amkus.com
Suzanne LeRoux, Sales Coordinator
AMKUS has been providing state-of-the-art hydraulic extrication equipment and rescue systems to departments around the world for over 30 years.
Stephen Bouvier, (Sales Manager - Canada), Chris Pettinger (Central Ontario), George Valade (Eastern Ontario), Mike Moldown (Western Ontario), Patrick Beaulieu (Northern Ontario)
Committed to meeting our customers’needs, we are proud to offer a wide range of top-of-the-line tools, clothing and accessories for fire fighting and emergency intervention.For over 40 years, we have continued to add new, high-quality products so that you can find everything you require under one roof. New toll free line for the province of Ontario: 1-866-426-9991
Repair services on:SCBA, gas detection, portable pump, pumper trucks, aerial ladder, etc.
Authorized parts and service center for:
Hale, Waterous, Darley, KOEHLER
Major product lines:MSA, INNOTEX, CET FIRE PUMP, KOCHEK, RED HEAD, AWG, PROTEK, NAFH, SUPERVAC, LEADER FAN, HANSEN ENTERPRISE, RES-Q-JACK, STREAMLIGHT, SAVOX, ERGODYNE, MUSTANG, FRC, FOAMPRO, NAUTIC & ART.
C-MAX TRANSPORTATION EQUIP.
3044 Sawmill Rd., St.Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0
Tel:519-664-3796 Fax:519-664-3624
e-mail:firediv@c-max.ca
website:www.c-max.ca
Clare Weber, President;Kathy Falkenberg
Canadian family owned and operated business that offers a higher standard of service and sales for all your Fire Apparatus needs.C-Max Transportation Equip.offers 24 hour service from EVT Technicians with fully stocked service trucks.We offer Pump testing and repairs to all makes and models.We are also Ontario’s Factory Sales and Service Center for KME Fire Apparatus with an additional location to better serve Northern Ontario.
CANADIAN SAFETY EQUIPMENT INC.
2465 Cawthra Rd., Unit 114, Mississauga, ON L5A 3P2
We build pumpers, tankers, rescues, rapid response and mini-pumper vehicles designed for need, built for your budget.
We supply SCBA’s, Thermal Cameras, Auto Extrication, CAF Systems, Fall Protection, Bunker Gear, Fire Hose, Communications Equipment, Nozzles, Fittings, Hazmat Suits, Ventilation Fans, Gas Detectors, Confined Space Rescue Equipment, High Angle Rescue Equipment, Boots and Gloves. Everything for Fire Fighting and Confined Space Rescue.
BULLEX DIGITAL SAFETY
105 Jordan Road, Troy, NY 12180
Tel:518-689-2023 Fax:518-689-2034
e-mail:mhennet@bullexsafety.com
website:www.bullexsafety.com
Ryan O’Donnell, CEO; Mike Hennet, Business Acct.Exec.
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
CANBERRA CO.
West - 50B Caldari Road, Concord, ON L4K 4N8
Tel:905-660-5373 ext.239
Fax:905-660-9693
e-mail:LKollo@canberra.com
website:www.canberra.com
Laurie Kollo
Canberra Co.(located in Concord, Ontario) is a world leader in alpha/beta/gamma portal and whole body surface contamination monitoring.We celebrated our 41st anniversary this year as a part of the $11 billion, 75,000 employee Areva group.With a total of over 1,000 direct employees, Canberra is a combination of three previous companies (Canberra Industries, Aptec-NRC and Eurisys Mesures) and is the world’s leading supplier of analytical instruments, systems and services for radiation measurement.Applications for Canberra offerings include:first responders/receivers, health physics, Radiation Monitoring Systems (RMS), nuclear safeguards, nuclear waste management, advanced physics research and environmental radiochemistry. For more information please visit: www.canberra.com
Carrier Emergency is the full service E-One fire apparatus dealer covering Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Ontario.Offering sales, parts and service in all markets - for sales contact Dave Purdie and for parts contact Derek Sittler on our toll free number.
CET FIRE PUMPS MFG.
75, rue Hector, C.P.90, Pierreville, QC J0G 1J0
Tel:450-568-2719 Fax:450-568-2613
Toll Free:1-888-844-2285
e-mail:cet@qc.aira.com
Dominic Maillet, Stephen Thibault Manufacturer of portable fire pumps, Drop-In-Unit, CAFS, Quick attack unit, Brush trucks, aerials and ground ladders.
Cochran is a provider of state-of-the-art Thermal Imagers for fire, search and rescue, and police special operations. Cochran manufactures both Hands-Free and Hand-Held Thermal Imagers.
Cochran’s Imagers are used worldwide and used by the major cruise lines as part of their fire fighting and rescue programs.
CODE 4 FIRE & RESCUE INC.
2359 Royal Windsor Dr., # 4, Mississauga, ON L5T 4S9
Tel:905-823-1177 Fax:905-823-1921
Toll Free:1-800-387-2286
e-mail:chris@code4.com OR linda-nbbpai@nbnet.nb.ca website:www.code4.com
Chris Christie, Linda Patterson
Please call Linda at 1-800-665-4900 for all your “Hurst’’Extrication needs! Service, Sales and Training. Proudly Serving Those Who Serve Others
We supply products that exceed the needs of our customers (Law Enforcement, Military and First Responders) with functional innovation while delivering exceptional value.Our line of clothing, boots and accessories are designed for comfort, functionality and usability.
CUMINGS’FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT LTD.
668 King St., Bridgewater, NS B4V 1B4
Tel:902-543-9839 Fax:902-543-7830
Toll Free:1-800-440-3442
e-mail:kylej@cumings.ca website:www.cumings.ca
Gary Dodge, Kyle Johnstone
Proud to be celebrating over 25 years, we sell a wide variety of fire fighting & safety equipment, fire extinguisher service/recharging, workwear & footwear. Cumings ...your suppliers of quality.
Manufacturers of The MULTI-CUT Fire Rescue Saw with patented BULLET Chain, Concrete Cutting Chainsaw with Diamond Chain and a Rotary Rescue Saw with choice of Black Star DiamondBlade, the Longest Lasting Diamond Bladeor The Black Lightning Blade, the Fastest Cutting Diamond Blade Available.
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
D&R ELECTRONICS CO.LTD.
8820 George Bolton Parkway, Bolton, ON L7E 2Y4
Tel:905-951-9997 Fax:905-951-0019
e-mail:michael@dandrelectronics.com
website:www.dandrelectronics.com
Michael Lucarelli, Colin Bennett
D&R ELECTRONICS CO.LTD.is a CANADIAN designer/manufacturer/distributor/installer of in vehicle equipment consoles, computer mounts/docking stations, strobe light kits, high-intensity L.E.D.lighting, sirens and light control systems for FIRE/EMS vehicles.We are also a major distributor/warranty/service centre for several other emergency vehicle equipment manufacturers from the U.S.such as FEDERAL SIGNAL.We can supply complete vehicle equipment packages for installation by the end user or they can take advantage of having the equipment installed in house by our trained and qualified installation team.
John Darch, Susan Miller, Todd Finnie Fire truck parts, service and sales.
Darch Fire is your source for fire apparatus, all-terrain emergency response vehicles, parts for most makes and models of fire apparatus as well as full service capabilities in our shop or your fire hall.
Darch Fire sells and services fire pumps, nozzles, monitors, emergency warning lights and sirens, hose, hazmat decon shelters, auto extrication cribbing, compartment tiling, flashlights, porta-tanks, boats, hand tools, scene lights, equipment mounting brackets and much more!
Design & manufacture custom fire pumpers, rescues, tankers, aerials, haz-mat, air-lighting units, minis, EMS & police support vehicles & equipment.Collision & restoration estimates, complete on-site vehicle collision & restoration, large custom paint shop. Apparatus repairs & MTO certification.Spartan Dealer, Freightliner, Sterling, International, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, Ford, General Motors chassis.Sales. Service & parts for Hale, Darley & Waterous pumps. Extensive parts inventory.Sales & repairs of all makes of Emergency lighting, hose, nozzles & fire related equipment.Friendly, courteous & knowledgeable one stop shopping for fire apparatus & related jequipment since 1975.
Manufacturer of the SafeTSystem, a complete compressed air cylinder storage and handling system for SCBA cylinders and O2 cylinders.Providing safe, secure, apparatus and station storage, as well as providing safe, efficient manual handling capabilities. Addressing huge health and safety issues, and saving your department money.
E-ONE,INC.
1601 S.W.37th Ave., Ocala, FL 34474
Tel:352-237-1122 Fax:352-237-1151
e-mail:info@e-one.com website:www.e-one.com
CANADIAN DEALERS: Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario & Nunavut: Carriere Fire & Safety, Craig Warren, 369 Archibald St., Winnipeg, MB R2J 0W6 Tel:204-233-3737, Fax:204-237-7675; Ontario and Atlantic Canada: Carrier Emergency Equipment, Dave Purdie, 6 Edmondson St., Brantford, ON N3T 5N3, Tel:519-752-5431; Quebec:Techno Feu Inc., Robert Traversy, Jacques Boisvert, 105 route Marie-Victorin, St.Francois du Lac, QC J0G 1M0, Tel:450-568-2777, Fax:450-568-0211.
EASTWAY EMERGENCY VEHICLES
1995 Merivale Rd., Ottawa, ON K2G 1G1 Tel:613-226-1525 Fax:613-226-6499
e-mail:easby@eastway911.com OR ngreene@eastway911.com website:www.eastway911.com
Ray Easby, Neil Greene
Eastway Emergency Vehicles designs and manufactures Fire Apparatus for both major urban centers and small volunteer Fire Departments.Each unit is built with the same attention to detail, ensuring quality, strength and durability.
Complete product lines of Pumpers, Tankers, Rescue, Wildland and HazMat vehicles is available.
All manufacturing is done at our Ottawa facility. Used fire trucks are available, each with factory certification and warranty.
Collision repairs and refurbs are performed with quick turn around, thus minimizing vehicle down time. Financing is available with competitive rates and flexible payment terms.
Eastway Emergency Vehicles is proud to be celebrating 39 years as a 100% Canadian family owned and operated business.
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
EXTRICATION TECHNOLOGY INC.
5 Braemore Road, Brampton, ON L6X 1E4
Tel:519-421-9179 Fax:519-421-3401
e-mail:jdinnis@bellnet.ca
OR paulinnis@bellnet.ca
website:www.extricationtechnology.com
John Innis, Paul Innis
Extrication Technology is a unique company providing equipment and training to the Fire, Police, Military and Rescue Agencies throughout Canada. We represent several worldwide rescue tool manufacturers and provide unique training in building collapse, trench rescue and auto extrication.Our manufacturers profile include Holmatro Rescue Equipment, Ajax Rescue Hammers, ESS Goggles and Glasses, Ringers Gloves, BlueiUK Lights, Matterhorn Boots, Junk Yard Dog Struts, DeWalt, HIlti and other user friendly products.We maintain a high standard of customer service and continue to adopt new products and services as needed.Extrication Technology is an Ontario based company since 2002.
FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
2645 Federal Signal Dr., University Park, IL 60466
Tel:708-534-3400 Fax:708-534-4727
Toll Free:1-800-264-3578
e-mail:fireinfo@fedsig.com website:www.fedsig.com
Jim Sortino, Market Mgr.
Headquartered in University Park, IL, Federal Signal Corporation’s Safety and Security Systems Group is a leader in enhancing public safety, security and well-being in communities around the world.
Total-system solutions from Federal Signal help law enforcement, fire rescue and EMS, and emergency management leaders protect people, property and the environment every day.Canadian Dealers:FIDES Marketing, Tel:514-426-5262 Fax 514-426-1982
Ontario dealer for Starfield-Lion Protective Apparel, Angus Fire Hose & Foam, and CET Portable Fire Pumps.Call today for prompt service and competitive pricing!
FIRE-DEX,INC.
780 South Progress Dr., Medina, OH 44256
Tel:330-723-0000 Ext.329 Fax:330-723-0035
e-mail:heidi@firedex.com OR steve@firedex.com website:www.firedex.com
Heidi Sweeney; Steve Bonamer, Natl.Sales & Mktg.Mgr.
FP 2 saves you time and makes your job easier FP 2 easy to use, easy to get the records, fast FP 2 time-management made easy
FirePro 2 has been used successfully by Fire Departments across Canada for more than fifteen years;we are pleased to refer you to all of them. 1-866-526-0059 www.ingenioussoftware.com
FIRE FIGHTING IN CANADA/
CANADIAN FIREFIGHTER/EMS QUARTERLY PO Box 530, 105 Donly Dr.S., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Canada’s Premier facility dedicated exclusively to providing the best in bunker gear cleaning, assessing, decontamination and repair.NFPA 1851 compliant, ISO 9001:2000 registered, ETL verified for repair of moisture barrier fabrics.
Locations:Calgary, Toronto, Detroit.
FIRST ALARM ACCESSORIES LTD.
157 Sitka Dr., Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3C1
Tel:780-715-3424 Fax:780-713-2547
Toll Free:1-877-306-6568
e-mail:rwenners@shaw.ca website:www.firstalarm.ca
Rick Wennerstrom
Authorized distributor for Starfield-Lion products, American Firewear gloves, balaclavas and suspenders.Protective clothing for Fire, EMS and Rescue.
First Sentinel Technologies web software tools provide the latest in improved building data collection/communication and firefighter safety. eZpreplan allows you to develop comprehensive pre-incident plans faster than you ever thought possible plus provides quick recall during an emergency.Ask about our new eZpreplan Tactical Worksheet and Visual Incident Reporting. Call for a short online demonstration.
Full line supplier of mobile, portable & fixed hazmat decon showers, shelters, surge capacity systems and accessories.Also offer rescue boats, PPV fans, and EMS supplies such as the FSI Transporter Disposable Backboards, triage tape and FSI medical cots.
GLAS-MASTER/WEHR ENGINEERING
8192 W.700 N., Fairland, IN 46126-9507
Tel:317-835-7824 Fax:317-835-2992
Toll Free:1-800-457-4527 OR 1-800-205-3473
e-mail:wehrresqn@aol.com OR dstone@ajstone.com website:www.glasmaster.com OR www.ajstone.com
Kyle Wehr, Bill or Debbie Stone;A.J.Stone, Ltd.
The 1999 Harvey Grant Excellence in Rescue Award Recipient and the company that developed THE extrication tools, GLAS-MASTER and COLUMMASTER, used by winners at the International and World extrication competitions.Now has a complete line of rescue knives.
Introducing G-XTREME from the company that invented turnout gear ...Built not only to provide maximum protection and durability, but also designed to move the way the human body moves –without restriction – enabling you to push the limits of performance, with less stress and less fatigue.Globe Firefighter Suits:Turnout the world’s best.
HASTINGS BRASS FOUNDRY LTD.
236 Clark Dr., Vancouver, BC V5L 3H3
Tel:604-253-2811 Fax:604-253-3133
Toll Free:1-800-653-2811
e-mail:hasbra@telus.net
Robert Worner
HASBRA FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT - Serving the Firefighting Community Through Quality Distributors Since 1916.
HAZARD CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
15-75 Bayly Street West, Suite 391, Ajax, ON L1S 7K7
Tel:905-668-2522
Fax:905-668-3122
e-mail:bcarter@hct-world.com
website:www.hct-world.com
Bob Carter
Hazard Control Technologies manufactures a complete line of fire suppression products, including F-500 and our new Pinnacle CLASS A fire fighting foams.We offer specialized equipment, training programs and a complete range of De-con and HazMat equipment, positioning us as a leading solutions provider.
HIGHWATER HOSE INC.
285 St.Jean St.W., East Angus, QC J0B 1R0
Fax:819-832-4340
Toll Free:1-888-832-4310
e-mail:hoseman@mindspring.com
website:www.highwaterhose.com
Worldwide supplier of Layflat Fire and Industrial Hoses.
Manufacturer of hydraulic, pneumatic and manually operated rescue equipment.
HUB FIRE ENGINES & EQUIPMENT LTD.
PO Box 10, 3175 McCallum Rd., Abbotsford, BC V2T 6Z4
Tel:604-859-3124 Fax:604-859-5821
Toll Free:1-888-611-2896
e-mail:info@hubfire.com website:www.hubfire.com
Canada’s oldest fire apparatus manufacturer with a full parts facility and on site mobile service.
INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Unit 1A, 153 Pembina Road, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0B9
Tel:780-467-2423 Fax:780-467-2105
e-mail:info@indsci.com website:www.indsci.com
Industrial Scientific Corporation is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, selling and servicing gas monitoring instruments, systems and related products.
INNOTEX INC.is a North American leader in the development, manufacturing and distribution of high quality Firefighter Suits.INNOTEX;Protection Through Innovation™.
There is only one camera capable of imaging temperatures up to 2000˚F - ISG’s K1000 ELITE. Engineered with the extra headroom firefighters need to make safe decisions - FAST. ISG focuses all of it’s efforts in developing, manufacturing and repairing its own cameras,ensuring the lowest cost of ownership.
PRIORITIZE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY!
JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BC –Fire & Safety Division
Maple Ridge Campus, 13500 - 256th St., Maple Ridge, BC V4R 1C9
Tel:604-462-1000
Toll Free:1-888-844-0445
e-mail:gmetcalfe@jibc.bc.ca
website:www.jibc.ca/fire
Greg Metcalfe
The JIBC is a world leader in education and training. Renowned for our hands-on, simulation-based educational approach, we offer a range of courses and programs, ranging from pre-employment training to a Bachelors Degree in Fire and Safety Studies.
KIDDE CANADA INC.– Angus Fire Division
340 Four Valley Drive, Vaughan, ON L4K 5Z1
Tel:905-695-6060 Fax:905-660-4670
Toll Free:1-800-667-0423
website:www.kiddecanada.com
Contact Us:Derek Roy, Vice-President, ext.6075 (derek.roy@kiddecanada.com); Jeremy Laviolette, Western Canada Sales Representative, ext.6268, (jeremy.laviolette@kiddecanada.com); Mike Calderone, Ontario, Manitoba & Atlantic Sales Representative, ext.6070 (mike.calderone@kiddecanada.com); Barry Coldwell, Inside Sales, ext.6245 (barry.coldwell@kiddecanada.com); Louis-Paul Comiré, Inside Sales, ext.6255 (louis-paul.comire@kiddecanada.com)
The legacy of Angus Fire goes back over 200 years. Tradition, combined with innovation has allowed Angus to become the world leader in the manufacture of fire fighting equipment.
Canada’s first choice in high quality hoses and foam products, the Angus Fire brand offers performance second-to-none, while Kidde Canada’s sales and technical support team ensure the legendary Angus Fire service level is maintained to the highest industry standards.
At Kochek, we take pride in manufacturing only the finest quality strainers, fittings, adapters, suction hose systems and other specialty equipment to meet a wide variety of water transfer needs.Our Canadian warehouse is now well stocked to expedite shipments across the country.Laura Kenyon looks forward to the opportunity to assist your industry or fire department in protecting the lives and homes in your community.For more information about Kochek products contact Laura.
LAMBTON COLLEGE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING CENTRE
1457 London Rd., Sarnia, ON N7S 6K4
Tel:519-336-4552 ext.21 Fax:519-336-4537
Toll Free:1-800-791-7887
e-mail:carol@lambton.on.ca
website:www.lambton.on.ca/fertc
Dale Wales, Carol McAdam, Paul Phillips
Visit our website:www.lambton.on.ca/fertc
We offer short-term courses in:
•industrial and municipal fire fighting
•Hazmat - awareness, operations, technician, technician refresher, tank car specialist levels
•Gasoline Tanker Rollover
•Confined Space Entry/Rescue
•Incident Management
•Custom Training to meet Specific Client Needs
We also offer certificate and diploma programs.
LPG EMERGENCY RESPONSE CORP.
800, 717-7th Ave.SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0Z3
Tel:403-543-6092 Fax:403-543-6099
e-mail:scott@lpgerc.ca website:www.lpgerc.ca
Scott Blaney, General Manager
The LPGERC is an Emergency Response organization for compressed gas incidents.This is a private organization that responds to any of its Plan Participants anywhere in Canada.For more information call 1-403-543-6092 or visit our website at www.lpgerc.ca
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
M&L SUPPLY
14935 County Road 2, PO Box 269, Ingleside, ON K0C 1M0
Tel:613-537-9559 Fax:613-537-9449
Toll Free:1-866-445-3473
e-mail:markp@mnlsupply.com
website:www.mnlsupply.com
Mark Prendergast, President
At M&L Supply, Fire & Safety, we pride ourselves in being able to offer our customers top quality products and exceptional customer service. We are a team of 8 Sales Representatives knowledgeable about the equipment we sell and experienced in their use in real life situations.
As part of our commitment to customer service, M&L Supply is proud to offer certified technicians for the service and repair of Amkus Extrication Equipment and Task Force Tips Nozzles as well as a mobile service for Scott AirPaks®.We are also pleased to provide quantitative fit testing to assist departments in meeting the requirements of their individual respiratory protection programs. Check us out on the web at www.mnlsupply.com and find out what we can do for you.
Ryan Stacey, CET, Sales & Marketing Manager Manufacturer of Fire Department pumpers, tankers and rescue vehicles.Serving all of Canada and the Northern New England states.
MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
5535 Eglinton Ave.W., Ste.222, Toronto, ON M9C 5K5
Nick Weatherston, Owner/Manager; Scott Weatherston, Sales Mgr.; Mary Baker, Accts.Payable/Receivable; Bernie Ryan, Shipping & Receiving; Paul Campbell, Government Sales; Doug Wilson, Inside Sales; Dwayne Young, Inside Sales; Emile O’Brien, Outside Sales, Shediac, NB;Andre Grandmaison, Outside Sales, Edmunston, NB (Holmatro Sales & Service Technician);Carla & Jim Brown, Outside Sales, Oak Bay, NB;Roland LeBlanc, Outside Sales, Halifax, NS;Walter Wilson, Outside Sales, Halifax, NS;Karen Weatherston, Mktg.; Kevin Arsenault, Purchasing;Trent MacLean, Service Technician;Chris Quartermain, Holmatro Sales & Service Technician; Henk Engels, Pierce Truck Specialist; Steve Rogers, Pierce Truck Specialist; Denis Ward, Branch Mgr., Newfoundland & Labrador; Rick DeHann, Inside/Outside Sales;Jim Peddle, Inside/Outside Sales
Micmac Fire & Safety Ltd.has been located in Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia since 1984.We provide products to Fire Departments, Hazmat Teams, Government, EMS and Police Departments, etc.We presently have a staff of 20 people and service all of Atlantic Canada.Most of our knowledgeable representatives have over 25 years experience in the Fire & Safety business.
Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of sophisticated safety products that protect people’s health and safety.Sophisticated safety products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations.The company’s comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, homeland security, construction and other industries, as well as the military.Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, respirators and thermal imaging cameras.The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels.These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand.MSA has annual sales of approximately $914 million, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe, and more than 40 international locations.Additional information is available on the company’s Website at www.msanet.com.
MORNING PRIDE/TOTAL FIRE GROUP
74 Panamount View NW, Calgary, AB T3K 0A8 Tel:403-697-0603 Fax:403-697-0514
Total Fire Group is a team of dedicated, experienced, fire service technical Marketing professionals.We represent the leading products in the emergency and fire service fields.Our mission statement is to market unique, high-quality, value-in-use products with an emphasis on quality, safety, innovation, integrity and service.
North American based Total Fire Group, with offices in Calgary and Windsor, encompasses a whole family of synergistic companies including:
•Morning Pride Manufacturing Protective Clothing and Helmets, Fire-Warrior Helmet Mounted Micro Thermal Imaging Cameras and Kore Kooler Rehab Chairs.
•PRO-Warrington Firefighter Footwear, Ranger Firefighter Footwear and Servus Firefighter Footwear.
Nederman Magna Systems - Unbeatable exhaust extraction solutions.The vast majority of fire stations in Canada rely on Nederman to protect their people from harmful exhaust fumes.The Nederman Magna System is designed specifically for emergency vehicles.No matter what the size of your station or frequency of emergency calls - we can provide an exhaust extraction solution to meet your needs.
NORTHLINE COUPLING SYSTEMS
6350-4/5 Netherhart Road, Mississauga, ON L5T 1B8
Fax:905-564-8822
Toll Free:1-800-786-9697
e-mail:info@northlinecplgs.com
website:www.northlinecplgs.com
Dean Lester
Northline’s strong core of experienced people will respond to customer needs and understand the market that we provide our product to.Northline is a Canadian based manufacturing facility offering:LDH hardware, suction hose, strainers, Storz adapters, threaded fittings and dry fire hydrant products.Please contact us with questions that you may have.We value your commitment to Northline products and look forward to working with you.
ONSPOT OF NORTH AMERICA,INC.
555 Lordship Blvd., Stratford, CT 06615-7124
Tel:203-377-0777 Fax:203-380-0441
Toll Free:1-800-766-7768
e-mail:onspot@onspot.com
website:www.onspot.com
Patrick D.Freyer, President
This system permanently fastens to the vehicle’s rear suspension and allows the operator to engage and disengage tire chains at the flip of a dashboard switch without stopping, to enhance traction and braking in forward or reverse.
NFPA
c/o Annex BookStore, PO Box 530, 105 Donly Dr.S., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Niedner has been manufacturing fire hose for industrial, municipal and forestry uses as well as different specialty items for over 110 years.
NOVA SCOTIA FIREFIGHTERS SCHOOL
48 Powder Mill Rd., Waverley, NS B2R 1E9
Tel:902-861-3823 Fax:902-860-0255
or Toll Free:1-866-399-FIRE (3473)
Toll Free:1-866-861-3823
e-mail:nsfs@accesswave.ca
website:www.nsfs.ns.ca
John Cunningham, Executive Director
Providing high quality training for emergency responders for over 40 years.We offer a full range of courses to meet all of your training requirements.We are distributors of IFSTA, Brady, Pennwell, Delmar and Sling Link products.
Ontario Fire Truck Inc.is Ontario’s first choice for Fire Apparatus Sales & Service.We offer you the finest repairs in the industry, with fully licensed & insured mechanics, mobile service with fully stocked repair vehicles.Offering you 24 hour, 7 days a week service. Ontario Fire Truck Inc.is the Authorized Sales and Service Center in Canada for Seagrave.We are also the Canadian repair centre for Elkhart Brass firefighting nozzles and appliances.We are your first call for Fire Apparatus Service, Sales and testing.
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
PATRIAE MARKETING INC.
1080 34e Ave., Montreal, QC H8P 3A2
Tel:514-595-1142Fax:514-595-0511
Toll Free:1-866-595-1142
e-mail:mbiernat@ican.net
Mark Biernat, President www.hypropumps.com www.waterousco.com www.phoschek.com www.tridentdirect.com www.fireresearch.com
PIERCE MANUFACTURING
PO Box 2017, Appleton, WI 54912-2017
Tel:920-832-3231 Fax:920-832-3084
website:www.piercemfg.com
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE:OSK), is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, mini-pumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus.In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protection™ System to fire apparatus.To learn more about Pierce, visit http://www.piercemfg.com
Remove dangerous diesel exhaust from your firehouse with Plymovent® Vehicle Exhaust Capture and Removal Systems.From existing stations to new design-built, our automatic start-up and disconnect Source Capture Systems are the recommended method for controlling exhaust emissions at your station.A global company with offices (including PlymoVent Canada, Inc.) and distributors in over 45 countries and over 50,000 installations, PlymoVent has a system designed to meet your station’s needs.
POK OF NORTH AMERICA INC.
5461 Moose Lodge Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613
Tel:410-901-9900 Fax:410-901-9160
e-mail:info@pokfire.com website:www.pokfire.com
Jean-Marc Tassé
POK is a worldwide company in business for 30 years supplying over 2500 products in the area of firefighting, fire suppression equipment, monitors, nozzles, valves, foam equipment, brackets.
ResQtech’s mission from the outset has been to provide QUALITY products to the fire industry backed by QUALITY people providing QUALITY service. Utilizing 22 years of knowledge and experience in the fire industry, ResQtech is able to provide its customers with a complete line of firefighting solutions that meet their every need.
National Uniform and Equipment supplier.Specializing in uniform clothing, insignia, footwear and flashlights. Six retail locations to better serve our customers.For more info visit www.rnicholls.com
READY RACK BY GROVES INCORPORATED
818 Trakk Lane, Woodstock, IL 60098
Tel:815-337-9780 Fax:815-338-8640
Toll Free:1-800-991-2120
e-mail:sales@groves.com website:www.readyrack.com
John Groves
Manufacturers of Turnout Gear Storage Systems, Hose Storage Racks and SCBA Storage and Transportation Systems.
REALTIME TECHNOLOGY GROUP/XTRACK
5800 Ambler Drive, Ste.110, Mississauga, ON L4W 4J4
Tel:905-625-9907 Fax:905-625-9260
Toll Free:1-888-640-8975
e-mail:info@xtrack.com website:www.xtrack.com
John Strang
RealTime Technology Group is the developer of the XTrack Accountability and Inventory System.XTrack is an electronic, bar code driven fire service personnel accountability, equipment inventory and training attendance system.
Your complete source for MSA SCBA, Thermal Imaging, Protective Clothing, Suppression Tools and Equipment.Visit our online catalogue at www.rockymountainphoenix.com
John Witt, Corporate Office; Brian Dunn, Ontario: Tel:519-336-0307 Fax:519-336-2758
Serving Canada’s Emergency Services Coast To Coast With A Complete Line Of Fire, Rescue, Ambulance and Specialty Emergency Vehicles For Fire, EMS and Police Agencies.
SAFETY SOURCE LTD.
518 St.Mary’s St., Unit 1, Fredericton, NB E3A 8H5
Tel:506-453-1995 Fax:506-453-9985
Toll Free:1-800-561-1995
e-mail:safsou@nbnet.nb.ca
Tony Henderson, Ross Henderson
Full line fire equipment distributor specializing in ISG thermal cameras, Starfield-Lion clothing, POK and Elkhart nozzles, Snap-Tite Hose, Scott Breathing Apparatus/service centre.
SEATS CANADA INC.
1581 Matheson Blvd., Mississauga, ON L4W 1H9 Tel:905-238-5843 Fax:905-629-7822
We offer a complete line of quality Emergency Vehicle seating for driver, officer, crew, wall mount and jump seats.Engineered for comfort and safety, these seats have easy exit flip-up split headrest and are manufactured in a wide variety of covering material.
SPECTRUM NASCO
150 Pony Drive, Newmarket, ON L3Y 7B6
Tel:905-898-0031, ext.4918
Fax:905-898-0035
Toll Free:1-800-668-0600
e-mail:shaywood@spectrumed.com
website:www.spectrumed.com
Stacey Haywood, Health Care Catalogue Director Spectrum Nasco’s catalogue is dedicated to the training of firefighters and EMS workers and is committed to providing the finest educational materials from around the world.
Inside our catalogue you will find the complete line of Life/form and Simulaids training manikins and simulators manufactured by Nasco.These products are known worldwide for their high degree of realism. We have also included other products that have proven to be exceptional training devices. Wishing you continued success in the important work that you do.
SPERIAN PROTECTION
900 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Tel:401-757-2102
e-mail:achambers@SperianProtection.com
Anne Chambers
Sperian Fire is a division of Sperian Protection. The Sperian Fire group (formerly Survivair®, Biosystems™ and Securitex®) is committed to offering easy-to-use, tested and proven, high performance respiratory, protective apparel and instrumentation products to fire and emergency service professionals.
STARFIELD - LION COMPANY
1020 Lawrence Ave.West, Toronto, ON M6A 1C8
Tel:416-789-4354 Fax:416-789-5475
Toll Free:1-800-473-5553
e-mail:infos-l@lionapparel.com
website:www.starfieldlion.com
Peggy Curtis, Vice President;Francesca Solano, Marketing & Merchandising Co-ordinator;Rosanne Kalenuik, Administrative Manager. Fire Fighter and Emergency Responder Protective Clothing:
•Proudly Canadian made
•Compliant with NFPA, CGSB standards for firefighter clothing
We build:
*Bunker Gear
*Fire Retardant Station Clothing
*Coveralls
*Wildland Fire Fighting Garments and much more For information on availability or to obtain our full-line catalogue, please contact us today at 1-800-473-5553
STC FOOTWEAR
341 Sheldon Dr., Unit D, Cambridge, ON N1T 1B1 Tel:519-621-3182 Fax:519-621-3585
STC Footwear is a Canadian Manufacturer of NFPA 1971 2007 Edition Structural leather fire fighting boots.Our boots are made in Montreal.They exceed CSA Grade One toe, plate and ESR standards as well as meet the latest NFPA standard.They use Crosstech fabric and the latest Vibram Fire & Ice soles as well as non-metallic puncture proof midsoles.
Central Canada:David W.Mellor; Atlantic Canada:Bert Fusk, Product Consultant;20 Clara Drive, Killarney Road, NB E3A 9L5 Tel:506-458-9463, Fax:506-458-9463, e-mail:bert@stokes-int.com; Pacific Canada:Mal Wood, Product Consultant, 33066 Whidden Avenue, Mission, BC V2V 2T2 Tel:604-302-2613, Fax:604-826-7850, e-mail:mal@stokes-int.com; Quebec:HQ Distribution Inc., Barbara Krzywoszanski, 3551 St.Charles Blvd., Ste.551, Beaconsfield, QC H9H 3C4 Tel:514-667-7034, Fax:514-667-7104, e-mail:barbara@hqdistribution.com
STREAMLIGHT
30 Eagleville Rd., Eagleville, PA 19403 Tel:610-631-0600 Fax:610-631-0712 website:www.streamlight.com
2008 NATIONAL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
SUPER VACUUM MFG.CO.INC.
Box 87, Loveland, CO 80539
Tel:970-667-5146
Fax:970-667-4296
Toll Free:1-800-525-5224
e-mail:rogerw@supervac.com
website:www.supervac.com
Roger Weinmeister
Full line of emergency ventilation products including P.P.V., Smoke Ejection, Confined Space and HazMat Units from 8”to 80”in diameter.Also Rescue Saws, Smoke Machines, Tent Heaters and other Accessories.
SUTPHEN CORPORATION
PO Box 158, Amlin, OH 43002
Tel:614-889-1005
Fax:614-889-0874
Toll Free:1-800-726-7030
e-mail:sutphen@sutphencorp.com
website:www.sutphen.com
Dan Sutphen
Sutphen is a world class manufacturer of high quality custom fire apparatus.We feature a complete line of products from commercial pumpers to fully custom engines and rescues and aerial platforms.
SVI Trucks is the Fire and Police Industry’s Premier Builder of Custom Rescue, Haz-Mat, Air/Light, Command/Communications, and Bomb/Swat Vehicles for over 30 years.Built on Custom or Commercial Cab/Chassis.
TASK FORCE TIPS,INC.
2800 E.Evans Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383-6940
Tel:219-462-6161 Fax:219-464-7155
Toll Free:1-800-348-2686
e-mail:lll@tft.com website:www.tft.com
Rod Carringer, V.P.Sales & Mktg.; Larry Linton, Canadian Mgr. Task Force Tips is a world wide leader in providing First Responders with high quality, innovative agent delivery solutions.Our leading distributors are: BC, AB, SK, NU, YKWFR Wholesale Fire & Rescue, 1-800-561-0400; MB - ABC Fire & Safety 1-800-665-1250; ON - M & L Fire & Safety (South), 1-866-445-3473, Superior Safety Sales (North), 1-800-465-6822; QC - Boivin & Gauvin Inc., 1-800-463-1590; PEI, NB, NS - Polaris Fire & Safety, 902-466-3473; NL - Micmac Fire & Safety, 1-888-941-6224
Manufacture and development of fire fighting foamsAlcohol Resistant, AFFF, Class A, Training Foams as well as Wetting Agents, Foam Control Agents and Fluorosurfactants.
As the trusted industry leader, CROSSTECH® products are field-proven to provide the highest performance and value.Certified manufacturers incorporate CROSSTECH® products into structural firefighting turnouts, gloves, and boots, EMS clothing, and search and rescue garments.
WATEROUS COMPANY
125 Hardman Ave.S., South St.Paul, MN 55075
Tel:651-450-5000 Fax:651-450-5090
e-mail:hngee@waterousco.com
website:www.waterousco.com
Gregg Geske, Heinz Gee, Steve Toren. Canadian Representative:Mark Biernat, Toll Free:1-866-595-1142
Manufacturer of fire pumps and compressed air foam systems.
WFR is a stocking warehouse distributor as well as a manufacturer of a complete line of fire and rescue equipment, supplying Western Canadian fire departments with a full line of equipment for all their needs.We are the exclusive distributor of the Pierce line of fire trucks for Western Canada.
ZIAMATIC CORP.(ZICO)
10 West College Ave., PO Box 337, Yardley, PA 19067-8337
The ZICO-2007 catalog features the “EZ-Out’’ Walkaway Bracket, the new Hydraulic Ladder Access System, Rapid Tool Guard and the “D’’ Cylinder Bracket.For the most curren information about Ziamatic Corp.products visit our website at www.ziamatic.com or call us toll free at 1-800-711-FIRE.
Since the 1st edition of Essentials of Fire Fighting was released in 1978, more than 2 million firefighters have been trained by this manual. That is why this manual is commonly referred to as “the Bible” on basic firefighter skills, and its information is commonly accepted as the standard for firefighting knowledge and skills in North America and beyond.
This 5th edition represents a complete revision of this text to include the latest information on safe and proper basic firefighting techniques. This manual includes all of the information needed to meet the firefighting requirements for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, (2008 edition), Fire Fighter Levels I and II.
Item#: 36538
Edition
Updated to reflect the 2008 edition of NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, this dynamic, full-colour training text from NFPA and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) prepares students for the jobs of Fire Fighter Level I and Level II. The 2nd edition of Fundamentals thoroughly addresses the entire spectrum of job performance requirements as well as the latest knowledge and skill objectives.
Major changes in the 2008 edition of Fundamentals include:
• A new Fire Fighter Safety chapter which focuses on the issues, trends, and concerns specifically related to firefighter safety –including coverage of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s “Everyone Goes Home” initiatives
• New feature relating to National Fire Fighters “Near-Miss Reporting System” that uses real incident data to showcase lessons learned
• Reorganized instructor resource materials that allows instructors to access teaching resources by level
Item#: RES19308
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CUSTOM TRAINING PROGRAMS:
MESC will provide custom design training programs. Other courses available include: Building standards, Rescue program, Emergency Medical, Management Program, Fire Prevention, Public Safety and Hazardous Material. Manitoba Emergency Services College, Brandon, Manitoba, phone: (204) 726-6855.
FIREFIGHTER CAREER TRAINING: Fire services career preparation Certificate recruit training program. Business leadership for the fire services. Courses available: Fire Prevention, Fire Suppression, HazMat, Emergency First Responder, Search and Rescue. For more details call Durham College,Whitby, Ontario or call Don Murdock at (905) 721-3111 ext. 4069.
LIVE FIRE FIGHTING EXPERIENCE: Short and long term courses available, Municipal and Industrial fire fighting. Incident Command System, Emergency Response/HazMat, three year Fire Science Technology Diploma program. Lambton College, Sarnia, Ontario, call 1-800-791-7887 or www.lambton.on. ca/p_c/technology/fire_emerg_resp.htm. Enroll today!
BY PETER SELLS District Chief
FLASHPOINT
Is fire fighting a profession or a skilled trade?
Iremember when I first got my passport that I had to get the photo verified by a guarantor who was someone who had known me for at least two years and was a member of one of a specific set of occupations. “Medical doctor” being on the list, I got my photo verified by my wife’s cousin, whom I have referred to ever since as “my gynecologist”. But I always wondered why doctors, lawyers, judges and the like were trustworthy enough to provide this service, but a fire captain or fire chief was not.
The occupations listed as guarantors were all either officers of the court (magistrates, notaries public, police officers) or members of “the professions” (doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, pharmacists, etc.). What distinguishes a profession from an occupation from just a plain old job? According to the New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, a profession is the transformation of a trade or occupation through “the development of formal qualifications based upon education and examinations, the emergence of regulatory bodies with powers to admit and discipline members, and some degree of monopoly rights.”
Based on those criteria, I have to question whether fire fighting can be considered a profession. Now, before the villagers come storming up the hill by torchlight, that does not mean that firefighters cannot exhibit and exemplify professionalism. The two terms do not mean exactly the same thing. Professionalization, which is the transformation process referred to above, requires a series of steps: the activity must become a full-time occupation; training schools must be established with links to universities; professional organizations must be formed; legal support for exclusion must be gained; and a formal code of ethics must be created.
thereof”. So far, so good. A “certified trade” is a trade which the Lieutenant Governor in Council has designated as such, and may have provisions for separate branches or classifications within the trade. Once a trade is certified in this way, “No person, other than an apprentice or a person of a class that is exempt from this section . . . shall work or be employed in a certified trade unless he or she holds a subsisting certificate of qualification in the certified trade.”
There are certification systems for firefighters in every jurisdiction across North America, but to my knowledge, none is as stringent or exclusive as the certified trade process outlined in the legislation described above. We have been reaching for the stars of professionalism, and all the while a process is in place across the trades of the construction industry that we have not pursued. We have been equating our qualifications with those of doctors and lawyers, whereas we have yet to achieve the same status as glaziers, stone masons or (ironically) sprinkler installers.
If as an industry we are truly committed to a process of professionalization, there would be no better place to start than to work towards the designation of fire fighting as a certified trade. Separate branches or classifications could be developed to reflect specific skill sets, so that a hazmat technician or technical rescue specialist could
We have no exclusive rights to practise fire fighting, and no specific firefighting code of ethics.
Fire fighting has been a full-time occupation for centuries. Some of our training organizations are accredited through post-secondary institutions and momentum is building in that direction. We have professional organizations in the sense that is meant here, but only at the upper ranks of our industry (ie; International Association of Fire Chiefs). We have no exclusive rights to practise fire fighting, and no specific firefighting code of ethics.
So if fire fighting does not meet the criteria of a profession, can we at least consider it a skilled trade? Well, according to the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act of Ontario, a trade “includes an industry, craft, occupation, vocation or business or any branch
District Chief Peter Sells writes, speaks and consults on fire service management and professional development across North America and internationally. He holds a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the University of Windsor.He sits on the advisory councils of the Ontario Fire College and the Institution of Fire Engineers Canada Branch.
be specifically qualified and remunerated as such. Towns requiring only paid-on-call personnel with basic firefighting and auto extrication skills could have a means of defining their needs and controlling their costs. And officer qualifications could be made to be rigorous and meaningful, so we could finally rise above the ridiculous concept of promotion by seniority.
Unless and until we achieve such levels of technical expertise, academic rigor and quality assurance as are required of ironworkers and steamfitters, the term “professional firefighter” will mean little more in reality than “professional hockey player” or “professional musician”. Getting paid only means that you have a job.
The passport application system has since changed, by the way, so that any passport holder can act as guarantor for another. I believe this to be a positive step, since the practice of a family doctor charging $20 to sign the back of my kids’ photos always struck me as highly unprofessional.
