FFIC - November 2025

INSIDE

10 BEYOND BUCKLE UP

Merging

Julie Fitz-Gerald

From

By David Silverberg

Why

By Luigi Davoli

Addressing

By Len Garis and Todd Schierling

COMMAND PRESENCE

By Dave Robertson

UNDERSTANDING RESISTANCE

Why

By Christopher Heaton Leach

Cover photo: Prince Rupert Fire Rescue’s Engine 8, a Pierce Enforcer pumper, photographed in Pitt Meadows, B.C., ahead of its delivery.

Safer roads, safer trucks

At about 2 am on Oct. 10, a tractor-trailer hit a fire truck parked at an accident scene in Clarington, Ont. Four firefighters were in the apparatus; two of them went to the hospital. Several fire trucks have been hit over the past few years while responding to MVIs, despite prominent lighting packages in full effect and other safety measures in place, a press statement from the municipality of Clarington reads. “This is yet another reminder of the real danger our firefighters and all emergency responders face when working along busy highways,” said Clarington Fire Chief Mariano Perini. “We’re extremely fortunate that our firefighters were not more seriously injured. I want to remind all motorists—when you see flashing lights, please slow down and move over. It’s the law, and it could save a life.”

Sometimes the driver drives the crash: a fire truck ended up ditched neared Almaguin, Ont., in July. Its 52-year-old driver was issued a three day suspension for having a warning blood alcohol level and charged with care-

less driving and driving without an air brake endorsement.

Arguably Canada’s most high-profile case this year happened in February in Nova Scotia when a snowmobiler was struck and killed by the fire truck that was responding to his crash. The chief and deputy chief involved were banned from the department for life. And sometimes, the danger the public presents is catastrophic. In absolutely horrific 2024 case south of the border, a woman in Oklahoma failed to yield to a fire truck on route to an apartment fire with sirens on, resulting in the death of a one-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, a 23 year old woman, and the fetus of a 26 year old woman in her second trimester. The driver is being sentenced in December on five counts of manslaughter and being under the influence of drugs. The roads can be a very dangerous place. I can’t imagine the traumatic scene the firefighters on that truck suddenly found themselves on.

Statistics for Canada on fire apparatus collisions are not readily available. In the U.S., the NFPA 2023 estimated 19,225 fire department vehicle traffic accidents resulting in 1,450 firefighter injuries. It is thought that about 15 per cent of fire truck collisions occur while blocking or near a traffic accident. Canada has less the population to produce these figures, but reasonably similar driving habits, culture and traffic systems would lead one to think we produce a parallel-ish scene. This edition’s cover story, “Beyond buckle up”, looks at new technologies making fire apparatus safer for firefighters and the roads they run down. We can’t change public driving habits very easily — driving is so very prone to human error — but we can equip apparatus to better account for them.

LAURA AIKEN Editor laiken@annexbusinessmedia.com

As of September, New Brunswick has seen 339 wildfires this season burning 2,511.7 ha, up from the 10-year averages of 403.7 ha and 228 fires.

(Government of New Brunswick)

The 2025 Measuring Up The Trades national study found that only 30 per cent of Canadians are familiar with fire alarm technician as a career option, and 22 per cent are familiar with the sprinkler fitter career. The survey also revealed only 11 per cent of Canadian would know where to start if pursuing a career in either field. (Classic Fire + Life Safety)

Firefighters are more likely to experience health problems because of exposure to hazardous chemicals. In Canada, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer every year and half of those are from Ontario.

(Government of Ontario)

Estimates show the August wildfire in Kingston, N.L. causeed over $70 million in insured property loss, the highest amount in Atlantic Canada this year. (Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.)

Nova Scotia’s expanded Emergency Services Provider Fund has increased in total program funding since last year from $1 million to $4 million.

(Government of Nova Scotia)

S-180 custom pumpers and aerials are built on the trusted Metro Star® chassis and paired with an authentic Spartan body. These trucks deliver the strength, safety and performance departments expect. S-180s are modulardesigned trucks that start with the most commonly selected features, while still allowing customization to meet your department needs. With faster order to delivery and long-term durability, the S-180 is ready in half the time or less without compromising Spartan quality.

Discover how Spartan ER is helping first responders answer the call sooner with new custom fire apparatus. Production slots are available now.

Scan for more information, contact your Spartan Emergency Response dealer or visit spartaner.com today.

STATION TO STATION

Canadian Wildfire Conference continues growth in Kelowna

More than 300 people attended the annual Canadian Wildfire Conference which, for the first time, ran for two days from Oct. 1-2 at the KF Centre for Excellence in Kelowna, B.C. The conference is designed to bring together the primary stakeholders of wildfire suppression, including air operators, fire departments, technology and service suppliers, and government agencies.

This unique event platform is made possible through the collaboration of four brands owned by parent company and event host Annex Business Media, including Canadian Firefighter, Fire Fighting in Canada, Helicopters and Wings. The two-day conference featured 57 exhibitors, a dozen educational sessions, and a static display of fire fighting equipment, including wildfire trucks from Safetek, Commercial Emergency Equipment and Rosenbauer.

Award-winning author John Vaillant kicked off the Canadian Wildfire Conference with a morning keynote called “The New World Order of Weather”. Vaillant’s 2023 book Fire Weather details the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires from the front lines and tackles the impact of climate change. Vaillant spent close to an hour presenting a range of alarming statistics and research reports that highlight the growing power and unpredictability of wildfires over the past few years, including two initial charts showing a clear spike in global temperatures and a noticeable increase of North Atlantic Sea surface temperatures in 2023 and 2024 relative to years tracing back to 1961.

Following Vaillant’s keynote, Blaine Wiggins, chief operating officer for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, discussed challenges and opportunities with Indigenous fire stewardship and independence. This

Ground and air leaders helped lead a panel discussion on structure protection and support in the urban interface, including (left to right):

Larry Watkinson, deputy fire chief for Kelowna; Robert Gallagher, CEO, Coldstream Helicopters; Sean Rickards, director of operations, Yellowhead Helicopters; and Shane Palmer, director of operations, VIH Helicopters.

was followed by a panel on structure protection and urban interface operations featuring Larry Watkinson, deputy fire chief for Kelowna, and three primary helicopter operators in the wildfire sector, including Robert Gallagher, CEO, Coldstream Helicopters; Sean Rickards, director of operations, Yellowhead Helicopters; and Shane Palmer, director of operations, VIH Helicopters. Steve Farina, firefighter, mental health advocate, and former executive vice president of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association closed out the first day of content with a session on mental health and fatigue management.

An evening reception sponsored by Rosenbauer America allowed attendees of the conference to unwind and continue their conversations, which was again the case at the end of day two with a well-attended happy hour sponsored by Consolidated Turbine Engines.

Day two of the Canadian Wildfire Conference began with presentation by Jean Strong, digital communications officer for BC Wildfire Service, about that organization’s work to develop better communications platforms for the public. Dennis Craig, Kelowna’s assistant chief of mitigation and prevention, and wildland fire ecologist Colleen Ross then shared insights into how Kelowna developed its burn program.

The afternoon of day two began with

a panel discussion about the future of wildfire suppression, anchored by three provincial fire agency leaders in J.J. Lum, aviation specialist, BC Wildfire Service; Peter Murray, air attack officer and FBAN, New Brunswick Wildfire Management; and Ben Jamieson, provincial wildfire operations coordinator and RPFT, forest operations branch, Alberta Forestry & Parks. Mike Larsson, fire chief for Penticton, and Travis Mizera, general manager of Airborne Energy Solutions, rounded out the panel focused on tech and strategies around issues like initial attack, mitigation, structure protection, training, command and control.

Sponsor presentations made at the show came from Rosenbauer America, Coulson Aviation and Advance Engineered Products, while WaterAx conducted a demo outside on the ramp of its newest portable water pump.

Sponsors of the Canadian Wildfire Conference included venue sponsor KF Centre for Excellence, platinum sponsors Advance Engineered Products Group, Coulson Aviation, Rosenbauer America and Waterax; gold sponsor Airbus; and silver sponsors Bell, Conair, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Drone Amplified, Positive Aviation, Safetek Profire and Vallifrest. Special event sponsors of the conference included Amtech Aeronautical, Consolidated Turbine Specialists and Helicopter Transport Services.

– Jon Robinson

THE FIRE HALL BULLETIN

IAFF, NFPA agree to dismiss PFAS lawsuit

On Oct. 6, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) jointly filed a stipulation of dismissal in the Suffolk County Superior Court’s Business Litigation Session, concluding litigation. The IAFF’s lawsuit, filed in 2023, focused on its efforts to eliminate PFAS from the protective gear worn by fire fighters across North America. Research has found PFAS in all three layers of fire fighter protective gear – chemicals linked to cancer and other serious health effects. NFPA Standard 1971 – which sets minimum protection levels for firefighters – resulted in the use of PFAS in the middle moisture barrier of fire fighters’ gear to satisfy the UV light degradation test.

The IAFF filed suit after earlier attempts to remove the UV light test through the NFPA’s official processes proved unsuccessful. During the pendency of the lawsuit, the IAFF continued to advocate before the NFPA to eliminate those parts of the standards that resulted in the presence of toxins in firefighter PPE. The NFPA Standards Council issued the 2025 edition of NFPA 1970: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Firefighting, Work Apparel, Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services, and Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) – changes long advocated for by the IAFF.

NFPA’s new standard for structural fire fighter gear now includes:

• TIA No. 1791, which changes the UV light degradation test to better reflect realworld conditions, which, in turn, may expand the use of PFAS-free moisture barriers by turnout gear manufacturers;

• TIA No. 1792, which establishes voluntary labeling criteria to identify turnout gear that has been tested and shown to have a PFAS, or total fluorine concentration, of no more than 100 ppm; and

• TIA No. 1793, which creates a Restricted Substances List limiting specific PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS, in structural firefighting gear. This TIA took effect on Sept. 18.

PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS

RYAN COBURN joined Ontario’s Oakville FD as the new deputy fire chief of operations. With over 27 years in the fire service, Coburn brings extensive leadership and previous chief experience and served as the vice president of the Mississauga Firefighters Association.

JEFF VAN RYBROECK is the new fire chief in Central Elgin, Ont. He brings more than 25 years of fire and emergency services experience, including leadership roles as chief training officer.

The City of Yellowknife appointed JASON ARNS as the new fire chief. Leading the Yellowknife Fire Division, he brings over two decades of experience in fire services, emergency management and public safety.

MICHAEL LEBLANC has been appointed fire chief at Novelis Inc. He has dedicated more than 30 years to the fire service as a volunteer firefighter and the last 15 years as captain.

TYLER SZAPIRA is now deputy fire chief at Novelis Inc. He has been with Novelis for over 12 years and has served as a volunteer firefighter, as well as captain with the Stone Mills Fire Department, for 23 years.

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council appointed GARY FOO as the senior deputy fire marshal for the Indigenous Fire Marshal Service (IFMS). He will oversee their strategic and day-to-day operations.

The City of Armstrong in B.C. chose IAN MCKECHNIE as the new fire chief for the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department and Township of Spallumcheen. He brings more than 14 years of fire fighting experience.

ANDY GLYNN is now interim fire chief of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services in Ontario. He served 17 years as deputy fire chief in Oakville, overseeing emergency management, administration, training, fire prevention, and public education. Glynn brings over 35 years of experience to the role.

STEPHANIE CYROS is the new deputy fire chief for Ontario’s Strathroy-Caradoc FD. She brings over 16 years of experience including her previous role as captain at the same department, educational consultant with the Ontario Fire College, and provincial evaluator with the Office of the Fire Marshall.

ROB GRIMWOOD is the new fire chief of Greater Sudbury Fire Services in Ontario, effective Oct. 27. He has over 29 years of experience in fire service, including 17 years in senior leadership roles. Grimwood is the president of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

RETIREMENTS

KEN STUEBING executive director and fire chief of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) will retire from public safety on Dec. 1 after 40 years of service. Stuebing is a past president of the IAFC and served on the NAC for the CAFC. He began as a paramedic in 1985, joining the City of Kitchener as a firefighter in 1988, where he stayed for 18 years before become a deputy chief with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service for seven years. Stuebing took on the role of fire paramedic chief for Chatham-Kent prior to becoming the fire chief in Halifax in 2017. Stuebing has accepted a new role as general manager, community services, for the City of Greater Sudbury.

LAST ALARM

Ret. Fire Chief BRETT OGINO of the Sicamous Fire Department in B.C. passed away on Aug. 20. Ogino joined the fire department in 1995 and became fire chief in 2003, then served as the Sicamous district’s first full-time fire chief in 2016, before retiring in 2024.

The Solo SCBA Decon/Washing machine was designed and built for one purpose only…to protect Fire Fighters from Cancer causing agents found in the Smoke and residue left on their SCBAs. As an added bonus it can clean Gloves, Boots and Helmets. In addition, it substantially lowers the time spent decontaminating firefighter equipment. The SOLO is the only SCBA decon machine that meets both NFPA and CSA standards.

✓ REDUCED HEALTH RISK

✓ SAVES TIME 2/PKS IN 8 MIN

✓ EASY TO USE

✓ 10 YEAR WARRANTY

Qualified by MSA, SCOTT, DRAEGER & INTERSPIRO for cleaning their SCBAs.

WASH/DECON TWO SCBAs

In 8 minutes. Also cleans, boots, gloves and helmets. Requires no extra scrubbing. The SOLO does it all.

AVAILABLE IN SINGLE OR THREE PHASE

Savox Hardline Rescue Kit 1 with Power Talk Box is our best selling technical rescue confined space kit It is designed for simultaneous, twoway voice communications between the rescuers and the victim Rescuers use it where traditional radios fail or when hands-free, secured communications are required

Attendants communicate with entrants and monitor their safety The backup team can also listen to the entrants’ rescue and be ready to relieve them

The power talk box is a portable intercom system that is dropped down the hole before entry to determine a victim’s condition

The whole system and accessories are waterproof The rugged molded fiberglass enclosures, all external knobs, and signal cables with their military connectors are impervious to a wide range of acids, alkalis, fuels, and other corrosive chemicals including Skydrol All of the above coupled with a highest level of intrinsic safe approval is why you can trust them with your life

EVFIREISOLATORrrrrrr

FIRE ISOLATOR is a concept for isolating and fighting EV car fires based on best practices and live testing In general, there is not one single solution to extinguish or control EV car fires, as all firefighters who have dealt with these types of car fires will be able to confirm Effectively isolating and fighting EV car fires takes several different methods because of the lithium-ion batteries on board EV cars The EV car may need to end up submerged in water in a container, but with the FIRE ISOLATOR concept, there is a lot that can be done beforehand to minimize the damages Fighting EV car fires with the Fire Isolator concept has been thoroughly tested and proven to be effective

CANADIAN SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS PROUD TO BE A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE INTERSPIRO RESPIRATORY PROTECTION LINE. THEIR STATE OF THE ART S9 INCURVE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE SCBAs YOU WILL EVER WEAR. THE INCURVE HAS A UNIQUE EASY TO CLEAN HARNESS FOR EASY DECON

GIVE US A CALL AT 0182 OR EMAIL US AT INFO@CDNSAFETY. COM

No company has a richer history in respiratory protection than Interspiro. Their innovations have become industry standards, time and time again.

Fighting vehicle fires is inherently dangerous, but electric and hybrid vehicles pose additional challenges to responding crews.

TURTLE

The Fire Isolator blanket, when used with the FlameGuard Fire grenade is an Excellent method of getting an EV fire under control. The blanket can be washed and reused a number of times.

As per NFPA guidelines and EV manufacturers’ Emergency Response Guides, firefighters are instructed to deliver copious amounts of water directly onto the battery case to prevent thermal runaway and aid in extinguishing the fire But with the majority of EV batteries located underneath the vehicle, it’s extremely difficult and demanding on manpower to achieve using the nozzles currently available to the fire service

The Turtle Fire System is engineered to operate safely, reliably, and effectively under a burning vehicle all while delivering 500+ GPM directly onto the battery cell

KEY FEATURES:

• Advanced protection with Haloflex impact Technology

• Fast and simple decontamination

• Lightest traditional helmet

• New quick replace one touch eye protector

• Tool free maintenance F-18

By Julie Fitz-Gerald

BEYOND buckle up

Merging technologies on fire apparatus are increasing firefighter safety

Cutting-edge design and technological advancements are proving that firefighter safety is top of mind for truck manufacturers within the fire industry. Focusing on collision avoidance, ergonomics, advanced lighting systems and idle reduction technology, the evolution of fire trucks is here.

Because a significant number of accidents happen while firefighters are responding to or returning from a call, there has been a push for increased safety in this area. According to a 2024 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2023 fire department emergency vehicles were involved in an estimated 19,225 collisions, resulting in 1,450 injuries in the United States.

One collision avoidance system that’s looking to minimize these accidents is the HAAS Alert Safety Cloud. The platform uses GPS navigation map WAZE to transmit an alert of oncoming emergency vehicles to civilian

cars. Christopher Sapienza, regional vice president for Canada with Pierce Manufacturing and MAXIMETAL, said the platform “enhances safety for emergency vehicle operators and civilian motorists through real-time digital alerting of potential roadway hazards.”

He explained that emergency vehicles equipped with the HAAS alert system “transmit live position and response state information via cellular connection from an onboard transponder or connected device to the Safety Cloud,” which then broadcasts to WAZE users through infotainment systems, infotainment screens and mobile apps, warning them of nearby emergency vehicles.

Sapienza noted that this particular technology, available on Pierce trucks, is known as “Responder-to-Vehicle” (R2V) and “is aimed at improving compliance with ‘move over/slow down’ laws,” by alerting motorists up to 30 seconds in advance of the approaching emergency vehicle. The HAAS system thus presents a proactive approach for drivers rather than a reactive response that motorists have traditionally had to make on the fly when emergency vehicles appear.

Taking the R2V alert system a step further is the “Responder-to-Responder” (R2R) technology, which Sapienza said builds upon the R2V alerts.

“Where R2R shines is when multiple emergency vehicles are detected to be converging upon the same intersection, the Safety Cloud generates alerts to those emergency vehicles and cab- or dash-mounted indicators tell which driver to proceed and which to stop to help ensure safe transiting of the intersection.”

This allows for safe navigation of the incident scene by firefighters, EMS and law enforcement officers, improving situational awareness.

Ergonomics is another important area of firefighter safety that manufacturers are taking note of. Wayne Stevens, president of Safetek Profire and Hub Fire

Engines based in Abbotsford, B.C., said ergonomics is a trend for good reason. Stevens, a former firefighter himself, explained that injuries like twisted knees and sprained ankles often occur when firefighters are getting on and off trucks wearing 30 pounds of gear or reaching to access equipment that’s mounted too high.

“As a national dealer, we’re seeing ergonomics as a trend both in the cab for entrance/ exit, and also with respect to equipment.”

To improve safety, new technologies like hydraulic ladder racks that bring the ladder down to the firefighter are being incorporated. Stevens noted that most safety systems from the automotive industry, particularly in luxury vehicles, eventually make their way to fire apparatus.

“Safety starts in automotive, then moves into heavy trucks, and then it comes into our industry.”

As was the case with seatbelt warning systems and then airbags, stability control is now making an appearance.

“We’ve started putting rollover bars and stability control systems in place. There are sensors that if they detect it’s close to a rollover, it will take power from the engine. A lot of those safety systems are coming to us.”

At Fort Garry Fire Trucks in Manitoba, corporate services manager Robert Pike noted fire departments can and should take advantage of technologies that exist in commercial chassis to improve firefighter safety.

“Things like radar and tracking systems, point-of-distance systems and automatic braking systems to slow the vehicle can all be integrated and are a very good thing for departments’ apparatus.” Interestingly, while these systems are an option through fire truck manufacturers, Pike said he has not yet seen them widely adopted in the fire service.

Another area that has piqued Pike’s interest but is still emerging in the fire industry is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). He cited an example of AI being used to send a drone when a fire truck is dispatched. In essence, the drone and apparatus are dispatched

simultaneously and work in tandem together.

“The drone heads to the scene and does real-time mapping of the routes and cautions, so the driver is receiving real-time information on traffic back-ups and on other responding vehicles. The apparatus can make significant time savings through this drone technology. It’s being tested by departments and is then very quickly implemented.”

This kind of “outside-of-the-box” thinking is a focus for manufacturers as they explore fresh new ideas, while seeking to enhance traditional safety measures. Such is the case with lighting. Pike says there are exciting new opportunities afoot to better control lighting brightness based on a variety of factors. To minimize the risk of oncoming motorists being blinded by on-scene emergency lights that prevent them from seeing personnel’s reflective gear/vests, Pike said AI could be implemented. By detecting the brightness outside, incorporating factors like time of

can be adjusted accordingly.

“The technology is already there to control the lights of multiple emergency vehicles as they take direction from the ‘master vehicle’ when on-scene. An AI system could make those adjustments to brightness accordingly.”

Stevens of Safetek Profire agreed: “The intensity and glare of light when approaching a scene can be blinding, so now our technology has advanced so that we have one lighting pattern and intensity for responding to a call and another for when we’re on scene. The apparatus knows when its in scene mode and adjusts accordingly. Lighting technology is advancing so quickly now, enhancing the safety of firefighters and the public.”

Stevens and Pike both noted that infrared capabilities on wildland firetrucks are proving to be another invaluable technology, allowing the driver to see through fog, heavy smoke conditions and the darkness of night while driving in remote areas. Stevens said that although infrared technology is mostly seen on wildland trucks currently, he believes it

will quickly come into play for all fire trucks in the near future.

For Pike at Fort Garry, he said thermal imaging would significantly enhance the 360-degree systems currently available.

“If those 360-degree systems are thermal, they allow you to work and respond in the dark, driving through smoke and making visible any liquids that you may encounter.”

Idle reduction technology is another area that’s improving the safety of firefighters as they work on scene. As we know, diesel engines are loud and emit a lot of exhaust.

The electrification of fire trucks is helping to cut down on both noise and fumes. Stevens explained that similar to cars, fire apparatus can use lithium-ion batteries to shut off the engine when not driving, eliminating noise and air pollution while still running all of the systems on the truck.

“It’s a form of electrification that’s not as cost prohibitive as going fully electric.”

es when an apparatus is parked at idle without the pump or aerial power take-off engaged.

“The system automatically activates after several minutes to deliver up to an hour of runtime at a 150-amp load. The engine will then automatically restart to recharge the battery packs as need,” explained Sapienza. “This helps reduce unnecessary idle time, helps control fuel and diesel exhaust consumption, and diesel particulate filter buildup – for long service intervals and controlled operating costs.”

Pierce Manufacturing’s idle reduction technology is an emerging feature that engag-

25_008975_Firefighting_In_Canada_NOV_CN Mod: September 18, 2025 10:51 AM Print: 09/22/25 page 1 v2.5

Looking to what’s next in electrification capabilities, you’ll discover that fully-electric fire trucks are slowly making their way into departments. The cost, however, is still much higher than a traditional diesel engine. Advancements in technology continue to improve firefighter safety, from enhanced collision avoidance systems to ergonomics, lighting capabilities and idle reduction systems. As AI develops at a high rate of speed, it’s integration into safety systems are poised to improve safety features even more.

BY 6 PM FOR

LEADERSHIP FORUM

By Rob Grimwood, Fire Chief, Sudbury, Ontario

EXPECTATIONS VERSUS REALITY

We have never lived in a world of higher expectations. Everyone has instant information at their fingertips; everything we do is filmed and shared for all to see and criticize. We live in bigger, more expensive houses and drive better, faster cars than ever before.This world of high expectations we live in applies to emergency responders more than anyone.

When someone calls for help, they expect an army of responders arriving within seconds and performing like the superheroes they see on TV. Those are expectations, but what is the reality?

People want the bright shiny fire trucks they see on their screens, but today’s reality is that those trucks now cost so much that many communities simply cannot afford to purchase them.

People expect an army of firefighters showing up…but what if we do not have an army to send? Many career departments are struggling with staffing levels and many volunteer departments are struggling with retention.

We live in a challenging world where more buildings, more vehicles and more people are resulting in higher call volumes, denser traffic is leading to longer response times and complex hazards make our job more unpredictable and complicated than ever before.

In the fire service, the reality is that our demands are also higher than ever. People expect faster and higher quality than ever delivered. Can we keep pace? Can we deliver on those expectations?

First, we need to recognize what our current reality truly is and be nimble in adjusting to changes. While many of us may reflect on simpler times and

Some of the most important work that leaders, of any rank, within the fire service will do is to champion cultural change.

crave certain parts of “the way things were”, as leaders we must forge ahead knowing that it is the path forward that we must be focused on. We need to have open minds, welcome change, research new ways of doing things, challenge “the way we have always done that”, read about studies and research, identify new trends, embrace technology and be vulnerable to the fact that new methods, new research and new equipment may turn us 180 degrees from what we believed to be the right way to do something.

Second, we need to train like our lives depend on it because they truly do. While in Canada the fire service generally has a good track record when it comes to firefighter line of duty deaths (because of the great work we do, the pat on the back is well deserved!), we can’t ever forget that today’s fires burn hotter and faster with a more volatile chemical mixture than ever before.

Today’s buildings are larger and more complex than those of decades past. And the services we provide (hazmat, technical rescue, medical responses, etc.) are more diverse and ever changing. This job is complex, changes quickly and has small margins for error.

If you are like me and do deep dives into NIOSH reports and investigations into near misses, one of the most common themes is that the firefighters simply had not trained enough, and hadn’t practiced their skills enough, to overcome an emergency that didn’t follow the script.

We must understand that the big-

gest threats to our lives are not anything like Chicago Fire, Ladder 49 or any other show that tries (but generally fails) to accurately depict what we do. The biggest threats we face are losing firefighters to occupational cancer or to suicide. Some of the most important work that leaders, of any rank, within the fire service will do is to champion cultural change. In the prevention of firefighter cancer, that cultural change will come with how we treat the exposures following a fire. And in the prevention of suicide, it will be about continuing to find solutions to break stigma, so people feel supported and not judged during difficult times, and that they reach out for help.

Third, we need to be honest with ourselves about where we will make the most impact. In Ontario, I would suggest we are the best equipped and trained than we have ever been, with more knowledge and technology than ever before…yet tragically we are seeing record numbers of fire deaths. It is incumbent on us to be honest about what saves the most lives from the devastation of fire, and it usually is not firefighters, it is smoke alarms. Sometimes we all need a reset to the priorities of fire safety, and the best way to do that is to go back to the three lines of defence.

It is a lot of work, and for many of us it is truly a struggle to keep up, let alone get ahead. Know that you are not alone, and that there is a fire service from coast to coast to coast who are experiencing the same challenges. The best thing we can do is share with each other and support each other.

To learn more and request a demo, visit MSAfire.com/gxtremepro

By David Silverberg

AI’S NEW TECH for the fire service

From monitoring health to predicting flashovers, AI is striving to prove its potential

The more AI tools can curate quick and accurate data firefighters need to save lives, while also monitoring their own health emergencies, the more future-ready the fire services community can be, according to report on a new project summary from the Fire Fighting Technology Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland.

The program directors and report authors focused on three research areas they’re currently testing across the U.S., from evacuation planning to monitoring firefighter heart data. What’s emerging in Canada, too, is an eagerness to develop similar systems leveraging AI’s pattern-recognition abilities.

The NIST report’s goal was to test new technologies to “enable real-time forecasting and provide actionable information to enhance safety and situational awareness.” Their research looked at three key areas of AI tech: using building-temperature data to help predict flashovers before they happen, optimizing the best route for firefighters and evacuees with real-time information, and leveraging sensors to detect sudden health problems a firefighter might encounter during a call.

Andy Tam, a mechanical engineer at NIST’s Fire Fighting Technology Group and the project lead, said in an interview: “Many firefighters support and want this kind of technology,

BELOW This image was created by prompting Microsoft Co-Pilot to produce an image to accompany this text. AI may also have applications for education materials and internal organizational effectiveness for fire departments.

and it starts by building trust and saying how we all want the same thing, for them to go home to their family at the end of the night.”

One of the emerging AI technologies in the NIST report reflects a key motivation for Tam and his team, and that’s monitoring heart and pulse data on devices worn by firefighters. Tam said, “We want firefighters to look at data about their health and understand what’s happening when, say, they feel anxious, their heart rate is going up. Our sensors detect ECG information with an accuracy rate of 94 per cent and physiological monitoring is getting a lot of support.”

A study of 112 career firefighters trialed this AI-enabled sensor to cull data about their physiological health. The conclusions found that these AI models can improve “situational awareness and safety…and help reduce firefighters’ injuries and deaths caused by sudden cardiac events.”

These trials are important for future research into fire-tech solutions with an AI layer. Tam says the more firefighters he can trial for these sensors detecting ECG data, the smarter the product will be. “We need firefighter data for firefighter products.”

These NIST programs mirror Scott Ramey’s projects in Halifax. The assistant chief at Halifax Fire and a PhD student at the University of Waterloo with an interest in AI-human computer interfaces, Ramey has been partnering with companies, universities and research specialists to develop projects such as heart-monitoring tech infused with AI models.

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

A low center of gravity, all-wheel drive, available all-wheel steer with 47.5’ turning circle, and a 92.5” overall width creates peak maneuverability.

A 10” cab entry height, nearly silent drivetrain, shadowless scene lighting, and easy equipment access in all compartments create improved ergonomics.

Contact your local Rosenbauer dealer.

New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon

As a board director of the Canadian Emergency Services Collaborative Innovation Lab, he helps secure funding to develop AI systems that can, for example, bridge the gap between communications systems during emergencies among firefighters on the job.

“We based our projects talking to frontline people and incident commanders to determine real needs and risks,” he said, “and to understand the tech to gauge if it makes sense.”

Ramey pointed to their own health-monitoring wearable project where their AI model listens to mayday calls and instantly alerts incident commanders with audio or vibration signals. Today’s approach isn’t flawed, Ramey said, but people are still capable of cognitive awareness delays, the phenomenon of delaying any action due to disbelief or emotional processing.

“That time before jumping into a plan is critical,” he said, sharing an example of a firefighter suffering from a sudden heart attack and requiring immediate help. Seconds matter in moments like these.

NIST also analyzed research into developing the shortest and safest evacuation path for firefighters, especially in large commercial units. Tam’s team created an AI model that considers the distance to the exit and the cumulative effects of hazards like toxic smoke and gases.

His team envisions this smart system embedded in a building’s fire system, culling data from heat and smoke detectors. The AI recommendation engine would provide the safest path to an exit based on where the fire is forecast to reach at human-height level.

“At a certain time during an evacuation, an exit might be possible but then that exit could have smoke and fire spreading there within seconds, and that’s why we need machine-learning technology to process all that data quickly,” Tam said.

Ramey considers this research sector ripe with challenges but also opportunity. “Firefighters are trained to keep contact with the hose line, you never leave it because it’s your lifeline, but it can be important to also give firefighters some situational awareness for exit plans by bread-crumbing routes out of a building.”

The final research area in the NIST paper pointed to flashover forecasting as a critical focus for their lab: Tam said they developed an AI system that uses temperature data from fire detectors to accurately predict flashovers. The hardware using this model would likely be a headphone-type device, Tam said, noting how their future trials will begin to experiment on how to relay flashover forecasting to incident commanders. “A tablet type of technology would be too overwhelming for them since they’re already ingesting so much data, so we think an AI assistant offering recommendations through headphones would be ideal for this model.”

The paper noted that it’s one of the first AI models to focus on multi-compartment residential structures, accounting for a wide range of fire and vent conditions, as opposed to previous flashover technology only targeting single residences. Also, other models needed high-performance computing, a costly budget line item for many fire districts.

In areas of Canada, adopting AI tech hasn’t been a front-burner priority. When Fire Chief Steve Dongworth of Calgary heard about the NIST research areas, he was impressed but wary. “For flashovers, to help predict when they happen, you need data there,” he said, “and these are unsurvivable events. How do we know this new tool has reliable data? That’s why some fire departments have been slow to try new technologies, we’re cautious about how reliable it is.”

Skepticism of AI’s efficacy isn’t a surprise. Chief Dongworth’s comments come only days after the B.C. Wildfire Services announced a surge in AI-generated wildfire images, which can contribute to online misinformation and exacerbating stressful situations.

Montreal Fire Chief Richard Liebmann said risk management is a key focus on the ground. “They’re already dealing with a lot of data, and with biometric sensors working, would it be too much?”

He highlights another obstacle: funding. “This is a financial issue because to deploy this kind of new tech on scale will be extremely costly, and we have other priorities,” Liebmann said.

In the U.S. funding flows at a different pace thanks to a U.S. fire administration (Canada doesn’t an equivalent body) instructed to provide grants to new projects. Every new initiative costs taxpayer money, Liebmann said, and it has to be strategically invested. AI solutions to analogue problems may be rippling into other sectors, but for Canadian fire services, investments such as Ramey’s research network are the exception not the rule. Tam has found in the U.S., some fire chiefs have been skeptical of emerging technologies. “There are two groups of people, those who love AI and those who don’t, but we have to find common ground. We also make sure everyone realizes this is technology to complement operations, not to fully replace anything.”

Unmatched Wildland Strength for Canada’s Toughest Fire Seasons

Canada has faced one of its most devastating wildfire seasons in decades. Communities across the West and the North have endured record destruction, underscoring the urgent need for highly capable, multi-role fire apparatus. At Fort Garry Fire Trucks, we engineer solutions that keep firefighters on the frontlines safe, mobile, and effective.

Our Type 3 Wildland Engine delivers unmatched versatility — meeting the stringent BCWS standards while also

Type 3 Wildland Engine Cherry Creek Fire Department

MXV Terminator - Rear Pump 4x4 Pump & Roll Wiikwemkoong Fire Department

Bushmaster Wildland Type 5

Fort Garry Fire Trucks Demo Unit

qualifying as a Type 1 Structural Engine and Type 2 Tactical Tender. With pumpand-roll capability, a 1000 Imperial Gallon water tank, Class A foam system, and exceptional off-road maneuverability, the Type 3 is a year-round asset for both wildland and structural response. Designed for superior maneuverability on forestry roads, it offers a compact wheelbase, high approach and departure angles, and robust 4x4 performance.

For departments requiring smaller but equally rugged response, our 4x4 Range Trucks are proven pump-and-roll warriors. Built on heavy-duty chassis with large water and foam capacity, they thrive where traditional rigs cannot go.

The MXV Terminator pushes WUI design even further, combining structural pumper features with high angles of approach, underbody nozzles, booster reels, dump chutes, and bumper-mounted monitors. It is purpose-built for communities facing high-threat WUI environments.

Finally, the Bushmaster Type 5 represents the next generation of wildland response. Built on a Ford F-550 4x4 chassis with an aluminum sub-frame, removable skid unit, advanced storage, and enhanced visibility systems, the Bushmaster is engineered to outperform and built for the wild.

Fort Garry Fire Trucks – Proudly Canadian. Purpose-built for the toughest frontlines.

Range Trucks 4x4 Pump & Roll 1000 I.G. Department of National Defence

TRAINER’S CORNER

By Ed Brouwer

Ed Brouwer is the chief instructor for Canwest Fire in Osoyoos, B.C., a retired deputy chief training officer, fire warden, WUI instructor and ordained disaster-response chaplain. Contact aka-opa@hotmail.com.

The Mayday call’s been made

In the last edition of Trainer’s Corner, I said we would be looking at what should take place after a Mayday is called.

However, before I do, I have a question for you. In my opinion, the role of training officer (TO) is one of the highest callings in the fire service. This question is to motivate you to do a self-assessment: How would you describe your role as a TO these days?

It isn’t easy getting up in front of your members each week and be expected to grab their attention and keep them engaged as you teach subjects related to fire fighting that at times can be as dry as melba toast. Trying to figure out each firefighter’s learning style can be overwhelming. Just getting the class to be quiet takes discipline. It may only take four years to learn to talk, but it takes 60-plus years to learn to be quiet. It’s a

discipline that I’m still working on (and probably always will be).

And of course there is no shortage of distractions. Years ago, I had all members shut off their cell phones. I had one young firefighter who was lightning fast with answers during a brainstorming session and found out he was looking the subject matter up online. I passed his phone and failed him.

You are not alone in this, so please, if you are struggling with burnout, feeling overwhelmed or just needing to vent…reach out. If I can’t help you, I will do my utmost to find someone who can. You are literally surrounded by brothers and sister that are wanting you to succeed not only in your role as a TO, but in your life as well.

Now, back to our Mayday question: What happens after a Mayday is called?

It may only take four years to learn to talk, but it takes 60-plus years to learn to be quiet.

Here’s the drill. At your next practice, hand out paper and pens to each firefighter (including all officers). Ask for complete silence. There should be no interaction between any firefighters.

Tell them they have three minutes to write down as many points as possible to the following question: According to our [your department] training, when would you call a Mayday?

When time is up, call out pens down. No interaction. On to question two.

Tell them they have three minutes to write down as many points as possible to the following question: According to our [your department] training, what happens after a Mayday is called?

When time is up, get their attention and start a brainstorming session on the first question. It would be good to

have someone writing points on a whiteboard or a flip chart. Once you feel you have gone as far as you can, address question number two. This should give you a good idea as to your department’s preparedness to first call a Mayday and secondly, their readiness to respond to a Mayday.

It would be good to remind everyone (officers included) what the letters IDLH stand for (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health). When a firefighter puts on a self-contained breathing apparatus (which has a limited supply of air) and enters a burning building, his or her life is in danger.

I have also discovered that most ICs are NOT adequately prepared to answer a Mayday call. Both firefighters and all officers need to experience what it is like to call a Mayday before it is the real thing. If you put on SCBA and enter IDLH environments, you need to drill on calling a mayday and responding to a mayday. I encourage you to address these issues with your department and to implement training programs that incorporate these conditions and procedures for overcoming them. Practice calling a mayday over the radio. Blindfold the firefighters. Have them wear gloves. Hand them the radio and see if they can turn it on, get the correct channel, push the emergency identifier button, push the talk button, and verbally call a Mayday. Have someone on another portable radio serve as communications and receive the information: Who is calling? Where are you? What is the problem?

Every time you have live-fire training, place crew members in a situation in which they must make the Mayday decision for themselves. If we want RIT and Saving Our Own to work, we need to give permission to our firefighters to call a Mayday. Just as you must wear your seatbelt to have it protect you in an accident, you must call a Mayday for the RIT to come to get you out. The big question is, will your members do it?

I put the following Mayday protocol together several years ago and I offer it to you as a suggested guideline to be added to your existing operational guidelines. Special thanks to: Dr. Burton A. Clarke, Montgomery County FD, MD, Kelowna FD, BC., Greenwood FD, BC., Charleston FD, SC and in honour of the Charleston 9. RIP brothers.

SUGGESTED OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE FOR MAYDAY SITUATIONS

Mayday Parameters:

1) becoming tangled, pinned, or stuck and the low-air alarm activates;

2) falling through the roof;

3) becoming tangled, pinned, or stuck and do not extricate yourself in 60 seconds;

4) if you are caught in a flashover;

5) if you fall through the floor;

6) if zero visibility and no contact with the hose or lifeline and unaware in which direction the exit is;

7) if your primary exit is blocked by fire or collapse and you are not at the secondary exit in 30 seconds;

8) if your low-air alarm is activated and you are not at an exit door or window in 30

TRAINER’S CORNER

By Ed Brouwer

seconds;

9) if you cannot find the exit door or window in 60 seconds.

These nine points may be narrowed down to six: Fall; Collapse; Activated (PASS/Low Air); Caught; Lost; Trapped

Calling A Mayday

Notification of emergency situation:

L - location (where you are, floor, division of entry, quadrant)

U - unit number or team

N - name of firefighter(s) involved

A - assignment (what you are doing such as vent, search) / Air pressure

R - Resources (what help you need)

Activate your PASS device after giving Mayday information.

EIB MAYDAY

1) Press the EIB – Press the Emergency Indicator Button (EIB) on the portable radio. If unable to press the EIB, or if radio not equipped with EIB go to Step 2.

2) On the assigned tactical radio channel call – “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” and give the following information: use LUNAR (see above).

Activate your PASS device after giving Mayday information.

ADDITIONAL SELF RESCUE STEPS:

• Use a tool to make noise.

• Wave your flashlight to draw attention to your location.

• Preserve your air supply.

• Stay with your partner.

• Take actions to self-evacuate (ESCAPE).

• If you cannot escape, retreat to an area of safety (EVADE).

• If you cannot escape, attempt to ENTRENCH (dig in) in the area of danger. Inform IC of any actions you take so RIT is updated on all actions taken…

Activate your PASS device after giving Mayday information.

EIB only Mayday: A Mayday may also be transmitted by pressing only the EIB, with

no follow-up voice transmission. When only an EIB is activated (no voice transmission), Dispatch will notify Command of the activation. Command will make one attempt to contact the unit verbally. If the unit does not acknowledge this attempt, the unit will be considered a Mayday.

A witnessed report: A witnessed report is an occurrence where personnel witness a person or persons trapped; a fall through a roof or floor; firefighters caught in a flashover, etc., and the witnessing personnel then declare a Mayday. Direct knowledge of the Mayday situation should be transmitted to the IC through the command structure.

PAR (Personnel Accountability Report):

A unit that is not accounted for in a PAR will be declared Mayday.

THE REST OF THE FIREGROUND

All other units must continue their assigned operation, unless the Incident Commander directs otherwise. This prevents “free lancing” as well as helps keep control of the fire incident.

Mayday, dispatch, aert tones: The IC will request Dispatch to sound the pre-alert tone and switch all units, except the Mayday personnel, the Incident Commander or the IC’s designee, and the RIT, to an alternate talk group. If the IC does not acknowledge a Mayday, any unit hearing the call must alert the Incident Commander of the Mayday.

The IC will try to determine the exact location of the Mayday personnel and order the RIT to intervene as necessary.

RIT assignment: The Incident Commander or the IC’s designee will assign the RIT and any other resources necessary to rescue the Mayday personnel. If the IC or the IC’s designee cannot determine the exact location of the Mayday personnel, the RIT should be sent to their last known location.

(RIT should already be established as per your department’s protocols regarding interior attack procedures.)

PAR after MAYDAY declaration: Once all units (except the Mayday personnel, the IC or the IC’s designee, and the RIT) have switched

to an alternate talk group, Command will conduct a PAR.

Divisions/Groups that do not report after two attempts will be considered Mayday. If Divisions and Groups have not been assigned, the PAR will be by unit.

When Mayday is over: The Incident Commander will announce to all operating units and Dispatch when the incident has stabilized and there is a return to normal operations

Consider redirecting the incident action plan and incident priorities to a high priority search & rescue operation. Development of a rescue action plan is critical.

Additional resources: Consider requesting appropriate resources to meet the needs of the event as needed, including; An Additional Alarm; Command Staff-aide; General Staff/Operations; Logistics, Planning, Etc.; Specialized Resources-technical Rescue Capability; EMS Assets. It is best to call for these resources early; you can always stand them down.

Reinforcing positions: Consider initiating and/or maintaining fire attack positions and reinforcing with extra alarm companies as needed.

Expanding command: Consider expanding the command organization by requesting and assigning additional officers of an appropriate level to the rescue area, fire attack area, command staff, and other critical command positions.

Unassigned resources: Consider withdrawing unassigned resources from the rescue area.

Unauthorized access: Maintain strong supervision in all work areas. Control and restrict all unauthorized entries into the structure or search-rescue area.

Command presence: It is critical that the IC create a strong command presence.

Until next issue, remember to train like lives depend on it, because they do. Stay safe and let no firefighter’s ghost say his or her training let them down.

4-9-4 brothers and sisters 4-9-4. Ed

SUPERIOR SERVICE BEFORE & AFTER THE SALE

By Luigi Davoli

THE 3 C’S OF LEADERSHIP:

These qualities form the backbone of effective command and humancentred service

Recently, in an online EMS discussion board, we were talking about a friend and mentor who passed away too soon. He wasn’t loud or overbearing. Quite the opposite: He was quiet but had a considerable presence. Although he left us early, he will be remembered for coming up with what became known among us as the three Cs of emergency medical care: confidence, competence and compassion.

As I reflected on the three Cs and how I had used them in my role during incidents, I realized that I had used them in my leadership roles as well. Leadership as a first responder carries immense responsibility. Leaders face complex, dangerous and emotionally charged situations daily, and strong leadership is crucial for operational success, team cohesion and public trust. Moreover, for leaders, the three Cs are transferable to the administrative side. The three Cs are pillars that enable leaders to perform their roles effectively while also inspiring others, cultivating trust and guiding their teams through the unique challenges of emergency response.

CONFIDENCE: THE FOUNDATION

At the scene of an incident, confidence is not arrogance; it is a calm, assured presence that inspires trust and promotes stability under pressure. Emergency scenes are inherently chaotic, with lives, property and safety hang-

ABOVE A compassionate approach is one of the foundations of the three Cs.

ing in the balance. In such conditions, subordinates look to their leaders for guidance. If a leader hesitates, appears unsure or communicates uncertainty, it can trigger anxiety and confusion among the crew. Conversely, when a leader exudes confidence, it instills a sense of order, discipline and motivation, even in the face of crisis.

Equally important is the leader exuding confidence in their administrative work. Subordinates look to their leaders for answers to a variety of administrative concerns. No matter the answer, it must be provided with confidence to the member who posed the question. In addition, the leader must be confident that the decision is in the best interest of the organization.

The role of confidence in decision-making: Leaders often have to make quick, high-

stakes decisions. During emergency incidents, decisiveness driven by confidence can mean the difference between success and tragedy. Whether it’s choosing a strategy for fire attack, calling for evacuation or triaging at a multi-casualty incident, a confident leader enables decisions to be made promptly and executed effectively in the best interest of the community and responders.

When dealing with administrative issues, leaders must be confident in their responses and actions, whether granting a vacation request when staffing is tight or issuing a disciplinary action after a misstep by a subordinate. The actions are never taken lightly, but in a fashion that shows the confidence of the leader without eroding trust.

Confidence as a tool for leadership development: Confident leaders can use this trait to develop future leaders. They are secure enough to empower others, delegate tasks and trust their team. By modelling poise under pressure, they teach up-and-coming leaders how to maintain their composure and think critically. Additionally, confident leaders are more likely to engage in honest self-assessment and accept constructive feedback — traits that are essential for continuous growth.

That being said, confidence must be grounded in reality. False bravado and overconfidence can lead to arrogance and complacency. Succumbing to this reckless behavior could result in consequences during an incident or when dealing with an administrative concern. That’s why confidence in the fire service must be tightly intertwined with competence.

COMPETENCE: FORMULATES TRUST AND EFFECTIVENESS

Where confidence inspires, competence sustains. To be effective, a leader must have technical knowledge, tactical skill and operational

HOLMATRO T1

T1: ALL-IN-ONE FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOL

Whether it’s breaching doors, cutting locks, or lifting heavy materials; with the T1, you always have the right tool for the job.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL TOOL

T1 is the only tool that can hammer, cut, spread, lift, wedge and ram.

OPTIMIZED CUTTING BLADES AND JAW DESIGN

T1 can easily cut rebar, chain and padlock; easily replace the cutting blades when they are damaged.

SPREADING TIPS

Load-holding function makes the tool suitable for (progressive) lifting.

TWO-STAGE PUMP

High power transmission gives you a maximum cutting force of 14,2 ton/31 248 lbf and a maximum spreading force of 3,4 ton/7 419 lbf.

experience. From these, effective leadership is built. First responders operate in high-risk, high-intensity environments. In these situations, there is no room for guesswork. Team members must trust that their leader knows what they’re doing, and that trust is earned through demonstrated competence.

In administrative scenarios, leaders must be competent in policy, legislation and collective agreements to effectively and efficiently administer the day-to-day operation of the organization. Just like at emergency scenes, where the trust of the members is earned, trust is further amplified when a competent and skilled leader addresses daily concerns.

Technical and tactical proficiency: From fire dynamics and building construction to labour laws and collective bargaining agreements, first responder leaders must possess a wide array of technical and organizational knowledge. Moreover, they must be adept at applying this knowledge. Technical competence includes knowing how to size-up a

resources and keep personnel safe.

Administrative competence includes understanding and interpreting various legislation, policies and contractual agreements. In short, competence ensures that a leader can execute the job with skill, tact and demonstrated knowledge.

Leadership competence also includes training and mentoring. First responder leaders must stay updated on evolving best practices, new technologies, changing protocols, and legislation. They must pass this knowledge on to their teams through rigorous training and clear communication, ensuring operational readiness and organizational effectiveness at all times.

Building trust through competence: A competent leader commands respect not through rank or title alone but through demonstrated ability. When the rank and file know that their leaders are technically sound and operationally wise, they are more likely to follow instructions, speak up with concerns,

The Easiest Charger to Install Yet

assured that their overall best interest is being looked after. Competence builds trust, a currency that is essential for first responders and the organization.

Importantly, competence is dynamic. The best leaders pursue lifelong learning and continually seek to understand the changing landscape. They read, attend training, reflect on past incidents and seek feedback. Their commitment to growth sets the tone for the entire department and reinforces a culture of excellence.

COMPASSION: THE HEART OF SERVICE

While confidence and competence are essential, compassion gives leadership its human core. The first responder organization is ultimately a people-centred profession. First responders serve the public during its most vulnerable moments — fires, accidents, medical emergencies and disasters. At the same time, they operate in a demanding and often traumatic profession themselves. Leaders serve their organization’s rank and file to ensure their needs are met. Compassion allows leaders to connect, support, and uplift both the people they serve and the teams they lead.

Compassion for the public: Modelling compassion during emergency calls enhances the overall service. A leader who takes the time to comfort someone in a medical emergency, explain a situation to a frightened family, or treat a person experiencing a mental health crisis with dignity sets a strong example. Compassion doesn’t slow down emergency response; it improves it. It reminds the public that first responders are not only professionals but also caring human beings.

Compassion within the ranks: Compassion is equally important within the ranks. First responders regularly face trauma, experience stress and make mistakes. A compassionate leader notices when a team member is struggling, encourages open dialogue, creates a safe environment for seeking help and fosters understanding. Mental health and wellness are increasingly crucial in emergency services, and leaders must value them.

A compassionate leader listens, recognizes the human aspect of the role and balances discipline with empathy. This doesn’t mean low-

The Pierce aftermarket team includes over 80 professionals ready to support you and your apparatus. This group of expert trainers, Pierce Master Technicians, and experienced customer service staff works alongside a dealer network that includes over 120 regional service facilities, more than 140 mobile service vehicles, and over 115 master technicians. Additionally, we inventory over $14 million in parts ready to ship on a moment’s notice. For support and service throughout the life of your apparatus, Pierce performs like no other.

piercemfg.com pierceparts.com

ering standards or accepting poor performance; instead, it involves understanding the reasons behind behaviors, supporting recovery and growth, and treating each person with dignity and respect.

FIRE EAGLE® AIR

Compassion also plays a critical role in diversity and inclusion. First responder agencies serve diverse communities and benefit from diverse workforces. Compassionate leaders make space for all voices, fight against discrimination and foster a welcoming and respectful culture for everyone.

INTEGRATING THE THREE: A HOLISTIC MODEL OF LEADERSHIP

Confidence, competence and compassion are not stand-alone traits; they intersect and reinforce one another. Together, they create a leadership model that is both resilient and responsive:

• Confidence without competence becomes arrogance.

• Competence without compassion becomes cold and transactional.

• Compassion without confidence can seem weak or ineffective.

The best first responder leaders cultivate all three in balance during both emergency incidents and day-to-day operations.

Consider the example of a multi-vehicle accident. The leader’s confidence sets the tone as they take command and communicate clearly. Their competence is demonstrated through rapid triage, scene safety and resource deployment. Their compassion is evident when they comfort a child injured in the crash or debrief a shaken responder afterward. In such moments, leadership becomes a living force — visible, active and deeply human.

Now consider a supervisor investigating a vehicle accident. The leader displays confidence in gathering information and interviewing involved parties. Competence is shown through understanding the legislation that governs emergency response and departmental policies. Finally, compassion is demonstrated by recognizing the factors that contributed to the accident and the emotions experienced by the operator of the emergency vehicle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

For first responders, leadership demands more than technical ability or formal authority. It calls for a balance of confidence, competence and compassion — three qualities that together form the backbone of effective command and human-centred service.

Confidence provides the steady hand in crisis; competence ensures the job is done right; and compassion brings heart and humanity to a demanding profession. When first responder leaders embody all three, they achieve operational success and earn the trust of their teams, the respect of their communities, and the honor of their profession.

Ultimately, being a first responder leader is about managing emergency situations while also creating a legacy of integrity, service and compassion. That legacy begins with a leader who is strong, skilled and kind.

Luigi Davoli has spent the last 26 years serving in the fire service, building a career defined by dedication, leadership, and heart. Davoli holds a master’s degree in of public safety, a certificate of fire service leadership, and an advanced certificate of fire service administration.

STOPBAD

By Gord Schreiner, Fire Chief, Comox, B.C.

Gord Schreiner is the fire chief in Comox, B.C., and manages the Comox Fire Training Centre. Gord has delivered countless presentations. He is available to assist your department at firehall@comox.ca.

Long-term balance

Over the years, people have asked me how I balance my work and personal life. My answer is always the same: Balance isn’t about getting it perfect every single day or week — it’s about finding balance over the long haul.

Some days, weeks, or even months, you will work harder than you ever thought possible. You’ll be at the hall more than you’re at home, running training sessions, attending calls, completing reports, working on projects, managing the day-to-day administrative tasks, or sitting in endless meetings. That’s part of the job. But balance comes when you recognize that these periods of intensity are an investment in the future. Work-life balance isn’t a daily snapshot — it’s the full story.

Work-life balance isn’t a daily snapshot — it’s the full story.

BALANCE IS NOT ABOUT TODAY, IT’S ABOUT TOMORROW

Too often we hear the phrase “worklife balance” used as if every single day should be split evenly between work, family, and play. If that’s your expectation, you’re setting yourself up for frustration. Fire fighting and leadership in the fire service simply don’t work that way. Emergencies don’t follow a schedule, fires don’t ask permission, your organization and community don’t stop needing you because you’re tired.

Real balance is about the long-term. It’s about looking at your career, your family, and your personal wellbeing across months and years, not just hours and days. There will be times when you need to dig deep and sacrifice — but those sacrifices can set you up for a healthier, safer, and more balanced life later.

DIGGING DEEP WHEN IT MATTERS

Every firefighter knows what it means

to “dig deep.” On the fireground it might mean pushing yourself through fatigue to rescue someone in danger. In your career, it might mean studying hard on the never-ending education, attending extra training, or putting in long hours to get your department where it needs to be.

These intense periods are not failures of balance — they are investments Think of them like putting money in the bank. When you work hard now, you build a future where you can withdraw some of that investment: more time with family, more stability, better health, or a stronger department that doesn’t require as much from you later. Digging deep should be purposeful. It’s not about burning yourself out. It’s about working hard today so that tomorrow can be better.

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY AND YOURSELF

Of course, long-term balance only works if you protect the things that matter most: your family, your health, and your integrity. I’ve known firefighters who gave everything to the job but left nothing for their families. I’ve known others who neglected their own fitness and health, and they didn’t get to enjoy the retirement they had earned. That is not balance.

Firefighters must remember that while the job is demanding, our families are our foundation. There will be seasons where the fire service gets more of your time, but you must always circle back to your family, your friends, and your personal life.

Never forget you are no good to anyone if you destroy your own health. Physical fitness, mental wellness, and rest are all part of long-term balance. It might mean sacrificing some “fun time” in the short term so you can put

in the work at the gym or get the sleep you need. That’s how you ensure you’re still strong years down the road.

LEADERS SET THE EXAMPLE

Work-life balance is not just a personal choice — it’s a leadership issue. If you’re an officer or a chief, or you want to be, others are watching how you handle your commitments. Do you make sacrifices when needed? Do you also make sure to recharge and protect your health? Do you encourage your people to think about their future, not just today?

Leaders must show that balance is possible, even if it doesn’t look “balanced” every single day. When your team sees you putting in long hours for a major project but also sees you taking time for your family and your personal wellbeing, they learn what long-term balance looks like.

SEASONS OF WORK, SEASONS OF REST

Think about your life in seasons. There will be seasons of intense work. Then there will be seasons where things slow down, where you can spend more evenings at home, take that family trip, or focus on personal hobbies. Both seasons are important, and together they create balance.

Don’t beat yourself up if this week feels unbalanced. Look instead at the year, or even your entire career. Are you investing enough time in your family, your health, your growth, and your career and community over the long term? If so, you’re achieving balance where it matters most.

Think balance over the long haul. Dig deep when you must, recharge when you can, and never forget why you started this journey.

DESIGNED TO OUTPERFORM. PROVEN TO OUTLAST. Our KrakenEXO® has been advancing the line since 2010. A lightweight, flexible, durable, heat-resistant attack hose built for the modern fireground, UL listed & trusted on the job worldwide. THAT IS 15 YEARS LEGENDARY.

By Len Garis and Todd Schierling

A BURNING CONCERN

The uniqueness and severity of lithiumion battery fires on human health

The rise of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles introduces a new and serious fire safety challenge. While the overall frequency of EV fires is statistically lower than fires involving gasoline-powered vehicles, the unique and severe nature of lithium-ion battery fires, particularly in indoor environments, demands urgent attention. Data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board indicates there are about 25 fires for every 100,000 EVs sold, compared to 1,530 fires for every 100,000 gas vehicles. The lower frequency of these fires might inadvertently create a sense of complacency, but their significantly higher severity requires a proactive re-evaluation of safety measures.

THE UNIQUE CHEMICAL SIGNATURE OF LI-ION BATTERY FIRES

Li-ion battery fires are fundamentally different from fires involving traditional combustibles like wood or plastics. During thermal runaway, they release a uniquely hazardous chemical signature that distinguishes them significantly from conventional fires. These fires generate highly toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride (HF), car-

ABOVE This photo shows the aftermath of thermal runaway for a fire suppressed by Toronto Fire Services.

bon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). They also release heavy metals like cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium, often as ultrafine particulate matter and aerosols. The generation of highly flammable gases like hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) during such events significantly escalates the risk of explosions.

One of the most dangerous byproducts is hydrogen fluoride (HF), which is highly lipid-soluble and can rapidly penetrate skin and tissue. Unlike other acids, a particularly insidious characteristic of HF is its tendency not to cause immediate painful burns upon contact with diluted forms, leading

to a delayed recognition of severe exposure. This delayed recognition can lead to critical delays in medical intervention, as the absorbed fluoride ions can cause systemic toxicity. Once absorbed, the fluoride ion systematically binds with vital electrolytes like calcium and magnesium, leading to cellular death and tissue liquefaction necrosis. Systemic toxicity from HF absorption can manifest acutely as hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesemia, which can trigger cardiac arrhythmias, muscle spasms, and seizures, potentially proving fatal. In the long term, chronic exposure can lead to fluoride accumulation in bones, causing skeletal fluorosis, characterized by bone hardening, joint pain, and limited mobility. Renal tubular damage and acute kidney injury can also result from systemic fluoride effects, alongside potential neurological impacts.

The ultrafine particulate matter and aerosols of heavy metals released during a fire also pose a significant long-term risk. Ingested or inhaled particles can translocate throughout the body, accumulating in various organs over time. This accumulation can lead to a variety of long-term health issues, including neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, organ damage (e.g., kidney damage, liver dysfunction, cardiovascular effects), and immunotoxicity. The latency period for heavy metal-induced diseases can range from years to decades, depending on the specific metal, dose, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility, making accumulation from repeated exposures a primary concern.

AMPLIFIED RISKS AND CHALLENGING EXTINGUISHMENT

These unique hazards are greatly amplified in confined indoor environments like underground parking garages or residential garages. Limited ventilation, characteristic of such spaces, allows the toxic and flammable gases to accumulate rapidly to dangerous concentrations. This rapid accumulation not only intensifies inhalation risks for both civilians attempting to evacuate and emergency responders but also elevates the potential for vapor cloud explosions. The unique combination of these specific hazards and their accelerated concentration in built environments transforms what might otherwise be a localized fire event into a systemic risk for the entire structure and its occupants.

Li-ion battery fires are also exceptionally difficult to extinguish. They require vast amounts of water for cooling, often over extended periods, and sometimes require the complete submersion of the vehicle to

mitigate thermal runaway effectively. EV fires burn at much higher temperatures, averaging 5,000°F, compared to 1,500°F for gas fires. This prolonged suppression effort means firefighters are exposed to accumulating toxic hazards for significantly longer durations than in typical fire incidents. Li-ion batteries also have a persistent re-ignition potential, even after initial suppression, ensuring hazardous gases can continue to be released.

FIREFIGHTER AND CIVILIAN SAFETY RISKS FROM TOXIC GASES

For both firefighters and civilians, exposure to the byproducts of li-ion battery fires presents unique and severe risks. While respiratory protection like a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is crucial for mitigating inhalation hazards, dermal absorption represents a substantial and often underestimated route of entry for fireground contaminants. Research indicates that elevated skin temperature, induced by exertion and pro-

Capture Exhaust at the Source!

Factory Trained Technicians

Diesel

Extraction

tective gear, can significantly increase dermal absorption, with studies showing up to a 400 per cent increase for every 5°C rise in skin temperature. Contaminants can penetrate turnout gear or transfer to the skin during doffing or post-incident activities, even after the fire has been suppressed.

Firefighters face unavoidable exposure to complex toxic mixtures from both traditional combustion byproducts and the unique chemical hazards of li-ion battery fires. The long latency periods associated with contaminants from traditional fires, such as PAHs (often 5 to 40 years for cancers), and the similar multiyear to multi-decade latency for li-ion specific contaminants mean that firefighters are accumulating a complex array of toxins throughout their careers. This cumulative exposure, potentially with synergistic effects, contributes to a broad spectrum of long-term health issues, including various cancers, cardiovascular disease, and neurological impairments. The introduction of li-ion battery fires adds a new dimension of unique pathologies, such as skeletal fluorosis and specific electrolyte imbalances, on top of existing occupational risks.

For civilians, particularly those in residential settings with attached garages or in commercial/public indoor charging facilities, the risks from toxic gas exposure are immediate and severe. The rapid accumulation of highly toxic gases like HF and HCN, coupled with the potential for delayed recognition of HF burns, poses direct threats to occupants attempting to evacuate or those unknowingly exposed. Reports from some areas, such as Hernando County, Florida, indicate that Li-ion battery fires are becoming the “leading cause of fires in residential houses,” including incidents involving golf carts charging in garages.

THE NEED FOR BETTER DATA AND AWARENESS

While the overall fire frequency for EVs is statistically lower than for gasoline vehicles, a critical distinction must be made. EV fires, while less frequent, are significantly harder to extinguish, require far more water (often ten times the amount), burn at much higher temperatures, and pose persistent re-ignition risks. This paradox can lead to complacency, even though their higher severity demands urgent attention.

The observation by Verisk that “a third of EV fires are linked to charging” strongly suggests that charging is a significant contributing factor, warranting focused data collection. Despite the general statistics on EV fires, there appears to be a critical lack of granular, publicly accessible data specifically on the frequency of fires occurring at indoor charging stations. While a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study indicates a rate of “EV Charging Stations: 2 annual fire incidents per 100,000 units”, the scope of this data— whether it differentiates between residential and commercial settings, indoor and outdoor locations, or fires originating from the charger unit versus the vehicle battery while charging—requires further clarification.

For instance, “charging station fires” could encompass distinct scenarios: a fire originating directly from the charging unit itself, a fire originating from the vehicle’s battery while it is actively charging, or a fire involving a smaller li-ion battery, such as a micro-mobil-

ity device being charged within a residential environment. Each of these scenarios presents unique risk profiles and demands different mitigation strategies. Therefore, future data collection efforts need to be highly granular to inform targeted prevention strategies, such as improvements in charger design standards, advancements in battery management systems, or enhanced consumer education on safe charging practices.

CONCLUSION: A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE IS NEEDED

While the infrequency of li-ion battery fires might lead to a false sense of security, the practice of charging lithium battery-powered vehicles indoors, particularly in parking garages with major living occupancies above, should be re-evaluated. The extreme toxicity, the re-ignition potential, and the difficulty of extinguishment make these fires far more dangerous and difficult to manage than those involving gasoline or natural gas.

The fact that gasoline and propane fueling are not permitted indoors or in parking garages with residences above is based on the principle of preventing catastrophic events, even if their probability is low. This same logic should be applied to li-ion battery charging. The severe and unique health risks posed to both civilians and emergency responders necessitate a fundamental rethinking of current safety measures and building codes. The urgency is further highlighted by local reports that indicate li-ion battery fires are becoming a “leading cause of fires in residential houses” in some areas. The shared goal is to enhance public safety and protect emergency responders from these evolving hazards.

Len Garis is director of research for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, ret. fire chief for the city of Surrey, B.C., associate scientist emeritus with the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit. Contact him at lwgaris@outlook.com.

Todd Schierling is the president of the BC Professional Firefighters Association and a captain with the Surrey Fire Services and an IAFF field service representative. Contact him at todd@bcpffa.org.

Fire moves… so should your hydrant

Even in 6-inches of swamp you can draft instantly without risking pump failure - cavitation or impacting aquatic life & habitat. Freedom to fight fire wherever it goes, and the confidence your crews need to get water on it quickly.

By Dave Robertson

COMMAND PRESENCE

You

know when you feel it…but what is it?

Presence.

It’s that person who enters the room and it seems as though all of the oxygen flows toward them, eyes are drawn to them, and people gravitate in their direction. What do they possess? Is it the intensity of their gaze, their obvious openness or easy laugh, the way they furrow their brow when listening, making the speaker feel as though they are the only one in the room?

Whatever it is, we know it when we see it and it can’t be ignored, which is an incredibly important thing to have to command a scene.

WHAT COMMAND PRESENCE

LOOKS

When an Incident Commander (IC) exudes command presence, they move with a physical surety. Standing their ground at the command post or when moving from around the incident, they do it with an economy of actions.

When they speak, they emit a command charisma through the tone and timbre of their voice, delivering direction with a combination of calm, gravity and confidence. Their words are carefully chosen, striking a balance between ensuring the listener gets enough information to understand the operation or tactic, but not over-communicating. Their radio traffic is simple but intelligent, with no traces of frantic. Even their listening pose is laden with the strength of active listening. And there is an intensity to their gaze, looking right at you but not through you when giving a face-to-face, head on a swivel while taking everything visual clue, considering

BELOW Assertiveness and surety is all part of the command presence scene.

each piece of that visual data and how it affects the incident. The IC with command presence has obvious confidence in their decisions and directions. Basically, they look the part of IC.

WITHOUT IT? THE POSSIBILITY OF POOR OUTCOMES

Presence is more than just optics. It’s the physical manifestation of where the IC’s head is at. But before approaching what that good command presence, or CP, really looks like and how to achieve it, it’s important to note some negative outcomes that can occur without it:

1. Operational inefficiency and confusion

• Poor presence equals poor communication. Poor communication equals lack of clear direction

• Uncertainty about assignments or priorities equals wasted time/ duplicated efforts

• Little or no direction equals freelancing, a step in the direction of unneeded risk

• IC with delayed decision-making equals critical tactical delays

2. Decreased firefighter safety

• Poor presence equals a weak IC equals poor risk management

• The fireground is all about risk assessment. Without strong, decisive leadership, crews take unnecessary risks.

3. Scene chaos

• Poor presence equals lack of visible, assertive command equals

multiple informal leaders emerge, fragmenting the operation

• Also, a second area where freelancers emerge

• Poor resource allocations, staging congestion, underutilization of critical resources, duplicated efforts

• At worst? Tactics and operations totally missed that are critical to operation success

PRESENCE IN REAL TIME

In my command classes I lead the participants in an exercise to illustrate how mindset transfers to command presence, or a lack of it, in real time. I urge you to try this and even to lead your crew in it. This outline is abbreviated, so add as many variables that you think will affect presence. The outcomes are truly interesting.

I have participants stand, close their eyes, droop their shoulders, and hunch them forward. With hands clasped tightly, they are to envision that their helmet is very heavy and uncomfortable, their breathing shallow and rapid, and that there is no weight to their hands at all. I then have them reach for their radio and give a report. What does it sound like?

I then have them open their eyes, square their shoulders and push them back, and stand with legs shoulder width apart. I have them envision their head sitting on a wellgreased pole, swiveling easily, their situational awareness toggle switch is “on”. Finally, I lead them in a breathing exercise. Then I have them reach for the radio and give a report,

and ask, “What does that report sound like? More importantly what does it feel like?”

What does this rudimentary but concrete exercise reveal? That there is a direct correlation between physical outward appearances and your state of mind. That by just being in touch with your own physicality and tuning into what you think looks like someone in command can actually flip that command toggle switch to “on”. And that, in the end, how you think is how you act.

*Though an old exercise, using “I have time” is still used today by groups like U.S. Navy Seals.

It goes like this:

• Deep breath in.

• Long exhale while saying the word, “I”

• Deep breath in.

• Long exhale while saying the word, “have”

• Deep breath in.

• Long silent exhale.

• Slowly, quietly say the word “time.”

COMMAND MINDSET

Having command presence as an IC, whether the first on scene firefighter or the seasoned chief, is an oft-overlooked, but critical, quality that consistently moves teams toward better incident outcomes.

But more than physicality – how they occupy space, and more than how they sound or how their body moves while in command, it’s that these outward physical signs are a concrete manifestation of the same thing: Command mindset.

Mindset is the intellectual and emotional

space that governs a person’s actions. What and how a person thinks and the effects of what’s happening in their lives drives that mindset. A person’s mindset is how they are outwardly perceived.

Have you ever gone to work and instantly noticed that a co-worker was having a bad day? Their stooped shoulders and curt answers, not following the conversation and having an obvious lack of focus on tasks. Their mindset is going to govern not only how they work, but how they deal with others, and how others see them.

Now apply the concept of mindset to the command function: consider an IC that doesn’t look crew members in the eye, repeatedly changes direction on operational or even administrative decisions, and speaks too quietly or raises their voice. These are just a few outward indicators of what their mindset is. Are they in the right headspace for command? Do they have a command mindset? No, they don’t.

Lacking a command mindset gives the outward appearance of decision dysfunction, a lack of confidence in their abilities or the abilities of the crew, and in the end is a physical manifestation of not being able to handle command, both in the station and at the incident.

Achieving command mindset is a significant task. It takes ample time, both on the job and in sheer number of years. It takes significant training, in operational competency, in professional growth coursework that expands your skills and abilities, and in all things leadership. And, like all things great,

those things that will take you beyond just having the right number of epaulets or a gold badge, it takes an open and inquisitive mind. In the end, without mindset, you can’t have command presence.

HOW TO GAIN COMMAND PRESENCE

Achieving CP is, like most skill sets needed to be an effective chief or IC, simple, but not easy.

The simplicity lies in the short list of areas that an individual would need to focus on to have sound command mindset, and through that exude command presence.

• Practice: Stance, movement, voice volume and tone, gestures all have to be practiced to get into a space where it comes naturally.

• More practice: Mirror practice (PowerPoint has an excellent “Rehearsal Coach”), online with video scenarios, inserting the IC function into as many training scenarios as possible (and where appropriate). Basically, anywhere you can flex your command muscle in non-incidents.

• Fitness: Simply, get into shape to be physically present. You can’t look the part if you don’t look the part.

• Education: You cannot possibly read enough, take enough classes, train enough in the command space. But the more you know, the more you’re empowered. The more empowered you are, the more you start knowing that you know stuff. Knowing stuff is a great foundation for command mindset. Command mindset equals command presence.

• Be in the moment: Catch yourself when talking, standing, doing with your hands, etc. Correct yourself when you realize you’re not “standing in a command space”.

• Modeling: I call this the “James Bond” exercise. Bond owns the room. People listen to him. He uses an economy of words and is incredibly sure of himself physically. Pick a favourite actor or person of note that exudes Bond-like characteristics or a physicality that looks like command and begin modeling after them.

NOT JUST AN ATTRIBUTE

Command presence isn’t just an attribute that makes the IC look better on scene. It’s the combination of elements that steadies the crew, drives effective action, and reduces chaos in even the most volatile conditions. It isn’t easy to get to a strong CP space. It’s something that is achieved by practicing it deliberately, frequently and with a growth mindset.

In the end it’s the consistent, ongoing, outward visible signals that reveal that the IC is effective, operationally excellent, and decisive. And when you embody this presence, you don’t just manage incidents - you lead them. In doing so, you create the kind of trust and confidence that makes crews follow without hesitation and operations run with clarity and purpose.

Dave Robertson has over 25 years in the fire service working in all ranks including Deputy Chief of Training and Fire Chief. He consults and speaks on character in the fire service, incident command and command mindset, and retention and recruitment. He is fueled by a deep and sincere passion to make the fire service better.

By Christopher Heaton Leach

UNDERSTANDING RESISTANCE

Why firefighters push back against change and how leaders can move them forward

In the Canadian fire service, change doesn’t tap politely, it breaks through like a second alarm at 3 a.m., jolting crews from routine into reaction. Whether it’s a new dispatch platform, a revised shift schedule, or the rollout of mandatory certification, even well-intentioned initiatives can spark pushback.

Resistance to change is not insubordination, it’s often a form of communication. Firefighters are processing uncertainty, fatigue, and loss. Understanding those reactions, not punishing them, is a fire officer’s first tactical responsibility. Drawing on the work of Céline Bareil, Pierre Lainey, and Kevin J. Johnson of HEC Montréal, this article explores why resistance flares up, how leaders can recognize its deeper meaning, and what strategies turn hesitation into forward motion.

INSIDE THE MIND OF A RESISTANT FIREFIGHTER

According to management lecturer Pierre Lainey, resistance often begins with personality. “One of the five big dimensions of personality is openness to experience. Some people enjoy change — others hate it.” That dynamic runs deep in the fire service, where routine, structure, and predictability equal safety. Crews rely on habit the way they rely on turnout gear — as protection against chaos.

“Those with a low sense of self-efficacy or

a strong need for routine will tend to apply the brakes,” noted Céline Bareil, professor of management.

In the station, this might look like skepticism toward new training standards or discomfort with digital reporting. The issue isn’t laziness, it’s identity. When your expertise defines your worth, anything that rewrites the playbook can feel like erasure.

“Change always messes up your hair,” stated Caroline Ménard, president of the management firm Brio. “In the face of the unknown, people fear losing something — status, access, expertise, or belonging.”

A fire captain once put it to me this way: “Every change looks like a threat until someone explains what stays the same.”

For firefighters, fear surfaces as self-doubt: Will I still be as good as I was? Will I fit in with the next generation? When modernization suddenly devalues long-used skills, it’s not just process disruption, it’s a cultural shock.

As Kevin J. Johnson explained, “If one day

you’re competent and the next you’re ‘outdated,’ that’s a shift in how the organization values your work.” Resistance, then, isn’t rebellion — it’s self-protection.

WHEN THE CREW HITS CHANGE FATIGUE

Firefighters are conditioned to endure fatigue, but change fatigue is different. Johnson warns that many workers today are simply saturated with transformation. Departments layering multiple initiatives — new policies, reorganizations, accountability systems, digital tools — risk creating adaptive overload. Each change drains cognitive and emotional energy.

A training officer in Halifax observed to me: “We didn’t resist the new system — we resisted being surprised.”

When every week brings another procedural update, firefighters start triaging which directives truly matter. The result isn’t mutiny; it’s quiet disengagement — the organizational equivalent of a crew running on empty air bottles.

Leaders need to read the room under pressure:

• Scan for smoke: Watch for emotional cues — sarcasm, silence, withdrawal — when new directives land.

• Check the flow path: Identify where communication is getting kinked or blocked.

• Vent early: Allow safe venting before rollout; it releases pressure constructively.

• Deploy the crew: Engage respected influencers — veteran captains, union reps, senior firefighters — to model calm and credibility.

Resistance can spread like a flashover when crews feel change is being done to them instead of with them. Bareil noted that teams resist when excluded from planning or when leaders fail to explain purpose and benefit.

“If people sense an imposed method or lack of support, they’ll collectively resist.”

When officers turn top-down orders into collaborative missions, the same crew that once resisted becomes the driving force behind success.

The hardest transformations are cultural — those that challenge long-held firehouse values such as loyalty, toughness, or hierarchy. Initiatives promoting mental-health openness, inclusion, or new accountability standards can feel deeply personal. “When change touches the values of the group, it’s one of the hardest to complete,” said Bareil. “It’s cultural. It affects identity.”

The way leadership handles these moments determines outcome. “Was the process respectful?” Bareil queried. “Were people supported, informed, and invited to participate?”

Respectful implementation isn’t weakness; it’s command discipline. It proves that integrity and modernization can occupy the same hall of the fire station.

Lainey stated that leaders often improvise change management. “We don’t always have a method. But there are good practices worth learning.”

In fire service terms, listening is a tactical tool. When a firefighter voices frustration,

that’s situational intelligence. When a senior officer questions a rollout, that’s a risk-assessment cue. Labeling these reactions as “resistance” shuts down valuable feedback loops. Engaging them opens new intelligence streams.

Strong leaders read the informal network like a fireground map — noting who holds influence, who controls morale, and who can bridge the divide.

Across Canada, departments are navigating major transformation: mandatory certification (O. Reg. 343/22), data-driven risk assessments, evolving wellness frameworks, and complex recruitment pressures.

These reforms, layered atop budget scrutiny and generational turnover, create immense strain. Many departments now face what psychologists call “cultural saturation”, which is a sense that the tempo of change outpaces capacity to adapt.

Yet, Bareil reminded, most people aren’t against change. They’re against being changed without understanding why. When officers

Imagine at — e Truck Showed Up Early.

You don’t have to wait 800 days for delivery of your truck.

Safetek Pro re’s Ready-to-Deliver inventory ends the delay. e trucks are here—what’s missing is your crew

Connect with your Regional Sales Manager and complete your picture.

Sean Montague

British Columbia | Yukon | Northwest Territories

604.308.6402

sean@ retrucks.ca

Adam Croome

Alberta | Saskatchewan

403.968.2033 acroome@ retrucks.ca

Gregory Rivers

Ontario | Nunavut

647.688.0299 grivers@ retrucks.ca

Ryan Stacey

Atlantic Canada

506.252.2624

rstacey@ retrucks.ca

take time to explain the “why” — the benefit, the intent, and what remains stable — firefighters begin to lean in rather than dig in.

A LESSON FROM THE NORTH

When a deputy chief in northern Ontario introduced a new shift rotation, the backlash was immediate. “Another system nobody asked for,” a firefighter muttered. Instead of defending the decision, the chief gathered the platoon for coffee and asked what they feared losing.

Within 15 minutes, the talk shifted from complaint to collaboration. “It wasn’t resistance,” the chief said later. “It was grief. Once we named it, we could manage it.”

That small act of empathy turned resistance into readiness — proving that leadership in change, like leadership on the fireground, starts with reading conditions before

Change doesn’t fail because firefighters don’t care. It fails because leaders forget that care itself can look like resistance. Firefighters fight

Fire Officer Takeaway Box: Turning resistance into readiness

• Principle action

• Normalize discomfort, expect turbulence: treat emotion as engagement, not insubordination

• Build psychological safety, create spaces for candid discussion without repercussion

• Involve early, not late. Seek input before final decisions as ownership fuels commitment

• Protect traditions that matter. Differentiate between outdated habits and meaningful rituals

• Pace the change, stagger initiatives to prevent overload and burnout

• Coach rather than command. Lead adaptation through mentorship and empathy

• Recognize emotional toll: fatigue signals that people still care; acknowledge it

fires with intensity; they fight unwanted change with the same passion when they feel unheard.

Managing change, then, is another form of incident command. You size up conditions, assess risks, brief your crew, and advance with clarity. The goal isn’t to extinguish emotion — it’s to channel it safely and purposefully.

Resistance isn’t failure. It’s feedback. And when leaders learn to interpret that feedback, they transform uncertainty into trust — and

Source credit: Adapted with permission and acknowledgment from “Mieux comprendre les sources de résistance au changement” by AnneMarie Tremblay, originally published in Revue Gestion HEC Montréal, Nov. 12, 2024.

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

1200 DEGREES ONTARIO

402 Harmony Road, Ayr ON N0B 1E0

Tel: 800-254-0249

Toll free: 800-254-0249

Company Email: jclimie@1200-degrees.com

Web: www.1200-degrees.com

Ontario’s exclusive E-One fire apparatus dealer; providing sales, refurbishments, maintenance, and repairs. The company also supplies industry-leading fire equipment, including Holmatro Extrication Tools, Draeger SCBA & Gas Detection, FLIR Thermal Imaging Cameras, Fire-Dex PPE, Niedner Hose, F500 Foam & Encapsulator, Bridgehill Fire Blankets, is the Akron Brass master dealer, the Hale pump factory authorized service team, DriveOn authorized and so much more. We are the industry leaders in Annual NFPA Testing services, servicing all makes/models, with expert mobile and in-shop service, and access to over 40 OEM’s & aftermarket parts brands. 1200 Degrees Ontario ensures fire departments keep their apparatus in peak condition. To support our recent growth, the company is investing $5 million in a new dealership in Brant County, set to open in Spring of 2026, further expanding service capacity and sales capabilities. With a skilled team, top-tier products, and a commitment to service, 1200 Degrees Ontario is a trusted partner for fire departments across Ontario.

AIR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CANADA INC.

251 Queen St. S., Ste. 512 Mississauga ON L5M 1L7

Tel: 905-826-6682

Toll free: 866-735-1480

Fax: 866-511-6904

Company Email: info@airmation.ca

Web: www.airmation.ca

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 and is the ONLY environmental tested and proven filtration system to exceed standards: NFPA, NIOSH, OSHA and ASHRAE. 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.

AIR VACUUM CORPORATION

PO Box 517

Dover NH 03821

Tel: 603-743-4332

Toll free: 800-540-7264

Fax: 603-743-3111

Company Email: sales@airvacuumcorporation.com

Web: www.airvac911.com

Breathe Clean Air with AIRVAC 911®

Air Vacuum Corp.’s AIRVAC 911 engine exhaust removal system protects 100 percent of an apparatus bay area by automatically monitoring the station 24/7 to constantly remove hazardous contaminants. No hoses, vehicle attachments or tail pipe connections are required. The system’s 360-degree airflow design continuously eliminates exhaust dead spots and captures toxins. The fourstage filtration system features chemically treated carbon and activated carbon filters. A MERV-16-rated filter removes contaminant particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. No building modifications, ducting or external exhaust fans are required, and there’s no interference with daily operations or response time.

PIERCE ENFORCER ASCENDANT® 100’ HEAVY-DUTY AERIAL TOWER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Delivered 9 months from purchase, St. Albert’s 100’ Tower is a mid-mount quint built on a Pierce Enforcer with a Waterous 2000 GPM pump and 300 G tank. Tower 2 is powered by a 510 HP PACCAR MX-13 and has TAK-4® independent front suspension. For safety, the truck has a multi-camera system with stabilizer placement cameras, HAAS Alert and lighting from Whelen and Hi-Viz.

DEPARTMENT: St. Albert Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Alberta

OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS 6X6 STRIKER ARFF VEHICLE COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Victoria Airport Authority’s new Oshkosh Striker 6x6 has a Snozzle high-reach extendable turret with piercing nozzle and is powered by a 670 HP Scania DC16 V8. It carries 12,500 L water, 1,750 L of AFFF, and 250 kg of dry chemical, with a Waterous CRQB 2000 GPM pump. Other features include dual-agent hose reel, and 10 kW Harrison generator.

DEPARTMENT: Victoria Airport Authority, British Columbia

(3) PIERCE APPARATUS: 110’ ASCENDANT®, PUC ENGINEPUMPER, PUC RESCUE-PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Fire Rescue added three new Pierce Enforcer apparatus: a 110’ Ascendant PUC platform, a PUC engine-pumper, and a PUC rescue-pumper. Each is powered by a 510 HP PACCAR MX-13 engine with 2000 GPM Pierce Ultimate Configuration pump. They all feature 500 G tanks and Pierce Husky™ foam systems.

DEPARTMENT: Nanaimo Fire Rescue, British Columbia

(3) PIERCE ENFORCER PUMPERS

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

PIERCE ENFORCER PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Prince Rupert Fire Department’s new war wagon features a Cummins X15 engine rated at 565 HP, a Waterous CSU 2000 GPM single-stage pump, 750 G tank, and 20 G foam cell with Husky™ 3 proportioning. Engine 8 also has TAK-4® independent front suspension and a full black-out package.

DEPARTMENT: Prince Rupert Fire Rescue, British Columbia

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FIRELINE QUICK ATTACK PRO TYPE 5 COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Mackenzie Fire Department received Wildland 11, a new FireLine Quick Attack Pro Type 5 wildland apparatus. Built on a Ford F-450 with super singles, it features a 300 GPM CET skid unit which has a 400 G tank with a 10 G foam cell and 150’ booster reel. Nearly 80 cubic feet of Buyers Products compartment space provides organized storage for reliable wildland response.

DEPARTMENT: Mackenzie Fire Department, British Columbia

MAXIMETAL PARAGON PUMPER TANKER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Mayne Island Fire Rescue took delivery of its first new apparatus in over 10 years — a MAXIMETAL engine on a Freightliner M2. Engine 3 includes a Detroit DD8 engine, Paragon pumphouse with Waterous CX 1500 GPM pump, 1200 G tank, 30 G foam cell, Whelen and Fire Research lighting, automatic tire chains, and a full cold climate package.

DEPARTMENT: Mayne Island Fire Rescue, British Columbia

PIERCE ENFORCER 107’ ASCENDANT® AERIAL LADDER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

DEPARTMENT: Winnipeg Fire

Nanaimo

Kelowna Fire Department expanded their lineup of apparatus with a new Enforcer 107’ Ascendant® aerial ladder equipped with a 500 HP Cummins X12 engine, 500 G tank, 2000 GPM Hale pump, and a Whelen lighting package.

DEPARTMENT: Kelowna Fire Department, British Columbia

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service added 3 identical Enforcer pumper units, each equipped with 500 G tanks, 40 G foam cells, Hale 1750 GPM pumps, and lighting from HiViz and Whelen.

Paramedic Service, Manitoba

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

BEARSPAW PROTECTAPUMP - SEPARATORS

927 Goldstream Ave

Victoria British Columbia V9B 2Y2

Tel: 778-404-7385

Company Email: info@protectapump.com Web: protectapump.com

Since 2016 BearsPaw ProtectaPump from BC, Canada has blazed a trail to improve Rural & Wildland drafting technology. This effort resulted in their made-in-Canada SEPARATORS® that revolutionizes fire drafting from natural water sources of all depths, even 6 inches—whether swamp, sand or shallow—shattering the restrictions of traditional strainers with their patented liquids/ solids separation technology. Separators outperform strainers in both natural sources & dump tanks, serving as a perfect all-rounder for any water source. BearsPaw Separators: Mobile infrastructure for a mobile threat... Finally shallow water works! Info & Quotes: ProtectaPump.com

C-MAX FIRE SOLUTIONS

3040 Sawmill Rd., PO Box 425 St. Jacobs ON N0B 2N0

Tel: 519-664-3796

Company Email: fireinfo@c-max.ca Web: www.c-max.ca

Canadian family owned and operated business that offers a higher standard of service and sales for all your Fire Apparatus needs. C-Max Fire Solutions offers 24 Hour service from EVT Technicians with fully stocked service trucks. We offer Pump testing and repairs to all makes and models. We offer ground ladder testing as per NFPA 1932. Aerial Inspections as per NFPA 1914. Supply and install lights and siren packages on your vehicles. C-Max is excited to be working with Fort Garry and MetalFab for warranty repairs in Ontario.

CANADIAN SAFETY EQUIPMENT INC.

#3 – 2865 Argentia Rd.

Mississauga ON L5N 8G6

Tel: 905-826-2740

Toll free: 800-265-0182

Fax: 905-272-1866

Company Email: info@cdnsafety.com Web: www.cdnsafety.com

We supply Industrial and Fire SCBA’s, SCBA Decon Washer, Thermal Cameras, CAF Systems, Fall Protection, Bunker Gear, Fire and Rescue and Ballistic helmets, Fire Hose, Communications Equipment, Nozzles, Fittings, Hazmat Suits, Ventilation Fans, Gas Detectors, Confined Space Rescue Equipment, Water and Ice Rescue equipment, Industrial and Municipal Safety and Lone Worker Protection systems.

CARL THIBAULT FIRE TRUCKS INC.

38 Thibault St.

Pierreville QC J0G 1J0

Tel: 450-568-7020

Fax: 450-568-3049

Company Email: mthibault@thibaultfiretrucks.com

Web: www.thibaultfiretrucks.com

We are a Canadian based company and we manufacture a full line of fire apparatus which includes aerial ladders, pumpers, tankers, rescue units and vacuum tankers. We provide parts and other related products.

CET FIRE PUMPS MFG LTD

2 Industrielle St

Pierreville QC J0G1J0

Tel: 450-568-2719

Toll free: 888-844-2285

Fax: 450-568-2613

Company Email: sthibault@fire-pump.com Web: www.fire-pump.com

We are a portable fire pumps, firefighting skid unit, foam trailer, brush truck and mini-pumpers manufacturer.

CSE INCENDIE ET SÉCURITÉ INC.

5651 Chemin St-Francois, St. Laurent QC H4S 1W6

Tel: 514-737-2280

Toll free: 866-737-2280

Fax: 514-737-2751

Company Email: info@cseis.com

Web: www.cseis.com

We supply Industrial and Fire, SCBA’S, SCBA Decon Washers, Gear Extractors and Dryers, Thermal Cameras, CAF Systems, Fall Protection, Bunker Gear, Fire, Rescue and Ballistic Helmets, Fire Hose, Communications Equipment, Nozzles, Fittings, Hazmat Suits, Ventilation Fans, Gas Detectors, Confined Space Rescue Equipment, High Angle Rescue Equipment, Ice and Water rescue equipment, Boots and Gloves. Everything for Fire Fighting, EMS, Law Enforcement, Industrial and Municipal Safety and Lone Worker Protection Systems.

DARLEY

325 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca IL 60143

Tel: 630-735-3500

Toll free: 800-323-0244

Company Email: jimdarley@darley.com Web: www.darley.com

You serve others. We serve you.™

Founded in 1908, Darley provides the highest quality pump, technology, and equipment solutions for first responders around the world. With origins in Midwest manufacturing, Darley offers a complete line of unmanned systems, immersive training technology, equipment and pumps. More information is available at www.darley.com.

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT CO.

591 Chester Road

Delta BC V3M 6G7

Tel: 877-443-2626

Toll free: 800-665-6126

Company Email: info@comemerg.ca

Web: www.comemerg.ca

Commercial Emergency Equipment is Canada’s expert supplier of emergency equipment. Commercial is the authorized dealer for Pierce, BME Fire Trucks, Maximetal, and Oshkosh Airport Products apparatus from Ontario to BC including all Canadian Territories. With a 75-year history, 350+ employees across Canada in six main branches, and 270,000+ sq. ft. of combined production and service space, Commercial has an unmatched parts, service, training, testing, and support network for emergency apparatus. Commercial provides its customers access to industry-leading service and support including mobile EVT’s, pump testing, annual inspections and maintenance, a significant stock of on-the-shelf parts, 24/7 emergency service and more. We warehouse an extensive inventory of OEM and aftermarket parts, tools, and equipment ensuring quick delivery and reduced downtime to our customers.

DRAEGER SAFETY CANADA LTD.

2425 Skymark Ave., Unit 1

Mississauga ON L4W 4Y6

Tel: 905-212-6600

Toll free: 877-372-4371

Fax: 905-212-6602

Company Email: susan.yu@draeger.com Web: www.draeger.com/en-us_ca/Safety/Firefighting

With over 130 years of experience, Dräger is a trusted leader in firefighting safety equipment. Our portfolio includes SCBA, live fire training systems, fixed and mobile gas detectors, flame detectors, thermal imaging cameras, and drugs and alcohol testing equipment—all designed to keep first responders safe in the most challenging environments.

Contact us at +1 877-372-4371 or visit draeger.com to learn more. Our product services and technical training courses are available year-round at our Mississauga, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta locations. Schedule your SCBA and gas detector service today, and experience the quality and reliability that has been safeguarding firefighters worldwide for generations.

PIERCE ENFORCER HEAVY-DUTY RESCUE COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Belleville Fire and Emergency added a new Pierce Heavy Duty Rescue Enforcer apparatus, powered by a 510 HP PACCAR MX13 engine. Their HDR is an 18.5’ walk-around body with a 9000 lb WARN winch, Whelen lighting package, a Wilburt NightScan 3 light tower, Stokes basket rack, and Harrison 25 kW generator.

DEPARTMENT: Belleville Fire and Emergency Services, Ontario

PIERCE VELOCITY TOP MOUNT ENCLOSED INDUSTRIAL FOAM PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

LNG Canada’s new TME Pumper is equipped with a 1000 G foam tank, Husky™ 160 foam system, and a 510 HP PACCAR MX-13 engine. It features a Darley ZSM 3000 GPM single-stage pump with four 6” intakes feeding 10 discharges, and a 6” Akron Brass Aeromaster roof monitor capable of 3200 GPM.

DEPARTMENT: LNG Canada Emergency Response, Kitimat, British Columbia

OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS 4X4 STRIKER ARFF VEHICLE

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

CFB Goose Bay’s new Oshkosh Striker 4x4 is powered by a Scania DC16 V8 delivering 670 HP and 1950 ft-lb torque. It carries 6,050 L water, 795 L of AFFF, and 250 kg of dry chemical, with a Waterous CRQB 2000 GPM pump. RED 9 also has a full winterization package and high-output scene lighting package.

DEPARTMENT: Canadian Forces Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador

MAXIMETAL PIC2000 TANKER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

new MAXIMETAL PIC2000 is built on a Freightliner M2 106

a 2000 G

DEPARTMENT: Clearwater Regional Fire

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

(2) PIERCE ENFORCER VOLTERRA PUMPERS COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Brampton’s two new Volterra pumpers are built on Enforcer chassis with 246 kWh high-voltage batteries and Cummins B6.7 backup engines. Both are equipped with 1500 GPM Waterous CSU pumps, 500 G tanks, Husky™ 3 foam systems with 20 G cells, 3” discharge deluge monitors, Whelen emergency lighting, and FireTech by HiViz scene lighting.

DEPARTMENT: Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, Ontario

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FIRELINE QUICK ATTACK PRO COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Kahkewistahaw First Nation has received a new FireLine Quick Attack Pro Type 5 wildland apparatus on a Ford F-450 chassis. It features a 400 G tank, 2.5” CET pump, 150’ electric-return hose reel, 10 G foam cell, Whelen CenCom Core, and 80 cu. ft. of compartment space. Added capabilities include an Akron Brass bumper monitor, WARN 10,000 lb winch, heavy-duty bumper, and full lighting package.

DEPARTMENT: Kahkewistahaw First Nation Fire Department, Saskatchewan

(5) PIERCE AND MAXIMETAL APPARATUS COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

and

Enforcer

DEPARTMENT: Township of

Fire Department, British Columbia

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FIRELINE QUICK ATTACK PRO TYPE 5

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

1250 GPM

and custom equipment

DEPARTMENT: Rural Municipality of Springfield Fire & Rescue Services, Manitoba

The Township of Langley greatly expanded their fleet of apparatus earlier in the year, taking delivery of 2 MAXIMETAL mini pumpers, 2 MAXIMETAL MaxiSaber engines,

a Pierce

Heavy-Duty rescue.

Langley

The RM of Springfield added Squad 2: a 2024 FireLine Quick Attack Pro built on a Ford F-450 4x4 crew cab with a 7.3L gas engine. It includes a CET/Honda 2.5” pump with pump-and-roll, 400 G CET poly tank, Whelen CenCom Core lighting, 150’ electric-return booster reel, Akron 3462 bumper monitor, 10,000 lb portable winch,

storage.

Clearwater County’s

chassis, and comes equipped with

water tank,

Darley pump, a front bumper monitor, a rear hose reel, and a hydraulic rack used for storing a 2500 G portable water tank.

Rescue Services, Alberta

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

E-ONE

1601 S.W. 37th Ave., Ocala FL 34474

Tel: 352-237-1122

Fax: 352-237-1151

Company Email: info@e-one.com

Web: www.e-one.com

E-ONE. STRENGTH THROUGH EXCELLENCE.

E-ONE, a full spectrum builder of fire apparatus, is the pioneer and recognized leader in extruded aluminum and stainless-steel construction. With their advanced engineering, fully integrated manufacturing and highly engaged dealer network, the proud customer focused E-ONE team delivers strength through excellence.

E-ONE is recognized in the fire industry as the cutting-edge builder of:

• Aerial ladders and platforms

• Custom and commercial pumpers and tankers

• Rescues of all sizes

• Industrial trucks

• Aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles

50 YEARS OF INNOVATION: Founded in 1974, E-ONE celebrated a half century of designing and manufacturing fire apparatus in 2024. E-ONE introduced the first modular extruded aluminum fire truck body, launching the company’s reputation in the fire industry for pioneering innovation, still evidenced 50 years later in the fire apparatus it produces for fire departments around the world. From its first aerial in 1981 and platform in 1983 to the DND Air Transportable ARFF in 2020 and the all-electric Vector fire truck in 2022, E-ONE continues to lead the way with advanced engineering and innovative design.

E-ONE’S SUPERIOR AERIAL DNA: The DNA of E-ONE aerials consist of a unique design that gives E-ONE the advantage of stability and brute strength. The welded extruded aluminum construction will never rust or need repainting, resulting in a lower cost of ownership. Key design features include a 2.5 to 1 structural safety factor, crisscross under-slung jacks, integral torque box chassis, and the strongest cab in the industry.

SAFEST CAB IN THE INDUSTRY: Keep your crew safe with the cab that withstands over 5 times the static roof load and over twice the frontal impact required by NFPA 1901. The structural roll cage type design provides maximum protection and comfort for firefighters.

INTEGRAL TORQUE BOX CHASSIS: The integral torque box chassis is a unique design that provides a solid foundation and low center of gravity for the truck. This provides outstanding stability and strength, with the same 2.5 to 1 structural safety factor as the aerial device.

For further information on E-ONE apparatus or to find an E-ONE dealer near you, visit e-one.com

Darch Fire (Member of 1200 Degrees) 9-402 Harmony Road, Ayr, Ontario N0B 1E0 800-254-2049

Territory: Ontario

SAFETEK EMERGENCY VEHICLES

2122 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6J8

Territories: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, British Columbia, Northwest Territories www.firetrucks.ca

Keewatin Truck Service 610 Keewatin St., Winnipeg, MB R2X 2R9

Phone 204-633-2700

Territory: Manitoba

FERRARA FIRE APPARATUS, INC.

27855 James Chapel Rd., PO Box 249

Holden LA 70744

Tel: 225-567-7100

Toll free: 800-443-9006

Fax: 225-567-7675

Company Email: info@ferrarafire.com

Web: www.ferrarafire.com

Take Command with Ferrar

Ferrara Fire Apparatus is a premier manufacturer of fire trucks and emergency response vehicles offering a full line oof pumpers, aerials, industrial, wildland, and rescue apparatus. Working hands-on with both municipal and industrial fire departments, the Ferrara team thrives on understanding response needs to custom design fire apparatus that will stand the test of time.

Taking crew safety and apparatus durability very seriously, Ferrara uses a fine-tuned construction process and heavy-duty materials to build the strongest fire trucks in the industry. We offer a custom chassis product line that exceeds minimum requirements, making them the safest available. With its extra-heavy-duty construction, you can take command with Ferrara.

For more information on Ferrara apparatus or to find a Ferrara dealer near you, visit ferrarafire.com

Dependable Emergency Vehicles

250 Clarence Street #2 Brampton, ON L6W 1T4

INFO@DEPENDABLEEMERGENCYVEHICLES.CA

905-453-3473

FIREHALL BOOKSTORE

PO Box 530, 105 Donly Drive S.

Simcoe ON N3Y 4N5

Tel: 877-267-3473

Fax: 877-624-1940

Company Email: info@firehallbookstore.com

Web: www.firehallbookstore.com

Firehall Bookstore is your headquarters for training & public education materials, providing resources to the Canadian Fire Service and its professionals. Products include textbooks, NFPA standards, and fire safety & prevention educational materials for community outreach. Product lines include: NFPA, IFSTA, Jones & Bartlett, Fire Engineering Books, Action Training Systems, Pearson, Exam Preps from Dr. Ben Hirst/Performance Training Systems as well as our Firehall Mall section offering gloves, lights, tools and accessories from A.J. Stone and ResQTech.

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS LTD.

RR 2, 53 Bergen Cutoff Rd., Winnipeg MB R3C 2E6

Tel: 204-594-3473

Toll free: 800-565-3473

Fax: 204-694-3230

Company Email: brian nash, bnash@fgft.ca

Web: www.fgft.com

Fort Garry Fire Trucks is Canada’s oldest and largest manufacturer of high-quality fire apparatus, offering a complete line of pumpers, tankers, rescues, aerial devices, and custom-designed and engineered specialized units. With headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, our customers emanate from cities, towns, and municipalities throughout Canada, the U.S., and abroad with the harshest weather, climates, and terrain. We have one of the largest fire apparatus engineering departments among our competitors, dedicated to designing and producing equipment for the most extreme conditions in the world. We are the exclusive Canadian distributor of Sutphen Corporation aerial ladders and platforms. We truly build ‘One Tough Truck’ and boast over 105 years of quality.

COAST TO COAST SALES AND SERVICE NETWORK:

• Brian Nash — Vice President – Sales – bnash@fgft.ca; Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 (ext. 3471) Cell: 204-981-7845

• Chad Kamminga — Service & Warranty – ckamminga@fgft.ca; Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 Direct Phone: 204-594-3478

REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES:

• Atlantic Canada

– Adam Baldwin – abaldwin@fgft.ca

Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 (ext. 2006); Cell: 902888-9806

• Northeastern Ontario, Eastern Ontario & Quebec – Peter Somerton – psomerton@fgft.ca

Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 (ext. 2005); Cell: 613859-5747

• Central & Southwestern Ontario

– Jimmie Adam Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473; Cell: 613-264-7206

• Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Northwestern Ontario – Chris Pilek– cpilek@fgft.ca Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473; Cell: 204-296-1915

• Alberta – Taylor Young – tyoung@fgft.ca Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 (ext. 3466); Cell: 204298-9923

• British Columbia

– Al Anderson & Bryan Anderson – Fire Power Emergency Apparatus – alan@firepowerplus.com or bryan@firepowerplus.com Phone: 1-250-668-2673 or 1-250-327-1904

• Northwest Territories

– Rick Penner – rpenner@fgft.ca Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473 (ext. 2024); Cell: 204981-5118

• Manitoba / Northwestern Ontario / Nunavut Aboriginal / Northern Sales Manager – Ron Lavallee – rlavallee@fgft.ca Toll-Free: 1-800-565-3473; Cell: 204-791-1167

• Yukon

– Gil Bradet – Nordique Fire Protection sales@nordiquefire.ca; Phone: 867-334-6603

• United States (West)

– Lloyd Hamilton – US Fire Equipment lloyd@usfireequipment.com; Phone: 253-863-1301

• United States (East)

– Philip Vander Molen – Vander Molen Fire Apparatus vmfire@verizon.net; Phone: 315-952-7787

(3) SPARTAN CUSTOM PUMPERS SAFETEK

These are built on Spartan Metro Star chassis and powered by Cummins X12 500 HP engines and Allison EVS 3000 transmissions. Each unit features a Waterous CMUC20 pump with a flow of 2,000 IGPM/8,000 L, a 380 IMP G/1,700 L water tank, Waterous Aquis 6.0 foam system, and an Akron StreamMaster Deck Gun. The extruded aluminum body houses ECO IDLE-TEC (idle reduction technology).

DEPARTMENT: Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, British Columbia

E-ONE HP 75 AERIAL KEEWATIN

Rosser Fire Department has taken delivery of its new E-ONE HP 75 aerial. With a Cummins X 12 500 HP engine and Spartan FC-94 chassis, this aerial features a Hale Qmax 1500 GPM pump and a 500 G water tank. It features a dual ladder tunnel for 103’ of ladder storage, a 75’ extruded aluminum ladder with 1,250 GPM Akron StreamMaster pinned waterway and a Whelen warning light package.

DEPARTMENT: Rosser Fire Department, Manitoba

(2) VECTOR ELECTRIC FIRE TRUCKS

Each of these two Vector electric fire trucks is built on Typhoon 4x2 chassis powered by a fully electric drive. Each unit features a Waterous CS pump, a flow of 1,250 IGPM/5,000 LPM, 600 US IMP G water tank, and a 30 US G Integral Class foam tank. With these new additions to the fleet having low to zero carbon emissions, TFS will further support the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.

DEPARTMENT: Toronto Fire Services, Ontario

This pair of new E-ONE FC-94 custom pumpers are built on Spartan FC-94 chassis and cabs. These pumpers are powered by L9 450 HP engines and Allison 3000 transmissions. They come equipped with a Hale Q-Max 1250 GPM or 6000 LPM pump and 1500 IMP G tank. These pumpers feature over 150 cubic feet of storage space, and two storage tunnels for ladders, gaffes and suction pipe.

DEPARTMENT: MRC de Montcalm, Sainte-Julienne, Quebec

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

E-ONE CUSTOM EMAX RESCUE PUMPER 1200 DEGREES

Built on a Typhoon chassis with an extended cab and eight seats, this E-ONE custom eMAX rescue pumper features a Q-MAX XS 6,000 LPM pump, 840 IMP G water tank and a Cummins X12 500 HP engine with EVS 4000 transmission. Other features include rear center ladder storage, upper body safety center aisle, extra storage compartments and a WilBurt Tower of Light.

DEPARTMENT: Kentville Volunteer Fire Department, Nova Scotia

30M/100’ PLATFORM

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services took delivery of a Smeal 30M/100‘ platform. Built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis, and powered by Cummins X5 605 HP engine with a Allison 4000 EVS transmission, this unit features a Hale QMax pump, a flow of 2,250 GPM, a 300 US G water tank, and 60 US Gallon foam cell. The apparatus also features a Harrison 10kW generator.

DEPARTMENT: Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, Alberta

PUMPERS

Built on Spartan Metro Star chassis and powered by Cummins L9 450 HP engines and Allison EVS 3000 transmissions, each unit features a Hale QMax pump with a flow of 2,000 IGPM/8,000 L, a 420 IMP G/1,600 L water tank, and a 40 IMP G/150 L foam tank. The pumper has a 3/16” aluminum body, Harrison 8kW MCR generator, and a Command Light Knight Light.

DEPARTMENT: Markham Fire and Emergency Services, Ontario

Brampton Fire and Rescue has taken delivery of a new E-ONE 95 platform. Built on a Typhoon 6x4 chassis, this platform is powered by a Cummins X12 500 HP engine and EVS 4000 transmission and has a 13’8” jack spread with crisscross outriggers. This unit features a Hale Q-Max 1250 GPM or 6000 LPM pump and 280 G water tank, a 2002 Hypro/FoamPro foam system and 20 G foam cell.

DEPARTMENT: Brampton Fire and Rescue

SMEAL

SAFETEK PROFIRE

(3) SMEAL CUSTOM

SAFETEK PROFIRE

PROFIRE

TRUCK SERVICE

SAFETEK PROFIRE

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

FSI® NORTH AMERICA, A DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC.®

311 Abbe Road

Sheffield Lake, OH OH 44054

Tel: 440-949-2400

Fax: 404-949-2900

Company Email: sales@fsinorth.com Web: WWW.FSINORTH.COM

FSI – Serving the Life Safety Market worldwide since 1997

FSI North America® is a Full line supplier of mobile, portable and fixed DAT® series hazmat decon shower systems that include traditional water/solution based decon from first responder to multi line mass casualty systems, electrostatic equipment only decon, and Far UVC 222nm Disinfection.

FSI® TEAS® (Temporary Emergency Air Shelters) shelter systems, offered in a broad range of size and configurations, for Command, Isolation, Drive Thru Flu/Covid Shot, Field Hospitals/Alternate Care from 10-1,000 beds, Sleeping, Fire Fighter Rehab, and Temporary Morgues.

FSI® offers a complete range of Isolation Chambers, Rooms, Shelters, and Bed/Chair systems.

FSI® also offers a complete range of sizes and configurations of Trailer Systems, Rescue Boats, and EMS supplies such as the FSI Transporter Disposable Backboards, Triage Tape Systems, FSI Medical Field Cots, Trauma Kits, and Mortuary supplies such as body bags.

HUB FIRE ENGINES

3175 McCallum Rd.

Abbotsford BC V2S 7W5

Tel: 604-859-3124

Toll free: 888-611-2896

Fax: 604-859-5821

Company Email: office@hubfire.com

Web: hubfire.com

Our ongoing mission is to build quality and drive trust. Since 1959, our commitment to delivering the highest performing fire-rescue vehicles in Canada is guided by our pursuit of firefighter safety and efficiency. Our renowned customer-centric focus is provided through an experienced and dedicated team of in-house designers, fabricators, and finishers. Everything that bears the Hub name is purpose-built to achieve the highest possible standards and deliver maximum lifecycle value.

HUSKY PORTABLE CONTAINMENT

7202 SE International Ct. Bartlesville OK 74006

Tel: 918-798-4415

Toll free: 800-260-9950

Fax: 918-333-2004

Company Email: sales@huskyportable.com Web: www.huskyportable.com

HOLMATRO, INC.

505 McCormick Dr. Glen Burnie MD 21061

Tel: 410-768-9662

Fax: 410-768-4878

Company Email: info-usa@holmatro.com Web: www.holmatro.com

Holmatro is the world’s leading rescue equipment supplier. Our equipment is used by first responders around the world in rescue, special tactics and industrial applications. With two high-tech production plants in North America and Netherlands, we maintain the strictest quality, safety and performance standards in the market.

At Holmatro, we are dedicated to developing innovative tools using leading technology. Our Pentheon Series is the newest line of battery powered equipment that offers users the unrestrained performance, unparalleled speed and ultimate control you have never experienced before. And with battery management made easy, you are always rescue ready!

To see our newest products, schedule a demo and request more information, visit holmatro.com. You can count on us, for life.

Husky Portable Containment offers robust solutions for firefighting and environmental safety products. Our product line features portable water tanks, secondary containment berms, durable bladder tanks, and efficient wash bays, all designed to enhance safety and efficiency. Ideal for managing water and liquid containment needs, Husky’s highquality, portable solutions ensure reliability in critical situations, providing essential support for both environmental and emergency response operations.

JORDAIR COMPRESSORS INC.

205-6901 72 St.

Delta BC V4G 0A2

Tel: 604-940-8101

Toll free: 800-940-8101

Fax: 604-940-8101

Company Email: sales@jordair.ca

Web: www.jordair.ca

Jordair offers a wide range of high pressure breathing air products for the filling of SCBA cylinders. Our products set the industry standard in safety and reliability, backed by over 40 years of compressor expertise. That is why Jordair-Bauer compressor systems are the number one choice for the Fire Departments, Diving, and the Military in Canada.

Jordair is CSA certified and CRN registered in all provinces across Canada.

KME

One Industrial Complex Nesquehoning PA 18240-1499

Toll free: 800-235-3928

Company Email: kme@kmefire.com

Web: www.kmefire.com

KME is Engineered to Serve!

KME is a manufacturer of high quality, custom fire apparatus serving communities across the country. Choose from a wide range of products that includes Aerials, Pumpers, Tankers, Rescues, and Wildland vehicles. Our nationwide network of sales and service centers supports you long after the sale with the parts and service you need to continue your life-saving missions. For more information on KME Fire Apparatus or to find a KME dealer near you, visit kmefire.com

Your KME authorized dealers include:

METZ FIRE & RESCUE

3-304 Stone Road W. #325 Guelph, Ontario N1G4W4 519-763-9955

Territory: Ontario

SAFETEK EMERGECY VEHICLES

2122 Peardonville Road Abbotsford BC V2T6J8

T. 1.604.504.4590

www.firetrucks.ca

Territory:British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut

1200 Degrees 105, route Marine-Victorin St-Francois-du-Lac, Quebec JOG 1MO 888-568-2777

Territory: Quebec and Maritimes

DEPENDABLE EMERGENCY VEHICLES

275 Clarence St. Brampton, ON L8W 3R3 1-800-268-0871

Territory: ONTARIO: All areas except Haldimand, Halton, Waterloo, and Wellington regions.

KOCHEK CANADA

62 Bradwick Dr., Vaughan ON L4K 1K8

Tel: 416-602-0404

Company Email: sales@kochekcanada.com

Web: www.kochek.com sales@kochekcanada.com

Robin Lewis, Customer Service laura@kochekcanada.com

Laura Kenyon, Regional Director

WALK-IN 4X4 RESCUE

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This walk-in 4x4 rescue is built on a Freightliner 4x4 crew cab chassis and is powered by a Detroit DD8 375 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a rooftop Command Light, slide out ladder rack, medical compartment accessible both internally and externally, and a custom rear stretcher ramp.

DEPARTMENT: Big White Fire Department, British Columbia

TYPE 3 WILDLAND ENGINE

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This Type 3 Wildland engine is built on a Freightliner crew cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This formed 5052 marine grade aluminum unit features a Darley PSP PTO 1250 pump, a poly 1000 IG tank, and a Foam Pro 2001 – Class A foam proportioning system.

DEPARTMENT: Cherry Creek Fire Department, British Columbia

MXV TOP MOUNT PUMPERS FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

These MXV top mount pumpers are built on Freightliner regular cab chassis with Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engines and Allison 3000 EVS transmissions. These 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum units feature Darley PTO PSP 1000 pump and roll pumps, 1000 IG poly water tanks, Foam Pro Class A injection systems, and Zico electric fold down ladder racks.

DEPARTMENT: County of Warner Fire & Rescue, Alberta

CRUSADER PUMPER

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This Crusader pumper is built on a Freightliner crew cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This formed 5052-freshwater marine grade aluminum unit features a Darley Midship PSM1250 pump, an 800 IG tank, and a Foam Pro 1600 – Class A foam proportioning system.

DEPARTMENT: Ucluelet Fire Department, British Columbia

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

PUMPER TANKER – 1700 IG FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This pumper tanker is built on a Freightliner regular cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 automatic transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Waterous PTO HLU PA1250 pump, a 1700 IG tank, and a TurboFoam foam system.

DEPARTMENT: Smoky River Fire Department, Alberta

MXV TERMINATOR FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This MXV Terminator is built on a Freightliner 4x4 crew cab chassis and is powered by a Detroit DD8 375 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Darley PTO PSRH1250 pump, a 1000 IG tank, and a Foam Pro Class A Turbo HP injection system.

DEPARTMENT: Wiikwemkoong Fire Department, Ontario

FORT

This emergency rescue pumper–4-man crown is built on a Freightliner regular cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Waterous midship CX1250 pump, poly 833 IG tank, and a Foam Pro 1600 foam injection system.

DEPARTMENT: Municipality of Cumberland Wallace Fire Department, Nova Scotia

ER-X PUMPER –SIDE MOUNT FORT GARRY TRUCKS

a Waterous PTO CXPA1500 pump, an 800 IG

an Elkhart Cobra rooftop

and a Foam Pro 2001 – Class A foam injection system.

DEPARTMENT: Whistler Fire Rescue Service, British Columbia

ER PUMPER – 4-MAN CROWN

GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

This ER-X side mount pumper is built on a Spartan Metro Star 10-inch raised roof chassis that is powered by a Cummins L9 450 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features

tank,

monitor

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

KROWN CORPORATE/ KROWN RUST CONTROL

35 Magnum Drive

Schomberg ON L0G 1T0

Tel: 905-939-8750

Toll free: 800-267-5744

Fax: 905-939-8710

Company Email: info@krown.com

Web: www.krown.com

Paul A. Kirkup

National (Corporate) Fleet Manager

Cell 416-540-0157

paul.kirkup@krown.com

Krown Rust Control has been in business since 1986 (38 years) that specializes in corrosion control. Krown manufactures all their products such as penetrates, lubricants as well as cleaning products in Ontario and distributes them in North American as well as Europe.

Over the past 38 years, Krown has been servicing the retail and commercial and industrial markets. We have over 315 Centers in North America as well as 35 Centers in Europe.

Krown continues to pride itself in providing excellent service to their customers.

MAXIMETAL INC.

9345, 25e Ave

Saint-Georges, QC G6A 1L1

Tel: 418-228-6637

Toll free: 800-510-6337

Fax: 418-228-0493

Company Email: maximetal@maximetal.ca Web: www.maximetal.com

MAXIMETAL, an Oshkosh Corporation company, is a dynamic, innovative company with 40 years’ experience designing and building optimized intervention vehicles for Fire & Emergency as well as Power & Utility customers. OUR MISSION: To support those who keep our families safe and comfortable by designing and building vehicles that stand out for their quality and ingenuity.

MAXIMETAL is represented by Canada’s most robust apparatus dealer network, coast-to-coast. Find your dealer here: maximetal.com/find-a-dealer

MERCEDES TEXTILES LTD.

Montreal QC

Tel: 514-335-4337

Fax: 514-335-9633

Company Email: sales@mercedestextiles.com

Web: www.mercedestextiles.com

For over 45 years, Mercedes Textiles has proudly delivered the most innovative and reliable water delivery systems to the firefighting community. From hoses & couplings to portable pumps, municipal to forestry, we put our technology where your courage is.

FIRE HOSE & COUPLINGS:

• KrakenEXO® – The most advanced UL-listed attack fire hose on the market – weighs less, kinks less, flows more water, beats the heat

• MegaFlo® Breather – Large volume attack & supply hose designed for fastest deployment, easiest recovery & best packability

• Highwater Hose Inc. – We offer of a wide range of rubber-covered lightweight, lay-flat & industrial hoses via our partner brand

• Many hoses available with iReflect® & WAYOUT® couplings and iDentify® Coding System – all manufactured under one roof, customized to your specifications, & NFPA 1961 compliant

• Best warranty on the market: 2-year All Hazards, 10-year manufacturing defects & Lifetime against delamination (2-10-L)

POWERFUL FIRE PUMPS:

We are a leading manufacturer of high pressure, lightweight, portable fire pumps for forestry & municipal fire applications. When you need water, we deliver.

OUR DISTRIBUTORS:

• www.indsales.ca – Labrador

• www.cummings.ca – NB, NL (MINUS LABRADOR), NS, PE

• www.larsenal.ca – QC

• www.municipalequipment.ca – S/S.E. ONT

• www.transcanadasafety.ca – N/N.C. ONT

• www.soucisalosafety.com – N/N.C. ONT

• www.realsafety.ca – MB

• www.wfrfire.com – BC,AB,SK,YT,NWT

METZ FIRE AND RESCUE

3-304 Stone Rd. W.

Guelph ON N1G 4W4

Tel: 519-829-9149

Fax: 519-763-6682

Company Email: john@metzfirerescue.com

Web: www.metzfirerescue.com

Ontario dealer for KME Fire Apparatus. Specializing in custom and commercial pumpers, aerial, rescue, tankers and wildland units.

NEDERMAN CANADA

5865 McLaughlin Road Unit 1

Mississauga ON L5R 1B8

Tel: 905-712-0722

Company Email: customerservice.ca@nederman. com

Web: www.nederman.com

With over 80 years of experience and well over 100,000 installations, Nederman offers diesel exhaust extraction systems designed specifically for emergency and fire vehicles. From the planning and design stage to installation, commissioning and maintenance support Nederman is your clean air partner.

Nederman Magna Systems reliably capture 100% of dangerous diesel exhaust emissions with source capture technology that prevents fumes from traveling throughout the station. Exhaust fumes are removed right at the tailpipe – the most efficient method. Our system design supports ergonomic attachments and quick-release when speed is required for fast station exits. Magna Systems have no coiled hoses or loops and saves space between trucks.

Nederman’s wide variety of product solutions are trusted at thousands of fire stations around the world with high quality construction and exceptional performance that maximized protection.

NFPA

c/o Firehall Bookstore, PO Box 530, 105 Donly Dr. S. Simcoe ON N3Y 4N5

Tel: 877-267-3473

Fax: 877-624-1940

Company Email: info@firehallbookstore.com Web: www.firehallbookstore.com

Canadian distributor for NFPA standards, Fire Prevention Week™, Sparky the Fire Dog® and other public education items.

OCEANID™

1801 Chuckanut Ridge Drive

Bow, WA, USA 98232

Tel: 208-322-3600

Fax: 208-322-3600

Company Email: Kris@oceanid.com

Web: www.oceanid.com

Oceanid is a water rescue equipment design company. We take pride in our boats and design them to take the kind of punishment that many years of rescue and commercial usage will incur. We work closely with Fire, Sheriff and Search and Rescue organizations for ideas and prototype testing.

PUMPER TANKER – 2000 IG

This pumper tanker is built on a Freightliner crew cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a FGFT style sidepack Hale MBP 750 pump, a poly 2000 IG tank, and an Elkhart Vulkan direct mount rooftop monitor.

DEPARTMENT: Dundalk Fire Department, Ontario

This MXV Firewalker is built on an International regular cab chassis and is powered by a Cummins L9 350 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Darley PTO PSP1250 pump and roll pump, a Zico electric fold down ladder rack, and a DeckMaster rooftop monitor.

DEPARTMENT: Pasqua First Nations Fire Department, Saskatchewan

DEPARTMENT: Rideau Lakes

WET SIDE TANKERS – 2000 IG

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

This ER pumper – 4-man crown is built on a Freightliner regular cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD8 375 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Darley midship PSM1500 pump, 1000 IG tank, rooftop Command Light, and a Foam Pro 1600 – Class A foam injection system.

DEPARTMENT: Dauphin Fire Department, Manitoba

This pumper tanker is built on a Freightliner regular cab chassis that is powered by a Detroit DD13 505 HP diesel engine and an Allison 4000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Hale midship DSD1500 pump, a 2000 IG tank, Zico hydraulic portable tank holder with 2080 IG Husky PortA-Tank, and a Foam Pro 2001 – Class A foam proportioning system.

DEPARTMENT: North River District Fire Brigade, Nova Scotia

and a poly 832 IG

DEPARTMENT: DeWitt Fire Department, New York

BUSHMASTER – WILDLAND TYPE 5

DEPARTMENT: Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, British Columbia

DEPARTMENT: Fort Garry Fire Trucks

This ER pumper is built on a Sutphen Monarch 10.5” raised roof chassis with a Cummins L9 450 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083-salt water marine grade aluminum pumper features a Hale midship Qmax1500 pump,

tank.

This ER pumper is built on a Freightliner regular cab chassis and is powered by a Detroit DD8 375 HP diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. This 5083salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a Hale Midship Qmax1500 pump, a 1000 I.G. tank, a Zico electric overhead ladder rack, and Akron Apollo direct mount monitor.

Fire & Rescue, Ontario

ER PUMPER – 4-MAN CROWN FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

PUMPER TANKER – 2000 IG FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

ER PUMPER – SIDE CONTROL FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

MXV FIREWALKER FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

ER PUMPER – SIDE CONTROL FIRE GARRY TRUCKS

This Wildland Type 5 Bushmaster is built on a Ford F550 4x4 crew cab chassis with a 6.7L 330 HP diesel engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission. This 5083 salt water marine grade aluminum unit features a 400 USG C.E.T. Attack Pac skid unit, Founder M/T off-road tires, ROCKGLASS viewing rear compartment doors, and Leitner ACS roof platform.

Demo Truck

These wet side tankers are built on Freightliner regular cab chassis with Detroit DD8 375 HP diesel engines and Allison 3000 EVS transmissions. These formed 5052 freshwater marine grade aluminum units feature Hale 750 PTO Sidekick pumps, 2000 IG tanks, and Zico hydraulic portable tank holders with 2080 IG Husky Port-A-Tanks.

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

ONTARIO FIRE TRUCK INC.

1397 Old Hwy. 99

Dundas ON L9H 5E3

Tel: 905-628-3324

Toll free: 800-474-6698

Company Email: sales@ontariofiretruck.com

Web: www.ontariofiretruck.com

Ontario Fire Truck Inc. is Ontario’s first choice for Fire Apparatus Service & Sales. We are your first and only call for Fire Apparatus Service, Sales & Testing! We offer you the finest repairs in the industry; we offer a 24 hour, 7 days a week service. All of our service staff is fully licensed Class “A” & “T” both provincially and EVT certified. We are fully insured and have over 30 years experience combined to provide the best service at your location. Our fully stocked mobile service trucks travel all over Ontario! Why take your truck anywhere, we come to you for both Service and Testing! Our Sales staff has over 70 years combined experience in the fire industry, we offer only the finest Seagrave fire apparatus, and Our Company believes only the best will do! We are the authorized sales and Service Company for Seagrave fire apparatus and equipment companies. “The bitterness of poor quality remains, long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”

ONTARIO LAUNDRY SYSTEMS INC.

5-7475 Kimbel St.

Mississauga ON L5S 1E7

Tel: 905-673-1308

Toll free: 888-669-4837

Fax: 905-673-0408

Company Email: info@ontariolaundry.com Web: www.ontariolaundry.com

Exclusive distributor in Ontario of Electrolux Professional & Wascomat washers and dryers, and drying cabinets which meet all NFPA 1851recommendations of laundering Firemen’s Turnout Gear. We offer a large selection of equipment, replacement parts and heavy duty laundrycarts. Our extensive parts and service department offers complete installation and training on operation and maintenance of all equipment.

PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC.

PO Box 2017

Appleton WI 54912-2017

Tel: 920-832-3000

Web: www.piercemfg.com

Pierce Manufacturing:

Perform. Like No Other.

It’s more than a tagline. It’s a lifeline extended to every firefighter served, and the expectation of every person and product at Pierce Manufacturing Inc. Behind the design of every highly customized and engineered pumper, aerial, tanker and rescue unit is a team of professionals whose mission is to build a truck, exactly how it’s ordered. The Pierce team is committed to making sure every fire truck built is ready to perform.

Pierce heavily invests in product development and programs to advance firefighter safety, education and performance. Performance-driven design means Pierce is continually evolving to provide firefighters with industry-leading advancements and unmatched innovation. As a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), the experienced team has access to an arsenal of cutting-edge technologies and revolutionary processes which have contributed to the development of four custom chassis and best-inclass innovation.

ROSENBAUER AMERICA

5240 257th Street

Wyoming MN 55092

Tel: 651-462-1000

Company Email: info@rosenbaueramerica.com Web: www.rosenbaueramerica.com

With over 150 years of manufacturing experience, Rosenbauer is the largest manufacturer of fire equipment worldwide. A family-owned business founded in 1866, Rosenbauer’s global partnerships and access to new technologies has enabled the company to develop the most innovative and safest firetrucks on the market (Aerials, Pumpers, Tankers, Rescues, ARFF, Wildland, Custom Chassis & the all-electric RTX). Let us partner with you and build your communities next fire apparatus.

Want to learn more! Contact your local Rosenbauer Canadian dealer.

Areo-Feu

5205 J. Armand Bombardier, Longueui, QC J3Z 1G4

Tel: 800-469-1963

- Quebec - New Brunswick - Newfoundland and Labrador

City View Specialty Vehicles

5945 Ambler Dr., Mississauga, ON L4W 2K2

Tel: 416-249-4500

- Ontario

Rocky Mountain Phoenix

6415 Golden West Ave., Red Deere, AB T4P 3X2

Tel: 800-494-4210

#103 – 2285 Queen St., Abbotsford, BC V2T 6J3 888-815-0500

320 Logan Rd., Bridgewater, NS B4V 3J8

Tel: 844-530-4003

- Alberta - British Columbia - SaskatchewanManitoba - Nova Scotia - Prince Edward IslandYukon - Northwest Territories - Nunavut

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

Head Office: 200 Logan Road, Unit 3 Bridgewater NS B4V 3J8

Tel: 403-347-7045

Toll free: 800-494-4210

Fax: 403-347-7049

Company Email: info@rockymountainphoenix.com Web: www.rockymountainphoenix.com

Rocky Mountain Phoenix is your one-stop-shop for top-of-the-line innovative fire truck and fire equipment products and services. We offer a comprehensive line of emergency apparatus and emergency equipment, brands you know and trust; Rosenbauer, MSA, Innotex, CET Fire Pumps, HURST Jaws of Life, Akron Brass, Haix, Key Hose, MSA Cairns, Task Force Tips, Ready Rack, Firecraft and many more.

We service what we sell. We provide 24/7 service for all your emergency fire apparatus and fire equipment through our Shop Service and Mobile Service. Annual fire pump testing, fire truck and fire equipment service and repairs for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI and all of Canada’s Arctic.

Visit Us: rockymountainphoenix.com BRANCHES: 103-2285 Queen St., Abbotsford, BC V2T 6T3

Tel: 604-864-7303 | Fax: 604-864-4938 | Toll Free: 1-888-815-0500

200 Logan Rd, Unit 3 Bridgewater, NS B4V 3J8 Tel: 1-844-530-4003 |

SAFETEK PROFIRE

1775 Meyerside Drive, Unit 11-12 Mississauga ON L5T 1E2

Tel: 905-564-7900

Toll free: 877-572-0040

Company Email: sales@firetrucks.ca | parts@ firetrucks.ca | service@firetrucks.ca Web: www.firetrucks.ca

From our beginning in 1993, Safetek Profire set out to be a different kind of company. One that honoured and celebrated our customers. Get to know us and you’ll soon discover that our passion is to serve.

We are proud to represent some of the most recognized fire-rescue vehicle brands including: E-ONE, EVI, Hub Fire Engines, Iturri, KME, Ladder Tower, Smeal, Spartan, and SVI.

OUR MISSION:

Serving Those Who Keep Our Communities Safe.

* Not all brands are available in all regions.

MAXIMETAL F550 MINI-PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

DEPARTMENT:

MAXI SABER PUMPERS COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

DEPARTMENT: Chatham-Kent

(2) MAXIMETAL PARAGON PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

DEPARTMENT:

MAXI SABER PUMPER-TANKER

SAFETY SOURCE FIRE

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

MAXI SABER PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Maxi 840 IG pumper built on a Pierce Saber FR chassis is equipped with a 1250 IGPM Waterous pump in the Maxi Paragon pumphouse and features a Pierce Husky 3 foam system.

DEPARTMENT: New Westminster Fire & Rescue, British Columbia

MAXI SABER PUMPER-TANKER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

This Maxi 1500 IG pumper-tanker is built on a 450 HP Pierce Saber FR chassis. Features include a 1250 IGPM Waterous pump in the Maxi Paragon pumphouse, Husky 3 foam system and the Maxi Titan rack system for portable tank and ladders.

DEPARTMENT: St. Catharines Fire Services, Ontario

(7) MAXIMETAL 4X4 PARAGON PUMPERS L’ARSENAL

MAXI PIC TANKERS

SAFETY SOURCE

DEPARTMENT:

DEPARTMENT: Upper

This

These seven 800 IG pumpers are built on 4-door, 375 HP Freightliner M2-106 4x4 chassis and all are outfitted with 1050 IGPM Hale RSD pumps, Maxi Paragon pumphouses with extreme heat and insulation packages, and CAFS foam systems.

DEPARTMENT: Kativik Regional Government, Quebec

This 4-door is built on a 4x4 F550 chassis and features a 230 IG mini pumper equipped with a 1050 IGPM midship pump and Foam Pro foam system.

Chilliwack Fire Department, British Columbia

This Maxi 1000 IG pumper is built on a 380 HP Pierce Saber FR chassis and is outfitted with a 1250 IGPM Hale pump in the Maxi Paragon pumphouse with a Foam Pro 2001 foam system.

Fire-Rescue, Ontario

These 1000 IG pumpers are built on a 4-door, 375 HP Freightliner M2-106 chassis and are equipped with a 1250 IGPM Waterous pump and Maxi Paragon pumphouse configuration.

Strathcona County, Alberta

These ten 1665 IG pumper-tankers are built on 2-door, 375 HP Freightliner M2-106 chassis. The pumper-tankers are equipped with Darley 1050 IGPM pumps and Zico racks for portable tanks, ladders and suction.

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, Nova Scotia

This Maxi 1500 IG pumper-tanker is built on a 450 HP Pierce Saber FR chassis and is equipped with a 1250 IGPM Waterous pump in the Maxi Paragon pumphouse, Husky 3 foam system and the Maxi Titan rack system for portable tank and ladders.

Kingsclear Fire Department, New Brunswick

(10)

FIRE

APPARATUSDIRECTORY

SANI GEAR INC.

545 Trillium Dr, Unit 4

Kitchener ON N2R 1J4

Tel: 519-893-1235

Toll free: 888-660-1840

Company Email: firesafe@sanigear.ca

Web: www.sanigear.ca

Sani Gear Inc. is a verified ISP (Independent Service Provider) located in Kitchener, ON, and in Gatineau, QC. Sani Gear completes advanced cleaning, hydrostatic testing, advanced inspections, and full repair services, using all NFPA compliant materials. All services provided meet NFPA 1851 - 2020 edition, and are recognized by all manufacturers as a warranty center in Canada. Established in 2003, we have gained the trust of all departments from small volunteer services to large full time services. We pride ourselves on providing the same level of service to all of our customers no matter the size of department.

SPARTAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE

907 7th Ave. North Brandon SD 57005

Tel: 605-582-4000

Company Email: info@spartaner.com Web: www.spartaner.com

Spartan Emergency Response (Spartan ER) is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of custom emergency response vehicles, cabs, and chassis. Committed to excellence in quality and innovation, Spartan, along with its trusted brands Spartan Fire Chassis, Smeal, and Ladder Tower (LT), offers a comprehensive range of apparatus tailored to meet your department’s unique needs.

With over 250 years of combined experience in fire apparatus manufacturing, Spartan has built a legacy of exceptional design, development, and after-sale support. Fire truck design and manufacturing are at the core of what we do, and this dedication continues to drive us forward.

At Spartan, we collaborate with you from the outset to transform your truck specifications into a design that delivers the perfect balance of safety, speed, agility, ergonomics, and serviceability—ensuring longevity and performance. Our S-180 product line exemplifies this commitment, offering a versatile and cost-effective solution that provides high-quality features and rapid delivery without compromising on the durability and reliability Spartan is known for.

SAFETEK EMERGECY VEHICLES

2122 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6J8

T. 1.604.504.4590

www.firetrucks.ca

STARFIELD LION

23 Benton Road

Toronto ON M6M 3G2

Tel: 416-789-4354

Toll free: 800-473-5553

Fax: 416-789-5475

Company Email: starfieldcustomersupport@lionprotects.com

Web: www.starfieldlion.com

Starfield Lion has a legacy and ongoing vision of introducing PPE that is designed to ensure the health, safety and performance of the first responders who serve our communities. Your safety is our top priority. Your needs drive our innovations, we listen and develop the solution.

SUTPHEN CORPORATION

6450 Eiterman Road

Dublin OH 43016

Tel: 800-848-5860

Company Email: djs@sutphencorp.com

Web: www.sutphen.com

Founded in 1890 by C.H. Sutphen, Sutphen Corporation remains family owned and operated. Built on the foundations of family, innovation, and service to firefighters and communities around the world, Sutphen Corporation has been a fire industry staple for over 135 years.

SVI TRUCKS

3842 Redman Dr. Fort Collins CO 80524

Tel: 970-297-7100

Toll free: 888-784-1112

Fax: 970-297-7099

Company Email: info@svitrucks.com

Web: www.svitrucks.com

SVI Trucks, a Super Vacuum Manufacturing Company located in Fort Collins, Colo., builds custom fire apparatus, including rescue trucks, hazmat units, command vehicles, fire engines, tanker trucks, law enforcement vehicles and more. To see SVI’s full fleet, visit svitrucks.com. To browse drawings, features and specifications of a truck, visit SVI’s Apparatus pages and click on any truck image.

TOOL MOUNTS CANADA

PO Box 20107

Barrie ON L4M 6E9

Tel: 705-733-3689

Toll free: 833-733-3689

Company Email: orders@toolmountscanada.ca

Web: www.toolmountscanada.ca

Provides tool brackets, mounting systems and organizational solutions for fire apparatus of all types from several leading suppliers. TMC supports an extensive Dealer network and leading supplier of OEM users across Canada. TMC is the Canadian distributor for Performance Advantage Company (PAC). PAC is leading manufacturer of a complete line of integrated tool mounting systems, backed by a limited lifetime warranty, made in North America.

WATERAX INC.

6635 Henri-Bourassa W. Montreal QC H4R 1E1

Tel: 514-637-1818

Toll free: 855-616-1818

Company Email: sales@waterax.com

Web: www.waterax.com

Trusted by wildland firefighters around the world, WATERAX sets the industry standard by developing innovative, portable fire pumps and water-handling equipment designed to withstand demanding applications and rugged environments. With a time-tested legacy of reliability, WATERAX carries on its mission to place powerful, precision engineered pumps into the hands of the men and women who need to move water to protect our forests and most cherished natural resources from the ravages of wildfires!

A Modern Pump for the Modern FirefighterMaintaining the tradition while moving technology forward: the MARK-3® Watson Edition plugs right into your existing MARK-3® water-moving systems. It will set a new benchmark of excellence for high-pressure fire pumps in the wildland firefighting community for generations to come. The MARK-3® Watson Edition is an entirely new platform that boasts exciting modernized features including the first ever purposebuilt engine for a wildland pump.

OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS STRIKER® 6X6 ARFF L’ARSENAL

This Oshkosh Airport Products Striker® 6x6 ARFF vehicle features a 635/1,250 GPM low attack bumper turret, a 325/1,250 GPM roof turret, under-truck nozzles and Oshkosh TAK-4® Independent Suspension.

DEPARTMENT: Mine Raglan, Nunavik, Quebec

(2) PIERCE ENFORCER™ ASCENDANT® 107’ HEAVY-DUTY LADDERS

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Built on Enforcer™ custom chassis, these 107’ tandem-axle aerial ladders are no-pump no-tank configurations powered by 500 HP Cummins X12 engines. Both apparatus feature TAK-4® Independent Front and Rear Suspension, 360-degree HD around vehicle monitoring systems, and Harrison 10kW generators.

DEPARTMENT: Calgary Fire Department, Alberta

PIERCE ENFORCER™ PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Built on an Enforcer™ custom chassis, this top controlled pumper is equipped with a 450 HP Cummins L9 engine, 2000 GPM Waterous CSU pump, 750 G water tank and a Husky™ 12 Foam System. An air filtration system and in-cab headsets provide crew safety.

DEPARTMENT: Ajax Fire and Emergency Services, Ontario

PIERCE ENFORCER™ ASCENDANT® 100’ AERIAL TOWER

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

MAXIMETAL MAXI SABER® PUMPER L’ARSENAL

This custom pumper is built on a Pierce Saber® FR chassis and is powered by a 450 HP Cummins L9 engine. The pumper features a 1000 G water tank, 1500 GPM Waterous pump and a Pierce Husky™ 3 Foam System in the Maxi Paragon™ configuration.

DEPARTMENT: Morin-Heights Fire Safety Service, Quebec

PIERCE ENFORCER™ VOLTERRA™ ELECTRIC PUMPER COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Built on the Pierce Enforcer™ custom chassis with a 2000 GPM pump and a a Husky™ 3 Foam System with a 60 G foam cell. It features TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension and Pierce Command Zone™ Advanced Electronics. The Oshkosh® patented parallel-electric drive train featuring an EMIVT allows for zero-emissions operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries.

DEPARTMENT: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, Ontario

PIERCE VELOCITY® 100’ HEAVY-DUTY STEEL PLATFORM COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

This 100’ heavy-duty steel aerial platform is built on a Velocity® custom chassis and is equipped with a PACCAR MX-13 510 HP engine. The aerial features a 2000 GPM Waterous midship pump, 300 G water tank, Husky™ 12 Foam System and Pierce Command Zone™ Advanced Electronics.

DEPARTMENT: Red Deer Fire Department, Alberta

PIERCE SABER® NON-WALK-IN HEAVY-DUTY RESCUE

COMMERCIAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

DEPARTMENT:

Built on a Saber® custom chassis, this Non-Walk-In Heavy-Duty Rescue is equipped with a Cummins L9 380 HP engine and TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension. The HDR includes a light tower, hatch compartments, a rear camera, a 9,000 lb portable Warn winch and 22” extended front bumper.

DEPARTMENT: New Tecumseth Fire Rescue, Ontario

Built on an Enforcer™ custom chassis, this Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration is equipped with a PACCAR MX-13 510 HP engine, 2000 GPM Waterous midship pump and a 300 G water tank. The apparatus also features Pierce Command Zone™ Advanced Electronics with ClearSky™ Intelligence Connectivity Solutions for ease of truck maintenance.

New Tecumseth Fire Rescue, Ontario

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

WILDLAND

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

Built on a 2024 F550 crew cab and chassis with a 350 HP 7.3L OHV 16 valve V8 engine and seating for 5, this wildland has a 54” lightbar, Whelen lighting and Whelen siren and speaker. The CET Pumps Mfg. fire package includes a CET #PFP-20 HP HND-MR mid-range pump, 400 USG water tank, 10 USG foam cell and a 4171 Scotty foam system. Akron Firefox #3463 remote control turret package.

DEPARTMENT: 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue, B.C.

RAPID ATTACK RESPONSE 1

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This Rosenbauer Rapid Attack is built on a Ford F550, 4X4 Super Duty crew cab and chassis with a 6.7L power stroke V8 turbo-diesel with 330 HP, Hill Start Assist and in-cabin heater. The Rosenbauer 1/8” aluminum body has extensive compartment provisions with roll out trays and EZ Climb Ladder, 2 TFT 2000 GPM Monsoon remote control deck guns with VUM, and Enforcer 60 CAFS system. Company: Cenovus Energy, Calgary

104’

The Rosenbauer Commander Custom chassis features a 60” cab, Cummins X15 600 HP/1850lb-ft torque engine and an Allison 4000 EVS transmission. The Rosenbauer EXT body houses a HALE QMAX – XS split shaft driven pump (1750 IGPM), FRC Pump Boss 400 and 400 IG water tanks. Cobra Aerial has a 104’ Rosenbauer 3 section rear mount platform, and Rosenbauer Smart Aerial.

DEPARTMENT: Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services, Alberta

a

These wildland trucks are built on a 2024 Ford F-550 Crew cab and chassis with a 350 HP 7.3L OHV 16 valve V8 engine and automatic transmission. Features include Bulletproof front bumper with a 16,500lb Warn winch and Amdor roll-up doors. The CET Pumps Mfg. fire package features a 400 USG water tank, 10 USG foam tank, CET PFP-20 HP HND-MR mid-range pump and a 4171 Scotty foam system. Departments: Carstairs and Didsbury Fire Departments, Alberta

TANKER

Built on a Freightliner M2 112 Plus cab and chassis and featuring a Detroit Diesel DD13 450 HP engine, and Allison 4000 EVS transmission with TufTrac Gen 2 suspension system, this tanker includes a Rosenbauer N55 1250 IGPM PTO fire pump with pump and roll, 3000 IG water tank, 4” direct tank fill with Fireman’s Friend, Whelen LED warning lights and FRC True Sight BCA111-A00 video system, DEPARTMENT: Chetwynd Fire Department, Peace River Regional District, B.C.

SIDE MOUNT PUMPER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This Rosenbauer is built on a M2 106 Plus 2WD crew cab and chassis with a Detroit Diesel DD8 engine, Allison 3000 EVS auto transmission, and includes a Rosenbauer N55 1050 IGPM single stage fire pump with PTO pump and roll, and a 1000 IG water tank. Additional features include FRC Pump Boss PBA400 pressure governor and a (1) 2” bumper discharge with a remote-controlled monitor.

DEPARTMENT: County of Vermillion River Fire Service, Alberta

ENCLOSED

60” flat roof cab and

with a Cummins ISX 12 500 HP engine and Allison 4000 EVS transmission,

a Rosenbauer N 6000 LPM fire pump, 300 G water tank

a 20 G foam tank, Foam Pro 1600, Whelen LED lights, Federal Signal Latitude traffic advisor with 12V scene and brow light, and an Akron 3486 electric monitor.

DEPARTMENT: Kananaskis Emergency Services, Alberta

DEPARTMENT: Kindersley Fire Department, Saskatchewan

WILDLAND ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

ROSENBAUER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

ROSENBAUER COBRA PLATFORM ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This 109’ Viper aerial is built on

Rosenbauer Commander

chassis equipped

featuring

with

109’ VIPER AERIAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This pumper is built on a Freightliner 114 SD cab and chassis equipped with a Cummins X12 455 HP engine and an Allison 4000 EVS transmission; 14,700lb front axle and 27,000lb wide track rear axle. Features include a SAM integrated total water control system, Hale Qmax XS 1250 IGPM pump, Class “A” Hale SmartFOAM system, Whelen TAN65 traffic advisor and Federal Signal Scene lights.

TOP MOUNT

PUMPER ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

XXX APPARATUSSHOWCASE

ELLIPTICAL TANKERS

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

These elliptical tankers are all built on Freightliner M2 Plus single cabs and chassis and equipped with Cummins DD8 330 HP engines and Allison 3500 EVS transmissions. The elliptical aluminum tanks are 48” x 94” with a 2000 USG water capacity. Each tanker features a drop down hydraulic rack to hold an auxiliary water pool, 2500 G foldable portable water tank, and Akron turret bumper monitor. DEPARTMENT: Lamont County, Alberta - Lamont Stn 4 & Mundare

TOP MOUNT ENCLOSED PUMPER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

Built on a Kenworth T480 Series cab and chassis and equipped with a Peterbilt PACCAR PX-9 450 HP engine and Allison EVS transmission, 16,000lb front axle and 30,000lb rear axle, the fire package includes a Rosenbauer 1050 IGM NH PTO fire pump with pump and roll, 1000 IG water tank, 30 IG foam tank and a Rosenbauer high pressure FixMix foam system and a Whelan emergency lighting package.

DEPARTMENT: M.D. Provost No. 52, Alberta

TANKER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This tanker is built on a Freightliner M2 114 cab and chassis, and has a Cummins X12 455 HP engine and Allison 4000 EVS transmission. The fire package features a Hale AP 500 GPM PTO driven fire pump with pump and roll – 2000 LPM pump capacity, 13,756 L / 3025 IG “Wetside” water tank, 4” direct tank fill with a 4” rear Fireman’s Friend, and Rosenbauer 1/8” aluminum FX body construction.

DEPARTMENT: O’Chiese First Nation, Alberta

WILDLAND

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This wildland truck, built on a 2024 F-550 crew cab and chassis, is equipped with a 350 HP 7.3L OHV 16 valve V8 engine. Features include a Bulletproof front bumper with a 16,500lb Warn winch, Bulletproof super singles conversion wheel kit. The CET Fire Pump Mfg. package features a 400 USG water tank, 10 USG foam cell, CET PFP-20hpHND-MR mid-range pump and a 4171 Scotty foam system.

DEPARTMENT: M.D. Bighorn – Ghost River and Jamieson, Alberta

MAVERICK PUMPER

MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This Rosenbauer Maverick pumper is built on a Freightliner M2 106 Plus cab and chassis, equipped with a Detroit Diesel 350 HP engine and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission. The fire package includes a Rosenbauer NH 1050 IGPM PTO fire pump with pump and roll, a 2000 G water tank, Rosenbauer high pressure FixMix and FoamPro 1600 foam systems, and Whelen LED lighting.

DEPARTMENT: Major and District Fire Department, Saskatchewan

Built on a Freightliner M2 106, 4-door cab and chassis, this pumper features a Detroit Diesel DD8 375 HP engine, Allison 3000 EVS transmission and 14,600lb font axle and a 27,000lb rear axle with FireMAAX air suspension, Rosenbauer N 5682 LPM 1250 IGPM PTO drive fire pump with pump and roll, Whelen LED lights and an Akron Brass 3431 1250 GPM StreamMaster electric fire monitor system.

DEPARTMENT: Pender Harbour Volunteer Fire Department, B.C.

and

DEPARTMENT: Special Areas – Hanna, Alberta

ROCKY

PUMPER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

Built on a Freightliner 114 SD cab and chassis with a Cummins X12 455HP engine, Allison 4000 EVS transmission, 16,000lb front axle and a 46,000lb tandem rear axle, this tanker includes a Hale CBP 350 GPM- PTO driven fire pump with pump and roll capabilities

1306 LPM pump capacity and boasts a 13,756 L / 3025 IG “Wetside” water tank.

Built on a Freightliner M2 106 Plus cab and chassis and equipped with a Detroit Diesel DD8 350 HP engine an Allison 3000 EVS transmission, this tanker has a Rosenbauer NH5000 1050 GPM dual pressure PTO fire pump with pump and roll, a 1250 IG water tank, 20 IG foam tank, Rosenbauer FixMix Class “A” high pressure foam system, deck gun, 10” swivel dump chute and Federal Signal warning lights.

DEPARTMENT: Saddle Hills County – Woking Station, Alberta

ROSENBAUER TANKER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

ROSENBAUER TANKER ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

COMMANDER™ CUSTOM INDUSTRIAL FOAM PUMPER

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

This custom pumper is built on a Rosenbauer COMMANDER custom cab and chassis and powered by a 605 HP Cummins X15 engine. The Rosenbauer EXT heavy-duty extruded body features a Rosenbauer N200 6000 GPM carbon fiber pump, 1250 G foam tank, Rosenbauer RM130 4000 GPM deck gun and two Rosenbauer RM80 2500 GPM rear deck guns.

DEPARTMENT: Imperial Oil – Strathcona Refinery, Edmonton, Alberta

FREIGHTLINER PUMPER ARÉO-FEU

This pumper is built on a Freightliner M2-106 chassis, 375 Detroit DD8 engine and Rosenbauer FX formed body featuring Rosenbauer SMARTCAB forward body seating area. Includes a Rosenbauer NH55 1500 GPM pump, Rosenbauer GREEN STAR idle reduction system, 1500 IG water tank and a 20 IG foam tank.

DEPARTMENT: Elsipogtog First Nation Fire Department, New Brunswick

PANTHER 6X6 ROSENBAUER ARFF

Built on a Rosenbauer PANTHER 6x6 chassis and powered by a 700 HP Volvo Penta D-16 engine, the PANTHER boasts a Rosenbauer N80 2100 GPM pump, 3170 G water tank, 400 G foam tank, Rosenbauer RM35 1200 GPM high-volume lowaltitude (HVLA) bumper turret, and a Rosenbauer RM35 1200 GPM air-aspirated roof turret.

DEPARTMENT: Region of Waterloo International Airport Fire Department, Ontario

FREIGHTLINER RESCUE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

GENERAL CUSTOM PUMPER ARÉO-FEU

Built on a Rosenbauer General custom cab and chassis featuring a 400 HP Cummins L9 engine, the Rosenbauer FX formed body houses a Waterous CX 1500 GPM pump and 1000 G water tank.

DEPARTMENT: Service de Sécurité Incendie d’Edmundston, New Brunswick

COMMANDER™ CUSTOM TOP-MOUNT PUMPER

Built on a Rosenbauer COMMANDER custom cab and chassis, 450 Cummins L9 engine and a Rosenbauer EXT heavy-duty extruded body, this custom pumper features a Waterous S100 7000 LPM pump, 500 IG water tank, 40/40 G foam tank A/B and an Akron Brass Deck Master 3440 deck gun.

DEPARTMENT: Regina Fire & Protective Services, Saskatchewan

CUSTOM

This custom King Cobra is built on a Rosenbauer COMMANDER custom cab and chassis, Rosenbauer EXT heavy-duty extruded body, and 600 HP Cummins X15 engine. Features include a Rosenbauer 101’ rear-mount King Cobra articulating platform, Darley ZSM 2500 GPM pump and 400 G water tank.

DEPARTMENT: Service de Sécurité Incendie de Val-d’Or, Quebec

INTERNATIONAL TYPE 3 WILDLAND PUMPER CITY VIEW SPECIALTY VEHICLES

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOENIX

COMMANDER™

101’ KING COBRA ARÉO-FEU

This wildland pumper is built on an International HV507 4x4 chassis and powered by a 360 HP Cummins L9 engine. The Rosenbauer Galvanneal body carries a Waterous CXVK 1000 GPM pump, 500 G water tank and a 20 G foam tank.

DEPARTMENT: Gravenhurst Fire Department, Ontario

This rescue is built on a Freightliner M2-106 chassis and powered by a 360 HP Cummins L9 engine housed by a Rosenbauer FX formed body featuring an 814 ft3 / 23 m3 of body compartment space, rear in-body staircase and a Command Light Knight Light Tower.

DEPARTMENT: La Ronge Regional Fire Department, Saskatchewan

YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR TRAINING & PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIALS

35 Things Every Firefighter Must Know and Do

$56.20 | Item #: 1593705183

A practical and inspiring book every firefighter will want in their personal library. In 35 Things Every Firefighter Must Know and Do, fire service leader Frank Viscuso delivers a guide for both new and experienced firefighters. Designed to build competence, confidence, and accountability, this book outlines essential principles that support long-term success in the fire service—and beyond.  Each of the 35 chapters focuses on a core lesson, offering real-world context, leadership insight, and reflection prompts to help readers assess their strengths and areas for growth.

Carry the Fire: The Crucible of Leadership in the Fire Service

$56.20 | Item #: 1593705169

More than a collection of generic leadership principles, this book gets to the heart of the firehouse: its culture, expectations, and realities. Each chapter addresses critical areas such as organizational culture, accountability, discipline, legal concerns, hiring practices, and effective communication—always with the goal of helping officers become stronger, more authentic leaders. With practical examples, relatable stories, and deeply held beliefs about mentorship, empathy, and legacy, Carry the Fire challenges readers to reflect on their own impact and asks one essential question: Are you doing everything you can to make each day matter—for yourself, your team, and your community??

Coordinating Ventilation: Supporting Extinguishment and Survivability 2nd Edition

$85.00 | Item #: 1593705152

In this significantly expanded Second Edition, Nicholas Papa—firefighter, instructor, and author—delivers a deeper, more refined exploration of ventilation as a fireground support function. With clarity and operational focus, Papa explains how to apply ventilation not as a standalone tactic, but as a coordinated action that improves firefighting operations and victim survivability.  Whether you are in a small rural town or a dense urban city, this book offers a universal framework for effective and efficient performance on the fireground.

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

MODUS PUMPER-TANKER (TENDER)

HUB FIRE ENGINES

This Hub MODUS unit is built on a Freightliner M2 106 Plus conventional chassis and powered by a Detroit DD8 7.7L 375 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission, featuring a Waterous CSPA 840 IGPM pump, and 1,700 IG water tank. Where our traditional custom builds provide limitless design freedom, MODUS offers optimized, modular design with faster lead times and lower complexity.

DEPARTMENT: Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority, Alberta

WILDLAND 5 MAX

(2) SVI HEAVY RESCUES

SAFETEK PROFIRE

These heavy rescues are built on Spartan Gladiator EMFD 20“ raised roof chassis and powered by a Cummins X15 565 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission. These units feature a Command Light Knight Light and are packed with specialized tools and equipment in the body with additional roof-top compartments with stair entry.

DEPARTMENT: Burnaby Fire Department, British Columbia

WILDLAND 5 MAX

SAFETEK PROFIRE

The Wildland 5 MAX is built on an International CV 515 crew cab 4x4 chassis. This unit features a WATERAX BB-4 21H 4-stage high pressure pump, 500 IMP G water tank, and a Scotty Around-The-Pump 12 IMP G foam tank. This unit was built with high strength polypropylene body and is outfitted with a Whelen Emergency and Scene Lighting package and 100ft of 1” hose reel.

DEPARTMENT: Forty Mile Fire Service, Alberta

SAFETEK PROFIRE HUB PUMPER/RESCUE

This pumper/rescue is built on a Spartan Metro Star chassis and powered by a Cummins L9 450 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission. Features include a Hale QMax-XS175 pump, 870 IG water tank, FoamPro 2002 foam system, in-cab shelving system on the engine tunnel, Akron Apollo monitor, washdown system, hosebed walkway area, Slide Master slide out tray and dividers, and more.

DEPARTMENT: Kaleden Fire Department, British Columbia

This Hub-built pumper is built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and is powered by a Cummins L9 450 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission. This unit features a Hale DSD-150 pump, a 1,250 IG water tank and also a Trident multi-point air priming system, 6” rear intake, 200’ x 1” Hannay electric monitor with extend-agun, 4” direct out toolboard, and more.

DEPARTMENT: Mahone Bay Fire Department, Nova Scotia

Gun Lake Fire Brigade took delivery of a Wildland 5 MAX, not through government funding or municipal budgets, but through a year-long grassroots effort fueled entirely by the community. Built on an International CV 515 crew cab 4x4 chassis, this unit features a WATERAX BB-4 21H 4-stage high pressure pump, 500 IMP G water tank, and a Scotty Around-The-Pump 12 IMP G foam tank.

DEPARTMENT: Gun Lake Fire Protection Society (Brigade), British Columbia

HUB PUMPER/RESCUE HUB FIRE ENGINES

Built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis, this Hub-built pumper/rescue is powered by a Cummins X12 500 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission. This unit features a Hale QTW0150 pump, a 500 IG water tank, and a FoamPro 2002 foam system holding 40 IG plus an Akron Deckmaster monitor with wireless control, Checkerplate hose bed cover, and Honda EM6500 generator with remote start.

DEPARTMENT: Kelowna Fire Department, British Columbia

DEPARTMENT: Surrey Fire Service, British Columbia

Surrey Fire Service accepted delivery of its fourth Smeal 23M/75‘ Aerial built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and powered by Cummins X15 600 HP engine with a Allison 4000 EVS transmission. This unit features a Waterous CSUC20 pump, a flow of 1,750 IGPM/7,000 LPM, a 500/IMP G/1,900 L water tank, and a 25 IMP G/115 L foam tank.

SMEAL 32M/105’ AERIAL SAFETEK PROFIRE

HUB PUMPER HUB FIRE ENGINES

(6) SMEAL 32M/107’ AERIALS

SAFETEK PROFIRE

These 6 Smeal 32M/105‘ aerials built on a Spartan Gladiator MFD flat roof chassis and powered by Cummins X15 565 HP engines with Allison 400 EVS transmission, each features Darley EM pump, a flow of 1,500 IGPM/6,000 LPM, and a 420/ IMP G/1,600 L water tank and are equipped with ECO IDLE-TEC (idle reduction technology), lowering costs with reduced fuel consumption and engine wear.

DEPARTMENT: Toronto Fire Services, Ontario

SMEAL CUSTOM PUMPER

SAFETEK PROFIRE

APPARATUS

SMEAL 30M/100’ PLATFORM

SAFETEK PROFIRE

Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service recently accepted quick delivery of Safetek Profire’s Ready-to-Deliver unit of a Smeal 30M/100‘ platform. Built on a Spartan Gladiator EMFD chassis, and powered by Cummins X5 565 HP engine with an Allison 4000 EVS transmission, this unit features a Waterous CSUC20 pump, a flow of 2,250 GPM, a 400 USG water tank, and 20 USG foam system.

DEPARTMENT: Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service, Ontario

WILDLAND MINI SAFETEK PROFIRE

APPARATUSSHOWCASE

This heavy rescue truck is built on a Spartan Gladiator w/ 20” raised roof chassis and powered by a Cummins X12 500 HP diesel engine with an Allison 4000 EVS transmission. The 18’ aluminum SVI body comes with the Onan Protec 20-KW PTO generator, Command Light Shadow Series light tower, ZeroRPM idle mitigation technology, and custom airbag storage module.

DEPARTMENT: Saanich Fire Department, British Columbia HEAVY RESCUE

This apparatus is run by a powerful Cummins X12 500 HP engine and Allison EVS 4000 transmission mounted on a Sutphen 73” Monarch chassis. The truck includes a massive 27’ aluminum SVI body, 20KW single-phase PTO generator, 8,000-lb Warn 8-S multi-mount winch with eight portable winch receivers, Paratech strut mounting and in-stairway ladder storage.

DEPARTMENT: Osceola County Fire Rescue, Florida

This wet rescue truck runs on a Cummins L9 450 HP engine and Allison EVS 3000 transmission. It features a Sutphen 73” Monarch chassis and a 22’ aluminum SVI body and incorporates a 500 GPM Hale AP pump and a 250 G poly water tank and OnScene Solutions Access PRO LED compartment lights.

DEPARTMENT: Melbourne Fire Department, Florida

This air/light unit features a Ford F-550 chassis powered by a 6.7 L Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel mated to a TorqShift 10-speed auto transmission. Features include a 13’ aluminum SVI body, Bauer CFS5.5 2M SCBA cylinder filling station, Command Light Knight Series light tower and OnScene Solutions aluminum heavy-duty cargo slide.

DEPARTMENT: Shasta County Fire Department, California

This heavy rescue truck is built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and runs on a powerful Cummins X12 525 HP engine paired with an Allison 4000 EVS transmission. Key features include an Onan Protec 30-KW PTO generator, Command Light Knight Series light tower, Warn 12,000 lb winch, and a Boss Industries 8060-UBI air compressor for demanding operations.

DEPARTMENT: Carlsbad Fire Department, California

This Hazmat unit is driven by a Cummins X12 500 HP engine and Allison 4000 EVS transmission. It utilizes a Sutphen chassis and a 27’ aluminum SVI body. Features include an Onan Protec 30KW PTO generator, Command Light Knight Series light tower, and an advanced slideout command centre with WeatherPak Response UHF radio system.

DEPARTMENT: Cape Coral Fire Department, Florida

DEPARTMENT: Riverside County Fire Department, California

This apparatus features a powerful Cummins X15 565 HP engine and Allison 4000 EVS transmission. It utilizes a Spartan Gladiator MFD chassis and a 27’ Aluminum SVI body. Key features include a slideout ready room, in-cab command workspace, Flow Sciences containment enclosure and an Onan SD20 20KW generator for extensive operations.

This air/light unit features a Cummins X12 455 HP engine with an Allison 4000 EVS transmission. It utilizes a Spartan Gladiator MFD chassis and a 20’ aluminum SVI body. Key features include a massive Marathon 40KW PTO generator, a Command Light CL Series light tower, an RV-style lavatory, and in-cab rehab seating for operational support.

DEPARTMENT: Riverside County Fire Department, California

The Commander 6000 cab includes a Cummins X12 500 HP engine, Weldon Vista screen and 6 seats. The apparatus features a Hale Qmax-XS pump, FRC pressure governor and Class 1 tank gauges. The Rosenbauer FX 1/8” aluminum body has ROM doors, a 500 USG water tank, and Whelen M-Series warning lights. The 109’ steel aerial includes an Akron monitor and Rosenbauer’s Smart Aerial Controls.

DEPARTMENT: Blue Mountains Fire Department, Ontario

APPARATUS

PUMPER

The Commander 6011 cab includes a Cummins 450 HP engine with Weldon Vista screens and 6 seats. The pumper includes a Hale DSD pump, FoamPro 2002 system, and FRC pressure governor and tank gauges. Equipped with an electric deck gun, the Rosenbauer FX 3/16” aluminum body has ROM doors, a 750 USG water tank, and Whelen M-Series warning and scene lights.

DEPARTMENT: Prescott Fire Department, Ontario

ROSENBAUER

CITY VIEW SPECIALTY VEHICLES

VOLUNTEER VISION

By Tom DeSorcy, (Ret.) Fire Chief, Hope, B.C.

Trust in a world of distrust

People don’t trust anymore. It’s not a new discussion. Attracting people into the volunteer fire service continues to be a challenge. Simply finding those willing to step up and serve their community is not as easy as it once was, putting more pressure on quality versus quantity and getting the most you can out of those you are able to attract.

Focusing on training a new generation needs to be balanced with making room for the next one.

As a result of this, training has had to change. The content may largely be the same but the audience that needs to absorb it is constantly evolving.

One of the solutions was to better understand the generations we were teaching, that way we were better able to reach them, whether it be the Boomers, Generation X, or Generation Y. That ability to adapt has certainly been a game changer for many a volunteer fire department and fire service leaders.

What has dawned on me now is more of a societal problem that will challenge us all if it hasn’t already, and it’s throwing the learning curve straight uphill.

We all know that firefighters learn skills. That’s what we teach. What about the intangibles of being a firefighter? Is there a lesson plan for those? Something that you can’t really teach but can instill in all our members. One in particular is something I’ve spoke of often that I feel is eroding in today’s world: sadly, many have lost the ability to trust.

Actually, trust is just one of two particular intangibles that take a long time to find but are equally important and related. One is a personal challenge while the other must be earned. The first is confidence while the second is trust. They are both hard to acquire but so easy to lose and once you lose, very hard to get back. We also can’t overlook the role that trust plays in us being confident in our abilities. What happens without that trust?

I’ve spent many years in a local government environment and I’ve seen firsthand the changes in our society. Look no further than the news of the world and it’s obvious. More and more, people don’t trust anymore. As an example, we live in a world with political leaders that don’t trust elections unless they win. Sporting teams used to abide by the calls of officials that now can be questioned. Granted, calls do get overturned and mistakes are corrected, but this can further erode trust and confidence in one’s ability to perform.

How can we be expected to train a new generation of people that are to be trusted only to venture into a world that doesn’t trust at all? How confident does this make them? What about those recruits that come in the door that are now part of a generation that doesn’t trust? How are you prepared to handle that?

We used to always trust, especially when it came to authority. That has

Tom DeSorcy joined the fire service in 1983 and became the first paid firefighter in his hometown of Hope, B.C., when he became fire chief in 2000, retiring in 2023. Email Tom at tdesorcy@telus.net media

eroded. The pressure is on to be more accountable and skilled at what we do. Therefore, you must work even harder to gain or earn that trust and be confident in your abilities to perform the job. Not only does this apply to new people but even more so on those with experience. This leads to the uphill battle of not only instilling confidence but facing pushback from a generation that begins to question all we are trying to do.

There may be a benefit in the fact that people who join a volunteer fire department do so of their own volition, and the trust should be there automatically as they knowingly give themselves to the department to train and indoctrinate to our world. This is not always the case.

This is yet another reason for the next generation of leaders and how extremely important it is to bring them along in succession. It’s a serious consideration that focuses more on the retention part of the equation and should be considered of vital importance when it comes to the succession of your department. Focusing on training a new generation needs to be balanced with making room for the next one.

Along the way, we also need to take the opportunity to train ourselves through those generations and favour what they can teach us instead of focusing on the challenges we face with them. The generational discussion will always be there but will lessen the sooner we bring those generations to the top. Who better to teach the untrusting than someone that truly understands what they’re up against? The more we can demonstrate our trust in them, the more confident we all become in our ability to perform at the highest level.

Sometimes it’s easy to give in to the trends but this is one to stand up to. Not only earn trust but help to build it. Promote confidence and people that can and will be trusted in your fire department and your community.

We’re not the only maker of firefighting gear — but we’re the only one that’s fully Canadian-owned and operated. And that makes a difference. For over 25 years, our priority has been the safety and wellbeing of our first responders and firefighters. You can see it in our relentless innovation and attention to detail. As long as Canadian firefighters are hard at work saving lives, we’ll be hard at work protecting theirs. Proudly Canadian. From ownership to every stitch.