Alberta's Volunteer Firefighters drifting away as funding shrinks

BY CONAL PIERSE, EDMONTON JOURNAL June 23, 2010

Recruitment numbers and government funding for volunteer fire departments are shrinking, the president of the Alberta Association of Firefighters says.

Alberta's volunteer fire departments receive $500,000 a year, which Cornforth said only covers basic training. He said many firefighters have to raise money to buy equipment. It would be time better spent training, he said, adding volunteers need more support.

"We're just borrowing these people from their families," Cornforth said. "We need to support them with proper training, proper equipment and proper recognition."

Read more: Click here.


Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com

Kelowna Fire Chief Stepping Down

Kelowna Fire Chief Stepping Down
by contributed

Chief Rene Blanleil has left the Kelowna Fire Department after 18 years of service. The City of Kelowna and Chief Blanleil mutually agreed this was a good time for a change.

"These decision are never easy", says Charlene Covington, Director of Human Resources. "We wish Rene all the best with his future endeavours.

To read the full story, click here.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com

Nanaimo Fire Department hires its first professional female firefighter

Nanaimo Fire Department hires its first professional female firefighter
by Krysta Bryce, The Daily News

Julie Wade will become the first profession female firefighter in Nanaimo in 150 years. Wade has been a volunteer firefighter for 3 years and her transition into full time should be seamless.

To read full story click here.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com

Nanaimo Fire Department hires its first professional female firefighter

Becky HarmataThe Fire EmporiumToll Free: 866-832-1468Fax: 250-769-3588Email: info@fireemporium.comWeb: http://www.fireemporium.com/

Second major fire in Oliver BC in two days

Second Major Fire in Oliver BC in two days

At least 6 people are out of work in Oliver, BC, after the 2nd major in the southern Okanagan town in 2 days.

Flames tore through Oliver Auto Wrecking Salvage just before 10pm Monday night and raged until dawn.

Fire Chief Dave Janzen says the fire was so fierce the building "imploded" in the heat.

He says crews will have to wait until the rubble cools before trying to investigate the cause.

Janzen says the fire does not appear suspicious.

The nearly 100 year old Mesa Hotel in downtown Oliver burned to the ground early Sunday morning, but no one was hurt.

Story courtesay of CTV.ca.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com/

Dedication of Volunteers Rewarded at Town's Firefighter Awards

It was fitting that a call to respond to a fire came in the middle of an evening meant to honour the 132 active volunteer firefighters which make up the Fort Erie Fire Department.

As it turned out, the reported fire at a home on Ott Road was minor and was out by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. It was, however, a perfect demonstration of what the Fort Erie Fire Department is all about.

As a department driven by volunteers, firefighters have missed their fair share of family gatherings, anniversaries and dinners.

“It’s a good department because of the guys,” Deputy Chief Keith German said of the town’s firefighters.

“The guys driving the fire truck are doing all the work.”

It’s that dedication to the job that impresses German and the whole motivation behind the annual recognition night, held April 24 at the Leisureplex Banquet Hall. Awards were handed out to volunteers to recognize years of service ranging from five years right through 42 years.

German was humbled when he was honoured with a trio of service awards, provincial recognition for 25 and 30 years of service and federal honours for 30 years.

The real honours should go to the volunteers, German said. “For them to get to 20 to 30 years of service is phenomenal,” he said.

Time was also set aside at the awards night to remember Chester Wells, former Station 2 chief who passed away in 2003 after a battle with cancer, which came about through hazards Wells faced on duty.
Mayor Doug Martin saluted the volunteers with a touch of humour.

“Four years ago, we were a new council, with an old chief, old and getting older,” Martin said with a nod and a wink to former chief Jim Douglas, who retired in 2009 after 33 years with the department. “Now, we’re an old council with a new chief.”

In a more serious vein, the mayor said the Town will work hard to ensure that its volunteer firefighters have “first class facilities.”

He also praised current chief Larry Coplen and all the volunteers.

“We say when you’re here, you’re in good hands,” Martin said. “That’s exactly what we are in in Fort Erie.”

Coplen, meanwhile, said it was the quality of people that make the department what it is.

“The material things are not all that’s important,” Coplen said. “It’s in the plaques on the trucks honouring 50 years of service. It’s in the photos of retired and deceased fire fighters on the walls at the fire stations.

It often chronicles generations of dedication.”

To see a full list of award recipiants, click here.

Need awards for your Fire Department? Visit us a www.fireemporium.com. We have a wide selection of awards in many different price ranges.


Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com/

Clearview Firefighters honored for service

Story by Michael Gennings, Simcoe.com

STAYNER - Members of the Clearview Fire Department were presented with service awards last Monday night.

The awards, which come in the form of a certificate, signed by Chief Dave Carruthers and Mayor Ken Ferguson, were handed out at the start of Clearview Township council’s meeting at the municipal office in Stayner.

Chief Dave Carruthers and Capt. Richard Perry were recognized for 30 years’ service.

Firefighter Garry Stamp was honoured for 25 years’ service and firefighter Clarke Richards for 20 years’ service.

Awards for 15 years’ service went to Deputy Chief Bob McKean and firefighters Douglas Long, John Seney, Trent Campbell, David Culham, Lucy Coates-Goorts and Edward Van Severen.

Awards for 10 years’ service went to firefighters Wayne Balon, Andrew Isaac, Christopher Sampson, Katharine Blohm and Richard Millsap.

Firefighters Heath Blount, David Finnigan, Darren Long, Mark Ruzylo, Kevin Spears, Richard Washer, Dave Dyer, Scott Gallacher, Peter Redpath, Scott Santia, Andrew Stymiest and Shawna Wyant were recognized for five years’ service.

Need Firefighter Service Awards for your department? Visit us online at www.fireemporium.com to view our extensive line of Firefighter Awards, Firefighter Plaques and Firefighter Presentation Axes.


Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com/

Firefighter Job Description

I came across this article on http://www.bestjobdescriptions.com/. It just goes to show that the job of a firefighter is truley all encompassing. You never know what you will come across in a day on the job of a firefighter!

The Firefighter job involves the protection of life and property by combating, extinguishing and preventing fires.

The Firefighters primary objectives are:

The Firefighter primary objective is to save the life of a person.
The Firefighter objective is the protection of life and property.
The Firefighter objective is to combat fires by extinguishing or preventing fires.

The Firefighters work consists in constant training for and participating in fire fighting duties. The Firefighter often provides emergency care for sick and injured persons. The Firefighter participates in fire prevention activities on their assigned shifts. Often the Firefighter may go to schools and participate in fire drills. The teaching of children on what to do is very important in saving lives. In past history a Dalmatian dog was saved from a fire and became known as Sparky the “Fire House Dog”. Coloring books with instructions for young children were created to help teach them what to do in case of a fire.

For full article click here.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com/

Firefighter Wellness Program

Firefighter Wellness.com

FirefighterWellness.com is a web-based interactive fitness and nutrition tool to help every firefighter improve his/her health, fitness and performance.It uses the fitness industry's leading platform, FitnessInsite, the same fitness delivery system used by World Gym, Powerhouse Gym and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). FitnessInsite has compiled an advisory board made up of some of the top leaders of wellness and fitness in the fire service. Together we have bridged the gap between just having a wellness program and actually providing the tools to help firefighters improve their diet, develop safe workout programs and interact with their peer fitness trainer.

Click here to visit their website for full program details.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com

Health Education Benefits Fire Departments' Bottom Line

Protecting the health and safety of firefighters both on and off the job leads to significant cost savings, said Kerry Kuel, a doctor and researcher at the Oregon Health and Science University, during a session at Fire-Rescue International. Kuel spearheaded a multi-year study that showed educating firefighters about healthful eating and exercise habits can reduce both the number of injuries on the job and illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.

To read the full article click here

Article from www.firechief.com, contributed by Mary Rose Roberts.

Becky Harmata
The Fire Emporium
Toll Free: 866-832-1468
Fax: 250-769-3588
Email: info@fireemporium.com
Web: http://www.fireemporium.com