Fire Watch (Fall 2008)

VOLUME 4

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ISSUE 3 | FALL 2008

District Chief Bob Leek 1953 - 2008

Publications Agreement No: 41203011

FIREHALL SHOWCASE: Fire Station 332

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 4

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ISSUE 3

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FA L L 2 0 0 8

IN THIS ISSUE 18

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FIRE WATCH (ISSN 1715-5134) is published quarterly by the TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION 39 Commissioners Street, Toronto, ON Canada M5A 1A6 Tel: 416.466.1167 www.torontofirefighters.org E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org FIRE WATCH is published quarterly by Xentel DM Incorporated on behalf of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association CHIEF EDITOR Scott Marks MANAGING EDITORS Frank Ramagnano & James Coones Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632 E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org ASSISTANT EDITORS Rayanne Dubkov, Marla Friebe, Rodney Johnston, Seonaid Lennox, Neil McKinnon ASSISTANT COPY EDITORS Alyssa Petrillo & Marcel Ramagnano DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Xentel DM Incorporated FIRE WATCH PHOTOGRAPHER Keith Hamilton

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President’s Message

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Secretary Treasurer’s Message

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Vice President’s Message

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Chaplain’s Corner

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Letters to the Editor

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Build for George

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Member Profile on Paul Kennedy

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A Date with the Lake

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Mission Guyana

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Convention Coverage

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Fire Fighter Survival & Rescue

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Paying Homage to Brother Bob Leek

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Firehall Showcase–Station 332

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Another Successful Local 3888 Picnic

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History of East York Fire

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Project Patio—The Tony Stacey Centre

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Toronto FF (Stanley) Cup Runneth Over

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3888 Recent Happenings

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2009 Shift Calendar

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Fit to Survive for Kids

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Rest in Peace

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Never Shall We Forget

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Ad Index

CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL Agreement No: 41203011 PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright © 2008 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association ADVERTISING Latoya Davis, Project Manager Tel: 416.646.3128 Ext. 104 Fax: 416.646.3135 Email: latoyad@xentel.com

Merchant Card Acceptance

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise without prior written permission from the publisher.

FIRE WATCH is an official communication tool of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.

The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (TPFFA) does not assume responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by any contributor. Comments made by individuals may not reflect the official position of the TPFFA. Acceptance and publication of articles, advertisements, 3 products and services does not indicate endorsement of same by the TPFFA, and the TPFFA assumes no responsibility for their accuracy.

On The Cover A crowd of fire fighters sit inside the Prayer Palace as Captain Alan Thomas Jr. acts as the ceremonial hat bearer at the funeral of his close friend, District Chief, Bob Leek.

PHOTO BY JOHN RIDDELL Full Story on Page 32 FA L L 2 0 0 8 | F I R E WATCH

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Modified Work

T

he landscape of many labour issues has changed over the past 10 to 20 years. In seminar after seminar, our legal counsel explains that modified work, accommodations and related issues are experiencing the most significant changes that our membership has to be aware of.

In 2002, Arbitrator Ken Swan issued an award on modified duties that has defined this issue from that time forward.

The case was between the Cornwall Fire Fighters and the City of Cornwall.

The argument was based on whether or not performing modified duties should

[

Swan went further in his award to recognize that there was not only an onus on the employee to perform modified work, there was also an onus on the City to provide modified work. This is truly a win for employees. This means that an employee whose sick time is de-

CAN YOU IMAGINE A MEMBER THAT SUFFERS AN ACCIDENT OFF THE JOB AT A YOUNG AGE, WITH A FAMILY TO SUPPORT, WHO CANNOT RETURN TO THEIR REGULAR DUTIES. THIRTY YEARS AGO, THOSE MEMBERS WERE PUT OFF ON LONG TERM DISABILITY AT 75% OF THEIR SALARY.

be mandatory on the part of an employee who has a sick bank. The argument, in its simplest form, is that an employee with accumulated sick leave at their disposal should be allowed to utilize it prior to having to work modified duties.

The City argued that if modified work was provided that met the restrictions of the employee, then they should have to come in and perform the work.

Arbitrator Swan’s ruling stated that if the work was modified to meet the employee’s restrictions, then the employee could no longer claim, for purposes of work, that they were sick. The needs of the employee had been accommodated as required under provincial law and, therefore, the employee would have to work. Arbitrator Swan also ruled that the work must be real and meaningful, not just made up to get the employee to report to duty. If work was available, the employee must perform it.

]

pleted can continue in a pay status if they can perform other work; the employer must provide that work unless they can show it is an undue hardship.

This type of protection for an employee is difficult to place a value on. Can you imagine a member that suffers an accident off the job at a young age, with a family to support, who cannot return to their regular duties. Thirty years ago, those members were put off on long term disability at 75% of their salary.

They were not entitled to annual increases and had no long term expectation to gain employment again. Today, those members, unless totally disabled, have an expectation and a right to seek accommodations, be retrained if necessary and continue to earn a wage and support their families.

While some have viewed the Swan arbitration as a claw back of the employee’s right to unfettered access of their

Scott Marks

sick bank, the flip side is the onus placed on the employer to provide mandatory modified duties. In my view, the protection and value of this type of insurance far outweighs any disadvantage of fulfilling modified duties.

Accommodation is an area where new interpretations and awards are shaping the legal framework each year. In some ways, employees continue to gain protections. In other ways, arbitrators weigh in the rights of the other workers and employers. This is the most changing and misunderstood area of labour law right now. We have stayed at the forefront of our legal representation and education in this area and we will continue to do so in an effort to keep our members properly represented.

Rumours “If you haven’t heard a good rumour by noon, start one.” This is a credo that seems to have survived and prospered in the fire service. And, most rumours are far more interesting than the truth, which perhaps explains why they spread the way they do.

When I began my term as President in 2002, one of the things this Association set out to do was to try to increase the flow of information to the membership, so that they would not rely on rumours, and instead, would have the facts to base their decisions on.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH

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This photo was taken in 1980 in Canada. A lot has changed since then, but job hazards – especially during investigations – are sometimes still not treated with the caution they deserve.

Photo: Carlo Hindian/Masterfile

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President’s Message ... Continued from page 5

With the help of the Membership Communications Committee at that time, in particular, Frank Ramagnano and James Coones, we were able to revamp our web site and add a Q & A forum, produce the Fire Watch magazine and in general, improve the flow of information to the members. As well, changes to the Stewards Program has allowed for the Stewards to be out in the stations updating our members more frequently.

But old habits die hard and rumours continue to make the rounds in most fire stations and work locations. What is particularly frustrating is that no matter how outrageous a rumour is, most peo-

ple will pass it on rather than make a phone call to the Association to try to get the facts confirmed. Regarding issues relating to labour relations matters with our members, confidentiality precludes the ability to disclose the details of a situation. Under privacy legislation, no one is entitled to that information. If a matter is grieved and goes to an arbitration hearing, that information becomes public information and the Association can then release it. This is not the usual situation however and therefore, most of our labour relations issues remain confidential.

The rule of thumb should be that if it sounds too ridiculous to be true, it

probably isn’t true. Please pick up the phone and get the factual answers to your questions.

I would like to thank the members for their continuing support and confidence in my role as President. I appreciate being acclaimed to the position and look forward to working with Frank, Ed and the Executive Board to provide the best possible representation to our members.

Scott Marks President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, I.A.F.F. Local 3888

Thank You for supporting our advertisers!

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH

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SECRETARY TREASURER’S MESSAGE

3 If you work Christmas in operations, how many hours of premium pay are you entitled to?

4 What tests should a fire fighter be requesting during their annual physical?

5 What is the approximate cost of retirement per hour for a fire fighter with 30 years’ service in 2006?

Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

Answers

2 What is the average age of a Captain in operations in 2007?

Frank Ramagnano Secretary - Treasurer,

1 Fire Watch Summer 2006, page 25, CPAT

1 What is the name of the recruit job-related test they must pass?

didates for their commitment to trying to make our association better. I thank those members not returning to the Executive Board for their hard work and for helping to progress our union. I appreciate the membership’s support and confidence in my ability to effectively represent you as a member of Local 3888’s Executive Board. I look forward to working with the new Executive and the membership and continuing to improve our association in a professional and beneficial manner.

This is your opportunity to set the course of this association, so please respect all the candidates on their visits and remember to cast your ballot!

2. Fire Watch Spring 2008, page 27, 52.03 years.

Fire Watch Quiz

Frank Ramagnano

3. Fire Watch Winter 2007, page 42, 24 hours.

that in mind the next time you read one of our notices looking for volunteers to help with the numerous charity events that we participate in.

I would be remiss if I did not thank all the contributors that help make Fire Watch a success. Their commitment and drive is how we are able to produce a first class magazine each quarter and we would not be able to accomplish this without their help. I would like to thank Scott Marks, Ed Kennedy, James Coones, Rayanne Dubkov, Marla Friebe, Rodney Johnston, Seonaid Lennox, Neil McKinnon, Alyssa Petrillo, Marcel Ramagnano, our chaplains, Jon Lasiuk, Tony Macdonald, Geoff Boisseau, John McGill, the Local 3888 Executive Board and you, the membership, for sharing your stories and offering ideas for articles. We need your continued help in order to keep the quality of this publication high, so please, keep forwarding your ideas, pictures and stories to us.

On a point of personal privilege, I would like to congratulate all of the can-

4 Fire Watch Spring 2007, page 34. We will also send the full report if requested.

As I look back on the previous issues, I am very pleased with the quality of our articles and the various topics which we have covered. In fact, on several occasions, I have taken calls from members asking me questions on different topics, in which I was able to point to a specific issue of Fire Watch where the topic was covered and explained in great detail.

It is for the purpose of education and learning that we digitally archive all Fire Watch issues on our web site, so that you can find articles, regardless of whether or not you still have the issue in hard copy still. I hope in the future that we can develop a master index and that members will be able to search for a subject matter, find an archived article and read the answers that they were looking for.

To further make my point as to the information that we have covered in Fire Watch these past three years, I have developed a quiz within this article, for fun, so that you can test your knowledge of the various Local 3888 information that we have printed.

I am also very proud of the various articles we have printed that highlight our members—and this issue is no exception. I really enjoyed the article on Shaun Chisholm and was thrilled when his Dad offered to write it—a must read.

The article that Adina Kaufman wrote on her experiences in Guyana makes me want to at some point in my life try to do the same. For our Member Profile article in this issue, we look at Paul Kennedy. I believe this is an article that many of our members will relate to. I agree with Paul’s motto on life and I think you can get a sense—from all three articles mentioned—that many times, by giving of yourself for the community, you get more out of it for yourself. Please keep

5 Fire Watch Summer 2006, page 9. Around $9.24

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t is amazing how quickly time goes by, and even more amazing is how many times I am taking note of this fact lately. With that said, this issue of Fire Watch (our 13th publication) denotes the beginning of our fourth year in production.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH

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Due to popular demand, we will be offering a subscription service to all those who do not currently receive a copy of Toronto Fire Watch or would like more than one copy of each issue.

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The total cost of the subscription will be $20.00 per year to cover shipping and handling. You will receive, to the address specified on the card below, 4 issues of Toronto Fire Watch (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter).

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You MUST fill out the accompanying card and return it, along with a cheque no later than January 31, 2009. We will only be accepting subscription requests once per year before our Spring issue is mailed out.

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Mail to: 39 Commissioners Street, M5A 1A6, Toronto Make Cheques payable to the T.P.F.F.A.

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VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Your Executive Committee & Station Stewardship Program

A

number of years ago, the Executive Committee of Local 3888 made a decision to implement a ‘Stewardship Program’. Today, we have some 36 Stewards covering all of our various divisions and fire stations. These Stewards have been officially appointed by the Executive Committee and are bona fide representatives of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.

They have a working knowledge in many areas and they have access to the appropriate committees when further information is required. In this article, I want to point out some of the benefits of this decision, as well as how it assists your Executive Committee in serving the membership.

As our Stewardship Program has expanded and matured, I believe that it has become a meaningful and essential component of the structure of our Union. Indeed, the Steward should be considered as a front line representative of our members and a main link between the membership and the Executive. If this works as it should, we cannot help but ensure that everyone is much more knowledgeable with regards to the various functions of the Association. To this end, I encourage anyone with a question or concern to contact a Steward or Executive Officer to make sure that you have all the information you need to arrive at an informed decision. All of our stewards have been instructed that if they do not know the answer to a question they should access the appropriate Executive Officer or the committee that deals with the subject at hand. This can be especially critical when dealing with the Worker’s Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB). Paul Atkinson should be contacted for advice about

any WSIB query, especially before going in for any ‘tests’ that they say are required. The Stewards can also be indispensable in dealing with, and correcting or confirming any rumours that, from time to time, percolate in the fire stations.

In a well run program, the Station Stewards often represent ‘the union’ in a workplace as decentralized as ours.

Due to our size and different work

[

Ed Kennedy

effective workplace and they also have access to the Executive and the various committees that have been established for the benefit of the whole bargaining unit. Needless to say, the Collective Agreement is a key document that preserves our wages and working conditions and the Stewards can assist in its interpretation and implementation, or they are to again make contact with an Executive officer if they are unsure.

THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT IS A KEY DOCUMENT THAT PRESERVES OUR WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS AND THE STEWARDS CAN ASSIST IN ITS INTERPRETATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, OR THEY ARE TO AGAIN MAKE CONTACT WITH AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER IF THEY ARE UNSURE.

schedules, many fire fighters in the Local 3888 bargaining unit will have little or no personal contact with the principal officers. Thus, the Steward may be the one union person they see and hear from on a regular basis. The Steward, therefore, performs a dual role. They are the go-between from the membership to the Executive and, conversely, from the Executive to the membership.

Our Stewards maintain regular contact with their particular stations or workplaces and are charged with keeping them informed about union policies and upcoming meetings and events. They have been exposed to the many documents, policies and pieces of legislation that ensures and enhances a safe and

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The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) sponsors a seminar twice per year, dedicated to the education of fire fighters across the province of Ontario. As the Chair of the Education Committee of the OPFFA, I have, for more than ten years, included a ‘Basic Union Stewardship” course as part of the curriculum. The students discover what it takes to be a leader and communicator and an overall effective advocate on behalf of the union. They learn about the goals and concerns of the provincial organization and are updated about new issues that arise from time-to-time. One full day is spent studying section nine of the Fire Prevention and Protection Act, which

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 11

Vice President’s Message ... Continued from page 11

deals with fire fighter employment and labour relations. It is this legislation that gives Locals in Ontario the legal ‘right to negotiate’ with their employers as an equal participant in the process and it sets out the course of action to follow if negotiations should break down and the binding arbitration route is pursued.

This course introduces a new Executive Officer or Steward to many different topics, from the Provincial constitution, to the Occupational Health & Safety Act, to a Collective Bargaining Handbook compiled over many years by the OPFFA. By the end of the week, these students

receive an overview of what affects fire fighters in their workplace and know the difference between the ‘duty to accommodate’ and the ‘Duty to Fair Representation”.

As I am sure you can see, I am a great supporter of this initiative established by our Association and I would ask the membership to support and encourage those brothers and sisters who have agreed to step up and become Station Stewards—for it is also the case, that from the ranks of these members, that future candidates will emerge for election to the Executive Board.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the membership for once again having the confidence in me, as I was acclaimed to the position of Vice President. I can assure you that I will continue to work diligently on your behalf.

Ed Kennedy Vice-President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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Thank You for supporting our advertisers!

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

BY TODD RILEY, WEST COMMAND CHAPLAIN

G

reetings TFS family, I trust that all of you are well. It has been a challenging summer for many of you and my thoughts and prayers have been with you. The last time I checked in, I was building a shed in my backyard. I am happy to report that it is complete and looks great.

At the end of August, my wife and I took some of the youth from our church to the family cottage. We really love this group of kids and appreciate the mentoring opportunities we had during this weekend. While at the cottage, we had a great time tubing, talking, eating, canoeing, boating, visiting the local church on the Sunday, and doing a few Bible studies together. During our study time, the big thing we talked about this year was: How to form and maintain healthy relationships. Given the relationship minefields that are out there, I’m sure that you’ll be inclined to agree that this is an important subject whether you are 16, 45 or 99.

So, what did we tell the kids about forming and maintaining healthy relationships? First of all, we related that we believe the key to forming and maintaining healthy relationships is to start with God. We live in a broken world with broken people. A restored relationship with God is needful as I find I need God’s constant help in my relationships with others.

The second key to forming and maintaining healthy relationships is to develop your character. The only person you can change is yourself. We often buy into the lie that we can change other people. Good character is not an accident, nor is it something a person just has. Good character takes work,

discipline, and time. Valuing others and treating them with respect is important. Remember, Wayne Gretzky assisted his teammates twice as much as he himself scored (1963 Assists vs. 894 Goals) and still smashed every individual scoring record in history. If you focus on other people, on their needs and what makes them unique, you will find yourself naturally acting with character and integrity because your selfishness will fade. Good character also encompasses such things as integrity, which is all about being the same person no matter whose company you are in or where you are. Good character necessitates honesty, faithfulness, purity, kindness, patience, forgiveness, a willingness to work hard, and the eschewment of things such as envy, hatred, pride, arrogance, rudeness, crudeness, and a self-seeking attitude.

The third key to forming and maintaining healthy relationships entails knowing when to run the other way.

Too often we are like moths to the flame when it comes relationships. A critical skill is to know when to run.

The old saying “Who we are—our very essence–is continually being transformed by the company we keep” holds a lot of truth. The Bible book of Proverbs says; “A prudent person sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Red

Rev. Todd Riley

WEST COMMAND Rev. Todd Riley 416.236.8801 tsriley@primus.ca flag characteristics to look for include: being overly aggressive, schemers, gossipers, lazy, arrogant, or overly dependent on you to meet all their needs. If you see this stuff in another person who you are considering dating, marrying, or going into business with—run the other way.

The fourth key that we shared with the youth regarding the formation and maintenance of healthy relationships is this: Look for people of character.

Whether it be a marriage, friendship, or business partnership, you are going to be on solid ground if you find a person who honours their families, works hard, is honest in all their dealings, who is peaceable and friendly, who exercises patience, who is working on forgiving those who have wronged them, and who doesn’t talk about other people negatively or behind their backs.

In case you are wondering where we got our ideas on how to form and maintain healthy relationships, my wife and I gleaned them from the Bible. In your relationships, I wish you every success.

Blessings, Chaplain Todd

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 13

 e  Le TO THE EDITOR

BUILD FOR GEORGE

On behalf of our injured brother George Copeland, I want to thank you and your membership for the outstanding support the TPFFA provided over the many months of this amazing project. As well, the members of your Association who attended and worked on the house for the four days of the build were instrumental in the project actually coming to a successful conclusion on day four.

The organizing committee who were in charge for the four days told me that had it not been for your members present, the house would not have been finished on time. Not only did your members complete every task that was asked of them, they did it in some very bad weather conditions yet never missed a beat as they worked on and on to make sure the house would be ready on time. Their skill and expertise coupled with an incredible work ethic was evident to the hundreds of tradespeople and helpers who were there for the build.

Scott, could you please let your membership know how much the WPFFA and George appreciate the generosity shown by your membership and the time and effort given to us by your members that were in Windsor helping to build a new beginning for an injured brother, none of us will ever forget it.

Eddie Dickson President, WPFFA

RAISE A CHILD’S SMILE Thank you for helping us “Raise a Child’s Smile” on May 8, 2008 at the Liberty Grand.

On behalf of the CEO, Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and children of The HincksDellcrest Centre, I would like to thank Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association for its donation of a Firehouse Meal for 8 to our live auction.

The live auction is always a much anticipated part of our evening and an integral part of

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our fund raising event. Thanks to your generosity this was our best event ever, raising over $315,000! We were able to keep our costs low, and are very proud that the expenses of the event were less than 15%.

The money raised will help support programs for children and youth and the development of innovative strategies I prevention, early intervention, training, research, and treatment.

Thank you once again. Your support enables Hincks-Dellcrest to continue to provide the best mental health practices and therefore to continue to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

Annabel Bassin, Director of Fund Development

SUCCESSFUL PICNIC I would like to express my appreciation for your generous support to the annual Don Valley East Community Picnic this year.

As usual, our picnic attracted hundreds of residents from our community, and it could not have been more successful. Despite the rainy weather, over 1,500 residents took the time to come out to our event.

FIRE WATCH accepts Letters to the Editor, articles, essays, and photographs from Local 3888 Members, active and retired.

We will also accept fire related submissions from outside authors or photographers.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE FORWARDED TO: Letter to the Editor FIRE WATCH 39 Commissioners Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M5A 1A6 LETTERS POLICY You may email your letter to: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org FIRE WATCH welcomes letters to the editor to give you – Local 3888 members – an opportunity to express your views, concerns, ideas, or gripes.

We can’t print every letter and in some instances letters will have to be edited due to space limitations.

[

We do not accept attachments. Please paste your letter into the body of your email and use the subject line “Letter to the Editor.”

Thank you for providing us with a great fire truck bouncer, which contributed to the tremendous success of the picnic, and the enjoyment of community residents.

Once again thank you for agreeing to be a part of our event. Your willingness to support our efforts this year is very much appreciated.

David Caplan, M.P.P., Don Valley East

OUR CONDOLENCES On behalf of the Board of Directors and the members of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 341, I offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Brother Robert Leek.

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with each of you and the Leek family.

Jeffrey A. Caynon President HPFFA, Local 341

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FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 15

SONS PROUD TO BE A PART OF “BUILD FOR GEORGE”

BY JIM DILLON, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 311 “C”

I

n March of 2007, George Copeland and his crew from Windsor Fire and Rescue Services responded to a 911 call near the Ambassador Bridge that leads to the USA. It was a less than ideal weather day and the apparatus, which George was driving at the time, came upon a patch of icy road and lost control.

Ultimately, the apparatus came to rest, very badly damaged and leaning against a concrete light standard. George was thrown from his seat into the windshield and lay, with a severed spine, across the dash of the apparatus. The injuries which he sustained were very serious and even life-threatening for the first several weeks of his recovery. In the end, it left him a quadriplegic.

Fire fighters are a close knit fraternity, and as such, the brother and sister

fire fighters from Windsor Fire formed a foundation they called, “Build for George.” Their goal was to build a new, wheelchair accessible home for George and his family—and they were going to build it in 4 days!

I heard about this ambitious plan in April of this year while attending an OPFFA Educational Seminar in Niagara Falls. A delegate from Windsor Fire addressed the assembly and outlined their plan to build this home in 4 days. My first reaction was, “4 DAYS? I’ve got to see this for myself!” And so, I decided to volunteer.

My sons, Matt and Luke Dillon, operate a large roofing company. I’ve watched them build their company over the past 13 years and I am proud to say that they have done a wonderful job.

Everyone worked until late that night and endured blistering heat, howling winds, pelting rain, icy hail, and, under the banks of halogen lights for night-time work.

16

When I returned to the hotel room that evening, I called Matt and outlined the “Build for George” project and asked him if he would like to be a part of it and do the roof for the home. He agreed in a heart beat and said that he’d talk to his brother Luke. He greeted the project with enthusiasm and when he put the idea to the members of the company, all 35 men volunteered to go as well.

Unfortunately, they weren’t able to take that many, so they settled on 13, including themselves.

The build was to be carried out from Thursday, June 26th to Sunday, June 29th. The plan was to hand over the new home keys to George on the Sunday afternoon—his first day out of hospital since the accident almost 16 months prior.

The following members came forward and donated their time to work on this project. Windsor President Ed Dickson has stated that they would not have been successful if it had not been for the participation of the fire fighters from Toronto.

We would like to recognize the following members; Jim Dillon and his two sons Rick Raymer and son Kyle Jake & Brent Steranko Liam Cullen Jake Herring Jim Parton Tony Harris Richard Dasht Graham Bell Gerlando Peritore Kris Chraba Diana Lord Dave Holwell Matt Drenters Bob Noakes Nick Laffey Jim Morache Rayanne Dubkov

On the morning of June 26th, we loaded the trucks with men and tools and began the three-and-a-half hour drive to Tecumseh, the site of the build. I called and told the organizers that we were on the way. I was greeted with this news, “We are already installing the roof trusses and we’ll be ready for you when you get here.”

We arrived at noon and the trucks were hardly stopped and positioned near the build when the men were getting out and off-loading power ladders, hoists, tool belts, nail guns, compressors and all the tools needed for doing

the job. Matt and Luke were directing men to tasks and it wasn’t long before you heard the slap of bundles being thrown onto the roof and nail guns hammering them into place.

Everyone worked until late that night and endured blistering heat, howling winds, pelting rain, icy hail, and, under the banks of halogen lights for nighttime work. All of this without a single word of complaint from any of them or the dozens of tradesmen and volunteers who were there that weekend.

Being a fire fighter means that you have to be a team player. All the workers who were there, whether they were tradesmen or general labour volunteers, constantly worked at finishing the tasks required to get the job done. They had a goal and everyone did what they could to see that the goal was achieved. Matt and Luke and their crew met that challenge and worked alongside people they never knew before. Yet, you would never know that they were strangers to each other.

At 11:00pm, Luke called a halt to the day saying that they would finish in the morning.

At 9:00am the next day, they were back again, in conditions much the same as the day before. By noon, the roof was finished and they were loading their tools back into the trucks and reflecting on a job to be proud of. They had come together and worked with people like them and they finished what they came for; to “Get the job done!”

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 17

Member Profile

BY TONY MACDONALD, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445A

P

aul Kennedy joined the Scarborough Fire Department in October of 1983 and had spent his entire twenty-five years as a fire fighter in East Command. He was promoted to Captain on July 22, 2008 and moved to Station 131 on “A” Platoon.

During his twenty-five years on the job, Paul has spent much of his time giving back to the community. He started out by participating in the Rob Penney baseball tournament, which raises money for Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Research. He continued participating as a player and soon took over organizing the Scarborough team each year.

Anyone who has helped out at boot drives has probably met Paul. He assisted at boot drives for the Scarborough Professional Fire Fighters Association and, after amalgamation, for the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.

A highlight of Paul’s year occurs on Christmas day. In 1990, he started assisting with visits to the three Scarborough Hospitals. Scarborough General, Centenary, and Grace Hospitals, like hospitals all over the world, have patients 18

that are not well enough to go home for Christmas. A visit from anyone lifts their spirits but a visit from Santa is a special treat. Not just for the children, as the older patients love to see Santa too. After two years of helping, Paul took over the role of Santa in 1992 and has continued these visits for the last 16 years. Apparently, Paul’s friends find this fact humourous because Paul weighs approximately 150 pounds. With enough padding however, he makes a great Santa.

Paul says, “Visiting children and others in the hospital is MY CHRISTMAS! To bring a smile to their faces makes it all worthwhile. I would not miss it for the world.” He hopes to continue with the hospital visits, even after he retires.

Paul is a goalie, and plays for the original Toronto Fire Department house league, the Scarborough Fire Fighters house league, and the Scarborough Fire Fighters “C” Division team. He has also played for two years with the South Tac 2 tournament team that plays in the FDNY 911 Memorial Tournament in New York City.

On December 15th, 2006, Paul was hit by a shot in a game and suffered a

collapsed lung. He spent 5 days being treated in Markham-Stouffville Hospital.

The entire time that he was there, he was hoping that he could recover in time for his annual Christmas hospital visits on December 25th. Thankfully, the Doctor allowed Santa to visit the hospitals, as long as he didn’t do any lifting.

On June 21st & 22nd, 2008, Paul rode in the “Ride to Conquer Cancer”. He rode for all of the fire fighters and their families who are fighting cancer, or have passed on after their heroic battle. He has two friends in particular on the fire department whose fight has touched him greatly. One being his former Captain, Tom Jenkins, who had been fighting a work related brain cancer and passed away in August 2008. Tom was “a true friend, and a great fire fighter.”

The week before the ride, Paul suffered 3 flat tires while training, which had never happened before. When he rode the event, with 2850 other riders, he did not have any flat tires. The organizers kept the riders fed with wonderful meals throughout the weekend.

During the race, they were taken care of with Gatorade, water, granola bars,

Paul is seen here accepting the “Community Relations Award for Firefighters” on December 10, 2007 from the Independent Order of Daughters of the Empire. Deputy Chief Frank Lamie presented on behalf of Toronto Fire Services.

on Paul Kennedy bananas, oranges and other snacks. They had portable showers on site, as well as massage tables. They were treated “like Kings” by all of the volunteers.

On the second day, they passed grape vineyards and spectacular views through the Niagara region. It was “an unbelievable rush, and a very emotional finish as we crossed the finish line beside the Niagara River with thousands of onlookers clapping and showing their support.” The event raised over 14 million dollars to help those fire fighters and others that have been stricken by this terrible disease.

Paul was able to raise over $7,000.00 for this cause and he will be riding again in 2009. Anyone interested in helping him raise even more money in 2009 can pledge their donation online at www. conquercancer.ca/goto/paul.kennedy Paul is single and has no kids. He keeps busy with his hockey, as well as biking, baseball, skiing, and just started playing golf in the summer of 2008.

He is “living life to the fullest.” “When I see what others have suffered and endured in life, small things don’t bother me anymore. The number of Toronto Fire Fighters who have been stricken with cancer, many of them while still in the prime of their life, is alarming.”

In July 2008, Paul helped out at the Beaches Jazz Festival, benefiting the Camp Bucko Burn Camp for kids. They walked up and down Queen Street soliciting donations. Four of them “succumbed to the crowds wishes and danced in front of the Queen St. fire hall.” The Blackboard Blues Band kept the mood alive. Paul says that they kept their shirts on and stayed off of the roof for this impromptu event, but the dancing helped to increase the donations.

“Anything that I can do for others that are less fortunate, when I’m lucky

enough to be healthy, I will do,” states Paul.

In the last year alone, Paul has been honoured by three different groups for his service to the community. On December 10, 2007, the IODE awarded Paul with their “Community Relations Award at the Old Schoolhouse in Markham. On June 10, 2008, the Scar-

borough Rotary Club awarded him with their annual “Service Above Self” award at the Scarborough Golf Club.

On July 27, 2008, Paul was honoured by the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, at the Markham Suites.

Paul’s motto is “Live For Today Because You Never Know What Tomorrow May Bring.”

In Niagara Falls after completing more than 200 kilometers in the “Ride to Conquer Cancer” on June 22, 2008. Paul raised more than $7000.00, mostly from fellow firefighters.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 19

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Do you fall asleep inappropriately?

Do you feel tired during the daytime?

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If you answer YES to any of these questions, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.

We help in diagnosis, treatment, and to create awareness about sleep disorders.

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A Date with

The Lake

BY TONY CHISHOLM, FATHER OF TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER SHAUN CHISHOLM

O

n August 15th, at 4:30 in the afternoon, Fire Fighter Shaun Chisholm jumped into the waters of Lake Ontario at Niagara.

Just over 19 hours later, he climbed up a ladder in Toronto. Those are the straightforward facts. However, the story behind this swim is anything but straightforward.

Shaun is an ordinary guy, a family man, a father of two and a dedicated fire fighter. Just over a year ago, he performed a long swim in Muskoka that got him thinking about tackling this task—the ultimate marathon swim.

The purpose would be to raise money for an important charity, the Hospital for Sick Children.

In the early 1950s, marathon swimming was a very popular sport. One of the best of the marathoners was Marilyn Bell, who, in 1954 became the first to swim the lake from Niagara to the Toronto shoreline at the age of only 16. It took her 24 hours to complete and captured the imagination of all Canadians.

Since then, many have tried and

many have failed. The lake has a wicked ability to invert after a north wind and the temperatures can drop from the 70’s to 50 degrees or lower. Combine that with treacherous waves and a contrary current from the Humber River, and you can quickly see why the 52 kilometer distance has never been an easy one to conquer.

Years ago, when Shaun was ten or eleven years of age, I picked him up from summer camp and noticed he had a yellow nylon cord around his neck.

“That means I can swim the furthest at camp—over two miles,” he proudly declared. I said, “no way” but he insisted, so I made him show me as I canoed along side. They had taught him the “dead-man’s float,” as a way of resting when he was tired. He did the whole swim for me, but with him floating face down in the water, resting all the time, I think it took most of the day to do the two miles!

Thirty years later, it was a very different swim, but Shaun exhibited the same tenacity that got him through

those first two miles so long ago. He spent the winter leading up to his date with the lake swimming thousands of lengths in an indoor pool. Each month’s efforts would accumulate with a super long swim of seven hours.

“The marathon training sessions that test strength and endurance were essential preparation for the challenge of swimming 50 kilometers in cold, dark and often treacherous conditions,” says Shaun.

“But physical training was only part of it,” he adds.

“Marathon swimmers need good planning and a lot of determination and dedication to survive,” he says. For him, that determination was fueled by the fact that his marathon swim raised more than $24,000 for the Burn Unit at the Hospital for Sick Children.

As a fire fighter, Shaun is familiar with the devastating effects that burns can have on children, making the Sick Kids Burn Unit a natural recipient of his fundraising efforts. His determination to beat the lake got even stronger when he

A few hours later, Shaun was swimming through high waves and treacherous rollers created by the winds from those storms.

FA L L 2 0 0 8 | F I R E WATCH 21

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22

A Date With The Lake ... Continued from page 5

The waves came out of the North—head on, pushing Shaun back and making him work much harder, earlier on, than he had planned. and his crew got the chance to tour the Sick Kids Burn Unit and, “get a feel for what we were raising the funds for.”

His fundraising efforts were recently recognized by the Sick Kids Foundation president Michael O’Mahoney, who, in a letter told Shaun, “Your support of the Burn Unit will give our patients and their families the best resources to cope with and recover from a burn injury. When a gift is reinforced by passion, energy and commitment it transcends everyday philanthropy.

Yours is such a gift, and for that I am very grateful.”

Despite the long months of mental and physical preparation, the day of the swim brought many questions for Shaun and his crew. Would the weather be clear enough? Had the lake warmed up enough? Were the currents out of the Humber too strong after all the storms?

Shaun hit the water in the late afternoon on August 15 and soon after we saw storms moving across the other side of the lake. A few hours later, Shaun was swimming through high waves and treacherous rollers created by the winds from those storms.

I was in a powerboat, never far away.

Others were in one of two Zodiacs and a 31 foot sailboat, and practically all of the crew were fighting sea sickness in the three to four foot waves and chop.

The waves came out of the North— head on, pushing Shaun back and making him work much harder, earlier on, than he had planned.

Then came the long night portion of the swim. Sometime after midnight, the water fortunately calmed and Shaun’s speed picked back up, but the westerly winds remained strong, pushing the boats and the swimmer to the east. This is common as these winds cause most swimmers to miss their intended destination because they are blown east past the Toronto Islands. We had to keep him on course so we forced him to swim further to the west and undoubtedly added extra miles to his intended distance.

Finally dawn arrived. It was our job in the powerboat at 6:00 am to motor into Toronto to the Harbourfront Fire Station to pick up his pacers—other swimmers who would join him in the water for short distances to help pick up his spirits. By the time we were back, Shaun had swam into an inversion of cold water. The water dropped from 68

degrees to 58/60. The first pacer that went in had trouble with the cold water and had to be pulled out, shivering.

This was a very difficult time. If the water temperature dropped any more he would definitely get hypothermia and the swim would be over. To Shaun’s credit, he got through the inversion, but as he approached the city, he had to face the Humber current coming straight at him. Somehow, exhausted as he was from fighting the waves in the night, he managed to power through, and by noon, approached his intended destination. He had a hundred reasons to quit, but he didn’t—he persevered.

At the end, he was greeted by the William Lyon McKenzie fireboat and a fire truck on the shore. Fire fighters dropped a ladder over the wall, upon which he made his final climb to his destination. It had been 19 hours and 20 minutes since he started his journey. As he climbed out, he was greeted by about one hundred friends, co-workers and the press. The fireboat put on a great display to add to the backdrop.

“It was by far the toughest thing I ever did,” says Shaun.

I guess so.

Way to go Shaun!

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 23 FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 23

MISSION GUYANA “Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

BY ADINA KAUFMAN, TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER

W

e sat in the clinic, waiting.

The man had arrived hours earlier, telling us his son had suffered the bite of a venomous snake and needed urgent help. He had found some other men—most importantly, one with a power boat, to help transport his son to the clinic—and disappeared into the dark night. Getting the injured young man to us would require many hours of travel through dense rainforest and along the river to the clinic where, hopefully, we’d be able to help. There’s nothing like sitting helplessly in an isolated clinic along a remote rainforest river, waiting for your patient with a potentially fatal wound to arrive, to make you realize how fortunate we are to have the constant comfort of 911, high tech hospitals and highly skilled teams of emergency response and medical professionals. As we waited for our patient, we reflected on the reality of our ‘usual’ lives and how we’d found ourselves in such an ‘unusual’ situation.

For 10 years, a Canadian team has travelled to the South American country of Guyana, working with the local Lions Club to provide medical care to Amerindien and Afro and Indo Guya-

nese in remote rainforest communities.

In March 2008, I had the privilege of being part of the Ve’ahavta-Lions Club Guyana Medical Mission.

Ve’ahavta is a Toronto-based charity, dedicated to the principles of “Tikun Olam”, Hebrew words meaning, “Repairing the World.” While Ve’ahavta has its origins in the Jewish community, its volunteers come from varied backgrounds and its programs serve diverse communities.

I first became involved with Ve’ahavta through its Newcomer Homework Club, run in collaboration with Frontier College and the Regent Park Community Health Centre. Other programs include a mobile outreach service for Toronto’s homeless, and ongoing international work, not only in Guyana but also in Zimbabwe, Israel and Darfur.

The mission of Ve’ahavta is to be aware of the world’s ills and our own capacity to enhance the lives of others and to actively engage in efforts to repair the world’s inequities and imperfections as part of tikun olam. The word Ve’ahavta translates from Hebrew as “And you shall love.”

Our team flew to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and then took small

planes to Kamarang, in the country’s interior. Upon arrival at the Kamarang airstrip, we were met by villagers eager to see their returning Canadian friends.

As a new team member, I had no one with whom to reconnect but I could feel the warmth of the friendship being shared.

For two weeks, we travelled in a large wooden boat, 19 Canadians and 7 Guyanese partners, working together to operate health clinics in Kamarang and surrounding communities. Our team included a pharmacist, a cardiologist, an ultrasound technician, lab technicians, a physiotherapist, a dentist, family planners, nurses, doctors specializing in women’s heath, paediatrics, tropical and emergency medicine, and a few support workers. Together, we worked as many hours each day as daylight would allow (no electricity of course), treating and supporting the people of these isolated riverine communities, where basic health services are primitive to non-existent.

We worked closely with each community’s “MedEx”. With little training, the MedEx alone must handle all emergencies, including the nighttime delivery of babies by flashlight, family

“There are many wonderful things that won’t be done if you don’t do them.” - Charles D. Gill 24

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank planning services, and provision of preventative and ongoing care to all villagers, from children to the elderly. The MedEx’s are dedicated professionals, and despite limited training and insufficient resources, their high level of competence and devotion to their work and the people of their communities were always inspiring.

When I left Toronto, I thought my ‘support worker’ duties were to carry heavy things, set up tents, purify water, and generally help out as needed. Little did I know what ‘help out as needed’

would involve! I gave deworming medicine and vitamins to young children— simple, but with significant long-term health effects; I carried a snake bite victim up from the river to the clinic as the whole village ran along beside; I made sure that overnight clinic patients were safely secured under malaria preventing mosquito nets; I assisted an emergency room doctor as he drained all manners of festering wounds and abscesses that had progressed, in some cases to be so serious as to be life threatening (apparently my poor sense of smell made me the ideal assistant for such duties!) The list goes

on and on—each patient a different story and a different memory.

There is no way that a simple job description could ever have prepared me for my Guyanese experience. I visited a beautiful country, worked with an amazing international team of professionals and made many new friends whom I look forward to seeing and sharing hugs with next year along the banks of the Mazaruni River.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 25

CONVENTION



RESPECTING TRADITION,

49th IAFF CONVENTION

1918

Convention Opens with Tribute

T

he IAFF 49th Convention opened Monday in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a spectacular Opening Ceremony that paid tribute to “90 Years of Service” with an exciting mixture of music, imagery and performance art.

IAFF General President, Harold Schaitberger, delivered a powerful state-of-theunion speech, focusing on the advances that IAFF leaders and members have made through hard work over the past 90 years and recognizing the hard work that is needed to hold on to those advances and fight for more in the future.

IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer, Vinnie Bollon, took the stage as well in

26

a ceremony that also paid tribute to the 16 IAFF District Vice Presidents, Trustees and Emeritus officers.

Thousands of delegates and guests witnessed an Opening Ceremony that began with an inspirational performance

by Grammy-winning gospel singer Sandi Patty, who was joined on stage by the Las Vegas Mass Choir.

A special video documentary showcased the IAFF’s 90-year history of fighting on behalf of professional fire fighters in the United States and Canada, from the early days when fire fighters first organized to protest inhumane working conditions, to the founding of the IAFF in 1918 and through the decades to the powerful union the International is today.

Another special video paid tribute to members of the Armed Forces serving overseas.

The ceremony also featured a moving tribute to IAFF members who have died in the line of duty in the past two years, punctuated by a musical tribute titled, “Our Brothers and Sisters,” performed

by Sandi Patty and the Las Vegas Mass Choir.

Performance artist Michael Israel amazed the audience by creating two

stunning pieces of artwork live on stage.

One of the artworks, “Tribute to Fire Fighters as Soldiers,” depicted the silhouette of a soldier in front of the American flag. Both works were raffled off during Convention, with proceeds benefiting the IAFF Burn Foundation.

Premier Dalton McGuinty Praises IAFF’s Political Action Premier Dalton McGuinty, who has become a great friend of professional fire fighters, addressed delegates Monday, thanking fire fighters for their dedication while praising the IAFF’s political action efforts.

“Thank you to all of you for protecting the most important people in the world to us, our families,” Premier Dalton McGuinty said. “Thank you for protecting our properties, our businesses, our jobs.

Thank you for the millions you raise for MDC and for creating the IAFF Burn Foundation.”

“Political action takes courage and conviction,” he said. “You support those who support you, of any political stripe, and when I say support I really mean it.”

In 2007, on his way to a decisive reelection victory, McGuinty became the first Ontario Premier to be endorsed by

COVERAGE

EMBRACING THE FUTURE 2008



LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

to 90 YEARS OF SERVICE the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA). “What that endorsement recognized was the work we’ve done together, our Ontario fire fighters and our Ontario Liberal government,” he said.

Since McGuinty first came to power in 2003, his government has acted on a number of fire fighter issues, including pension reform and infectious diseases.

In May 2007, Ontario became the sixth Canadian province to enact presumptive cancer legislation for professional fire fighters.

“Politics is how we come together to overcome challenges that are too big to overcome alone,” McGuinty said. “I urge you to stay involved, and keep leading.”

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger presented McGuinty with a commemorative fire fighter sculpture. “I hope when you look at this you’ll remember who stands behind you—the men and women of the IAFF,” Schaitberger said.

The convention also paid tribute to two IAFF members lost while the convention was taking place. An American fire fighter who died in Iraq, Indianapolis, IN Local 416 member Gary Henry was killed August 3 by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. Henry was a Ser-

geant with the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Military Police. The second was our very own Brother Leek.

You can still go on the Web-Site and watch video of the convention actions. www.iaff.org/events/08convention/coverage.aspx

IAFF 49th Convention Resolutions Resolution No. 1...Adopted Budget Adjustment for Inflation Resolution No. 2...Adopted Revised Secondary Employment Resolution No. 3...Adopted Revised Article XV, Section 1, Misconduct and Penalties Resolution No. 4...Adopted Principal Officers Retirement Benefits Modification

Resolution No. 5...Adopted Resolution to Honor and Establish Dominick F. Barbera as Vice President Emeritus of the IAFF Resolution No. 6...Adopted Vice President Emeritus Status for Michael D. McNeill Resolution No. 7...Adopted Trustee Emeritus Status for Bob Greenwood Resolution No. 8...Adopted IAFF Support and Promote Fire-Based EMS Resolution No. 9...Disposed by 8 EMS in Canada Resolution No. 10...Withdrawn IAFF PEP Assisted Seminars Resolution No. 11...Adopted Support of the IAFF Financial Corporation

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 27

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28

Convention Coverage ... Continued from page 27

CONVENTION COVERAGE   RESPECTING TRADITION, EMBRACING THE FUTURE

49th IAFF CONVENTION 1918 Resolution No. 12...Adopted Revised Model Constitution and By-Laws Manual for Consolidated Locals Resolution No. 13...Adopted Confidentiality of Members’ Identities and Social Security Numbers Resolution No. 14...Adopted Substitute Revision of GASB 45 Resolution No. 15...Adopted Photoelectric Smoke Alarms Resolution No. 16...Adopted Residential Sprinkler Support Resolution No. 17...Adopted National Healthcare Plan for Fire Fighters Resolution No. 18...Adopted Amended Dennis J. Murray Affiliate Leadership Award Resolution No. 19...Rejected Combined Seating for Delegates and Alternates on the IAFF Convention Floor Resolution No. 20...Adopted Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Analyst(s): Resolution No. 21...Adopted United Unions Building Resolution No. 22...Adopted IAFF Burn Foundation District Coordinators Resolution No. 23...Disposed by 24 Establish IAFF Actuary and Underwriter Staff Position Resolution No. 24...Adopted Substitute Pension Protection Initiative Resolution No. 25...Disposed by 24 IAFF Pension and Health Insurance Network Resolution No. 26...Disposed by 24 IAFF Pension and Health Insurance Network Resolution No. 27...Withdrawn Standards Development Participation

2008 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Resolution No. 28...Adopted “Sweats for Vets” Awareness Run Resolution No. 29...Adopted A Feasibility Study Concerning the Possibility of Obtaining Group Liability Insurance to be Made Available to IAFF Locals Resolution No. 30...Adopted Censure of Mayor David Cicilline Resolution No. 31...Adopted Vote of No Confidence in George S. Farrell, Chief of Fire Department, Providence, Rhode Island Resolution No. 32...Adopted Censure New Britain, Connecticut Mayor Timothy Stewart Resolution No. 33...Adopted Amended Censure of New Britain, Connecticut Fire Chief Mark Carr Resolution No. 34...Adopted Amended Censure of Yarmouth Fire Chief C. Randall Sherman Resolution No. 35...Adopted Amended Censure of Fire Chief Stephen D. Halford Resolution No. 36...Adopted Amended Censure of City of Reno Fire Chief Paul Wagner Resolution No. 37...Adopted Censure of Edward G. Stillwell, Regional Fire Chief, Naval District Washington Resolution No. 38...Adopted Revised Healthcare Reform Resolution No. 39...Adopted Promoting Consensus Standards Resolution No. 40...Adopted Revised Pension Reform Act Resolution No. 41...Adopted Increase State and Federal Disaster Assistance Cost Sharing Resolution No. 42...Adopted Substitute Support Social Security Fairness Act

Resolution No. 43...Adopted California Firefighter Driver’s License Resolution No. 44...Adopted Amended Additional Funding Source for ARFF Services at Commercial Airports to Support Safe Staffing in Accordance with NFPA 403 Resolution No. 45...Adopted Change to Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) Resolution No. 46...Adopted Revised Electrical/Hybrid Vehicle Safety for Firefighters Resolution No. 47...Adopted Recognition of Brother Marty Hauer Resolution No. 48...Withdrawn Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation, Inc. Resolution No. 49...Withdrawn The Retired Professional Fire Fighters Cancer Fund The adopted resolutions amount to a 62 cent increase bringing the September 1, 2008, per capita tax to $10.80.

FA L L 2 0 0 8 | F I R E WATCH 29

&

FIRE FIGHTER

SURVIVAL & RESCUE &

Are you ready when the MAYDAY is called?

BY TORONTO FIRE FIGHTERS GEOFF BOISSEAU and JOHN MCGILL

YOU ARRIVE AT A ‘ROUTINE’ HOUSE FIRE; LINES RUNNING INTO THE HOUSE, FLAMES COMING OUT OF A WINDOW, SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE EAVES—IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD WORKING FIRE. SO NOW IT’S TIME TO GET TO WORK. YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS—A MAYDAY CALL COMES ACROSS THE RADIO. A FIRE FIGHTER IS IN TROUBLE. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? HOW DO YOU FIT IN TO THE RESCUE EFFORT? ARE YOU PREPARED? CAN YOU DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS ASKED OF YOU? AFTER ALL, THAT FIRE FIGHTER, MUCH LIKE YOU, WANTS TO GO HOME AT THE END OF THEIR SHIFT.

A

t every fire fighter fireground emergency, there are key roles to play. These roles include being a RIT Sector Officer (RITSO), a RIT Officer, part of a RIT crew or being a fire fighter continuing the fire fighting at the scene. In the next few issues, we are going to discuss some of these key roles involved in a fire fighter rescue and then you can decide if you are ready.

RIT Sector Officer Upon arrival at an emergency, you are assigned as the RIT Sector Officer (RITSO). A fire fighter is in trouble; they need help. Whether you became an officer on this job because you wanted to be a leader or to just increase your pension, it is now time for you to act. Time is our enemy; it is working against the fire fighter in trouble. Everyone at the scene is looking to you for guidance and direction. After the MAYDAY is declared, this is NOT the time to ask yourself if you are ready. This is not a position that you can learn as you go. Lives are at stake.

Your ability to do this job will have a DIRECT impact upon the success or 30

failure of the rescue operation. Now ask yourself … if this happens today, are you ready? Would you know what to do?

Your job as RITSO is to coordinate the rescue of a fire fighter. The RITSO is the quarterback of any fire fighter rescue operation. There are many priorities and responsibilities but here we will just discuss the first few things that will be expected of you.

The first thing you should try to do is make contact with the fire fighter in distress (if possible). Gather any information from them that may assist RIT teams in locating them or other fire fighters that may need assistance and reassure them that help is coming. Next, you may have to organize the RIT or IRIT and ensure they are equipped for the task at hand and ready to go. Brief them on where they are going, who they are looking for, and the nature of the emergency.

In just a few seconds, you must develop a search plan, determine resources, and request additional personnel and equipment. You are the radio contact, the link to the outside for not only the RIT‘s but also the downed fire fighter(s). Think of the environment that you are sending the RIT teams into. If a fire fighter has declared and you are faced with an emergency, things have gone bad , and chances are the interior environment is extremely hostile to any additional fire fighters you send in. In addition, consider the adrenaline and emotional state of the fire fighters on the fireground and

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THEY WILL PUT THE LIFE OF THE DOWNED FIRE FIGHTER AHEAD OF THEIR OWN. THEY WANT TO DO THEIR JOB AND GET THE FIRE FIGHTER OUT. IT IS UP TO YOU TO ENSURE THEY ARE KEPT ON TRACK AND YOU MAY HAVE TO INTERVENE TO GET THEM OUT.

you have an extremely difficult working environment. YOU are responsible for communicating lifesaving information to any crews involved in the rescue operations. You must keep the RIT informed as to how long they have been on air.

Often, because of environmental and emotional factors, they can lose track of time. They can get tunnel vision because they are so focused on their goal.

They will put the life of the downed fire fighter ahead of their own. They want to do their job and get the fire fighter out.

It is up to you to ensure they are kept on track and you may have to intervene to get them out. If conditions become too hazardous, it will be up to you to make the ultimate decision and call off the res-

cue operation. You have to ask yourself, “Can I afford to lose four more?”

By keeping good communications between the RIT, the downed fire fighter and the RITSO, you will be able to get your next team ready and deploy them before the first team has to exit, saving valuable time in the rescue operation.

Having face-to-face communication with the RIT Officer that has just exited the

]

building will allow you to have a better idea of the interior conditions and layout, which will assist any additional RITs being deployed.

Remember, these are some of the tasks that you are EXPECTED to do and the rescue attempt has just started.

Now ask yourself—are you ready? Fire fighters and their families are depending on it.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 31

PAYING HOMAGE TO BROTHER

Bob Leek

YOU CAN’T REALLY DESCRIBE A MAN AS HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOUR UNLESS HE CAN TAKE A JOKE IN THE SAME SPIRIT IN WHICH HE DISHES ONE OUT. 32

BY PETER SELLS, DISTRICT CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING DIVISION

F

riday August 15th was a day that I will never forget. I have had two occasions in the past to deliver eulogies for colleagues who had passed away off the job, and I remember each of those in crystal clear detail. So I knew that Friday would be no different as I said goodbye to my friend of seventeen

years, District Chief Bob Leek. As you all know, Bob died in the line of duty on Sunday August 10th at the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases fire.

When I was first assigned to the Fire Academy, on my first day as an Acting Training Officer in fact, Bob introduced himself to me, welcomed me to the

HE HAD AN UNCANNY ABILITY TO TAKE COMPLEX TECHNICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS AND BREAK THEM DOWN TO THEIR COMPONENT PARTS, UNTIL EACH WAS A CLEAR-CUT QUESTION OF YES OR NO, UP OR DOWN, BLACK OR WHITE. team and offered his assistance to me in any way. In the years that we worked together, I came to know that he never made such offers lightly or out of mere courtesy.

Much has already been written and said about Bob’s character, but I will repeat it anyway. He was a man of high intelligence. He had an uncanny ability to take complex technical and organizational problems and break them down to their component parts, until each was a clear-cut question of yes or no, up or down, black or white. Later on, this unique trait would earn him the nickname “Binary Bob”, which I suspect he rather enjoyed, although he feigned annoyance.

One of my favourite memories of Bob was the time we went to a pre-season NFL game at the Dome and received these plastic buckets courtesy of Budweiser. The idea was to get your picture on the Jumbotron wearing the Budweiser bucket on your head, and you would get prizes from the Bud girls. So we did. Every time there was a break in the play we would put these stupid buckets on our heads and wave at the big screen. We didn’t win anything but at one point, Bob looked at me and said “I don’t know about me, but you look ridiculous.” There’s no comeback to that.

He scored first.

You can’t really describe a man as having a sense of humour unless he can take a joke in the same spirit in which he dishes one out. So, let me turn the tables on Bob for a minute. In the early ‘90s, Bob had developed a training records system which used optically-read forms filled in by fire fighters who had com-

pleted their training. Bob was extremely particular about how the forms were filled out because he was the one who had to deal with the extra work caused by errors, smudges, creases or other problems that caused the forms to be rejected. This one particular form, however, was defying his problem-solving efforts. It looked fine; nice and clean, all the bubbles properly darkened; and yet it would not go through the reader without an error message. After considerable scrutiny, Bob was able to figure it out.

The forms had a pre-printed code of rectangles down the left side, which told the machine what type of form it was. A fire fighter had painstakingly pencilled in a couple of extra rectangles with extreme precision. The form looked perfect, but the machine could not read it. Bob not only appreciated that he had been had, he showed the form to us and explained the ruse with obvious admiration for the skill and ingenuity of the prankster.

As my Acting District Chief for about five years, Bob proved himself to be invaluable as a right-hand-man, confidante, sounding board and consultant.

Whenever I was to be off on assignment or vacation, Bob would meet with me in advance for a briefing on what projects were on the go, which staff members were tasked with which assignments and what results or deliverables were expected. Upon my return, I would receive an itemized report on those same items as well as anything that had come up in the interim. In short—Bob was everything you would hope for in a coworker and colleague.

How and when Bob got into paintball I don’t exactly remember, but with

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 33

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Paying Homage to Brother Bob Leek... Continued from page 33

THE ADAGE THAT “FAILURE TO PLAN IS A PLAN FOR FAILURE” COULD WELL HAVE BEEN TATTOOED ON THE BACK OF BOB’S HAND. HIS EXEMPLARY ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND EXTRAORDINARY FOCUS SERVED AS A MODEL FOR HIS TEAM. his military background and his technical expertise, the world was never quite the same. I remember he was showing me how he had modified one of his paint-ball guns to automatically reload and fire faster than the original design. I understood at first but eventually had to just nod and agree. Several months later, I was at my desk on a phone call when he appeared at the door in full paintball gear, looking like a cross between Darth Vader and Rambo, raised his gun and fired air at me “bap-bap-bapbap-bap”. We were doing some training with a neighbouring fire department at the time, and their yellow aerial was in our training ground. So, after my heart came back down out of my throat, I asked Bob to load up and we went outside and attempted to paint the aerial

red, like all respectable fire trucks. All of this was done while respecting all relevant safety protocols, of course.

Bob left my group at the Academy to work on Emergency Planning in 2001.

This was the perfect environment for him and he was the perfect selection to take the helm of that important function in 2006. The adage that “failure to plan is a plan for failure” could well have been tattooed on the back of Bob’s hand.

His exemplary attention to detail and extraordinary focus served as a model for his team. He relished the active nature of his job and the opportunity to serve in a support role at major incidents. It was in this capacity that Bob was at the scene on that Sunday afternoon, surveying damage to homes in the vicinity of the explosions.

Serving as a pallbearer for Bob was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, yet it also was an honour to be part of such a grand remembrance for such a good friend. As we rode in the pumper under police escort from the funeral home to the church, it simultaneously warmed and broke my heart to see children and their grandparents removing their hats or saluting, women returning from their shopping errands stopping to cross themselves and say a prayer as we passed. Marching alongside the pumper after the ceremony, I looked up occasionally to see the solemn faces of fire fighters from all over Canada, and a considerable number of our American brothers and sisters as well. At the reception, I spoke with fire fighters from across Ontario and several from Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia who were not there just out of professional courtesy for a fallen fire fighter; they were there because they had worked with Bob at some point. Such was the scope of his energy and influence, the degree of his professionalism and diligence.

Bob Leek was one of the good guys.

Certainly he has left us too soon, but I am also certain that he was having a good day.

He will be missed. He is already missed.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 35

STATION 332

BY JON LASIUK, TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER

E

very fire department tends to have their “Central Station”—the one hall where the tourists tend to wander to a bit more often, or the media seems to prefer when a fire service backdrop or interview is required for the 6 O’clock news. The Toronto Fire Services is no different. Fire Station 332, located at 260 Adelaide Street West, often fits the bill as Toronto’s very own “Central Station”.

“Adelaide”, as it is often called on the radio, is located in the heart of the Entertainment District where, every weekend, tens of thousands of revelers converge from all over the GTA to partake in the entertainment provided by the several dozen theatres, pubs and dance halls located within a few square blocks of the hall.

While the current hall dates from only 1971, Station 332 is only the latest in a long line of fire halls to protect the downtown area west of Yonge Street.

Prior to the formation of a professional

36

full-time fire department in 1874, a volunteer fire station was constructed at the South-East corner of Bay Street and Temperance Street. Built by City Council in the fall of 1841 for the sum of £200, the two storey, brick building replaced three separate dilapidated buildings that had been used by the fire brigade at that intersection since the 1830’s.

With the organization of the full-time Toronto Fire Department in 1874, the Bay Street fire hall was designated as Station 1. An engine company, with a steamer, and a salvage company were

stationed here. Salvage Co. 1 would later be disbanded to form a new aerial company at the Portland Street fire hall in 1880. The department’s first alarm office was also located at this station.

The end of the nineteenth century was certainly the era of the fire horse, and during this era, Station 1’s horses won both awards and praise for their quickness out the door—perhaps none more so than a team of grays named Prince and King. During a competition on the evening of Wednesday, December 10th, 1903, these two achieved a

record for running 36’ from their stables to the rig in 3 seconds and being out the door within 6 seconds. They were driven that night by Firefighter A. Lucas (Badge # 4), who would retire in 1935 after almost 45 years on the job.

The 20th century saw the T.F.D. in desperate need of a new headquarters.

Land was purchased at 142-156 Adelaide Street West and by 1909 a magnificent 6-bay building was put into service. A new alarm office was also constructed in an adjacent building. While most of the apparatus from Bay Street was relocated to the new Headquarters, the T.F.D. saw the need to keep the old Bay Street hall open. As this station was still numbered 1, the new Adelaide Street hall was given the next available number, 19.

The Bay Street firehall remained open with a single, horse-drawn chemical wagon until 1915 when the horse-drawn rig was withdrawn from service. To replace it, Salvage Company 1, which had operated from the Lombard Street firehall since being reorganized in 1910, was relocated to the Bay Street firehall.

Renamed Squad Car 1, the company was given a brand new Kelly-Springfield motorized squad truck. This rig was the direct descendant of today’s Heavy Squad 313—one of the earliest rescue squads in all of North America.

While the new headquarters station provided its firefighters with the latest conveniences, it did not protect them from the dangers of being a firefighter at the beginning of the 20th century.

One of the most peculiar line-of-duty deaths to befall the T.F.D. occurred on Saturday, June 10th 1922. Lineman, Jack Murdock, of the Fire Alarm Telegraph section—the predecessor of today’s Communications Division—was sent out from Adelaide to repair an open box alarm circuit on the street just west of the hall. The previous evening had seen a severe storm pass through the area. Unbeknown to Murdock, the box

that he was to repair had been made live by a hydro wire. As soon as he touched it, he was electrocuted. His partner, Harry Sutton, received burns to his hands as he placed himself in great danger to pull Murdock away from the live box—to no avail.

By 1924, the old Bay Street hall was finally closed, with the Adelaide Street hall renumbered 1. The Adelaide Street site had quickly grown to include the department’s first motor shop (in 1915), a training tower, a hose shop, administrative offices and the Fire Alarm Telegraph (in 1912). The motor shop moved into a new modern building at 11 Ordnance Street in 1932, while the Training Division moved to a new facility behind Fire Station 23 on Howland Avenue, in 1959.

While the Adelaide firehall survived the Depression of the 1930’s relatively intact, they were forced to take up the slack as City Council closed two neighbouring fire halls to save money. Station 6, at 301 Queen Street West and Station 16 (the “Long Shed”) at 111 Richmond Street East, were both closed in 1935.

Though the area around Fire Hall 1 remained mainly industrial through the early part of the 20th century, complete with a multitude of rail yards and sweatshops, the 1960’s brought a slow transformation to the financial heart that we know today. High rise office projects began to eat up the many parking lots and loft buildings in the area. The city soon became aware of the monetary value of the land that fire headquarters sat on. As early as 1963, developers had approached the city with purchase offers. The site was finally sold to Western International Hotels for $1,698,040—a fraction of what it would be worth today.

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By 1970, the city had settled upon a replacement site for the old fire headquarters. A gas station and a parking lot at 256 and 260 Adelaide Street West were purchased. The R. P. Allsop Co. designed the building for $16,000, while construction would cost $787,500 for the hall and the adjoining communications centre combined. Gone were the days of ornate bell towers and the need for stone masonry. By 1963, the T.F.D. had settled on a “big box” design for its fire halls, and the new “Adelaide” would be no different. The six-bay, drive-thru design was constructed with living quarters and offices for the company officers and the platoon chief on the second floor. Space for fire prevention offices was later included.

WHILE THE ADELAIDE FIREHALL SURVIVED THE DEPRESSION OF THE 1930’S RELATIVELY INTACT, THEY WERE FORCED TO TAKE UP THE SLACK AS CITY COUNCIL CLOSED TWO NEIGHBOURING FIRE HALLS TO SAVE MONEY.

]

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 37

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Station 332... Continued from page 37

The communications building would be totally separate from the hall. Also a two-storey design, the radio room was on the second floor, while a kitchen and switching gear was located on the first floor. A single bay, exiting onto Nelson Street was included for Truck 63, the linemen’s emergency truck. The South Command Divisional Commander now occupies this building.

Occupied on April 5th, 1971, the station housed Pumper 1, Aerial 1, High Pressure 1, the Platoon Chief and the air supply truck, Truck 613. Rescue Squad

1, while stationed at the old Adelaide hall, was moved to Station 7 in Regent Park in 1963, after its new Ford rig was found to not fit into the old hall after delivery.

As its showpiece hall, the T.F.D. often rotated its newest apparatus through Adelaide Street. While the 1978 Master Fire Plan brought an end to both the High Pressure Companies as well as the box alarm system that had existed since

the 1870’s, Adelaide was later chosen to station an entirely new type of fire apparatus. After suffering through several high profile high-rise fires in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the T.F.D. decided to design and organize a dedicated High Rise Company. The first of its kind in Canada, High Rise 1 entered service on March 13th, 1988, staffed with the crew of Pumper 19, which was disbanded.

Adelaide Street was also chosen as the station to house the department’s second Bronto aerial tower. It is while training for the arrival of this new Bronto, that the Adelaide fire hall would suffer its most recent line-of-duty death.

On the morning of Sunday, January 29th, 1989, Aerial Tower 2 was conducting its Sunday morning aerial drill at Adelaide in order to familiarize the crew of Aerial 1 with the type of rig that they would soon be receiving. While several feet over the roof of the hall, the third boom suddenly failed, throwing the four firefighters in the bucket down to the roof. While all four were injured, Acting Captain Gary Kennedy of Aerial 1 was the most seriously hurt. Rushed to hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on March 9th 1989. Acting Captain Kennedy, previously awarded a Firefighter of the Year award for rescuing an unconscious man from a burning Baldwin Street house, was forty-three.

Change continued at Fire Hall 1 into the 1990’s with the introduction of the

1994 Fire Plan. With hazardous materials calls increasing in number and complexity, the T.F.D. decided to permanently staff its haz-mat truck, Hazard 1.

The rig was relocated from its quarters at Station 15 on Lansdowne Avenue.

Aerial 1 was disbanded to staff the Haz truck, providing the city with qualified and dedicated hazardous materials technicians.

With the coming of amalgamation in 1998, Fire Hall 1 was eventually renumbered as 332. As South Command headquarters, Adelaide Street now also houses District Chief 33, relocated from Front Street six years ago. Responding to more than 5000 calls a year, the men and women of Adelaide take great pride in being assigned to the busiest fire hall in Canada. As their motto says, “The Show Must Go On!”

APPARATUS ASSIGNED TO STATION 332 Pumper 332 – A 2003 Spartan/Smeal triple combination pumper. Shop #24109.

High Rise 332 – A 2005 Spartan/Dependable high-rise response unit. Shop #30030.

Hazard 332 – A 2005 Spartan/Seagrave heavy hazardous materials unit. Shop #30032.

Haz Support 332 – A 1992 Ford/Dependable cube van. Shop #29006.

Command 30 – A 1992 International/ Dependable command unit. Shop #30004.

Car 33 – A 2003 Ford E350 van. Shop #20279.

Car 30 – A 2001 Chevy Impala. Shop #20234.

Car 6 – A 2006 Toyota Highlander.

Shop #20310.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 39

Another Successful Local 3888 Picnic!

T

he Annual Local 3888 Picnic was held at Centre Island on July 9th this year and hundreds of parents and children came to enjoy a day of games and entertainment. The day started off cool but continued to warm up all day long and turned out beautifully. Considering that this summer has been the wettest in history, odds were against us that we would pick a date that was sunny but in this case the weather was fantastic for the duration of the TPFFA Picnic. The Toronto Islands are always a nice place

40

in the summertime because of the moderate temperatures provided by Lake Ontario.

The registration on the island went smoothly and every child received their annual picnic t-shirts with the “Toronto Fire Kid” logo on the front.

Families attending the picnic that travelled over to the island on the eleven o’clock ferry were treated to a water display by the fireboat. The ferry ride is always a fun ride for the kids and once on the island, there was plenty to do for kids and adults alike.

There were four large bouncers for the kids to play on. Bouncers were age appropriate so children of all ages could play and they were well used throughout the day. Once again, the Fire Prevention Public Education members brought out fun games for children to try. Kids were dressed up in bunker gear and used hand pumps and a hose line to hit targets and have fun. There was also a mini fire fighters combat challenge setup for the kids to try.

Children’s’ races were held at one o’clock in the afternoon and all children four years old and younger re-

Most families did not leave at the end of the games but stayed to enjoy the many opportunities for fun on the islands. ceived a prize at the end of their race.

For children over the age of four, and up to the age of sixteen, medals were awarded for the first three places of each race. Parents and children also had the opportunity to play together in wheelbarrow races.

After the races, the adults and older teens entertained the children with shoe kicking, Frisbee tossing, tug-ofwar and watermelon eating contests.

The two women’s teams and two men’s teams provided great entertainment during their contests and the winners and runners-up were given coveted t-shirts for their heroic efforts.

For those families with older kids, or for those times before and after the scheduled events, there were discounted tickets available for the rides at Centerville. For members that did not plan for a picnic lunch, food tickets were available at the registration tent to get food in Centerville as well. To help with the warm weather, Executive Officers and helpers worked at Box 12, handing out bottles of water, freezies, popcorn and watermelon slices.

At the end of the scheduled events and once the games were complete and the air was let out of the bouncers, the members and kids had enjoyed a warm summer’s day. Most families did not leave at the end of the games but stayed to enjoy the many opportunities for fun on the islands.

For those that attended, they know what a good time was had; for those that didn’t or couldn’t attend this year, make sure you prepare to attend next year’s picnic.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 41

History of

East York Fire

BY PAUL MOGAVERO, LOCAL 3888 MEMBER

T

he Borough of East York began as a small part of York Township within York County and was incorporated as the Township of East York on December 31, 1923. Prior to incorporation, East York’s fire fighting history began with three volunteer brigades located in the east, centre, and west areas of the village, corresponding to the school districts Todmorden, Woodbine Heights, and Danforth Park. Each of these companies operated independently.

In these early days, most areas in the township did not have a piped water supply, so the bucket brigade method of fire fighting was used. Water would be obtained from the nearest well and the firemen would line up in two rows from the well to the fire, passing the full buckets down one side, and the empty buckets up the other.

In the east-end of the township, the fire fighting equipment consisted of a “banana wagon.” This was a twowheeled cart with fire hose wound tightly around a drum between the two wheels. The firemen pulled the wagon by holding onto handles that extended at right angles to the drum. It was quite commonplace to see boys from some of the higher school grades rushing from their classes to pick up their fire equipment, and responding to a fire.

42

A Full Time Department In 1928, the first permanent paid fire fighting force was formed in the township, with the volunteer companies continuing to assist the full-time fire fighters until the year 1939.

The new force consisted of eight firemen, led by Fire Chief Tom Paveling, who would serve in this capacity until 1965.

In October 1953, East York opened a new Woodbine Station near the corner of Holborne Avenue. The new structure replaced the original hall built on Holborne near Cedarvale Avenue in 1925. The old hall housed the hand-drawn hosecarts, which were later replaced by motorized vehicles; however, the building limited the size and usefulness of some of the larger motorized equipment. The apparatus floor was now large enough to allow for the potential of two large Pumpers as well as an Aerial ladder truck. At this time, the department boasted four in-service apparatus (500, 600, and 840 gallon per minute capacity), one hose truck, and a total of 35 officers and fire fighters.

Hurricane Hazel Floods Don River East York Fire Fighters and Police worked together tirelessly on the evening of October 16th, 1954. Hurricane Hazel had struck the Toronto area, and flooded the Don River.

East York residents who resided near the Don River Valley found themselves marooned in rising river waters. Fire fighters tossed ropes across two spans of flooding waters, each about 20-feet wide, to bring the victims to safety.

East York Fire Prevention Week To celebrate Fire Prevention Week 1963, the East York Fire Department, in co-operation with the East York Fire Fighters’ Association Local 418, hosted a special display at the Shopper’s World Plaza from October 6 – 12. The display was staffed with dedicated off-duty fire fighters. A simulated house basement was constructed showing unsafe electrical equipment that had caused serious fires. In addition, numerous posters and literature were distributed to the community, while the Department’s most modern fire fighting equipment attracted many interested onlookers. Assisting with the Fire Preven-

tion Week displays were Local 418 President William Cook, Secretary George Kerfoot, and Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau Arthur Cook.

Leaside The Village of Leaside was created in 1913. In the earliest days, from 1913 to 1924, only a few houses and industries existed in the area. Canada Wire and Cable, and Durant Motors were providing basic fire protection for the village.

The CNR had its own volunteer brigade, and the City of Toronto had also agreed to provide firefighting assistance, when necessary.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 43

44

History of East York Fire ... Continued from page 43

Bate Chemical Plant Fire

As a result of a greater need for fire protection, the Leaside Volunteer Fire Department was organized on September 24, 1929. Eighteen ratepayers volunteered as Leaside’s first firemen, each receiving $25.00 annually, assuming they attended seventy-five percent of all fires and two fire practices monthly. At this time, the volunteers had to keep an ear open for a fire alarm, which consisted of a length of railroad iron being struck by a hammer.

The Leaside volunteers would receive a pay raise in 1938, going from $25 to $75 dollars annually.

A Full Time Department The impending war in the late thirties helped to dramatically improve the economy that had previously been affected by the Depression, and, as a result, certain services began to increase and improve. In 1949, the station on McRae Drive was completed and the volunteers were amalgamated into the permanent paid full-time force at a salary of $2,000 per year. The new department operated under the leadership of Fire Chief E. N. Bell. The force grew through the fifties to 18 members by 1958 and 44 members by 1967.

Leaside and East York Amalgamate Leaside and East York operated side by side but remained completely distinct entities until the two townships amalgamated to form the Borough of East York at midnight on January 1, 1967. Leaside Fire Chief, Ernest Bell, would be promoted to Fire Chief and would remain at the helm of the department for the next decade. Just hours after their amalgamation occurred, an alarm was received for a fire at 1500 Bayview Avenue—actually a Toronto address. This spectacular fire completely consumed this bowling alley and was a ‘baptism by fire’ for the newly formed East York Fire Fighters who assisted Toronto Fire Fighters in the battle.

In 1977, Fire Chief Ernie Bell retired and the McRae Fire Station now bears his name.

On a cold, windy afternoon in September 1977, an explosion and fire occurred at the Bate Chemical plant. The fire occurred right at changeover time, forcing a mixture of both A-1 and B-1 crews to respond to the fire, including three off-duty fire fighters. The gas company had trouble locating the shut-off valve and the water main on Beechwood Avenue had been cut, adding further complications to the incident. Hose lines were laid from Beechwood Crescent at the top of Beechwood Drive, running approximately 2,400 feet from the hydrant to the pumpers and aerials at the bottom of the hill. The fire was finally under control after eight solid hours of fire fighting. Four fire fighters who fought this fire later died of cancer with many believing that the source of their illness originated in the numerous, mostly unknown chemicals that burned.

Crothers Building Fire In February 1979, a fire broke out at the Crothers Building on Crothers Road, now known as Redway Road as it was named after the former Mayor Redway. The structure was vacant except for a few welders. The fire was later attributed to the welders’ activities on the site. The evening’s temperature was a frigid minus 15 degrees celsius and freezing rain turned the roads to ice. Two Pumpers and an Aerial set up a relay of hoses from a Laird and Millwood Road hydrant to the site, approximately 2,500 to 3,000 feet away. Several hours later the fire was finally out, although spot fires erupted into the early morning hours. One fire fighter commented that during the incident he had been ordered by his Captain to refrain from extinguishing a spot fire beside them so they could stay warm. Water lines had frozen solid and were embedded in the ice.

Eglinton Avenue East Fire In the early morning hours of February 1, 1989, a fire was spotted in a restaurant at 834 Eglinton Avenue in East York at the ‘Le Rendezvous’ restaurant. At 0344 hours, a TTC bus driver had reported smoke in the area and within a few hours, six pieces of fire fighting apparatus would be fighting the raging $5 million blaze well into the afternoon, causing the East York Fire Hockey team a default loss the next morning as half the players were still at the fire.

Coxwell Avenue Explosion On September 25, 1989, an explosion levelled a residential structure at 795 Sammon Ave. The blast occurred at 1520, minutes before dozens of school children would have passed by on their way home. Fire Fighter Kevin McGahon reported to local media that the explosion rattled the windows FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 45

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LOCAL 3888 REMINDS ALL OF ITS MEMBERS TO ALWAYS BUCKLE UP!

ALWAYS!

History of East York Fire ... Continued from page 45

of the fire station that was located a mile away. The intensity of the explosion caused a collapse of a second residential structure adjacent to it, crushed a nearby bus shelter, and blew out windows of other neighbouring homes. Debris was scattered all over Coxwell Avenue and onto adjacent rooftops. When fire fighters from Pumper 4 and Rescue 2 arrived on scene at 1524 hours, it was reported that a female occupant of the second house was trapped. Fire Fighter McGahon and Doug Milne entered the flaming house and were able to locate the 61-year-old occupant beneath a collapsed wall. The explosion and the fire that resulted were gas fuelled causing a fire that quickly transformed into a raging inferno. During the rescue, Fire Fighter Milne suffered numerous burns to his face and neck. They were later awarded with a commendation for the incredible lifesaving feats they performed at this incident. Fire Captain, Doug Harris, was also commended by Chief Miller for pulling off his breathing apparatus and sharing it with the trapped woman while crews worked to free her.

East York Curling Champs In 1994, the East York Fire Department clinched the 1994 Canadian Fire Fighters Curling Championship. With Fire Fighter Bill Wright as the lead for the squad, Fire Fighter Paul Mogavero as the team’s second, and Fire Fighter Todd Tsukamoto as the team’s third, they finished up with ten wins and one loss during the weeklong tournament.

Leaside Recycling Plant Fire On May 15, 1995, a fire in the former Leaside community sent flames raging through a building at 1 Copeland Street.

The East York Fire Department responded just before midnight to the fire that left the Leaside Recycling Plant in rubble. A Police Constable on scene reported flames as high as 150 feet, as well as numerous explosions that caused a power outage. With sixteen fire fighters on scene, East York handled the fire without calling for any mutual aid. By 1330 hours, the blaze was on its way to being completely under control.

In October 1995, the East York Fire Department purchased a $20,000 thermal imaging camera, putting them on par with the North York Fire Department as the only two Metropolitan Toronto fire services with this type of modern equipment.

Off-Duty Award for EY Fire Fighter After returning home from his nightshift on October 14, 1997, Fire Fighter Rob McNutt witnessed a vehicle, travelling east on O’Connor Drive, swerve and smash into a nearby telephone pole. Rushing to the driver’s aid, Fire Fighter McNutt pulled the gentleman from his car and onto a neighbouring lawn. McNutt performed CPR and mouth-tomouth resuscitation until emergency personnel arrived on scene. Fire crews immediately used a defibrillator to administer shocks, which caused the victim’s heart to regain a pulse and he began to breathe. The man, who had originally suffered a heart attack while driving, recovered from the incident, thanks to the quick actions of Fire Fighter McNutt and the responding fire crew consisting of Fire Fighters Rob Stroud, Norm Jones, Bruce Tsang, and Captain Rob McNamara.

East York & Leaside Fire Fighter Associations merge The 1967 amalgamation also formed a new association.

With 96 East York Fire Fighters, from IAFF Local 418 and 44 Leaside Fire Fighters from IAFF Local 1025, the new local retained the East York Local #418 but an election placed Leaside President, Norm Holmes, as the first post 1967 EYFFA President. With the exception of some disputes on existing assets, the transition was smooth.

The EYFFA members were a proud group with strong leadership and community involvement, including coaching and sponsoring kids sports, high school scholarships and fundraising for MDAC and East General Hospital.

The TPFFA Local 3888 has continued to support our long standing partners in the East York Community and ties remain strong to date with an active retiree group headed in part by former executive members Paul Enright and Mac Sheahan.

We encourage all members to come out on Remembrance Day to the East York Parade and join your many brothers and sisters for this important annual event.

Upon amalgamation with the other five metropolitan fire departments in January 1998, East York had three fire stations, seven frontline suppression apparatus and a total staff of 147. Of those 147 staff, 144 were Local 418 members. The last East York Professional Fire Fighters Association President was Paul Mogavero.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 47

PROJECT PATIO

BY RICK BERENZ – LOCAL 3888 EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICER

CONTINUING RELATIONS WITH THE TONY STACEY CENTRE

I

n our continued effort to assist the Tony Stacey Centre for Veteran’s Care facility, the TPFFA followed through with our promise to construct an outdoor patio for the residents to enjoy. As a result of a fantastic volunteer effort from several off-duty members, we were able to build a 2000 square foot patio that is now being enjoyed by many residents of the Centre.

The concept to build a patio evolved approximately one year ago, when, after several visits to the Centre, I realized that the only place the residents could enjoy the outdoors was off to the side of the drive at the front of the Centre. The Centre had a grassy, fenced in section next to the front doors but the terrain was very rough and unusable especially for those residents with walkers or in wheelchairs.

Knowing that the area in question would require much excavation, I turned

48

to one of our members who I knew could help—Daryl Gage (245D) and his Bobcat service. Once I discussed what was required to build this patio, Daryl immediately committed his time and equipment. Daryl also promised to approach some of his business contacts that could possibly supply the expensive materials required to complete the job.

After many months of negotiating, planning and commitments, plans were set into place to start the excavation on June 17. As a result of Daryl’s hard work, suppliers such as PermaCon, Hard Co and Vissers Sod agreed to supply the interlock stones, aggregate for the foundation and finishing grass sod, respectively. In one day, Daryl and I (really it was all Daryl) completely excavated the area for the patio, cleared the roots and prepared it for the aggregate foundation and interlock that would follow the next day.

On June 18, several Local 3888 volunteer members arrived early at the Centre. Everyone started with a mission on their mind; to attack the task at hand like they would a fire—as a cohesive team with assigned tasks and objectives to be met. From a personal standpoint as an Executive Officer for this Association, I have been involved in several major projects, such as the rebuilding of a fire hall in Grenada, and I am always amazed how we, as Professional Fire Fighters, somehow manage to grasp the task at hand, assign and/or assume responsibilities and complete the job on time and in a very professional manner. This is what makes us who we are, and the public we assist know it and acknowledge these abilities with great admiration, respect and appreciation.

With a threatening sky constantly looming over us, the small army of fire fighter volunteers eagerly and aggressively began the construction as soon as the donated supplies started to arrive from the above listed companies. The stone aggregate was laid, spread and compressed. Next, it was the laying of the interlock—once it was determined how the pattern needed to be placed.

Within one full day, 2000 square feet of stone was placed, secured and tamped with the respective fill placed between the gaps in the patterns. Sod was placed around the border of the patio as a finishing touch.

With a threatening sky constantly looming over us, the small army of fire fighter volunteers eagerly and aggressively began the construction...

During the course of the day, the Centre residents came out and watched us do our job, knowing that soon they would have a new place to enjoy the outdoors—in fact, more than one resident eagerly ventured out onto the patio before we had completed the project.

This article contains some pictures that illustrate what was accomplished but to have been there is the true measure of achievement. The compliments received from the residents and staff is the real measure of a job well done. It took a concerted effort from several members of Local 3888, coupled with the generous donations from the listed companies to complete a job that has been on the wish list of the Tony Stacey Centre for many years.

I recently had the privilege of assisting at the 2008 annual open house for the Centre and could not help but feel proud when I noticed several tables and chairs set up on “our” new patio occupied by the residents of the Centre.

When I walked onto the patio, many of them thanked us for our efforts and expressed their gratitude for what the TPFFA had provided for them.

Personally, and on behalf of the TPFFA, I would like to thank the following Members for a job well done:

Mike Cassidy (245D) Daryl Gage (245D) Rob Hewson (245D) Chris Sornberger (245D) Greg Brown (245B) Mike Cairns (245B) Chuck West (215B) Executive Officers: Dave Holwell, John Tuffner, Rick Berenz The next major project at the Tony Stacey Centre for Veteran’s Care is presently being considered for this winter. Once again, I will be calling on our membership to assist and I am sure that as always, we will meet the challenge head-on.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 49

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50

(STANLEY) CUP RUNNETH OVER!

BY GORD TEWNION – TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER

F

riday July 11th, 2008 was no ordinary day around Station 215— normally one of the quieter fire stations in the former Scarborough.

Platoon “A” came on duty around 0645 hrs and we placed our gear on the apparatus, performed our daily SCBA inspections, signed the SCBA books and sat down in the kitchen for a coffee.

By 0700, we were informed that the Stanley Cup would be making an appearance at the station sometime after lunch. My immediate thought was, “Yeah, sure it is!” However, the Captain was adamant that it was not a joke.

Apparently he had been called two days earlier and told what to expect.

52

We called our families, friends, and just about anybody else in this day and age of call display who may pick up the phone …

Of course, Fire fighters being fire fighters, we called our families, friends, and just about anybody else in this day and age of call display who may pick up the phone and told them what was happening. Several family members made the trip to the station for what may have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Stanley Cup this close-up and personal.

As it would happen, Kris Draper, a player with the Detroit Red Wings, was in Toronto with the Cup for 48 hours.

Both he and his parents live very close to Station 215 and he wanted to make the best of this rare opportunity. Mr.

Draper had asked if it would be possible for him to ride a fire truck with the Stanley Cup to a big party at his parents’ house.

Permission was requested and granted by TFS Senior Officers and the appropriate arrangements were then made.

At 1530 hrs., Mr Draper’s Lincoln Navigator limousine arrived with his family and the Stanley Cup. For a half hour, Mr. Draper allowed photographs to be taken with the Cup and signed as many autographs as were requested.

He was excellent with everyone, especially with the kids in attendance. He even signed our District Chief’s uniform shirt! Later that evening, his F.I.T hit a bump on the road and he spilled coffee all over it—thanks Dan! At 1600 hrs., Mr Draper and the Cup climbed aboard Aerial 215 and the parade began. Fire fighter Blair Waddell was given the prestigious assignment of driving, along with Captain Ron Wretham at the helm. The rest of the Aerial crew rode behind in the Pumper.

Just prior to leaving, Mr. Draper was heard asking Captain Wretham,

“Hey Skipper, you know where you’re going?”

Captain Wretham replied, “Just make sure your seat belt is on.”

A215, P215, A/L231, C21 (all in service) and the Limousine then proceeded on the five minute drive to the party.

Upon arrival, there were at least 200 to 300 people at the front of the house, and more in the backyard.

More photographs were taken, and after 15 minutes, we cleared and returned to the station for dinner.

It was all over in less than one hour but the memory will last a lifetime.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 53

3888 RECENT HAPPENINGS

Toronto Fire Fighters form-up in Ottawa prior to the start of the 2008 Canadian Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial on Parliament Hill.

Toronto Fire Fighters were well represented at the 2008 Combat Challenge Finals held in Quinte West on September 13.

Apparatus and members of the Toronto Fire Services participate in the Fire Services Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition on August 21, 2008.

54

Toronto Fire Fighters conducted a Boot Drive for Camp BUCKO at the Beaches Jazz Festival held on July 25, 2008.

(L to R) Scott Marks, Frank Ramagnano, Scott Eyers, and Debbie Higgins participate in the Sunnybrook Underwear Affair on August 23, 2008 to raise money for Sunnybrook Cancer Research Below the Waist.

Nine Toronto Fire Fighters, along with 22,000 Emergencey Services, Military and citizens participated in the Tunnel to Towers BeneďŹ t run in New York City on September 28th.

The funeral for Toronto Fire Fighter Steve Van Hemme, held in Peterborough on September 2, 2008.

48 new recruits were sworn in on September 19th. Local 3888 hosted a BBQ lunch for the new 3888 members while being able to ordinate them for the day.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 55

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Please also find 4 wallet shift cards enclosed in the polybag in which FireWatch was mailed 56

Fit to SURVIVE for Kids The KID’S guide to health and nutrition FireWatch magazine would like to give credit to The Fire Department Employees Credit Union for providing the material that was used to create ‘Fit to Survive for Kids’.

www.firecreditunion.ca

Do you suffer from discomfort and pain...

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lower back pain leg pain

sore ankles sore heels fallen or sore arches pain in the balls of your feet corns, callouses, bunions, toe cramps

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Get Personal Custom-made Orthotics CALL TODAY TO BOOK AN OFFICE APPOINTMENT OR HOUSE CALL

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Chiropodist/Foot Specialist with foot/ankle disorders

Call (905) 660-7760

Rest in Peace

Steven Van Hemme

Kemolene Chadwick

DOB 29-Dec-70 DOD 27-Aug-08

DOB 07-Sep-68 DOD 15-Jul-08

Trusts Funds have been set up for the children of our deceased members. Donations can be made by mail, account transfer or dropped off at; The Fire Department Employees Credit Union, 1997 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5M 4A3

“Kayley Eileen Van Hemme, In Trust” Acct # 270033 “Chadwicks Children, In Trust” Acct #270013

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.

58

W. HARRY CLARKE • DAVID SEE • ADAM KERR • WALTER O. COLLARD • FREDERICK G. RUSSELL

O

N THURSDAY, July 10, 1902 the greatest loss of fire fighter lives in the province of Ontario occurred. Tragically, this number would be matched twice before the end of the century.

The P. McIntosh building was located on the west side of George Street, running from The Esplanade to Front Street, near the Toronto waterfront of that time.

It was a brick building with two storeys facing Front Street and three facing The Esplanade. It was originally built by the old Toronto Street Railway and used for many years as the company’s stables. P. McIntosh and Sons were using it at that time as a storage warehouse for grain, feed and hay.

The company foreman discovered a fire and the pull box at Front and George Streets was activated. Station 5 on Lombard Street received the first alarm at 6:14 a.m. Crews responded promptly and Fire Chief John Thompson was summoned from home.

When the first crew arrived on scene, they found the southern end of the building, at The Esplanade, totally involved in fire. A strong north wind drove smoke and embers across The Esplanade and started the William Burns Knickerbocker ice house burning. When Chief Thompson arrived at 6:20, he found a very serious fire beyond the control of the two stations battling the blaze and ordered a general alarm at 6:22 to bring all of his stations to the scene.

Although the wind was from the north and the fire was at the south end of the block, a strong high brick wall at the north

end on Front Street made a windbreak and permitted the fire to burn north, taking over the whole building. There was great concern that the fire would spread west toward Jarvis Street, taking out the entire block and destroying the new St. Lawrence Market building. The wind carried embers across to the east side of George Street and started the Gadsby and McCann hay and straw warehouse burning.

The department was now faced with three separate fires.

Initial actions were to try and contain the fire to the McIntosh building. Due to limited resources, they allowed the ice house to burn unchecked. The ice house building burned off, revealing 2,000 tons of ice that surprisingly had hardly melted.

The fire from the Knickerbocker ice house was so intense that ships docked nearby were moved out into the harbour. The Gadsby and McCann warehouse quickly burned to the ground.

At about 6:35, the crew from the Lombard hall was operating streams on the south-eastern corner when Chief Thompson gave the order for crews to move farther up George Street. But before they could move, without warning the wall fell outward, burying fire fighters See, Kerr and Clarke. They had their helmet brims low on their faces and their heads bowed for protection from the heat and probably never saw the wall coming. The wall also landed on the Lombard Hall ladder truck— the same one wrecked at the Globe fire.

In the same area, a crew from Hall 16 on Richmond Street and a Bay Street crew were working on ladders and were thrown

outwards beyond where the wall landed, and were injured by flying bricks.

Firefighter R.S. Hunt from Lombard, who was not injured, alerted others when he saw the helmet of one of the men sticking up through the debris. Hunt held a hose stream on a Wilton Ave. fire fighter who dashed up and uncovered See enough to verify he was dead. Fire fighter Clarke was missing, last seen with See, and a search under the mass of red-hot bricks and debris was made. Fifteen minutes later, See and Clarke were recovered, obviously dead.

It was then noticed that fire fighter Kerr, the driver of the wrecked ladder truck, was missing. He was last seen taking his horses to a place of safety, but must have returned to help his crew. He was found half an hour later, a few feet from where the other two were found.

Before the wall fell, Chief Thompson had sent a crew from the Yonge Street hall to operate at the south-western corner.

When the chief saw the dangerous position they were in he ordered this crew of fire fighters, Collard, Russell and McQueen, to get a ladder and move up onto the roof of an adjoining one-storey building to fight from there. Less than five minutes after the walls fell, Chief Thompson met with fire fighter McQueen and asked if they had moved to the new location.

McQueen said they had not, as he was just returning from turning off the hose stream so they could move. They ran back around the corner to find that the wall had fallen and the two firefighters were nowhere to be seen.

They had their helmet brims low on their faces and their heads bowed for protection from the heat and probably never saw the wall coming.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 59

2008 UPCOMING EVENTS LOCATION

Sunday, October 5

Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial

Queens Park, Toronto

October 5 - 9

OPFFA “Dr. Eric G. Taylor” Fall Seminar

Niagara Falls, Ontario

October 5-11

Fire Prevention Week

Various locations, Toronto

Wednesday, October 8

Fire Open House 1730 - 2130

TFS & EMS Training Centre, 895 Eastern Ave.

Saturday, October 11

Fire Open House 1000 - 1630

TFS & EMS Training Centre, 895 Eastern Ave.

Tuesday, October 14

Federal Election

Various voting Stations, Ontario

October 30, Thursday Night meeting only (1900 Hrs)

3888 General Union Meeting

RCL Br. 527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.

Wednesday, November 5

Take Kids to School Day-Grade 9 ( FCC 173)

Toronto

November 18, Tuesday Night meeting only (1900 Hrs)

3888 General Union Meeting

RCL Br. 527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.

November 24-27,

OPFFA Legislative Conference

Toronto

Tuesday, December 2

Magic shows at 1900 Hrs.

Toronto - Ryerson Theatre

Saturday, December 6

3 Magic shows at 1300, 1600 & 1900 Hrs.

Etobicoke - Michael Power/ St. Joseph Sec. School

Sunday, December 7

3 Magic shows at 1200, 1500, 1800 Hrs.

Etobicoke - Michael Power/ St. Joseph Sec. School

Wednesday, December 10

2 Magic shows at 1800 & 2000 Hrs

North York - Northview Heights School

Saturday, December 6

Local 3888 Children’s X-mas Party

Variety Village

December 22, Monday Night meeting only (1900 Hrs)

3888 General Union Meeting

RCL Br. 527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.

Monday, Dec. 24 (1200 Hrs) To/Incl. Jan 2, 2009

Union Office will be closed

39 Commissioners Street.

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SUBJECT TO CHANGE

EVENT

*DATES AND TIMES

December

November

October

DATE*

Never Shall We Forget... Continued from page 59

W. HARRY CLARKE • DAVID SEE • ADAM KERR • WALTER O. COLLARD • FREDERICK G. RUSSELL Fire fighters, directed by the chief, began searching that area for Collard and Russell. It was very dangerous work, as several were overcome by smoke and the men took turns digging them out. The mangled bodies of the two men were found shortly after nine o’clock while other crews still struggled to gain control of the large fire.

Nozzles with a shut-off had not yet been invented, so fire fighter McQueen had to turn the water off at the steamer—which saved his life.

The McIntosh building contained an enormous amount of flammables and had brick walls with no supporting members.

The enormous fire load was no match for the walls, which weakened early in the fire.

The fire was under control after 9:00 a.m. and crews began to meet in small groups to talk about what had happened.

The department had saved a large part of the waterfront area from destruction, including the St. Lawrence Market—which is still in use a century later—but at a terrible cost.

The fire was still burning at 2:00 p.m., but well under control, when crews started to return to their stations. On their way back they stopped at the morgue, which had never held so many bodies at one time, and silently filed past their dead comrades, wiping away tears with soot-stained sleeves.

About twenty thousand people witnessed the fire that day, some watching a long time and some stopping for a few minutes on their way to work. The crowd grew silent when six weathered fire fighters carried the body of Fred Russell from the laneway where he had died.

In the early 1900s, before four-shift rotations, fire fighters practically lived at the fire hall. When time off was needed, other than for holidays, a shift exchange allowed some flexibility.

Fire fighters Clarke and Collard were not working their regular shifts that day.

Collard, from the Rose Avenue hall, had exchanged with fire fighter Alfred Everist, so that Everist could attend a parade, and was working at his Yonge Street hall that fateful day. Alfred Everist’s brother was killed in the line of duty in 1890 and this exchange most likely saved that family from another tragedy.

James Poole, who also wanted to attend the parade, traded days with Harry Clarke.

James Poole was at the scene, responding from home on the general alarm, when Clarke’s body was carried from the ruins.

He was visibly shaken, as he knew Clarke had been in his place.

William Harry Clarke was twenty-seven years old, married with two children, and worked at the Lombard #5 station. He joined the fire department on November 11, 1899.

David See was a thirty-two-year-old bachelor, a veteran of the Boer War in South Africa. He also worked at the Lombard hall and had joined the department on November 8, 1897.

Adam Kerr, the driver at the Lombard hall, was twenty-seven years old and single. He joined on October 1, 1900.

Walter O. Collard was in his early thirties and the assistant captain at the Rose Avenue hall. He was single and joined the department on June 1, 1891. His father was also a member of the department, stationed at the Dundas Street hall.

Fred Russell was married, thirty-two years old and assigned to the Yonge Street hall. He joined the department on July 23, 1895.

Each family received $1,000 from the fire fighter’s benefit fund, which was established after the death of firefighter Thomas Everist in 1890.

On a stifling hot Sunday, July 13, 1902, a city bylaw prohibiting Sunday burials was waived for the civic funeral of the five fire fighters. The funeral was held at St. James

Cathedral at King and Church Streets in Toronto and crowds of people began to line the procession route long before the funeral started.

Tens of thousands of people waited for hours, silent and still outside the church and along King and Yonge Streets as far as one could see. Admission to the church was by ticket only, reserved for city officials, relatives and dignitaries.

Shortly after 3:30, five hearses arrived from the family homes, where private family services had been held, and the caskets were carried past a fire department honour guard into the church.

Just before the service began, all members of the department that could be spared, marched up past the church to pay a last tribute of respect to their fallen brothers.

At 4:30 the service ended and the milelong procession, including a 300-piece band, began the long march to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. The five hearses followed in order of the fire fighter’s seniority with the department and behind them was a long line of carriages carrying city officials, dignitaries and relatives.

See, Collard and Russell were buried in one area and Kerr and Clarke were buried side-by-side in another area. By September of 1903, the remains of Kerr and Clarke had been moved and interred next to the other three. They were together again.

July 10 was a devastating date in the history of the Toronto Fire Department. On that date exactly eighteen years earlier, fire fighter J. Davis died from injuries received; and exactly eighteen years before that on July 10, 1866 Deputy Chief W. Charlton died also from injuries received at a fire.

Till the end of the century, this remained the worst day in the history of the Toronto Fire Department. It was said that the 1902 service was the greatest public funeral ever held in Toronto.

FALL 2008 | FIRE WATCH 61

ADVERTISERS INDEX 3 DISTRICT TOWING .................34

EXECUTIVE REALTY SERVICES INC ............................28

LIUNA TRAINING CENTRE LOCAL 183 .................................28

EYES ON AVENUE OPTICAL ......50

MERKLE CAMERA ......................28

SECOND TIME AROUND TIRE SALES ...........................................8

BIO PED ........................ Inside Back

GEORGE BROWN ....... Outside Back

MINTO MANAGEMENT ............50

SHIBLEY RIGHTON LLP ..............62

CANADIAN PROCESS SERVING .....................................23

GRAFIKOM .................................20

MORTGAGE CENTRE ...................7

GREENWAY THERAPY CLINIC ...34

MORTGAGE CENTRE: A. YANG ..28

SUTTON GROUP - LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE LTD BROKERAGE...........62

ALARM FORCE INDUSTRIES INC ........................ 10

CARLOT CANADA.COM ............60 CITY PONTIAC BUICK CADILLAC ....................................4 ELEPHANT & CASTLE.................12 ESTONIAN HOUSE CAFE ...........62 ETOBICOKE BRAMPTON SLEEP CLINIC........................................23

SEAGHER MEDICAL GROUP ......44

GTA TRUCK AND TRAILER REPAIR ........................................38

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NORTH CITY GENERAL INSURANCE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION BROKERS LTD .............................38 LIMITED ...................... Inside Front

HARDING FIRE PROTECTION ....20

ONTARIO HYUNDAI ..................50

TUSHEENA FABRICATING .........38

INVESTORS GROUP ...................34

ROSE JEWELLERY INC ................58

WASTE MANAGEMENT .............22

JACK M STRAITMAN .................38

ROSEHAVEN HOMES .................28

WILLOWDALE SUBARU..............12

KEN WEINBERG PHD..................58

ROYAL BANK:BARB TAUS ............8

YONGE LAWRENCE TOYOTA .....44

Classified Advertising in the Toronto Fire Watch Magazine Name

Division

Work Phone

Home Phone

Ad (20 words max – please print clearly)

# of issues

Payment: Cheque

Signature

Credit Card #

Price: $25/issue + GST=

Ads run one issue free of charge. Home phone or pager numbers will be used. Ads MUST be submitted in writing. Phoned ads are not accepted. Submit before the second Tuesday of the month. Send to Toronto Fire Watch, 80 Bloor Street West, Suite 601 Toronto, ON M5S 2V1 or email: LatoyaD@xentel.com

CLASSIFIED AD

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62

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Etobicoke South 2979 Bloor Street W. 416 234-0481

Oakville - Oakville Place Mall 240 Leighland Ave. 905 339-3678 (Lower Level)

Thornhill 7700 Bathurst Street 905 882-CARE (2273)

Beach 1684 Danforth Avenue 416 778-8853

Markham 4981 Hwy 7 E. 905 479-1211

Richmond Hill 1480 Major MacKenzie Dr. E. 905 737-8788

Toronto - Downtown 726 Bloor St. W. 416 234-0481

Brampton 164 Queen Street E. 905 450-1272

Mississauga Central 1170 Burnhamthorpe Rd W. 905 896-4825

Scarborough North 3245 Finch Avenue East 416 756-2800

Vaughan 3737 Major Mackenzie Dr. 905 879-FEET (3338)

Etobicoke North 3850 Steeles Avenue W. 905 851-4224

Mississauga North 3029 Argentia Road 905 785-3800

Scarborough South 2882 Ellesmere Road 416 283-7721

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