Fire Watch: Volume 16, Issue 2

FIRE WATCH (ISSN 1715-5134) is published by the TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

14 Cosentino Drive, Toronto ON M1P 3A2 Tel: 416.466.1167

www.torontofirefighters.org

E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

CHIEF EDITOR Kevin McCarthy

MANAGING EDITORS James Reed, Suzanne Boss Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632

E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS James Coones and Ken de Jong

ASSISTANT EDITORS Andy McDowell, Matthew Spagnolo, James Kennedy and Mykhail Baehr

DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Bryan Middleton

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ADVERTISING Please contact Bill Monson at 416.466.1167 or e-mail monson@torontofirefighters.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Your Association never stops improving their members’ working conditions and compensation. On July 1, the members of the TPFFA will elect the next executive board. These 15 people you choose will be tasked with negotiating our next collective agreement.

From the crazy days of amalgamation and the Teplitsky Award to the freely negotiated contract ending December 31, 2023, in the history of Local 3888, there are six collective agreements and one interim award. Each deal contains its own unique relevance contributing to the evolution of our profession and our Association.

As the sole bargaining agent for Toronto Firefighters, there is an immense responsibility on the TPFFA to represent the interests of our over 3000 members while understanding the impact any deal could have as a trickling effect across the Province and Country.

Local 3888 is the largest Fire Association in the country, so it is reasonable to think that our contractual advances often set trends across the province; for example, the introduction of the 3-6-9 increments.

Did you know that the 3-6-9 increments originated with an agreement between the City of Toronto and the Toronto Police Association? The TPA achieved the breakthrough entitlement based on the city’s fear of losing Toronto police officers to other municipalities. At the time, the fire service didn’t have a retention problem, so creatively, the 3-6-9 increment was tied to recertifications like the DZ requirement. Unlike today, there were no standards within the fire sector, and if someone wanted to leave their municipality to work for another, it wasn’t common practice. Considering certification is now a reality and the number of newer members seeking re-employment, this issue will undoubtedly be discussed at the bargaining table in 2023.

Our goal will always be to be the highest paid firefighters while maintaining the

best benefits levels in the fire service. The key to achieving these goals is staying current with arbitrated awards and freely negotiated agreements throughout the OPFFA while putting in the work in preparation for bargaining.

Take a moment to consider that a firstclass firefighter made $62,397 in 2002, while today, a first-class firefighter makes $109,338. When a bargaining team looks at wages, there is much to digest and consider. It starts with looking at our comparables. A comparable is historically the police or fire services that are similar-sized. The bargaining committee creates charts with information on our comparables, highlighting their wages, benefits, and the term of their contract.

It is always important to know who has started negations and where things are trending. However, it is equally essential to beware of the terms of contracts. Preparation is the key to success.

Firefighters have always enjoyed great benefits, which is one reason we take strong measures to protect them. However, through the years, municipalities have reduced benefits by changing benefits carriers. Your Association has filed multiple grievances in defence of maintaining the levels we have earned. During the next round of bargaining, comparison charts, as explained above, will be utilized to track benefits entitlements looking at where fire and police unions were able to find increases since our last contract. Our goal will always be to find improvements without giving up the things we have earned.

Have you ever looked at our CA and noticed that many articles have remained the same since our first contract? It is interesting to look back and follow the progression of language changes while understanding the importance of knowing the history and intent behind each word. Many grievances are decided in our favour because of our strong language. Each contract year, the bargaining committee reviews the current CA and previous CAs

to make sure the information is up to date and continues to be effective. Through the contract term, your Executive has noted areas where we need to improve language, including wording that needs to be added, like including new federal or provincial designated holiday entitlement language.

Many lessons have been learned through the years, and Local 3888 will be prepared to address the number of end-ofpast practices that the city has historically put forward. We may even have a few of our own this time around. Strategically, many of the MOAs signed in the past term will expire at the end of our contract giving the negotiating team the ability to continue the directions established or recreate a better process.

There is no secret that labour relations could be better. However, with the way the senior leadership in the city rolled out the mandatory vaccination policy and the total disregard shown to all unions when the clock started ticking on benefits verification, it is hard to think either party will be in a position of trust.

Ultimately, it is the membership that sets the direction. So shortly, a union notice will go out requesting you to make contract submissions, followed by a general meeting for all to vote on what the bargaining team will bring forward in the next round of bargaining for Local 3888.

A lot of work lies ahead for the next bargaining committees. Fortunately, this is not our first go around, and we have never stopped preparing.

Kevin McCarthy, President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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SECRETARY-TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Ithought I would try to bring you up to speed on various topics for this issue of Fire Watch.

As I write to you all today, we are already at the end of our first quarter. I can report that we are currently operating just under budget. Exactly where we would want to be. We anticipate this being a more normal year than we have faced over the last several years. COVID restrictions reduced our meetings, travel, and substitutions. Each Committee Chair is given a monthly report on their spending vs budget before the Executive Board meeting. This enables them to keep a close eye on their respective budget lines.

To recognize Black History Month this year, your Association has offered to help introduce and distribute commemorative patches, collaborated on by a group of Black Firefighters and dedicated L3888 team members.

The colours used in the patches have significant meaning to the Black Community and are reflected in the Pan African flag, with RED representing the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and that was shed for liberation; BLACK for the people whose existence is affirmed by the existence of the flag, and GREEN for the growth and natural fertility of Africa.

The patches were also converted to stickers that have been placed on front-line operations vehicles. I was proud to have attended the launch event at station 143.

Several from your Executive Board, as well as members of the Human Relations and Equity Initiatives Committee, had the opportunity to attend the IAFF Affiliate Leadership Training Symposium. Training

provided included streams specific to Human Relations, Union Leadership and Administration, Politics and Public Relations, Bargaining, and Canadian Specific workshops. Continuous improvement and succession planning have been an important hallmark of this term.

We recently updated our internal committees. Several years ago, we decided to utilize more “members from the floor” on our standing committees. This has proven to be an excellent way to keep people involved. We had close to 150 applications for committees. It becomes very difficult to choose. Many meetings are held between the Principal Officers and Committee Chairs. We try to balance a variety of things. Specifically, we look at resumes for specific experience, as well as ensuring we pick members from a variety of backgrounds and divisions. As well, we try to ensure that members who have special skills and training are not lost. To ensure that members understood the commitments and remuneration, this year we held an online committee fair in December 2022. This was an opportunity for members to show their interest, ask questions, and get detailed information on the expectations of each committee. The hope was that we would avoid members blindly applying for all committees, making it easier for us to make our choices. The list of successful candidates can be found in Union Notice #23-012.

We also recently created an Election Committee to oversee our upcoming Executive Board election. The committee is made up of members from all commands and one from Community Risk Reduction. Our Chair, Rob Ptolemy, is experienced, having sat on the committee several times previously. We ensured that the people chosen are some of our newer members, to ensure continuity in future elections. You can reference Union Notice

#23-013 for the committee list. Any questions regarding the election can be asked by using the committee e-mail: election@ torontofirefighters.org. Nominations will be held in March 2023 both online and in person at our March General Members Meetings. I want to wish everyone that decides to participate the best of luck.

Constitution change proposals are also due at the March meeting. Changes to the constitution can only be made once per year. If you would like to make a proposal, it must be sent to me before 6 pm on March 21, 2023.

Our current Collective Agreement expires at the end of 2023. Therefore, we will be asking our members to provide input on the types of things that you would like to see added, amended, or removed from the current Collective Agreement. You don’t need to let us know that you would like to see improvements to salary or benefits. However, if you have specifics, things we may not have thought of, we want to know. We will bring those requests to the membership for approval.

At our September General Meeting, we were asked to put together a committee to investigate all aspects of online General Members Meetings. I was tasked to co-chair the group with Sam Warnock. We have met several times to discuss options. A decision was made to ask the membership their feelings on the issue, so we put out a survey. The response was excellent. We have met to discuss the data, and I believe that the committee will be able to provide some recommendations quite quickly.

James Reed, Secretary-Treasurer Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

’d like to start this article by welcoming our new recruits. You ARE our future. By the time this article is released, we will have had the pleasure of welcoming the July 2022 class and the January 2023 class. The two classes will total 180 to 200 additional recruits. This is very exciting news.

As we head into 2023, it’s a staggering thought to believe we are once again in the bargaining mindset.

I have had the distinct pleasure of sitting on the bargaining committee during many bargaining sessions and arbitrations. I’ve bargained through the Burkett arbitration, the Haze arbitration, and our most recent freely negotiated five-year contract, which will expire December 31, 2023. We are proud as an Association to say that the freely negotiated contract was approved by 99 percent of the membership and went down in history as the very first freely negotiated contract agreed to between the Association and the City of Toronto. Freely negotiated means that the contract was bargained without the need for the arbitration process. We successfully came to terms with the City of Toronto before the existing contract expired. This was unprecedented. Historically, our contracts have expired, resulting in an arbitration process.

Our Association has always put in place, a strong, aggressive, and viable bargaining committee. We are known as the gold standard by other provincial fire services within the province. Our collective agreements are consistently used as a comparable for other fire services. As an example, we established the 24-hour shift, which, as many are aware, other fire services have adopted.

I’d like to provide some insight into the history of bargaining, along with the importance of membership engagement. For those who are not aware of the bargaining process, I will be using this platform to educate our members on the importance of membership submissions.

In the months following the new year,

a union notice will be issued to the membership, calling for members’ submissions for the 2024 bargaining agenda. But what does this actually mean? Below are a few standard questions:

Q: What is the importance of a submission?

A: It means that this is your collective agreement. Any improvements are based on your ideas and what you would like in your next collective agreement. As a quick example, submissions may include improvements to your benefits, wage increases, vacation and so on.

Q: What happens after I submit my submissions?

A: Once you have completed your submissions, they will be sent to the bargaining committee. The bargaining committee will then review each and every submission, organize the submissions based on which article they pertain to within the collective agreement, and then decide what will be brought to the bargaining table to be bargained.

Q: What happens if I don’t send in a submission?

A: The members must be aware that they are not to assume items will be brought forward to the bargaining table. Your voice is important. Everyone should be fully engaged in the process and submit your own proposals to ensure your items are brought forward.

Q: How does the bargaining committee and the City of Toronto decide what items are to be addressed first?

A: As part of the bargaining process, the bargaining committee will meet with the City of Toronto with the intent of jointly approving as many items as possible. The focus will be on items that can be discussed and signed off in a short period of time, which then allows more time to focus on items requiring more in-depth discussions, with the goal of a freely negotiated contract to be ratified by the membership. The items will be agreed to by both parties and signed off. Of course, in the event the parties cannot agree, the

arbitration process will take place.

Q: Why are we left in the dark during negotiations, and why are we not kept up to date?

A: The straight answer is that communicating any updates would compromise the integrity of the bargaining process. This is a standard rule amongst all unions. We don’t bargain through the media, and we certainly are not looking for public opinion.

Q: What does a total blackout mean when negotiations are underway?

A: Once negotiations are underway, there is a complete blackout meaning no information will be shared outside of the bargaining committee. The items discussed are highly confidential. To avoid any breaches, the bargaining committee and the City of Toronto are placed in lockdown in a hotel until both parties come to an agreement.

Q: What happens if the Association and the City of Toronto cannot come to an agreement on certain items?

A: Those items will be referred to arbitration, where our lawyer and the City’s lawyer would agree on an arbitrator. The arbitrator would try mediation first. If unsuccessful, the next step would be binding arbitration.

I hope the information has been helpful. In closing, this is your future collective agreement. I believe it is imperative that we have full membership involvement to ensure your future is improved and protected.

John MacLachlan, Vice President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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Where Are You On The Spectrum?

We all are somewhere on the spectrum of grief.

Grief is a natural response to a loss. We generally associate grief with death, however, we can encounter emotional suffering over various types of losses related to relationships, career, health, etc.

If life is perceived as a book, then my work as a chaplain at a long-term care facility allows me to be part of the last chapter of people’s lives, and also gives me the privilege to read some of their life’s previous chapters. They, or their family and friends, share their stories with me, and when they can’t speak, the pictures hung on their walls silently narrate their accomplishments and life journey.

My bedside conversations with the ones living out their last chapter of life, often consist of the residue of unprocessed grief

related to losses they experienced over their lifetime. As they share with me their loss of loved ones to death, distance, or conflict, loss of possessions and statuses which brought them joy, a sense of pride and identity, and loss of abilities that once strengthened or enriched them, I witness their deep pain that accompanies their words.

I recall one elderly man who said to me, a few days before his death, “life has given me both great joys and great sorrows,” as he reflected on his life. Succinctly, he had described what life looks like for many of us.

Borrowing the hindsight of the elderly, I have noticed that our skills in celebrating our joys and successes outweigh our knowledge and endurance to process grief. It is especially true when our grief is not understood by our family and

friends. When we experience an overload of multiple losses, its cumulative impact on us is harder to navigate. In my work, I regularly come across families dealing with ambiguous grief related to their loved ones with Dementia/Alzheimer’s – losing them mentally and emotionally while they are still present in the body.

One of the wisdom books in the Hebrew scripture and the Bible says, “there is a time for everything…time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1- 4). Yet, with our constricted schedules and busy lifestyles, we frequently rush the grieving process – we are uncomfortable to take time to weep and mourn.

When I read verses in the Bible like “Jesus wept” (John 11:35); “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4); and several other Biblical passages related to grief, I find an encouragement to acknowledge our grief and to work through the series of difficult emotions that go along with that ride.

I think to live well, we need to grieve well. Each unaddressed grief cumulates and may erupt like a volcano in the last chapter of our life. Prayer, reflection, nature, and talking to someone are a few of the tools of grief work, however, asking ourselves where we are on the spectrum of grief is conceivably the beginning of grieving well.

BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445-A

“Roll the Heavy” is a series of articles to inform the members of the capabilities, equipment and limitations of the Heavy Rescue Squads. This is a special edition to present the services and training of the Ornge Air Ambulance Service. They are (loosely) the Heavy Rescues of the Paramedic world. By sharing this information, we can better serve the citizens by fostering a professional, team approach. This will improve the chances of a successful outcome in the many complicated and technical emergencies that we respond to.

Introduction

In past articles, we have presented the different attributes of the Heavy Rescues. I recently completed the TFS Vehicle Extrication course, and the TFS uses a video from the Ornge air ambulance service to show how to prepare for their helicopter arrival. I know one of the Critical Care Flight Paramedics (CCFP) at Ornge, Mike Tesarski, so I reached out to him and asked him what, if anything, we can do to improve the level of care for the patient. I invited him to be part of an article for this magazine, and he and Ornge graciously turned it into a ride-a-long experience. I, personally, have had only four other experiences with Ornge. When I was on the volunteers in the Parry Sound area, they magically showed up during a complicated extrication. During my career on TFS, I saw them once land on the Gardiner Expressway and once in a parking lot in southern Etobicoke – again, for auto extrications. Years ago, when my father was experiencing an aortic aneurysm, he was flown from the Parry Sound Hospital to Toronto General Hospital for emergency open-heart surgery – it saved his life. My hope for the ride-a-long shift was to learn and share information that could help first-responders improve the care of patients in need of Ornge and their CCFPs. During my shift with them, I was constantly reminded of the similarities between their world and ours. Some uninformed person may think that Ornge is just an “ambulance in the sky”. That is like people thinking we, as firefighters, just put “water on the fire”. There is a much larger and impressive service that Ornge and the CCFPs do.

A Little Background

Ornge’s mission is to provide safe and timely care, transport and access to health services for patients in Ontario. The service was renamed “Ornge” in 2006, but the air ambulance program has been operating since 1977. Fun fact – the altered spelling is partly to make people stop and take a second look, but it is also a nod to the legacy orange colours on the helicopter - and because you can’t trademark a colour, they dropped the “A”.

Some of their operational statistics are as follows:

• They have over 600 employees

• They have 10 Helicopters, 8 Fixed-wing aircraft

• They have their own land ambulances

• They have 13 dedicated bases across Ontario

• They conduct more than 20,000 patient-related transports annually

• They cover an area of more than 1,000,000 km2

• They serve 14,000,000 residents

Ornge is structured as a non-profit, charitable organization with the government of Ontario as its largest client (working with them through a performance agreement). Ornge is not accessible to the public through 9-1-1. They are usually requested through a medical facility, Central Ambulance Communications Centre or land paramedic service, and deployed through their own Operations Control Centre.

What Do They Do?

As mentioned earlier, Ornge can be dispatched, under certain circumstances, by paramedics in the field or by hospitals. The transporting “up-service” is speed over a distance. Someone in need of high level care, especially in remote locations, needs that care as fast as possible. A land ambulance may be able to transport, but the distances, especially in the northern reaches, can be a huge factor.

Smaller, community hospitals have less complex trauma calls than in the city centres and therefore less experience. The doctors are knowledgeable, but having the CCFPs provide advice, based on dozens, if not hundreds, of complex trauma calls, makes the care for the patient that much more successful. This was my first thought about the similarity to the fire service. Awareness level firefighters will respond to complex technical rescues, and they will do their best, but having trained and experienced technicians available improves the chances of a positive outcome.

The second similarity happened twice during my ride-a-long. There is a friendly nickname for the heavy rescues in Toronto. They are sometimes known as the “turn around truck”. I had to smile a little when, during my shift, we were waved off of a call to a northern community for a patient who had fallen about 50 feet. They had only pulled the helicopter half way out of the hanger when the PA announced the cancellation. An hour later, we were dispatched to another trauma call in the north, and we were airborne over the downtown core when we were “turned around”. This obviously happens because the updates from the scene or hospital deem the crew and helicopter unnecessary, and they can be freed up for another dispatch.

The Ride-a-Long

The ride-a-long shift felt very familiar to me because it was similar to our fire department routine. The CCFPs and pilots work a 12-hour shift, from seven until seven, and their “change-over” happens around a kitchen table. There are also engineers (flight mechanics) and management/training staff at the facility. They have an element of “stoking”, where the pilots do their daily checks, the paramedics go over their supplies and equipment, and the staff ensures everyone has clocked in and the place operates smoothly.

An added element of the routine is the “AMRM” (pronounced am-ram”). AMRM stands for Air Medical Resource Management and is used to optimize the human/machine interface and related interpersonal issues, focusing on communication skills and team building. The part of it I saw was what most would describe as a “tail-board” safety and communication session out in the hanger. Each party had a chance to update information about their world and how it would affect each other. I was introduced and the whole session set the stage for everyone being knowledgeable about the day’s status and plan.

The professional approach continued from there. I had been given quite a bit of background information before even showing up, but during the morning, I was given safety training on the helicopter, PPE, briefings on how to act in the hospital settings or at “scene calls” - which are when they land right on the highway, at a parking lot, a soccer field, etc. The furthest we, as TFS rescuers may get from a patient, is down an embankment or deep inside a building. With Ornge, they may have to land and then get shuttled by land ambulance, snowmobile, side-by-side or on foot to the scene of the patient. Their gear is not unlike our rope equipment bags – backpack style, all lettered and organized so they can grab it and go when needed. Mike told me that sometimes when they are flying a patient from a scene call to a hospital, the inside of the helicopter looks like a “bomb went off” in the cabin! There are pieces of equipment, wrappers, blood and clothing everywhere and the paramedics are juggling about a half dozen high-intensity issues all at once. Issues like time to the ER, weather affecting the flight smoothness, patient needs, communicating with the receiving doctors, strict maximums on pilot and paramedic duty shifts, among other issues, have to be weighed, while keeping the patient stable and comfortable.

Like my shifts at the TFS, I don’t want bad things to happen to people, but if they are going to happen, I want to be there. As I mentioned, we were turned around twice, but eventually got dispatched to a transport of a 2-month-old heart surgery patient. The land ambulance ride would have been about two and a half hours one-way and there was a critical need to keep the patient stable. The helicopter ride was 40 minutes and having the CCFPs involved was really like having a doctor at the patient’s bedside the whole time. The professionalism shown to the hospital staff and the parent (who rode along as well) was bar-none, and I was proud to see it unfold in front of me. As I mentioned, my dad had a flight and he remembered how calming and “enjoyable” the experience was, considering his life was in danger; kudos to the paramedics for this.

The Critical Care Flight Paramedics

Ornge Critical Care Flight Paramedics function with a greatly expanded scope of practice, designed to maintain the high level of treatment from an intensive care sending facility, during the out of hospital transport, and until delivery at the receiving facility. They carry many more medications (212 vs 34 drugs) over the Advanced Care Paramedic and have equipment that includes medication infusion pumps, invasive mechanical ventilation and arterial line monitoring.

The biggest game-changer to their scope of practice came about a year ago: blood. They carry blood with them to all of their calls, and this can make or break the situation. Blood allows proper oxygenation, clotting and perfusion to the brain and organs, and without it, you are just watering down the circulatory system. They also carry drugs that can stop the bleeding-out process, to give the patient time to get to the hospital ER.

During my shift, there was a second ride-a-long person who was an ER doctor (they operate two helicopters at the Toronto Island base). The conversations he had with the paramedics were impressive. I felt like a 6-year-old listening in to adults talking about a complex topic. I could string together enough of their words that I could follow the conversation, but my first responder background just couldn’t allow me to participate. It reminded me that at a rescue call, we need to get these and the TPS paramedics into the fold of the rescue to affect a good outcome. The on-going training of the CCFPs is also impressive. Structured in a quarterly training model, the paramedics must attend or complete certain training modules in each quarter to stay certified. During my shift, a trainer dropped in to encourage Mike, and a number of the other paramedics to complete some of their “Q3” requirements. His office was next door, and two sessions were prepared. One was a crashing cardiac arrest, similar to our CPR / Defib scenarios – with the added elements of drug management and varying shock levels. The other session was an emergency childbirth. Where we get training in the basics, they do complicated scenarios like shoulder dystocia - when the shoulders are stuck. It is very impressive training. I had a chance to talk to the pilots as well, and again, you get the best of the best. Not unlike joining the fire service, the minimum standards are just that – minimum. These pilots have thousands of hours of flight time and accreditations to fly by instrument only (for darkness and bad weather). Many have been instructors in the military or flown in highly technical work environments in the mining or lumber industry. They are an integral part of the team, as they have the lives of the patients and the paramedics (and me!) in their hands. An interesting note is that when the dispatch comes in, the pilots are not allowed to know the details of the trauma or transport, other than the location. This is to create a sterile cockpit so that they will not use emotions to decide whether it is safe to fly. You can imagine that if they knew it was life or death for a young child, they might push the envelope if the weather was bad. We all want what’s best for the patient, but sometimes we have to make hard decisions, and this protocol at least removes that burden.

What Are the Take-Aways?

The number one take-away, when talking to the paramedics, for us and all health-care levels, was communication. If they are given detailed information about the patient, the mechanisms of injury, the location, the current status of the rescue, etc., they can start to formulate a plan for their care and hit the ground running. If they need to move from the landing area to the scene itself, they must choose what bags to bring. This is not unlike my needs as a Squad Captain. If the first-in crews give a detailed description of the situation, I can start to plan and organize the crew on-route and be more effective and efficient with the rescue. The CCFPs usually get their communication from the on-site paramedics, but we can be part of that communication chain.

The second, and more direct take-away, came directly from Mike. It was a simple request…warm, warm, warm. Any patient that is trapped in a prolonged traumatic scene NEEDS to be kept warm. The cold of an auto-ex entrapment, water rescue, trench rescue (soil), structural collapse, or machinery rescue will directly affect the bodily functions of a patient, which can seriously affect the survivability. The CCFPs showed me their IV “blood warmers”, but they said it was as simple as blankets and chemical-type warming packs.

The third take-away was what we really already know. We are a team. Interagency partnership has had its ups and downs, but we can all agree that we are here for the patient. The CCFPs spoke very highly of firefighters, provincewide, and completely admit they’re not experts in rescue. I don’t know too many firefighters that would question the knowledge and professionalism of the flight paramedics. I have a new appreciation for what is happening when I see that orange helicopter flying overhead. I hope, with this article, you do as well. Stay safe.

Hazmat IQ Corrosives

BY STUART WEST, CAPTAIN, FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

One of the most common products involved in Hazardous Materials incidents, aside from incidents involving flammable liquids, are corrosives. Corrosives are most often encountered in either liquid or gaseous states but can also come in solid form.

Typically, a corrosive material can be defined as a liquid or a solid that causes full thickness destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specific period, or a liquid that chemically reacts with steel or aluminum surfaces. In the ERG, corrosives are found as a class 8 in guide #153 and are usually transported in a #407 or a #412 road trailer. Corrosives can be either acids or bases and the strength of their corrosive properties is measured on the “pH scale”. Acids can be further described as being substances that generate hydrogen ions (H+) in water, whereas bases generate hydroxide ions (OH-) in water. Acids react with active metals, such as magnesium, to produce hydrogen gas. Some metals, such as potassium, lithium and sodium, will react explosively when contacted by acids. Acids have a sour taste (do not test this out) and will also conduct electricity. This is why sulfuric acid is commonly used as an electrolyte in car batteries. Bases, on the other hand, have a bitter taste.

They have a slippery, soapy texture and will also produce hydrogen gas when contacted with some metals. Sodium hydroxide (lye) is used in soap making.

If you do a “Google” search, you may find a couple of different answers on what the acronym pH stands for. Some say it stands for “power of hydrogen” and others claim it stands for “potential of hydrogen”. Most people are somewhat familiar with the pH scale but there are some important points to remember when discussing it. As you may recall, the pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. 0 to 6 is the acidic side, with 0 being the strongest acid. Conversely, 8 to 14 is the basic side, with 14 being the strongest base. Basic substances are also sometimes referred to as alkaline or caustic. It is also important to take note that the pH scale is a “logarithmic scale”. This means that the difference between numbers on the scale is a ten-fold increase or decrease in corrosiveness, depending on which direction you are moving on the scale. For example, the difference between an 8 and a 12 on the pH scale is in fact a difference of 10,000 times in alkalinity! This distinction becomes ever important when deciding if “neutralizing” a spill is a valid option.

If two substances are mixed that are too far apart on the pH scale, the reaction will be violent and exothermic (heat producing), with liquid splashing and sputtering. Obviously, this is not a desirable outcome. It is also important to keep in mind that for most corrosive liquid spills, the amount of neutralizing agent required to bring the pH within a desirable range would be too great. Therefore, on most occasions, containment of a larger spill is most practical. Keep in mind that it is of utmost importance to prevent any product from entering the water system. It is imperative that spills be dealt with promptly. Depending on the substrate that the spill is on top of, the product can begin to seep into the substrate. This is more of an issue when the spill is on top of a very porous substrate material. Smaller spills can typically be dealt with by using absorbent materials that do not cause an adverse reaction with the product.

Anyone working near any product, will be a Hazmat Technician or partnered with one and wearing full PPE, including SCBA. Most times, a “Level B splash suit” that

has been selected after doing the appropriate product specific research will be sufficient protection. Most acids that may be encountered do not have the ability to move away from the spill area in vapour form. This is because they typically have extremely low vapour pressures; consequently, they do not have the ability to “reach out and touch you”. However, this information is all part of the product specific research that will be done by the Hazmat team and is not something that we guess at or assume. If there are any doubts, a “Level A” suit may need to be selected. Most times a “Level B” suit is preferred, as it is a much better suit for performing work. Wearing a “Level A” suit would be seen as a last resort, as it limits the ability to perform work in terms of dexterity, as well as in terms of shortening work cycles, due to heat and physical exhaustion concerns.

Every truck with a multi gas detector, also has pH paper. Any product encountered should be checked to determine the pH. Prior to contacting the liquid with the paper, the pH paper should be waved over top of the liquid. Any colour change in the paper is an indication that the product has a high vapour pressure and therefore, the vapours are capable of travelling away from the origin of the spill. This information will affect hot-zone delineation and will also factor into where the cold zone and decontamination zones are set up, with wind direction being of prime importance. Determining the pH is a crucial step at any Hazmat call, in order to identify the risks that are associated with any unknown product. We deal with corrosive products in everyday life. Understanding the pH scale and corrosive properties can help us make informed decisions when faced with these products at an incident, whether it be a road trailer that has had a container breach, or at a spill at an industrial facility. Remembering how the pH scale works may well assist crews in determining what the dangers are. Stay safe.

One of the most memorable scenes from the movie fight club is when the character Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, licks the back of actor Edward Norton’s hand and then proceeds to pour sodium hydroxide (lye) directly on his skin. In the ensuing moments, Edward Norton writhes in pain as the chemical proceeds to eat away at his flesh. Tyler Durden then remarks about how he could pour water onto Edwards hand and make the burn worse, or he could pour vinegar onto the wound, thereby neutralizing the chemical and ending his pain. The scene ends with Tyler Durden pouring vinegar onto the wound much to the relief of Edward Norton.

The question is, was this little chemistry demonstration accurate? The answer is no. Pouring vinegar, directly onto skin that is already damaged would only cause further pain and injury. In fact, having a neutralization reaction, which creates heat, occur directly on one’s skin, is a terrible idea. Copious amounts of water would have been a much better option. However, the scene was very convincing and well done. It’s not often you see chemistry played out in a Hollywood blockbuster!

How to Get FULLY INVOLVED!

BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445-A

INTRODUCTION

This is a series of Q&A articles on Toronto Fire related organizations that can get you more involved in the firefighting community. Some of the best people on the job give back to the fire service and their community in fun and exciting ways. If you find this organization interesting, consider reaching out to them for more information.

This interview is with Acting District Chief, Brian McAlinden, one of the Toronto Firefighters that volunteers for GlobalFire.

GlobalMedic and GlobalFire’s mandate is to help save lives by responding to disasters and humanitarian crises around the world (and in Canada). GlobalMedic began by providing the necessities of life, such as water, food, hygiene kits, medical care, and shelters (including field hospital set up). GlobalMedic also has “capacity building programs” to help equip and train emergency personnel in emerging nations, as well as an exciting UAV program that deploys drones to collect disaster information, emergency mapping and to assist in search and rescue operations.

KEN: What does your organization do and what is its history?

BRIAN: First of all, thanks for inquiring about the organization that I and other Toronto Firefighters volunteer and serve with. GlobalFire is a “sister” division of GlobalMedic, both of which operate under the David McAntony Gibson Foundation. This is a registered Canadian charity and has been operational for over 20 years.

KEN: What is the basic explanation of how you operate?

BRIAN: The basis of how we operate, from a rapid response perspective, is through the rapid response team (RRT), which is composed of professional emergency workers and skilled-trained professionals, who are willing to volunteer their time and skill sets in order to deliver aid in the midst of disasters. If a disaster strikes, a request for personnel notice is sent out to the volunteer body and those who can provide the time will deploy to the affected location. At times, we have been able to get members on the ground within 48 to 72 hours of the incident.

KEN: How do you recruit members?

BRIAN: When I joined, I responded to a request for personnel for a capacity building operation in the Philippines, following the typhoon Yolanda disaster in 2014. GlobalFire required a 14-member contingent of firefighters who had trainer-facilitator capabilities to help train the Tacloban City firefighters on all of the equipment that was being sent down to them in the wake of the disaster. I arranged the time off from work, (moved some vacation time) and deployed. I was hooked. I found that mission to be very rewarding and wanted to become more involved. I registered with GlobalMedic by going on-line to their website (www.globalmedic.ca). Once a person is registered, they must complete a 25-hour long online course and complete a one day inperson training session.

Other mandatory qualifications include:

• Minimum of 18 years of age

• Possess a valid passport with no travel prohibitions

• Must have or be able to get all necessar y vaccinations (yellow fever vax is required in certain countries)

• Must be able to work for long periods of time in warm climates and be comfortable working and living in harsh conditions (no running water, power, foreign languages, different culture etc.).

• Potential candidates should also be available to commit to three weeks at a time for deployments

• Have a great work ethic and be able to manage stressful situations

• Recruits should also be able to work in the framework of a team, under less than ideal conditions.

• If the new candidate is taken onboard, they will usually be connected with experienced members on a deployment. Helping out with the regular food/equipment/hygiene kit packing days also helps, as it lets the GlobalMedic administration team get to know you and see how well you perform.

KEN: What is the commitment for a member (time, effort, expenses)?

• Philippines – Typhoon Yolanda,

• St. Vincent & the Grenadines - Hurricane Maria,

• Zimbabwe & Mozambique – Cyclone Idai

• Romania & Ukraine – War in Ukraine

KEN: Are there any costs that are the responsibility of the members?

BRIAN: In a disaster relief capacity, your travel, accommodations, and food are covered (alcohol is not). In a capacity build, you may have to cover all your costs. In my experience, the host usually covers one or two meals per day.

BRIAN: A commitment for the RRT is three weeks at a time. Travel time to some of the more remote areas can take up to 36 hours. The time at the scene is varied. At times, you have to put in some significant hours because a disaster doesn’t stop when one is tired, so the effort required is also significant. Typically, if the deployment is for disaster relief, federal funds will take care of travel expenses. However, for capacity building operations, we cover our own travel costs (you can fundraise for this).

KEN: How hard is it to learn and get good at the skills for your organization?

BRIAN: I think if someone has a good work ethic and is empathetic to the situation that people find themselves in after a disaster, it’s not difficult to learn and get good at the skills required to be helpful and be a valued team member.

KEN: Where has your organization traveled to?

BRIAN: GlobalMedic has deployed to over 90 different countries around the world. Acting District Chief Mike Sayers has been on ten missions around the world! I have been on four.

KEN: What is your most epic event that you’ve done or you’ve been at?

BRIAN: I would have to say driving through Ukraine into Kiev, observing the damage from the battles was the most epic event for me. What was most significant and rewarding for me personally, occurred when we were purifying water for a hospital in the village of Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. People were so happy to have their water purified and were extremely grateful when we gave them the purifying equipment to keep at the church and then trained the locals on how to use it.

KEN: Have you met anyone famous or done any other special events?

BRIAN: Other than famous volunteers like: Mike Sayers, Tony Cardinale, Craig Lester, Jack Turner or Geoff Boisseau? No.

KEN: What would you say to someone out there thinking of joining GlobalFire?

BRIAN: It is very rewarding but be prepared to work harddeployments are not easy.

KEN: Any final thoughts?

BRIAN: I am happy to see that there is interest in this charity. I like what GlobalMedic does and what they stand for. If making financial donations or commitments are not possible for you, this is an agency where one can make a donation of time that has a very impactful delivery.

WSIB Basics

BY THE TPFFA DISABILITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Let’s cover some paperwork basics.

Whether we work in operations, communications, prevention or another division, our work is physical. The intensity of that physical labour doesn’t matter; if you’re a worker with a body, that body can and will get injured. When that injury happens, we have a duty to report it and follow a protocol that is intended to help us heal. The Local 3888 Disability Management Committee is made up of members who are trained to assist with what can be a confusing process. Our goal over the next few issues of Fire Watch is to take you step-by-step through some WSIB basics.

WSIB – the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, formerly known as Workers Compensation, is a provincial organization that employs case workers and adjudicators to review injured worker case files and determine if they’re eligible for compensation. They provide information and resources to injured workers that are supposed to assist workers with recovery from injury. These case workers and adjudicators are also unionized employees and are represented by CUPE.

Most employers have their injured workers compensated through Ontario’s WSIB group insurance plan, but many large public employers, like the City of Toronto, pay that compensation directly even though WSIB still administers and adjudicates the claims. When you see the code “WCB” in Quatro, it indicates that a member is not working their regular duties because of a workplace injury. Bear in mind that although you may have access to these Quatro files, the information about a worker’s injury and their employment status is confidential. Compensable injuries are varied. They may include musculoskeletal injuries, hearing loss, repetitive strain, presumptive cancers, infectious disease exposures, and mental stress or PTSD.

FORM 6: The Worker’s Report of Injury/Disease

This is the form that gets the ball rolling on reporting an injury or illness. The worker fills this form out. A copy can be found on the intranet under “Forms” and on the WSIB website at www.wsib.on.ca. The Disability Management Committee recommends that the injured worker submit two copies of Form 6 – one to their immediate supervisor and the other directly to WSIB. The form can be submitted to WSIB online or faxed. It’s a legal document and must be filled out as accurately as possible.

Once injured, you are obligated to fill out a Form 6 as soon as possible, but sometimes you may be prevented from getting the paperwork done right away, whether because of your injury or because you didn’t realize you were injured at the time. You have six months to report your injury from the time of onset. However, a delay in reporting may make it more challenging to explain how your injury occurred as a result of your work or workplace. Get your Form 6 submitted as soon as possible and always keep a copy for yourself.

Firefighters tend to be a stoic bunch. Our communications crews witness the traumatic narratives of 9-1-1 callers and our operations crews support them on scene. But quietly suffering through what seems minor in comparison, can unnecessarily complicate or discredit a workplace injury claim. Even if your injury seems small and does not involve any “lost time,” you should get the paper trail of your injury started as soon as possible. When in doubt, file a claim. You may not require a Form 6, but it’s good practice to record that minor injury. Your immediate supervisor should use the Supervisor’s Report of Injury/Incident form found on the intranet. If your injury required only first aid, it will be noted on this form. For your own records, scan the form and send a copy to yourself and to your immediate supervisor. If a small cut becomes infected, a paper trail of the injury has been started.

Local 3888 Disability Management Committee:

Justin D’Aloisio (co-chair)

Rob Kular

Robert Burland

Julie Petruzzellis

Chris Sornberger

FORM 7: The Employer’s Report of Injury/Disease

WSIB case workers can’t move forward with reviewing your claim without an Employer’s Form 7. If you have an injury – specifically an injury that requires health care, or involves lost time or the need for modified work – Toronto Fire has three days to get a Form 7 submitted to WSIB. Health care includes the care provided by a chiropractor or physiotherapist.

Your employer is obligated to provide you with a copy of the Form 7 they submit. This is your record that the employer has acknowledged the injury, even if they indicate on that form that the injury may not be work-related. Toronto Fire has recently transitioned to a digital Form 7 reporting system called Quatro Safety. Only District Chiefs and above currently have access to this system and should be the ones to complete the Form 7 paperwork.

If you have made a WSIB claim, you should hear from a WSIB case worker within a few weeks. If you don’t receive a phone call or letter, it is likely that there has been a delay with your Form 7 submission. You can always contact WSIB to follow up, even if a claim number hasn’t been assigned yet. WSIB can be reached at 416-344-1000.

Our next article will cover medical paperwork, Form 8, return to work and modified duties. In the meantime, please reach out to anyone on the Disability Management Committee with your questions.

INITIAL CLAIM CHECKLIST

• Determine if Form 6 is required (was this just a first aid situation or was health care required?)

• Form 6 filled out by worker

• Form 6 submitted to the worker’s immediate supervisor

• Form 6 copy submitted directly to WSIB by worker

• Immediate supervisor sends Form 6 to DC

• Immediate super visor fills out Form 7 (TFS Supervisor’s Report of Injury/Incident)

• Form 7 filled out by DC and submitted by the employer to WSIB

• Form 7 copy sent to the worker from TFS

(co-chair)

Letter from the Editor…

I imagine, like me, you too have heard or read statements like “let’s have a conversation” or “happy to chat”. Opening the door this way helps to address difficult topics and conversations to iron out issues or come to consensus among participants. While this fashion is often used in higher ranks, it can also be used between friends, partners, co-workers and family.

I believe some of the key reasons people do not involve themselves in difficult conversations is because they don’t know how to approach them, don’t know what to say, may feel they might offend someone or be in conflict, which makes it uncomfortable. Who wants to be uncomfortable? Adina outlines a few tips and solutions to address these challenges. To her list, I would add coaching or education on how to deal with difficult people and conversations. Some may still shy away. However, having some tools certainly helps. Others find situations may be “confrontational”. Yet, with the right

tools, it does not need to be considered this way. Personally, I prefer not to have the “woulda, shoulda, coulda” lingering in my thoughts, so I recommend approaching these situations with leadership, thought, caution and care – “kid gloves”, as is said. When in doubt, never shout.

When you think about your long-term or best relationships, it’s likely they are built on trust, respect, honesty, transparency, communication and dedication. This treatment is ideal for yourself, your co-workers and crew. It is through these very areas that the power of communication and conversation have evolved. You may even reflect on how they have helped you manage difficult conversations or, more importantly, if you’ve been part of any, how well they have left you feeling. This may be the start of how to move forward with having meaningful, results-oriented, and positive outcome conversations!

Lynn Sciberras

Difficult conversations: why we avoid them and why we shouldn’t

By Adina Kaufman

Human beings are inherently social animals. We exist within a web of personal, professional and community relationships. Each of those relationships is a potential source of joy, love and support. Each of them is also a potential source of stress, conflict and frustration. So, unless you have plans to embrace a hermit’s solitary life in a remote off-the-grid cabin, some knowledge of how to handle difficult conversations, and how to keep little problems from growing into big ones, is of value.

Difficult conversations are recognizable because they usually involve opposing opinions, strong emotions, and high stakes. And most of us try to avoid them. Even when we choose to address them, we’re often unsure of how to do it and worry about making things worse instead of better. Unfortunately, just like that pile of dog poop in your backyard after the snow melts, they don’t take care of themselves, and if you ignore them, the stench and discomfort just seem to grow stronger.

Have you ever felt annoyed by a colleague’s work ethic? Wished your family member would approach you differently when your opinions differ? Hoped your friend would step up for you, as you do for them? Been infuriated by your roommate’s passion for late night entertaining? When speaking to someone about an issue, it is vital that you find a way to remain both honest and respectful. One of the easiest ways to do this is to tackle such conversations before issues simmer and escalate. By addressing things proactively, you will be able to speak and, perhaps more importantly, listen without becoming aggressive or defensive.

How to approach difficult conversations

So, what holds us back from addressing things early? We worry we may make things worse. Ignoring it will almost surely make it worse. We hope things may fix themselves, but they almost never do. We feel unable to find the ‘right words’ (the actual words don’t really matter, keep reading). Here are some ideas to help you tackle such conversations with increased hope and confidence.

1 – Issue: Identify the issue. Is it a single instance of a problem, or a recurring pattern of behavior over time?

2 – Relationship: Identify how this issue/problem is affecting your relationship. Likely, you share common relationship goals with this other person (e.g. productive stress-free workplace, happy safe marital relationship, mutually rewarding comfortable friendship, etc.). Your common relationship goals should provide shared motivation to focus on discussing and resolving the problem.

3 – Emotions: Recognize we all have emotions and we bring them to any interaction. We need to honour our emotions, and what they tell us about our needs, while also understanding that our emotions can make it hard for us to see things from another’s perspective, or can be used to justify in our own minds our own less than ideal behavior. Take a step back and try to see how emotions might be at play for both you and the other person.

4 – Storytelling: Take a step back and question your “story”. We all tell stories in our own minds. They help us make sense of the world. Our stories are based on what we see, hear and feel, and then we act (and often judge)

based on our stories. For example, when my colleague doesn’t do an expected work task, I may quickly create a story in my mind that they are lazy and not a team player. (Note that this story will have an especially big emotional impact on me and my reactions if I am someone who was raised to value hard work and teamwork). My story may be true, but there are also many other possible stories. My colleague may be driven to work hard but may also feel lacking in the training needed to perform the task and ashamed to admit they need guidance for fear of appearing incompetent. Or perhaps they are feeling unwell, but feel too guilty to take a sick day knowing the daily reality of understaffing in our division. Or perhaps they are dealing with a family crisis and feeling distracted and overwhelmed. The only thing I know as a ‘fact’, is that they haven’t completed a particular task. The rest is my imagined story. And it may or may not match objective reality and/or their story. It can also be very useful to ask yourself what story the other person is

Work Vs. Personal Relationships

telling about you, based on how you act toward them - this can be eye-opening.

5 – Conversation: After some self-reflection about what things are facts versus stories, and about what emotions and stories the other person may be experiencing, you will likely find your mind is more open to alternative stories, your emotions are less intense, and you can see more potential for connection and collaboration. You will likely be feeling more empathy and understanding of the other person’s experience. This mental and emotional shift is likely to help chart a much clearer path to constructive conversation, where the exact words you choose are far less important than your clearly expressed collaborative intent to achieve your shared relationship goals. You need to have a plan of what and how you want to discuss, but you don’t need a script. Breathe slowly and consciously. Speak directly, honestly, respectfully. And don’t forget to truly listen.

There is no doubt that in our workplaces, shared relationship goals may be much less intense than those we find in our personal lives. While it is everyone’s responsibility (and hopefully goal) to achieve a safe productive fire service workplace, ultimately it is the officers who must ensure this goal is achieved. In any work situation where things go bad, there is usually either an officer who was not to be found, or an officer who was enabling or participating in the problematic situation.

Tips for Fire Service Officers

1 – Be a leader. It’s great to be friends, but that’s not enough. It’s your job to ensure safety –not just physical, but also psychological and emotional – for everyone.

2 – Pay attention. Do not ignore evolving conflict between your crew/staff.

3 – Professionalism. A crew that works hard, trains together regularly, strategizes about how to be the best possible team together, is far more likely to have solid relationships that can withstand disagreement and resolve conflicts. And when you’re busy training, it reduces the inclination to push each other’s buttons to pass the time!

4 – Humour. A proud and time-tested fire service tradition! But remember, this de-escalation technique only works on the little stuff. For big problems, a more direct approach is needed.

5 – Direct intervention. Don’t be afraid to address an individual directly as needed. Some situations and people need a direct approach. This is especially necessary when ensuring a workplace safe for all, free from harassment and violence of any type, including verbal. If you aren’t sure of how to proceed, seek support through your chain of command. It’s not something you have to approach alone, but you do have to do it. The longer you wait, the more difficult the conversation will be.

Member Profile on

BY TONY MACDONALD, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN (RETIRED)

Brad Power works on Pumper 242, but he spent the previous 23 years with the Canadian Armed Forces. He retired in 2021 as a Search and Rescue Technician, holding the rank of Sargent.

Brad started his military career in 1998 as an Army Reservist with the 728 Communication Squadron in St. John’s Newfoundland. He transferred over to the Regular Forces in 1999 and was posted to the Signals Regiment in Kingston, Ontario.

In 2001, a few weeks after 9-11, he deployed on his first overseas tour with NATO Forces, on ‘Op Palladium’ in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He served there for six months as part of the NATO contingent on a peace-keeping mission.

He received the NATO Medal and the Peacekeeping Medal for his efforts there. As a Signaller, he worked in the Comms Centre for the Canadian Camp, enabling his units to communicate with other units, and with Canada.

In 2002, Brad took part in the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen event, which is the largest multiple day marching event in the world. It takes place in the city of Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. It is a four day, 160 km march, where participants carry a 25-pound rucksack. Military personnel and civilians come from around the world to participate.

“On one of the days, the marching route stopped at the Canadian War Grave Cemetery. We had the opportunity to pay our respects to some of the 7,600 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the Netherlands during WW2. Canadians are highly respected in the Netherlands, even to this day, since our soldiers led the eight month campaign to liberate the Netherlands during WW2”. In 2003, Brad was part of Mercury Trek, which was an 8,500 km bicycle ride across Canada. Brad was with 24 other Military Signallers on the ride. They were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Military Communication branch. They were riding in the spirit of the first Signallers, who delivered messages by bicycle. They started in Victoria, B.C. in mid-April, and completed the ride in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland on July 1st.

“Crossing the country on a bike really allowed us to take in the cultures, sights, and the individual spirit of small towns across our land. We were hosted by a different town each night. We slept in school gyms, churches, Legions, campgrounds, and one time in an old shed full of construction

Brad Power

renovation equipment. Our primary destination for each province was the capital, where we had a formal parade, attended by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province. For our ride into Toronto, we were met by the Toronto Police Service, on Yonge Street, at the city limits. They escorted us down Yonge Street through downtown Toronto to the Fort York Armoury. We arrived during the height of the SARS pandemic. There was supposed to be a police force convention in Toronto that weekend. Due to the epidemic, they cancelled the conference, but were unable to get a refund on their accommodations. They were kind enough to donate their hotel rooms to our crew! So, we got a couple of days of R&R for free at the downtown Toronto Delta Hotel!”

In 2005, while deployed with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Op Athena, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Brad was granted a leave to attend the SAR Tech selection course in Alberta. He joined 30 other applicants for a gruelling, two-week ‘survival of the fittest’ test. The day after completing the selection course, but not knowing his results, he was back on a plane to return to Afghanistan, to complete his six month deployment. Two months later, he learned that he was one of the 12 people selected to take the year-long basic SAR Tech course.

The Search and Rescue Technician (SAR TECH) is part of a group of elite, highly trained rescue specialists who provide on-scene medical aid and extraction from some of the harshest and most remote areas of Canada. They are military aircrew who deploy from rotary or fixed wing aircraft in any environment or climactic condition. They will locate and penetrate the site and then treat and evacuate the causalities. SAR operations may require parachuting, mountaineering, hiking, swimming, and scuba diving. Sometimes these operations are conducted in adverse conditions.

The SAR-Tech Pledge:

‘That Others May Live’

Without regard for my personal comfort or self-advancement, to the best of my abilities and the limits of my physical and psychological endurance, I solemnly pledge to make every effort to return to safety, those victims of disaster entrusted to my care by the assignment of the mission to which I have consented. These things I shall do:

That others may live!

Here are the subjects that Brad was trained on during his SAR Tech course:

• Parachuting

• Ground Search and Rescue

• Paramedic Course

• Confined Space Rescue Diver course

• RUET Course (Helicopter Underwater Escape/ Ditching)

• Land/Arctic Sea Survival Operations

• Winter/Summer Mountain Operations

• High Angle Rope Rescue

• Rotary and Fixed Wing Flying Operations

Upon graduation in 2006, Brad was posted to the ‘Outcasts’ in the 103 Squadron, in Gander, as a team member on the CH-149 Cormorant helicopter.

“The SAR Squadron in Gander is one of, if not the busiest, SAR Squadrons in Canada, with the majority of the missions being marine based. With such a sparse population over a large area, and minimal SAR resources available, we would often be the only rescue asset available to respond. Our area of responsibility was the Atlantic Ocean of Canada’s east coast up the Labrador Sea, including the lower arctic and part of Baffin Island.

We spent a lot of time during our training flights, flying all over Newfoundland, getting to see the island from the air. The beautiful rugged shoreline around Newfoundland gave me a great sense of pride for my home province. If you ever have some free time, I’d highly recommend that you travel and explore Newfoundland and Labrador!”

In May 2007, SAR Nautical Legacy, his Cormorant helicopter crew was tasked with a Mayday on a fishing vessel, due to an on-board fire. They were located approximately 250 kms off St. John’s in the Atlantic. The fishermen were unsure if anyone had heard their Mayday call and the fire grew to a point where they had to abandon their vessel and jump in the Atlantic Ocean. The water temperature in May in the Atlantic Ocean is around five degrees. Four of the five boat crewmembers managed to get into survival suits. One was sleeping in his bunk when the fire started, and he couldn’t reach the area where the suits were kept and ended up jumping in the water in his underwear. A surveillance aircraft spotted the boat that was on fire first, and then the fishermen in the water. The surveillance pilot relayed those positions to the Cormorant SAR crew when they were about 20 minutes from being on-scene on their 1.5-hour flight. Once on-scene, the SAR crew were able to conduct the rescue via insertion by free entry (jumping from the helicopter) to the water and extraction by multiple rescue basket hoists.

“After approximately two hours in the water, we were successful in rescuing them all! Two of the fishermen were severely hypothermic and wouldn’t have lasted much longer if we didn’t reach them when we did. This mission ended up getting a lot of media attention, with our Aircraft Captain giving a live interview on Canada AM. Even Prime Minister Harper came to Newfoundland to meet the fishermen and rescue crew later that year”.

The SAR crew received the Mynarski Trophy for this mission. The Mynarski VC Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Royal Canadian Air Force Association to the most deserving federal, provincial, or civilian organization, crew or individual, in recognition of a significant contribution to air search and rescue in Canada.

Brad is an experienced aircrew member with over 3,000 flying hours on various RCAF rotary and fixed wing aircraft. He performed another mission for a HELO crash with 6 people on-board in central Newfoundland. They had to package six patients for full spinal immobilization. For over an hour they conducted six night-time stokes litter

hoist sequences to remove all the patients. Brad and his crew received the RCAF Air Command Commendation for this rescue.

Brad’s next posting was in 2009, to 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron “The Tigers” in Trenton, Ontario. He was the Team Leader on the CC-130 Hercules and CH-146 Griffon aircraft.

In 2011, he and his Team Member parachuted into Northern Ontario, near Hudson Bay, to rescue an OPP Officer who had been snowmobiling and became lost and hypothermic. They were able to package the officer in their hypothermic rewarming kit while they waited for a ground party to reach them. Once the ground transport arrived, Brad and his Team Member transported the patient back to Moosonee on a two-hour snowmobile trip, because the Griffon helicopter was still four hours away.

On another mission in 2011, he parachuted into Georgian Bay, and with the help of the Canadian Coast Guard, he was able to rescue a 13 year old girl. Her family was out kayaking when the weather turned bad. Their kayaks had overturned and they were in trouble, as they had been separated. Due to high winds and waves, she had washed up on a dangerous rocky cliff area.

“We were able to parachute to the water, and a Coast Guard crew recovered us with their small rib. They took us as close to the shore as they safely could. My Team Member and I returned to the water and swam to the cliffs to reach the girl, quickly assessed her, and then got her into a single lift raft. We were able to swim her away from the crashing waves on the cliff edge and out to the open water to be recovered by the Coast Guard boat”.

“During my time in Trenton, we would conduct SAR training on Lake Ontario and around Toronto Island. During the winter season, the Toronto Fire Boat is one of the only boats still in service on Lake Ontario. Occasionally, the HELO crew would set up hoist training with the TFS boat and crew.

We would practice hoisting operations, insertions, and extractions from the Fire Boat. I remember one scenario in which we set up a medical exercise where we had the assistance of one of the fire boat crew members who acted as our patient for a medical exercise.”

“I also have some great memories of conducting water parachute drops to the Toronto and Peel Police Marine Units, around Toronto Island. Getting to jump from the Herc and parachute into Lake Ontario, while taking in the Toronto skyline was a really unique experience!”

“In 2016, I was part of the SAR HELO CH-146 Griffon crew, who got to take part in the Canadian International Air show, as the rescue crew and VIP transport. We spent the week working out of Billy Bishop Fire Hall. Each morning we would depart Pearson with a VIP, usually a Canadian or American General, and bring them downtown to see that day’s air show. On-route, we would often get a request to do a close fly-by of the CN Tower. We’d open our doors and do a slow fly by for the enjoyment of those in the CN Tower, and for ourselves too!”

“I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to serve Canada in the military. I was very lucky to have worked with a lot of amazing people. I was able to travel the world, and see just about every corner of Canada!”

“Moving over to work with Toronto Fire Services has been a smooth transition. It has allowed me to continue to serve our community in a dynamic and exciting environment.”

“Starting with Toronto Fire Services on day one at the Academy brought me back to my military basic training day one. Showing up, not knowing if I was wearing my uniform right! I felt a little naked in uniform without my beret! I was given the dress uniform hat and I brought it thinking that maybe it was part of the daily uniform I was supposed to wear! Chief Berg put us in our place, sorted us out, and had us on the buses in no time flat - off for day one of class.”

“The military spends a lot of time conducting training, to be as prepared as possible for the occasional missions we received. We experienced 80% training vs. 20% operations. Here at the TFS, I find we are opposite with 90% operations vs. 10% training. We are out assessing patients on medical calls, using the tools we have been taught on a much more frequent basis. There can be some down time, but there are busy times as well! I’ve been to back-to-back vehicle fires and a couple of ‘first truck in’ house fires this year! I feel confident with running medical calls, due to my SAR paramedic training. Actual fire calls though are another beast, where I’m just trying to take in and learn at least one thing from each fire response that we go to. Theory will only take you so far. There’s nothing better than getting dirty, while working on-scene, for gaining experience.”

When we got a SAR call, we would have lots of time to prepare and it would often take us an hour or more to arrive on scene. With TFS, it is only a few minutes from receiving the call to arriving on scene. This is something else that I’ve had to adjust to.”

“I’m really impressed with the Captains and crews I’ve seen out on calls. I can tell by their calm and cool demeanor that they have ‘been there – done that’ and have gained experience from the thousands of calls they have attended over their careers!”

“I am also impressed with the way the Association looks after our brothers and sisters. The TPFFA 3888 website is a great site. It provides a lot of information and resources for active and retired firefighters.”

Brad met his partner Justyna while they both performed SAR duties in Trenton. She is still in the military, working as an Air Combat Systems Officer. She trains aircrews to work on the CC-130 Hercules aircraft for the SAR role. Brad has three kids. Sophia is a typical 16 year-old teenager, who spends most of her time hanging out with her friends. Spencer, 14, is a big Montreal Canadiens fan, like his dad. He plays for the U15 Quinte West Golden Hawks Rep team. Sydney, who is 11, is a real pleaser. She is always interested in cooking and baking and would fit in really well at the fire hall!

I think that our brother and sister firefighters would agree that the skills that Brad worked hard to develop in his military life translate well to a firefighter’s career. We are fortunate to add his abilities to our capacity, to handle the emergencies we respond to.

2022/3 –Back In Business!

Greetings All!

As I’m sure most of you now know, we were successful in pulling off our first Fall Membership Meeting and Elections since Covid-19. We had just over 45 members in attendance and it was a success. The meeting began with the usual meet & greet and some catching up. Many thanks to MROO, who supplied the donuts and muffins, and Local 3888 who supplied the coffee!

We began with the welcoming of all those in attendance. The agenda was reviewed with the attendees by Al Thomas (your author), who also gave an overview of where we are since COVID. The call for nominations followed, where we made a pitch to the group to nominate their choices for the new RTFFA Executive.

Our first speaker was TPFFA President Kevin McCarthy. Kevin gave an overview of benefits and discussed the current Benefits Verification process being implemented by the City of Toronto via Mercer. A grievance has been filed with six expedited dates scheduled between now and January. He finished up telling us that they would be creating a link where all members could pass along any and all difficulties with the process. It’s now open and it can be accessed by following this link: https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/ form/4Jbb59f0K8gA7xwafG9LEZHD . We encourage any and all difficulties with this process be entered using the form, by following this link, so Local 3888 can best represent us and the issues we are all having.

Following Kevin’s report, we heard from TPFFA Secretary/ Treasurer James Reed. James discussed the cost of the current Active Retired membership to Local 3888. As this has not had the beneficial outcomes originally thought, James has suggested going to an IAFF Alumni format. The only change would be a cost to receive the IAFF magazine. The RTFFA Executive and TPFFA will discuss the options on this before the change is made.

The formal Guest Speaker session began with presentations by Bill Hartford (MROO) and Holly Murphy (Victor Insurance). Bill and Holly each made presentations on the benefits of being a MROO member, as well as the Health, Dental and Travel Insurance available to retirees.

The group broke for lunch, which was graciously provided by Comtech Fire Credit Union, one of the event sponsors.

First up after the lunch break was Christine Chapman and Mike Neely, of Comtech Fire Credit Union. Christine and Mike made a presentation on what Comtech has to offer in the way of banking services.

Our last speaker was Bob Burland, Local 3888/OPFFA

WSIB Representative. Bob discussed job related cancers and why it is important to contact a WSIB representative on diagnosis. Doing so allows the proper filing of a claim in a timely manner. He also mentioned the need to file a claim on all cancers, as this may help with having other cancers covered in the future. Any questions regarding this issue should be directed to our RTFFA address: active.retired@torontofirefighters.org.

With the completion of the guest speaker portion of the program, we began the election process, based on the nominations collected just before the start of the meeting. As it turned out, there were few nominations. Most were for those who were already serving in their positions. The one new nomination was for Mike Neely, who accepted the nomination and presented his wish to be a Director. The challenge for the Executive, was to organize the positions based on nominations and preference. The position of Vice President became vacant when Brother Paul Halls had declined further nomination and the position of Secretary/Treasurer became vacant when Brother Chuck West declined further nomination. Chuck stated he would stay as a Director.

After a quick huddle, and some political begging, we came up with the following deliberation:

• President – Al Thomas

• Vice President - Al Falkner

• Secretary Treasurer – Mike Neely

• Executive Members (3) – Ron Coates, Alan Hall, Chuck West

We closed the business portion of the meeting by acknowledging and thanking the first Executive Board of this Association for the work they have done during an unprecedented time with the COVID pandemic and all. We wished the two leaving their positions well. Paul Halls, we look forward to seeing what trouble you get into in the future. Chuck West, who remains a Director, will continue to manage our website. We also welcomed the new Executive Board, specifically Mike Neely and “everywhere” Al Falkner. We stated that we were all looking forward to the new term to come and representing our members as best we can.

There were a few interesting things of note that came from the meeting’s general discussion. The biggest one was the look on Holly Murphy’s face when she realized that our main attendee group was actually comprised of over 12 sub-groups. She thought that we were one big group of retirees that all had the same benefits. After explaining the complexities of the group, I think she, and a few others in the room, realized how complicated we can all be. This is why we suggest that members take advice given by other members on a public forum, with a grain of salt, and to ask the question directly to us or any of the existing Retiree Groups (the Original 6), to make sure that the information gained is accurate and fits their specific situation. The second thing that was very evident by those in attendance was the technology divide. Our technology divide is huge. We have members without any technology whatsoever, and we have others at the top of that spectrum who are well “plugged in”. We will be addressing this issue in the future for sure.

Some day-to-day housekeeping items:

• Your executive has been busy assisting members with membership/website issues, benefit issues, and the operation of the Toy Drive.

• Dues are all due each May 1st. We still don’t have a simple system to monitor our membership dues. Your executive will be working on this going forward.

• A Retiree Uniform Patch has been officially approved! Now we will work on obtaining permission, allowing us to wear it on our uniforms in place of the small Retired Patch! We will keep you updated.

• Greenshield Status - Our 3888 Benefits Committee continues to work hard on this one on our behalf. It’s a very complicated issue, and there is a huge amount of work being done by this group constantly.

The breakfast groups are back in full swing and in the regular places (with some exceptions). It would be a good idea for you to catch up with your retiree groups and see what’s going on. Each group has its own list of events that take place. Please reach out to your regular attendees to find out what’s going on.

We continue our work going on in the background. The RTFFA regularly collaborates with the “Original Six” Retiree groups, The Toronto Fire Fighters War Veterans Association, the Toronto Fire Historical Society, the Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association, and lastly, our two dedicated support groups, Box 12 and Support 7. Many of our retirees do double duty in these organizations and in some cases, act as referral agents.

The RTFFA continuously gets asked by many of our members what they should do with fire and military memorabilia. We refer them to the Toronto Fire Historical Society members to arrange pick up.

The RTFFA will continue to keep all of you updated on our activities. With the success of our fall meeting, we are aiming to hold the next membership meetings sometime in May, and we will keep you posted. It’s this meeting where the dues can be paid in person.

Alan Thomas President

Our membership drive is continuous! Help get the word out! If you or anyone else you know of is interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at: active.retired@torontofirefighters.org.

The dues ($25.00) are payable annually on the 1st of May.

Come join us, and remember to follow us on social media:

On the Webhttps://www.retiredtorontofirefighters.org/

On Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TFSRetirees

On Twitter@TFSRetirees

Be Well and Stay Safe. Your New Executive

Mike Neely Secretary/Treasurer Al Falkner Vice President

Alan Hall Director

Ron Coates Director Chuck West Director

BY MARIE-ÈVE JULIEN, OTTAWA FIRE SERVICES, STATION 55

For the past 5 years, the Toronto Professional Firefighter Celtic Society (TPFFCS) Memorial Ride to Ottawa has taken place during the first week of September. Every year, firefighters from across Canada unite and reunite in Hamilton, to ride their bikes together for over 550 kms over three days. The peloton is always composed of veteran riders, recurrent riders and new riders.

This year, we had a total of 59 riders. This event seems to grow a little bigger every year with more popularity, more riders, more sponsors, and more visibility. This is the living proof that together, we can reach our main goal of honoring our fallen brothers and sisters and raise awareness for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation (CFFF). This three-day bike journey brings something special to all of us. It is really humbling to be part of the TPFFCS Memorial Ride to Ottawa. We train for months prior to this ride. We raise funds and awareness towards the CFFF, each in our own way. It is a big commitment in saddle time and calories burned. Getting ready to bike 550 kms in three consecutive days is not something you can achieve the next day! Once the ride is over, we all get haunted by this feeling called nostalgia. The ride is already behind us. We all have to wait a year for this wonderful journey to take place again. The first-time riders might describe the ride as nerveracking, rather than wonderful. The ride offers its fair share of unknowns for a rookie rider! Lots of questions come through your mind before and during the ride. Am I ready? Can I do this again tomorrow? What about the day after? Soon, the three days pass by and you realize what you have accomplished!

For recurrent riders, you know what to expect and you get a better appreciation of the moment. You allow yourself to reflect on why you are doing this every year. You realize how blessed you are to be part of such a unique event. Not all firefighters are still among us. Far too many brothers and sisters have made the ultimate sacrifice and this is the reason we are doing this ride. Hopefully, readers will be able to let themselves coast through the memorial ride and imagine what we went through during these three days.

Our starting point was on Wednesday, 8:15am sharp, at the Hamilton Fire Training Academy. The day’s finish line will be 200kms away in Cobourg. All 59 riders and support staff meet up for the first time. Nerve-racking for some, exciting for others! Hamilton FD offered us a delicious breakfast again this year! Hamilton firefighters, friends and family are at the rendezvous. The morning briefing is about to start, meaning the ride is about to start. As we all take our first pictures of the ride, off in the distance we hear the sound of bagpipes…and an immense sense of pride invades us. The stress disappears and we are ready to tackle that 200km. The victorious sound of bagpipes carried us all the way to our first stop, Oakville, resonating in our heads.

Oakville was our first stop of many. As a new rider, you learn the tough way how quick the stops are. You realize how efficient you have to be with managing your time. Only a few minutes to replenish your fluids and energy, meet your needs and be part of the group picture! You

are basically running around while the veteran riders have it all figured out. That’s experience, my friend.

Soon after, we are riding through downtown Toronto. The city seems literally paused for our arrival thanks to an incredible police escort. This was one of the most impressive things we have experienced in our life! It is an indescribable feeling to cruise through downtown Toronto like that. Having the Toronto Police Motor Squad ride along side us, as they block every intersection and ensure our safety. It definitely leaves you speechless. Every year, this is a moment we all look forward to. No traffic, no cars, nobody to slow us down, only tramway tracks. Riding near the tramway tracks in Toronto is always a stressful part of the ride. Never let your front wheel get into the tracks or this will result in a terrible outcome for you and the people behind! Luckily, riding along the tramway tracks went flawless this year! All riders felt blessed about this!

Finally, we arrived in Cobourg, where most looked forward to a restful night. The longest stretch of the ride was behind us. Dinner time is always a good time to catch up on half conversations you had during the day, or to chat with others you did not have the chance to ride with. We all compiled our anecdotes of the day and this is how we make it one big story!

On the second day of our journey, we left Cobourg for Kingston at 9:00am, with an ETA of 4:30pm. We first stopped at a Cobourg Fire Station where we met a Cobourg Firefighter’s widow. Her husband passed away in 2020 from an occupational illness and is being recognized this year as a line of duty death (LODD). Occupational illnesses such as cancers are major causes of LODDs nowadays in the firefighting industry. In their work, firefighters are exposed to a lot of toxins and chemicals. Recognizing those who have perished due to occupational illnesses means a lot to all of us.

Kingston is always a fun stop. I always wondered if it’s because of the city or because it’s the shortest day! As usual, the second day goes by very quickly. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine and a little tail wind to make this day even

The steepest hill we had to climb was Foley Mountain in Westport. This is always a fun competition among riders and against oneself. Who will reach the top the fastest? After suffering that climb, we had a pretty strong tail wind that carried us all the way to Perth, Aston and finally Ottawa. It really felt like we were pushed from behind.

Riding into Ottawa evokes a strong sense of excitement, pride and mixed emotions. Arriving at the National Firefighter Memorial, with the sound of bagpipes, really is a unique feeling. Despite the heat of the day, and the effort on the bike, a huge thrill runs through your body. You feel excited to arrive at the memorial. You feel proud of what you have accomplished, not only as an individual, but also as a group. Once you put your eyes on the Memorial, you become very emotional when you see all the names engraved onto the wall. Soon after, you realize that the families of our fallen brothers and sisters were cheering us upon our arrival.

Whether you are a rookie or veteran rider, all come to agree that this year was an incredible ride! Some veteran riders would even qualify it as being the best ride so far. We had amazing weather, a perfect temperature, and most importantly, no accidents! Everything went smoothly, and this is a blessing for a peloton composed of 59 diverse riders. It really felt like someone was watching over us.

The TPFFCS Memorial Ride to Ottawa would not be possible if it were not for our many sponsors, the multiple police escorts,

our support staff, the team captains, all the departments who hosted and provided us with food and beverages, and most importantly, our main organizer, the logistical brain behind this event, David Cossitt. All we see in the pictures are the cyclists, but there is so much more. Some individuals devote a tremendous amount of time toward the organization of the ride. All credit goes to the amazing people working hard behind the scene to make this event possible.

BY TPFFA EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Firefighters have a reputation for being very “careful” with money. The following are some tips which may save you some money. Please note that I am not a financial advisor of any kind, just an individual who listens to others and picks up useful advice along the way.

• Reduce spending - this is the most important and obvious trick of saving money. You can’t save any money if you’re constantly buying stuff. Figure out what you need and what you can live without. For example, a daily Starbucks coffee, pack of smokes, Peloton subscription, etc. can add up to sizeable sums. There is nothing wrong with spending money on these if you enjoy them, but my suggestion is to write down the amount each time a purchase is made and after adding up the sum at the end of the month, decide for yourself if it is worth it.

• Take care of your belongings - taking care of your belongings extends their life cycle, preventing you from spending money to replace them. This can be as easy as using a good protective case for your phone, or as difficult and intricate as changing your vehicles’ oil yourself. You can also create hobbies from this, such as learning to repair small engines around the house, or learning to sew to repair old clothing.

• Advocate for yourself - when securing a new service subscription like cellphone or internet, don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself on why you deserve a great deal. If you’ve been a customer for a number of years, mentioning it and referencing competitor’s deals will communicate that you’ve done your research and have thought about switching providers. No one wants to spend ~30 minutes on hold to talk to a sales rep, but if it can save you ~$30 monthly, it’s worth it to me. Please don’t ask businesses for a discount simply for being a firefighter unless it is advertised.

• Don’t rely on overtime to pay the bills –lately, we have been fortunate to have opportunities to work extra if we choose, but it’s not a good idea to get used to this extra unbudgeted money, as it can end abruptly, leaving you paying for a lifestyle that you can no longer afford. Instead, consider using it to pay off debt or treat yourself to something extra like a trip for all your hard work. If you base your annual budget on the first paycheque of the year, then later in the year, when CPP/EI are paid off, this bump can be a nice surprise.

• Keep records - keeping records is important for so many things and it is a good habit to get into for your finances as well. It doesn’t have to be difficult either. For example, every pay I write down the amount I got paid, subtract money owing on upcoming bills (mortgage, cell phone, condo fees), then try and figure out what’s likely to happen in the next

two week period and what purchases I will need to make. Using that information, I can better decide how much on the credit card to pay off or how much I’m comfortable investing.

• Don’t pay fees - paying fees suck, so don’t do it! Avoid them whenever possible. Pay bills on time to avoid a “late fee”. Order online purchases at the same time to avoid paying extra “shipping fees”. Cancel appointments early to avoid a “late-cancellation fee”. Stick to carry-on if possible to avoid a “luggage fee”. Always question the “convenience fee” and then decide for yourself if you truly and honestly want to do business with an organization that charges a “convenience fee”.

If your bank charges you a monthly “maintenance/service fee”, find a new bank. If they expect you to keep a minimum balance, understand that this balance is what it is costing you to bank with them. There are plenty of other banks to go with that won’t con you.

• Credit card - credit cards are a trap that people seem to fall into because they don’t realize how much they are paying in interest on them. The government of Canada website has a very useful and eye opening calculator to show you this, but the best advice to give is simply pay it off in full by the due date indicated on the statement. Don’t aim for the minimum payment, or you will spend your life paying off credit card interest. For example, if you make a $1,000 purchase using a credit card with an 18% annual interest rate and only pay the minimum monthly amount of $10, that purchase will cost you $1,800 over the course of 10 years! This is, of course, assuming you don’t make any other purchases over the 10 year period.

• Subscriptions - it seems that companies offer a free trial requiring your credit card information in the hopes that you forget to cancel after the trial period. If you have a lot of subscriptions to services, odds are that you’re not using all of them. The new year is a perfect time to manage and cancel less utilized ones.

• Hunt for deals - Flipp is a great app to use for meal planning at the firehall because it tells you what foods are on sale at grocery stores in your area. Perfect for a ‘budget conscious crew”. It can also be used for other items, but remember that 20% off a useless item is still a frivolous purchase.

• Manage spending with your spouse - this is absolutely foreign to me, since I live an incredible single lifestyle, but apparently some couples might not be on the same page when it comes to finances, which can create relationship tension. A solution to this would be proper communication, to ensure you are both on the same page and reaching compromises when appropriate. Good luck!

Bruce Robert Gilbert

Kenneth Gill

Harry Mills

Thomas Hughes

Graham Etherington

Richard Gunns

Gary Leach

Retired Deaths from August 16, 2022 to February 17, 2023

February 16, 2023

February 16, 2023

February 12, 2023

February 11, 2023

February 7, 2023

February 3, 2023

Januar y 28, 2023

Craig Richard Waters Januar y 26, 2023

Russell Phillips

Januar y 18, 2023

Allan Copping Januar y 17 2023

David Cunningham

Januar y 16, 2023

Carl Boddy Januar y 11, 2023

Raymond George Sprunt Januar y 11, 2023

Stephen Mark Stewart Januar y 5, 2023

Harry Robert Taylor

December 31, 2022

Patricia ‘Trish’ Nicholson December 9, 2022

Danial Clark

December 9, 2022

Crawford (Croft) Simpson December 7, 2022

Donald Norman Muir

Edward Boyd

James ‘Jimmy’ Simpson

Brian Balsdon

Douglas English

Robert McIntosh Diack

Pieter Karl Zuber

Bob Colhoun

Valentine Arthur DeLory

Valentino Cicci

Douglas Fleming

Leonard Shirose

Robert ‘Bob’ Squibb

Norman Graham Porter

George Allison

Donald Allan Smith

David Nicol

Robert ‘Bob’ Kendall

December 4, 2022

December 1, 2022

November 30, 2022

November 29, 2022

November 27, 2022

November 22, 2022

November 17, 2022

November 17, 2022

November 5, 2022

October 31, 2022

October 28, 2022

October 24, 2022

October 23, 2022

September 25, 2022

September 16, 2022

September 4, 2022

August 19, 2022

August 16, 2022

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Norman Sinclair

On October 15, 2022 our fire community lost another brave soul. Retired Captain Norman Sinclair passed away at the age of 72, from an occupational disease at Toronto General Hospital.

Captain Sinclair started with the former Scarborough fire on September 30, 1974, and was very active as a union member of Local 626, and was elected as Vice President in the ’80s. Norman was promoted to Captain on January 13, 1997, and he retired after 33 years of service on January 31, 2008.

Norm had a definite zest for life, a contagious smile and an amazing sense of humour. He had many passions including golf, travel and most of all, spending time with his family. Norm was a strong believer in charity work and was actively involved within his community both at home and work. He will be greatly missed by all of us who were lucky enough to have known him.

Rest in Peace Brother Sinclair.

In Honour of Toronto Fire Captain Norman Sinclair, a Memorial Plaque will be hung at a TFS Station.

Chris Cauchon

After a long battle with cancer, District Chief Chris Cauchon passed away quietly with his family by his side at the young as of 57, on November 18, 2022. Devoted husband to loving wife Bess. Dedicated father to Jonathan and Zoe. Chris leaves behind his beloved father, Dona, and adoring siblings: Jim, Barry, Tom, Laurie, Kim, Alan and Marty. Predeceased by his dear mother Adrienne.

Brother Cauchon was a proud man, a proud firefighter. He devoted his career to the communities of Toronto throughout the duration of his career. Chris will be missed by his large extended family and his Toronto Fire Services family.

In Honour of Toronto Fire District Chief Chris Cauchon, a Memorial Plaque will be hung at a TFS Station.

November 17, 1958 –

November 10, 2022

September 30, 1966 –

December 14, 2022

March 19, 1967 –December 14, 2022

Lee (Michael) Herriot

Matthew Nicholson

Joseph Garry Zopf

BY JULIE PETRUZZELLIS, TORONTO FIRE ACTING CAPTAIN, STATION 116-D

Fire Service Women Ontario has just wrapped up their annual training symposium – the first in-person symposium since 2019! Every year, FSWO honours individuals within the Fire Service who have moved the needle forward for all of us in the profession, whether it be as a trailblazer or through innovative programs that advance FSWO’s goals and mandate to encourage, educate and empower women.

Each year, Toronto Fire and the TPFFA support FSWO in reaching their goal. TFS has paid the symposium cost for up to 10 members each year for many years now. This is an enormous benefit, especially for new recruits, who are just starting out in their careers. The TPFFA also supports FSWO through periodic in-kind donations of meeting space and our Executive and HREI Committee support FSWO nominal union membership

In turn, TPFFA members contributed to the growth of FSWO. Many of our are members, some are symposium instructors, and volunteered on the Board over the years.

Toronto Fire has the of being the largest fire the country and one of in North America. Our is large, and our depth and experience, interests and passions are impressive. At this year’s symposium, several of our members were honoured with awards for their service to the profession and to our communities.

Members Frank Jones (P132-B), Patti Youn (P324-B), Charles McGregor (A331-B), and Brian Porter (S313-D) were honoured with

this year’s Equity and Diversity award for their dedication to building community for people of equity deserving groups in the fire service. Along with a nationwide group of retired and active firefighters of all ranks and divisions, Charles, Patti, Brian, and Frank formed the Allied Firefighters of Canada/Alliance des Pompier.ière.s du Canada. The goal of AFC/APC is to diversity, equality and a network environment for firefighters of all underrepresented groups. human beings, we all about fitting in. Code and hiding parts of ourselves, our families our culture, is a daily for firefighters from underrepresented groups want to be accepted - who to belong. Brené Brown differentiates between “belonging” and “fitting in” in her book Atlas of the Heart. She writes, “Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it.” The work of AFC/APC is to dismantle

Photo credit : Mykhail Baehr

Sofie Lasiuk

systems that act as barriers to belonging. They are a registered not-for-profit group and are looking for volunteers to help with mentoring and peer support! Sometimes, just being your authentic self can be a way to dismantle barriers to belonging, and sometimes, being your authentic self requires you to be a trailblazer. This year’s FSWO President’s Trailblazer Award was presented to Sofie Lasiuk, ADC at station 231. The definition of trailblazer is to be the first to lead, to make a new path, and show others that a certain path is possible. Sofie is the first transgender firefighter in Toronto Fire Services history; something for which she is rightfully proud. Being a trailblazer means carving a path that makes space for others. We are hard-pressed to think of another firefighter who is as dedicated as Sofie to making space for other firefighters. As a mentor to many of us, she offers guidance and direction. As a leader, she brings clarity and builds confidence.

For those who know her, it’s plain to see how someone with Sofie’s drive, intelligence, strength of character, joyful outlook, and passion for helping others succeed, continues to impress those she meets. Her dedication to her profession is obvious.

She has been on numerous committees since she was hired 32 years ago: the Etobicoke Fire Department’s CAD Advisory committee, Toronto Fire’s High Rise Committee, the TFS Apparatus Committee, the Positive Space Committee, the TFS Deployment Review Committee, and, most recently, the TFS Recruit Candidate Interview Panel. She has also sat on national and international panels for transgender and 2SLGBTQ+ issues, all while promoting TFS and its inclusivity. Her work has changed our fire service for the better. When she isn’t busy trailblazing, you can find Sofie enjoying a tasty IPA somewhere in the city.

2022 Family Day at Canada’s Wonderland

TPFFA 2019, 2020 & 2021 Retirement Dinner & Dance

Captain Douglas Brown – Retiree

“ I wanted to make sure you know how grateful I am for that wonderful evening put on by the association on October 27. It probably will never happen again having 3 years of retirees. Being able to see so many people who I worked with over the years was amazing. The people, food, music, gifts and speeches were great. It was special to see the people being “remembered “on the big screen. This was a fantastic send-off after such a wonderful career. Thank you to you and all involved. I appreciate it so much.”

2022 Recruit Class

2022 IAFF Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs

2022 TPFFA Charity Golf Tournament at Royal Woodbine Golf Club

CP Holiday Train

Samantha Cooke: VP, Philanthropy - Daily Bread Food Bank

“Would you please share our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers that came out on Tuesday night to support the CP Holiday Train, benefitting Daily Bread Food Bank. I think it was the most well attended Holiday Train that I have seen in years and the community loved meeting you and your volunteers, exploring the ladder truck and enjoying the wonderful hot chocolate and cheer. Please say a BIG thank you to the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association (TPFFA) and to the volunteers from the Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association (GTMAA) for sponsoring the hot chocolate! Together you helped us raise over $5,330.22 in cash that night and collect over 4,044lbs of food! That along with the cheque from CP brings our total to over $20,330.22 raised to help provide food for our neighbours over the holidays. That’s over 20K meals!!! Stay safe and well.”

September 30, 2022

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The Fire Fighters of Toronto honoured the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities on September 30th, 2022 by wearing the colour orange and acknowledging that ‘Every Child Matters’. Toronto Fire believes that public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. We thank all those brothers and sisters in our recruit class and on the job who participated in this impactful day of truth and reconciliation by wearing an orange shirt. We will unite again come September 30, 2023.

Thank You

Patrick Howlett: President, Camp BUCKO

“…Your generous donation of $1000 is so very much appreciated by us all. …Camp BUCKO 2022 was extremely successful as we were finally able to celebrate our 25th Anniversary – Under the Big Top! As a result of generous donations, we provided an exciting program to our incredible young burn survivors. Our campers were very excited to resume a normal week at camp to enjoy some of their favourite activities: Fishing, Horseback Riding, Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, High Ropes and more. We cannot thank you enough for supporting our incredible campers!!...”

2022 TPFFA Drive-In Family Movie Night

Grateful Ardee Gomes: Scholarship Recipient from East York Collegiate

Dear [TPFFA Charity Committee]

I cannot explain my gratefulness towards you. This actually means a lot that you considered me as an award winner. This award will not only be the one success in my life but will remind me to keep working hard in my everyday life.

I am really thankful for your donation and really looking forward to helping the community the way you did to me today.

2022 TPFFA Annual Children’s Christmas Party at Variety Village

Queen’s Park

Cheque Presentation to the Supporting Our Youth Toronto from the Pride Joint Committee Fundraiser

BY MATT JENNISON, TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER AND CHARITY COMMITTEE MEMBER, STATION 312-C

Recap of the event:

In case you missed it…the Battle of the Bands was a huge success! This year, the TPFFA’s Charity Committee put together a trend setting fundraiser for the 2022 Movember campaign. The event was held at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto. The night sold out with over 500 people attending and brought in $15,000 for men’s health! Firefighters rocked the house and set the place ablaze with seven bands and one solo performer. This was the first year that the TPFFA held a Battle of the Bands for Movember. The night’s bands all featured first responders from Toronto. The playing genres spanned rock, country and punk. That night, we all learned that the TPFFA has some extremely talented musicians that lent their gift to make a big difference for men’s health. The TPFFA would like to acknowledge and thank the following performers:

So Dirty the Flamingos

Annie and the All Nighters

Help leading up to & during the event

Chris Tessaro

Tori Goulart

Mykahil ‘Bear’ Baehr

Nick Hall

Brad Hoy

Dan Veiras

Shawn Nichols

Al Falkner

Isam Mohammad-Sharif

Gerlando Peritore

Andy McDowell

Macenzie Boettger

Matt Schembri

Margaret Scott

Steven Amador

Micheal Wladyczak

Raffle providers

Annie Cho (MLSE)

Sharon Hunter (Vacation Hunters)

Jenna Penkala

Liam Brown

Long & McQuade

Michael Marchen

Kevin McCarthy

Tyler Watkins (Movember Canada)

Shane DeMerchant (Movember Canada)

Rob Kular

Cara Kabay

Jon Nagai

Tristan Brooke Fasulo

Geoff Berenz

Mike Raffaghello

Vicky Sura

Craig, Andrew, Bruce & John (Horseshoe Tavern)

Henson Shaving Company Canadian Tire Cineplex

Green Infrastructure Partners INC (GIP)

Janos Csepreghi

All bands fought hard for the privilege of best band in the TPFFA, but only one could take home the award. The MC of the night, Chris Tessero, awarded the band ‘So Dirty the Flamingos’ with 1st place. The band then proceeded to rock the house with an amazing encore to send everyone home. The runner up award went to ‘Annie and the All-nighters’.

Whether you were there that night, or you supported the Movember campaign by donating, growing, promoting or just showing up for the Battle of the Bands, you helped to make men a little more open to talk…so thank you! All that supported the event made Movember a huge success! Success like this can’t be done just once, so, we will have to see you again next year, so that we can top it!

A word from the event lead:

“Movember Canada is an organization about getting people to know it’s okay to ask for help; whether it’s about their mental health or their prostate. In this case, the event was only a success because of all the help I received along the way.

The event was important to me for a number of reasons. It is heavily tied to firefighters, due to our male dominated profession, but also the extra risk of cancers that we face. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

But for me, Movember is personal, due to prostate cancer running in my family. The only reason my father was able to beat prostate cancer this year is because of amazing organizations like Movember putting in the hard work raising funds, research and awareness for prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

On top of that, mental health concerns are something that run deep through our family. So, running an event that tells even one person that it’s okay to talk and get help is a win in my books. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among Canadian men aged 15-44.

I was thrilled to run the first event, and I cannot wait to run the next! It is only going to get better.”

Will Green

My Own Money

Fit to SURVIVE

The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition

STRENGTH TRAINING YOU SHOULD BE DOING IT!

BY ALEX BOERSMA, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 426-D

Muscle mass and strength. Two things most firefighters take for granted. We are strong. Our occupation requires that we are strong. The possibility that we might lose strength is a faint consideration we are unlikely to entertain until well after retirement.

But the consequences of delaying consideration of muscle and strength loss are significant. We are firefighters, but we are also human. And humans lose about 3-5% of their muscle mass each decade between 30 and 60, with a much more precipitous decline after that. More importantly, most muscle mass loss is in our fast twitch fibres, resulting in even more rapid declines in strength and power. After age 50, we see strength loss of 3-5% per year!

The consequences on the fireground can be profound. Tasks that seemed routine when you were 30, may become strenuous when you are 55. Because you are operating at a higher percentage of maximal strength, each task requires

more energy and contributes more towards depleting your work capacity. If a task requires speed or power, you will not be able to complete it as quickly or efficiently.

More important, however, are the health consequences. Muscle is a highly metabolically active tissue and contributes significantly to overall health. Many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognitive decline are negatively associated with both muscle mass and strength. Without strength training, loss of bone mass with ageing becomes almost inevitable. Strength, in particular, is impressively associated with overall mortality. If we want to perform well in the latter stages of our career and maintain health and vitality well into retirement, we must consider reversing or, at least, slowing the predictable decline in strength and muscle mass associated with ageing. The best way of doing this is through strength training. Although other activities, like aerobic training and yoga can be vital to health and may help to preserve some muscle mass and strength, they are by no means as potent as strength training.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to become a bodybuilder. The truth is, most of the health and performance declines mentioned above are much more distinctly associated with loss of strength and power than they are with loss of muscle mass. Although muscle mass is a significant contributor to strength and power, it by no means defines them. By focusing training appropriately, you can increase strength and power significantly with only modest increases in muscle mass.

What to do?

• WEEKLY FREQUENCY. MOST RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE STRENGTH AND/OR GROW MUSCLES IS TO TARGET EACH MUSCLE GROUP AT LEAST TWICE PER WEEK. THIS CAN BE DONE IN MANY WAYS, BUT HERE ARE TWO OF THE MOST COMMON:

o Upper/lower body split. Upper body one day, lower body the next day, rest a day and repeat.

o Full body workouts, two or three times per week. Squat, lunge, lift, push and pull.

o Note that if you are just tr ying to maintain the muscle you already have, hitting each muscle group once a week is probably sufficient.

• SETS. TO INCREASE STRENGTH AND/OR MUSCLE MASS, TRY 4-10 SETS OF EXERCISES PER MUSCLE GROUP EACH WEEK, SPLIT OVER THE NUMBER OF WORKOUTS YOU DO. PERFORMING 2-5 SETS PER MUSCLE GROUP, TWICE A WEEK, IS A GOOD TARGET.

o For maintenance, 2-5 sets once a week is sufficient

• REPS. REP SCHEMES WILL VARY SIGNIFICANTLY, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOUR PRIORITY IS BUILDING MUSCLE MASS (HYPERTROPHY) OR STRENGTH.

o For muscle mass, you can use numerous rep schemes varying from 4-5 sets of 4-6 reps with heavy loads all the way to 1-2 sets of 20-30 reps with light to moderate loads. Regardless of how you do it, you must use adequate load to ensure that you are getting close to muscular failure for the last few reps of every set.

o For strength, it will be most important to stick to the lower end of rep ranges with heavier loads. Doing 3-5 sets of 4-8 reps is a good place to start. Although increasing muscle mass will almost always help with strength, doing at least some of your sets with heavier loads will ensure that you optimize the “skill” part of lifting or moving heavy things.

• PRINCIPLES. THERE ARE THREE MAIN PRINCIPLES YOU SHOULD CONSIDER:

o PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD. For your muscles to adapt, they must be challenged with continuous, incremental increases in demand. These can be manipulated in many ways (more load, more reps with the same load, less rest between sets, etc.).

o SPECIFICITY/EXERCISE SELECTION. Although your muscles will definitely grow with isolated movements like bicep curls and leg extensions, gains in strength are very specific to the movement patterns that you use while exercising. Performing leg extensions will make you better at leg extensions, but the strength carryover to functional movements like squats and lunges will be limited. Therefore, those who are prioritizing strength improvements should probably focus more on movement patterns than on muscle groups when selecting exercises.

o INTERFERENCE. When you do a lot of aerobic training concurrently (on the same day or week as your strength training), the aerobic adaptations may interfere with your potential to adapt to the strength training. This is only an issue for people who are doing more than about 4 or 5 hours of aerobic training per week. If you do a lot of aerobic training but need to add some muscle mass/ strength, you may want to consider using a period of each year to prioritize strength. For example, you might take 3-4 months where you do 3 or 4 strength workouts per week while maintaining aerobic fitness with 2 or 3 hours of aerobic work. The rest of the year you can go back to prioritizing aerobic training while maintaining strength with 1 or 2 strength workouts per week.

Ingredients: (Serves 4)

1 Medium Onion

6 Stems Chive

1 Sprig Thyme

5 Cloves Garlic

1 Tablespoon Ginger

2 Unit Scotch Bonnet

4 Pimento

1 Tablespoon Ground Allspice

1 Teaspoon Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Five Spice Powder

1 Tablespoon Black Pepper

½ Teaspoon Salt

½ Cup Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

3 Pounds Chicken Legs and Thighs

Directions

1. In a blender, add and blend all of the ingredients except for the chicken.

2. In a bowl, place the chicken and pierce each piece multiple times with a small knife, to allow seasonings to penetrate the meat.

3. Add blended seasonings to the chicken ensuring that all pieces are coated evenly.

4. Marinate for a minimum of 2 hours (for best results marinate overnight).

5. Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C) and line a roasting pan with foil.

6. Place seasoned chicken onto pan.

7. Bake for 45 minutes uncovered. If using a grill, cook over a medium heat until chicken is completely cooked.

Cook time: 45min + prep time

DID YOU KNOW?

Sunday, June 1, 2008 has been considered the biggest catastrophe in music history and even coined ‘The Day the Music Burned’.

There was a backlot fire at Universal Studios Hollywood where music masters and film archives were stored. Musical archives and master recordings from classic artists like Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Elton John, the Eagles, R.E.M., Aerosmith, Iggy Pop, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Janet Jackson, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Eminem and 50 Cent and the Roots to Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana were all burned. This was a massive hit to the music community as master recordings from musicians are considered oneof-a-kind artifacts and are irreplaceable documents. Not to mention, the warehouse environment made it difficult to extinguish the fire. It wasn’t long before the firefighters on the scene had to mix up their tactics by using bulldozers and heavy machiner y to knock down sections of the burning warehouse to clear away barriers to give them access. It took almost 24 hours to control and put out the final flames of such a destructive fire.

To read the full story of The Day the Music Burned Google: The Day the Music BurnedNew York Times