Fire Fighting in Canada: The Podcast

Mitigating one’s environmental footprint isn’t a trend – it’s the now way and it’s here to stay. There are many opportunities, big and small, for the fire service to green up their operations. Gord Schreiner, the fire chief in Comox, B.C., talks with host Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope, B.C., about a number of environmental initiatives undertaken by his department and training centre. Schrein...

Many in the fire service will remember a time when it didn’t feel right to openly discuss a call you were struggling with. Today, organic conversations around how firefighters feel are starting to flow. Toronto’s Fire Chief Matthew Pegg discusses the fading stigma of mental illness with host Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope, B.C. Pegg and DeSorcy discuss the impact of media coverage in the afte...

A great story told well can make the difference between a lesson learnt or a lesson lost. Fire service leaders who share stories effectively can make a big impact with their personnel. Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope B.C., talks with storytelling expert Paul Smith how to choose the right kind of story to achieve your goals and then tell it best.

The Nozzle Forward is a system of hose line management and fire attack developed by Seattle firefighter Aaron Fields. Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope B.C., interviews Brian Pods, an Indianapolis firefighter and technical marketing manager for Task Force Tips, on how adapting this system can help fire departments big and small develop their passion and skills for aggressive and efficient fire s...

Fire chiefs work through various forms of media to convey accurate and timely information to their communities. Unfortunately, misinformation thrives in the blend of traditional and social platforms that dominate today. Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope B.C., hosts a candid conversation with Steve Darling, a senior broadcast journalist and city councillor in Port Coquitlam, B.C., that will help...

Many firefighters volunteer with humanitarian organizations, using their unique skills to help vulnerable people around the world recover from disasters. Hope, B.C., Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy speaks with Sean Freeman, acting deputy chief of prevention and inspection at Strathmore Fire Department in Alberta, who's been deployed several times to help relief teams co-ordinated by the Canadian Red Cross....

MeToo allegations are serious business for any leader or organization and fire departments are not immune. Fire chiefs must be prepared to deal with such situations. Hope, B.C., Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy speaks with communications strategist Karen Gordon of Gordon Strategy about the MeToo movement and the fire service. She has spoken on the subject at a number of conferences for fire chiefs.

Podcast host and Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy talks with NFPA public education representative Laura King on this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign titled, “Not every hero wears a cape: Plan and practice your escape”. The two discuss what’s new this year, some background and history on the campaign and offer valuable resources departments can use as they prepare for the 2019 Fire Prevention Week which...

Hope, B.C., Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy speaks with Scott Wilkinson, senior academy officer in the training academy at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) about how the department is using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to augment firefighting efforts. Scott provides an overview of the benefits of using drones to help incident commanders at fire scenes. He also explains how a department ca...

The National Fire Protection Association’s Canadian Regional Director, Shayne Mintz is the guest speaker on Fire Fighting in Canada the Podcast’s latest episode titled “Cannabis Challenges in the Fire Service”. Mintz shares several ways the legalization of cannabis in Canada will challenge the fire industry and what chiefs can expect to face and tips on how to get a good handle on the changes and...

Firefighters should brace for more forest and wildland blazes across Canada in future years because it will be the new norm as climate change takes hold. Wildland fire experts and ecologists warn that wildfires will likely become more widespread and destruction will become more severe during the summer months in Canada. Fire Fighting in Canada editor Grant Cameron spoke about the issue with Mike F...

Twenty-eight years ago, at the age of 14, Tyler Pelke, deputy fire chief at the City of Red Deer Emergency Services in Alberta, went through a horrific ordeal. An assailant murdered his friend, assaulted Tyler, slit his throat, threw a blanket on him, doused it with gas, set him on fire and left him to die. Somehow, Tyler survived the violent attack. His assailant was caught and sent to prison. La...

A Canadian study is calling for the creation of a national firefighter wellness surveillance system to help address soaring cancer rates and other key firefighter health risks. The study looked at 10 years of firefighter health and injury data and found that cancer caused more than 86 per cent of firefighter fatalities – overtaking cardiovascular disease as the top killer of Canadian firefighters....

Firefighters are routinely exposed to grisly sights and traumatic events. It’s all part of the job. But over time these experiences can take a significant toll on firefighters. Many firefighters suffer in silence because of the stoic culture that discourages them from seeking help with their own problems. The B.C. First Responders Mental Health committee is taking aim at the problem and has a camp...

A Canadian study is calling for the creation of a national firefighter wellness surveillance system to help address soaring cancer rates and other key firefighter health risks. The study looked at 10 years of firefighter health and injury data and found that cancer caused more than 86 per cent of firefighter fatalities – overtaking cardiovascular disease as the top killer of Canadian firefighters....

Firefighters don’t like to show their weaknesses or vulnerabilities. They often keep their problems to themselves instead of reaching out for help. That’s what happened to Chris Howe, an acting captain with the Niagara Falls Fire Department. He suffered from mental health issues and became an alcoholic and drug addict and was suicidal. One day, though, he reached out and found help. Chris talks to...

While the action on the ground happens locally, a lot of important policy matters are taking shape at the federal level. Provinces nationwide have faced tremendous tragedies over the last five years, such as wildfires in the West, the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster and Humboldt. These disasters have increased the importance of federal policy, shared Tina Saryeddine, executive director of the Canadian...

What is the status of today’s volunteer fire service in Canada? Take a look through the eyes of Fire Fighting in Canada Volunteer Vision columnists Tom DeSorcy and Vince Mackenzie; two chiefs at the heart of volunteer fire service delivery. Recruitment, retention, increased training demands and an ageing membership will form the conversation alongside succession planning and meeting the needs of t...

From wildfires to floods, the nature of emergencies in Canada appear to be increasing in prevalence and damage. Is your department ready for a catastrophic event? Emergency preparedness, mitigation and management are critical cornerstones for fire departments coast to coast. Fire Fighting in Canada has brought two geographical perspectives to the table through one compelling conversation with Fire...

It is becoming generally accepted that firefighters face an increased risk of cancer. There are statistics to support this risk fact, and decontamination is becoming more widespread alongside technologies like cleaner cab. Presumptive cancer legislation is also expanding in various parts of Canada. What needs to be done next and what do firefighters need to know about caring for their health? Dr....

Mental wellness is closely related to preventative care. For the fire service, this means reaching out for help before one’s sense of self seriously deteriorates. Nick Halmasy, a former firefighter who is now a registered psychotherapist and founder of After the Call, joins host Tom DeSorcy, the fire chief in Hope, B.C., for a conversation about his experience with stressful calls alongside determ...

Mark Healey, planning chief for the BC Wildfire Service, talks to Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy about changes in wildfire management, including the rise of wildland urban interface and building successful partnerships. Healey recently came back from assisting with the bushfire crisis in Australia and he shares what he learned from the Australian operation and novel fire behaviour.

Dan Derby is the president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia and the Regional Fire Chief for Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue. He joins Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy in a discussion of the unprecedented pandemic crisis and its unique facets in emergency management. Derby and DeSorcy discuss staffing, firehall closures, PPE supplies, the role of associations in the crisis, self-car...

What is happening nationwide for firefighters during COVID-19? John McKearney, president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the fire chief in Whistler, B.C., shares his observations on fire department response during COVID-19 and how the CAFC is supporting the fire service. Tune in for this important COVID-19 update from a national perspective.

Hoarding presents a unique challenge and fire risk in the community for the fire service. Elaine Birchall, a hoarding behaviour and intervention specialist for over 18 years, talks to Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy about best practices for how to proceed when encountering a hoarding situation on a call. Birchall covers what defines hoarding and how to recognize it, misconceptions around hoarding and how t...