Fire Watch (Spring 2013)

Hall Showcase on Station 141 VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2013

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

Publications Agreement No: 41203011

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 9

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ISSUE 1

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SPRING 2013

IN THIS ISSUE 5 President’s Message 7 Secretary-Treasurer’s Message

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Vice President’s Message

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Chaplain’s Corner

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Letters to the Editor

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Demographics & Statistics

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Diamond Jubilee Medals

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Memorial Hockey Game for Camp Bucko

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Fire Fighter Survival & Rescue

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Executive Talk

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Member Profile on Peter Cooper

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Never Shall We Forget

FIRE WATCH (ISSN 1715-5134) is published quarterly by the TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION 39 Commissioners Street, Toronto, ON Canada M5A 1A6 Tel: 416.466.1167 www.torontofirefighters.org E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

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Hall Showcase on Station 141

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Behind the Mask

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Parade Apparatus Restoration Project

Chief Editor Ed Kennedy

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Fit to Survive

MANAGING Editors Frank Ramagnano & James Coones Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632 E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

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3888 Recent Happenings

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2012 Upcoming Events - Ad Index

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ASSISTANT EDITORS Marla Friebe, Rodney Johnston, Janos Csepreghi, Bill McKee, Damien Walsh

HA LL SH OW CA SE ON STATIO N 141

Design and art direction Bryan Middleton

VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2013

FIRE WATCH PHOTOGRAPHER Keith Hamilton Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No: 41203011

THE OFFICIAL

Printed in Canada Copyright © 2013 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association

On The Cover

Advertising Please contact Bill Monson at 416-466-9180 ext. 322 or e-mail monson@torontofirefighters.org

Toronto Fire Watch’s highly anticipated annual TPFFA demographics issue with a wealth of interesting statistics!

Merchant Card Acceptance

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

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

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

PUBLICATION OF THE

TORONTO PROFESSIONA L FIRE FIGH TERS’ ASSO CIATION

Publications Agreem

ent No: 41203011

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A STRONG UNION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A LOCAL 3888 MEMBER

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want to reiterate what I have often said about the importance of your union to your well-being and working conditions. If I seem to be devoting a lot of time to this topic, it is because I truly believe that it is a critical issue and that we are under threat by right-wing politicians who want to see the influence of unions diminished or even eliminated.

The rights, salaries and benefits that we enjoy today were not simply given to us by previous city councils. Indeed, these same benefits were not handed over easily to any workers.

Here are just a few of the benefits that we take for granted: paid vacation, sick leave, overtime pay, health and safety regulations, pensions, collective bargaining rights...the list is endless.

A former President of the Toronto Fire Fighters Association, Orval Bolton, now deceased, often said that his proudest moment as a union representative occurred when he and his committee were able to amend their 56-hour work week to 42 hours, necessitating the hiring of many new fire fighters and increasing the safety of those fire fighters on the job, as well as providing more protection to the citizens of the City of Toronto.

Those wishing to weaken unions are very seldom honest enough to come right out and say what they really mean; they phrase their message in doublespeak. It is clear that the Federal (Harper) Government and the Provincial Conservative (Hudak) Party want to reduce our wages and cut benefits and pensions. However, they use code words like wanting to bring about a ‘competitive economy’ or in other words, lower wages. They talk about the need for a ‘flexible workforce’ when their real intention is to dilute our collective agreements, which give workers some security, safety and decent working conditions. In their mind, if you are a ‘flexible worker’, you are powerless.

When they talk about a worker’s ‘right to choose’, they really mean a workplace where the Union shop would be extinct. All workers would enjoy the benefits of a collective agreement, but only those wishing to pay union dues would be obliged to contribute, weakening their Union’s ability to represent them, resulting in the watering-down of their collective agreement.

A further critical issue to fire fighters is Hudak’s promise to alter our defined benefit pension plan, even though OMERS is one of the best run and financially secure pension plans in the Province of Ontario.

You will often see union busting initiatives being proposed under the heading of a worker’s ‘right to work’.

In the United States, an extreme set of anti-union laws have been passed in a number of jurisdictions. This sets worker against worker and lowers wages and benefits for both union and non-union staff. Unless we are diligent, it could happen here. Make no mistake, the Harper government has already introduced such legislation and the Hudak Conservatives promise, if elected, to enact even more stringent anti-labour bills.

They promise to do away with the Rand Formula for paying union dues.

Some history is important here. Judge, Ivan Rand, settled a major strike by autoworkers in Windsor in 1945. He provided a framework for labour law in Canada. His settlement noted that since all workers in a unionized workplace benefit from union membership, the Rand Formula requires them all to pay union dues, even if they do not want to join the union. Also, unions agreed not to strike while a collective agreement was in force. The Rand Formula has worked to enhance workplace peace and security for over fifty years, yet Tim Hudak wants to scrap it with the stroke of a pen.

I believe that we must be diligent when dealing with any government. After

Ed Kennedy

all, political parties of all stripes have unilaterally altered collective agreements in Ontario. We should not forget the ‘Rae Days’ of the NDP government in the 90’s, or how Mike Harris’ Conservatives attacked labour relentlessly, and more recently, the Liberal’s Bill 115, which disregarded the freely negotiated collective agreements of teachers. Be assured, there are some in our own City Council who would dearly like to strip most of the gains made over many years by Toronto Fire Fighters.

As your President, I can assure you that the future security of Local 3888 and our collective agreement will receive my utmost attention. With the help of your Executive Committee, we will continue to diligently represent our membership. We will be well prepared and strong, and will deal with City Council, Provincial and Federal Governments, and the public with the dignity and competence that Toronto Fire Fighters expect and deserve.

Our members have stepped up to the plate recently and supported our initiatives, such as our “Seconds Count Toronto” campaign, to fight the cutbacks in our staffing. I thank you for that support. However, with the threat of continued attacks, I anticipate that we will be in need of that support again as we face our future challenges together.

Thanks again!

Ed Kennedy President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, I.A.F.F. Local 3888 S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH

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SECRETARY-TREASURER’S MESSAGE PUBLIC RELATIONS:

WHOSE JOB IS IT?

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any different polls and studies show fire fighters as the number one – or if not, certainly very near the top - most trustworthy and respected professions. Obviously, this will vary from poll to poll as different events take place in our society but overall, we are very consistently held in high regard. This level of trust and respect ultimately comes from the sacrifices of our predecessors. They are the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice, in order to demonstrate what a dangerous and demanding job fire fighting has always been, and continues to be.

A good public image is an invaluable asset. Effective public relations will create good publicity, while building your reputation with citizens and others whose opinions matter. While advertising can be purchased immediately, generating positive publicity can take time. On the other hand, public relations have greater credibility and can have more impact than advertising. So where do we start?

I firmly believe that you start with yourself. If three thousand members worked to help maintain and improve our image, then we cannot fail. Our members are the Association’s eyes and ears. Only with your help can we all become aware of the great and sometimes unusual work that our members do.

At the beginning of this year, President Kennedy asked me to look after media relations. To date, we have been able to have some success but I have quickly realized that public relations is an engine that requires constant fuel. It is in that area that we require your help.

I will provide a few examples of where we were made aware of incidents that had taken place and were then able to generate positive public relations as a result: Months ago, I was contacted by a fire fighter that had heard about an incident that occurred that very morning. Fire crews responded to a fire and were ambushed by a deranged man waiting for them. This was a very relevant story, as

we had unfortunately lost two fire fighters under very similar circumstances in Rochester only two months prior. I interviewed the crew and the Association put out a press release to illustrate the unknown dangers that we can experience. It was picked up by some large media sources and a few of them ran the story just as we had sent it to them in the release. To me, this illustrated that the media has a desire to receive stories and that we are a trusted group that they will print a story from, sometimes without even verifying the facts in our release.

Had that fire fighter not forward this information to us, we would have never been able to make the media aware of it and get the exposure that we did. http://www.torontosun.com/2013/02/01/ toronto-firefighters-ambushed-whilebattling-blaze

Another one of our members was very excited and had just delivered the first baby of their career. They ended up speaking about how exciting the entire event had been in a post on their Facebook page. Another fire fighter, who read that Facebook post, contacted me, as they thought it was newsworthy. I contacted the crew member, who was happy to help and provided me with all of the details that they could. We had no contact information other than an address. I drove to the home and left a note detailing my intentions. The new father contacted me a few days later. He was so grateful for the help of the crew that he wanted to do something to thank them.

We obtained permission from Toronto Fire Services and a few weeks later, the crew paid a happy visit to the baby and the new parents at their home.

The story was so well received by the Toronto media. We had two live feeds and one media outlet promoting it all day, including a pre-interview with the father. The crew was great and the media could sense that the fire fighters were sincere in their pleasure to have been able to assist them. Over seven media outlets covered the story and it clearly illustrated

Frank Ramagnano

the point that fire fighters can do more than just fight fires. http://www.torontosun.com/2013/04/20/ firefighters-bring-gifts-to-baby-they-deliveredin-scarborough-home

These two examples illustrate what we can do when we all work together and are diligent about sharing information regarding some of the more unique or interesting incidents that we run.

As I said, these calls are the fuel that our public relations engine requires. We are taking steps to be more pro-active and produce stories that can be forwarded to the media – stories that they need to show. We are working on this initiative in both print and video.

I am requesting and encouraging all members to help us maintain and improve our public relations and media presence. If you are aware of a story or something you believe the media would be interested in, relating to us as Toronto Fire Fighters, please contact me. We can discuss it and see if there is something we can do with it.

We live in a new world of media; many of the media outlets have seen their staffing numbers drastically reduced and they do not have the personnel to track down or produce a story as they once did. It will be the organizations that can fill that void, which will get the media spotlight.

With you the membership helping, we will be able to do a better job in getting our share of the spotlight.

Frank Ramagnano Secretary - Treasurer, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888 S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH

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Local 3888 Picnic Tuesday July 9, 2013, D Platoon Working Toronto Centre Island

VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” –Benjamin Franklin

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henever a new group of members begin their career with Toronto Fire, our Association is fortunate to spend time with them, delivering an orientation session on the value of belonging to the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association. We go over the important parts of our Collective Agreement, explain what benefits they are entitled to, as well as their responsibilities as members of our Association. We explain the various roles that their Association plays and summarize the many duties and responsibilities of each of Local 3888’s Committees.

It’s a huge amount of information to digest in a relatively short period of time and I know that it can be overwhelming.

Our hope is to impart as much information as we can and point them to as many people and resources as possible, which they can refer back to when the need arises.

In speaking with many other union leaders across the city, it is apparent that not all organizations are afforded the same opportunity and for that we should be grateful.

We spend considerable effort in trying to educate our new members on the incredible value they are receiving from their monthly dues by belonging to a strong union such as ours.

I find that by the end of the day, I too am reminded of our good fortune. Everything we have was hard won by previous generations of Toronto Fire Fighters.

We are fortunate to have a strong Collective Agreement, and while others may occasionally point out a particular benefit or advantage that another Local may enjoy, I would still take our CA over any other I have seen.

We have fought long and hard for what we have today and it would be a grave mistake to take it for granted. Every round of bargaining builds upon the foundation

of what we currently have and we must continue to build for our future.

Think back to your first day on our job.

There was so much to take in and absorb.

We knew we had this ‘contract’ that looked like a big, boring document but didn’t really understand the full scope of all that it contained. Some members take years before they truly appreciate all that is contained in our Collective Agreement. I am not suggesting opening and memorizing every section, but as a member of our Association, we should all feel a duty to be aware of the important and relevant sections of the CA that affect us every day.

Knowledge is power and every one of our members should take the time to familiarize themselves with the sections of the Collective Agreement that are relevant to them.

Another educational aspect for our newest members is to understand the importance of our lobby effort at each level of government. It is critical for all of our members to understand the historic significance of fire fighter’s lobbying initiatives, which have been responsible for significant improvements in the health, safety and well being in their lives, as well as those of the community they serve.

We have come to be respected for our professional and determined efforts in addressing our issues. We have made progress at every level of government and will continue to pursue any issue that concerns us.

This spring, Canadian Fire Fighters will once again go to Parliament Hill and meet with MPs from across the country, to lobby our federal issues. Delegates from our Association will meet with all 23 MPs from Toronto to discuss the following issues: 1. The need to establish a Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) Benefit.

A $300,000 benefit to help address the financial security of the families of fire fighters and other public safety

Damien Walsh

officers who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.

2. Ensuring fire fighters have priority access to vaccines and antivirals during an influenza pandemic.

3. The recognition of fire fighter safety in the National Building Code of Canada.

On the provincial front, we continue to work with the OPFFA to advance our issues at Queen’s Park. Our top priority continues to be the expansion of presumptive legislation to include six additional cancers, which our fire fighters would be covered for should they be diagnosed. There are currently six illnesses that other provinces across Canada have included in their regulations and we are pursuing coverage for lung cancer, testicular cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer and multiple myeloma, in addition to the nine illnesses that are currently included. We will also strongly oppose any proposed change to the current arbitration system, which would negatively impact our profession.

Last, but certainly not least, is our continued work at City Hall to stop the erosion of service levels, which are under constant, relentless attacks, under the guise of providing “efficiencies”.

These attacks have been hard fought for the past two budget cycles - a trend that unfortunately, we fully anticipate to continue.

In a city that continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth in new construction and population density, we have fought back hard against a determined political agenda that places the lives of citizens and fire fighters alike, in danger.

They have shown that they will S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH

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Vice-President’s message...Continued from page 9

use whatever tactics they can against us but we continue to show the resolve and determination that previous generations of fire fighters have demonstrated, in order to be successful in our efforts. While we have been shaken and taken some losses, we can all be proud of what we have accomplished. We have learned some valuable lessons, which have hardened our resolve to fight back against any misguided proposals that would endanger lives.

In the words of Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher, “People are difficult to govern when they have too much knowledge”.

Your Association has a duty to continue to educate our members so that any threat to the health, safety and welfare of our members and the citizens we protect, can be properly challenged. I urge every one of our members to be aware of the issues and stand with your Association as we face them together.

Damien Walsh, Vice President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

Reflecting on 9/11

Rev. Barry Parker

By BARRY PARKER, SOUth Command Chaplain

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any of you have visited this site over the past twelve years.

Some of you were there in the early hours and days, seeking to serve and rescue - wondering, with the rest of the world, what such an event could mean? Ground Zero, September 11, 2001, was a defining time for so many.

In early May of this year, I watched the video of steelworkers hoisting the last segment of spire that will top One World Trade Center and complete a piece of the New York City skyline, missing since the 9/11 terror attacks. Having been to Ground Zero Memorial and Museum, you could see the inevitability of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center (WTC) complex in the heart of New York City. Watching that topping out, I reflected on all that has transpired since that fateful day.

A constant reminder for me is the simple prayer that I keep posted near my desk that was written by WTC Victim 0001.

His name was Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan Roman Catholic Priest and a Chaplain to FDNY. In all that I have read about him and in conversation with others, Padre Mychal was considered a ‘living saint,’ aware of his own personal limitations, brokenness, and humanity; therefore able to deal with all of humanity, no matter the need. He was beloved for his care of everyone and anyone, no matter their station in life, the issues they were dealing with - whatever the situation required.

On September 11, 2001, when he realized that the WTC had been hit, Padre Mychal, like so many other FDNY fire fighters, rushed to the site. Padre Michael first prayed for the City and then immediately got busy offering comfort and prayer and last rites to countless fatalities. When the South tower collapsed, flying debris killed

SOUTH COMMAND Rev. Barry Parker 416-271-7540 bparker@stpaulsbloor.org

him and many other rescuers and victims.

A NYPD lieutenant, who had also been buried in the collapse, found Judge’s body and, assisted by two firemen and two civilian bystanders, carried it out of the North Tower lobby to a nearby Church. That first ‘recovery’ on that fateful day, delivered an iconic picture, that with his prayer, keeps me focused on what sacrifices all rescue personnel might someday make.

The prayer? It is not complex, or lofty, or ‘churchy’. It is powerful, honest and speaks to deep truth. Padre Mychal’s prayer:

to be faithful, like the prayer encourages, not simply doing our ‘God-thing’ (as one fire fighter eloquently put it) but rather to be present in the right way and keep out of God’s way.

That prayer, as one guidepost, wasn’t the only hope that powered Padre Mychal.

It was also combined with another wellknown prayer that provided the second beacon in his life:

Lord, take me where you want me to go, let me meet who you want me to meet, tell me what you want me to say, and keep me out of your way.

Amen

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

Amen

It is a prayer that I daresay all five of your Toronto Fire Chaplains pray on a constant basis, thinking and unthinking, as we seek to serve you and your families. Our job is

As your Chaplains for Toronto Fire, may we not only pray these two prayers; more importantly, may we live them.

The answer might surprise you.

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IAFF Response to Globe and Mail Article

Brandon Jessop Funeral I’d like to thank the Brothers and Sisters for their thoughts, cards, flowers and condolences and for attending the visitations and the funeral for my son Brandon Jessop.

I’d also like to thank Steve Moyle for his eulogy and Jeff David (Station 134-D) for playing the bagpipes at the funeral.

Thank you, John, Janet and Courtney Jessop

Auction for Ovarian Cancer Canada I joined the Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC) Board a few months ago, after my wife Barb’s diagnosis, and last Thursday night she and I, along with our daughter and her partner, attended our first OCC fund raising event.

No sooner were we in the door when we were met by an OCC volunteer, accompanied by one of numerous Toronto Fire Fighters urging us to buy an “arm long” or “body long” strip of draw tickets…and later watched with much enjoyment as the full crew and the very funny Jessica Holmes auctioned off two dinners, sponsored by the TPFFA. As usual with those events, a huge success, and the bigger of the two dinners was purchased by a female litigator from Aird and Berlis. How is it, it’s always women buying these events with you guys? Anyway, she coughed up a very decent $5000!

I can’t tell you what it means to OCC and to Barbara and I to have the support of groups like yourselves as we struggle to beat this dreadful kind of women’s cancer.

My sincere thanks and those of Karen Cinq Mars and Elisabeth Ross at OCC to your Association Executive colleagues and of course the very generous, kind (and hunky!) crew who gave their time and enthusiastic support to our event.

I hope we can continue to count on that support in the future.

John Fleming Board Member Ovarian Cancer Canada

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Globe and Mail: Something Wente wrong Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

It’s the only way I can sum up my surprise and disappointment with “Canada’s National Newspaper” and its recent conduct in relation to what can only be described as a poorly researched and error-filled column slamming the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.

In the January 17 edition of the Globe and Mail, columnist Margaret Wente attempts to ridicule Toronto Fire Fighters for everything from salary and pension to working hours and even, “rescuing little old ladies having fainting spells.”

Their crime? Telling the media that the city should defer a decision to take five frontline fire trucks out of service until upcoming reports detailing the impact those cuts will have on public and fire fighter safety, and commercial and residential insurance rates, are available. For the record, Wente accused the TPFFA of “shameless fearmongering.”

Seriously.

The IAFF fully supports the right of newspaper columnists to express opinions that are controver-

sial and provocative, and to print opinions which with we disagree, as long those opinions are based on facts.

Therein lies the problem.

Wente: “Toronto’s per-capita firefighting tab is 30 per cent higher than in neighbouring Mississauga.”

Truth: Wente is misleading readers here. Fire protection is paid through property taxes, which are based on assessment. The average Toronto homeowner paid $236.63 for fire protection in 2012, which is 20 per cent less than the average Mississauga homeowner. A simple check of each city’s web site confirms this.

Wente: “Despite those dangerously unfilled firefighting jobs, fire fatalities in Toronto have dropped from 19 in 2001 to only nine last year.”

Truth: This is also misleading. She conveniently omits data from the intervening years. It shows that sadly, there were also 19 fire fatalities in 2002 while the number rose sharply to 26 in 2003. There were 21 fire fatalities in Toronto in 2009 and 18 in 2011. Does this sound like the basis to claim there’s a drop in fire fatalities?

Wente: “Best of all, they are required to work just six 24-hour shifts a month, which leaves lots of time for driving limos or working construction on the side.”

Truth: False. Toronto fire fighters work seven or eight 24-hour shifts per month, which averages 42 hours per week. This is in fact more than most peoples’ regular full-time hours, which means fire fighters have even less time than other workers for driving limos or working construction on the side!

Wente: “Thanks to better building materials and awareness, the number of fires in the United States, for example, has plunged in recent years – more than 40 per cent since the 1970s, according to the U.S. Fire Prevention Association.

But the number of professional firefighters has increased 40 per cent.”

Truth: For starters, there’s no such organization as the ‘U.S. Fire Prevention Association.’

Maybe’s she’s referring to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or the U.S. Fire Administration, or some hazy mix of both. What Wente fails to mention is that according to NFPA, while the number fire fight-

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ers increased 40.5 per cent from 1985 to 2010, the total number of fire department calls in 2010 was 237.2 per cent higher than in 1985! A pretty relevant fact don’t you think? Not if it doesn’t suit your narrative. By the way, the number of fire fighters per 1,000 people in the U.S. dropped from 1.73 in 1986 to 1.53 in 2010. Another relevant fact that didn’t make it into Wente’s column.

And the truth about today’s building materials, as Underwriters Laboratories and the National Research Council will attest, is that today’s homes are built with lightweight construction materials such as floor assemblies that fail quicker, and our homes are filled with plastics and other synthetic materials that burn hotter and faster than ever before. (For graphic evidence of this, go to youtube.com and search ‘Old vs. new room fire.’)

Comparing the number of fires is a red herring anyway. If there are fewer fires, does that mean it’s okay to diminish fire department resources and arrive later to the ones that do occur? Sounds like a recipe to drive fire fatalities even higher.

Wente: “…So they race to the scene because they can often get there a few minutes faster than the paramedics can. The evidence that this faster response saves lives is scant to non-existent. And when paramedics show up two minutes later, then what? Well, the firefighters can always direct traffic.”

Truth: Studies like the Ontario Pre-hospital Advanced Life Support Study (OPALS) confirmed long ago that communities that have included fire fighters as part of a tiered response have uniformly demonstrated improved survival for victims of cardiac arrest. In other words, arming fire fighters with medical skills and defibrillators saves. Two minutes may not sound like a lot of time to someone sitting at a desk writing a poorly-researched newspaper column, but try holding your breath for two minutes to understand what it’s like for someone in full cardiac arrest waiting for help to arrive. After paramedics arrive, fire fighters play many important roles including patient lift and securing the scene. Recent field experiments by the National Institute of Standards and Technology show that when fire crews assist paramedics treating a citizen who has suffered a traumatic injury, that all necessary tasks can be completed 1.7 to 3.4 minutes quicker, and patient removal can be completed 2.6 to 4.1 minutes quicker. It’s amazing what facts turn up when you take the time to properly research something.

It was bad enough to be slammed in print using dubious information like this. What was equally appalling was the Globe and Mail’s attempt to prevent the TPFFA from being able to fully respond.

Here’s how that went down: Thinking it fair they should be given an equal opportunity to respond to such an attack, the TPFFA, with assistance from the IAFF Canadian Office, drafted a robust 800-word response that addressed all of the problems with Wente’s column and submitted it the very next day. Surely, we thought, our response deserved equal prominence.

Was it critical? Hell yes. Given the tone of Wente’s piece, and the errors and misinformation

is contained, so should it have been. Shouldn’t we have been able to fight fire with fire? Apparently, the Globe and Mail doesn’t think so. It immediately rejected the letter as being too long, pointing to a 150-to-200-word limit on their letters to the editor.

Get this: they told us this on the very same day they printed a 234-world letter from former Reform Party Leader Preston Manning agreeing with one of their articles.

The TPFFA shortened its letter to 611 words; the absolute minimum they felt would enable them to adequately respond to all of the problems with the Wente column. They told the Globe that a 200-word limit on letters might be adequate for the average reader responding to a story, but it was totally inadequate to allow an organization slammed in print to adequately respond.

Again, the Globe refused to print it.

Can you imagine, an identifiable organization slammed in print in a national newspaper, in an error-filled column, being told its response should be limited to the same 150 to 200 words reserved for everyday readers’ letters to the editor? Come on.

The Globe eventually printed a toned-down, heavily edited, 241-word version of the TPFFA letter that was significantly less critical of the column.

It was better than nothing, slightly.

So in order to have its official response to Wente’s column known, the TPFFA posted the original version of its letter online and in social media, and the IAFF Canadian Office blast e-mailed it to all of our affiliate locals across Canada. This column is another form of response, and I hope that Margaret Wente reads it.

This is not the first time fire fighters have found ourselves on the wrong end of some edgy columnist’s pen, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Our skin’s not that thin and we’ll take criticism if it’s deserved, but in this case, as in the Sue-Ann Levy affair in 2007, the writer’s zeal to slam fire fighters outmatched their obligation to make sure they had all the facts.

The IAFF recommends that local affiliates try to develop relationships with reporters and other media figures that are based on mutual respect and a mutual understanding of each others’ role in society, and the job they have to do. In fact, right now we’re in the process of developing enhanced media training opportunities for our local leaders in Canada.

But there’s not much you can do when someone who has an axe to grind blindsides you with an error-filled attack piece. Heaven forbid they should contact you in advance to get your side of the story or allow you to respond to their spurious allegations with factual information. I’m sure we all agree there are a lot of important issues that need to be addressed these days, but it’s pretty sad that newspapers, even the Globe and Mail, to allow their columnists reduce the level of debate to that of an uninformed barstool rant, then try to dissuade you when you call them on it. I think we as a society deserve better from the media.

So who is Margaret Wente anyway?

You probably never heard of Margaret Wente until last fall, when an Ottawa-based media blogger

exposed one of Wente’s columns as containing lifted paragraphs from another journalist without acknowledging it.

Unbelievably, the Globe and Mail’s immediate response was to downplay the plagiarism and to defend Wente. Only after the so-called Twitterverse ripped the Globe a new one over the affair and the nation’s media scholars expressed their astonishment, did the newspaper give the appearance of taking the matter seriously. Wente was given an unspecified discipline, but permitted to stay on. It used to be that plagiarism was a capital offence in journalism, but it seems times have changed. I guess a newspaper is within its right to keep a columnist whose credibility is brought into question, at its peril.

Which brings us to Wente’s hatchet job on the TPFFA. Take a look at the facts above and decide for yourself whether you think the column was fair and accurate, and whether the Globe and Mail actively attempted to avoid the embarrassment of printing a large but well-deserved amount of criticism from the TPFFA. Scott Marks IAFF Assistant to the General President Canadian Operations

Mike Holmes Wins Glen Cole Award I want to thank you for the $500 donation to the Holmes Foundation, it is certainly an honour to have received the Glen Cole 2012 Media Award and the support for my Foundation is very much appreciated.

Once again, thank you so very much for your time on this grant.

Mike Holmes President

Donation to Niagara Shorthills Christian Ministries The Directors of Niagara Shorthills Christian Ministries would like to express their sincere appreciation for the donation that has been sent to us on behalf of Greg Schultz. It is with much respect that we accept this donation to honor Greg as he has received the Al Pearsall Award.

Niagara Shorthills Christian Ministries operates 8 weeks of children’s day camp during the summer solely by the help of volunteers like Greg. For many of these children this is their only summer activity. We strive to keep the cost at a minimum, charging only $60. for the week.

There are many teens and adults who volunteer their summer weeks to help at camp giving the campers a wonderful experience.

We are thankful for the blessing here at camp that we have already seen over the last thirteen years and look forward to this coming summer.

Tim Hartwick President

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 13

DIVISION

Fire Prevention and Public Education

Toronto Fire Services Staff Complement By Rank (As of March 20113)

Communications FIREFIGHTERS

Staff Services Information and Communication Systems Mechanical Maintenance Professional Development and Training

CAPTAINS

DISTRICT CHIEFS

MANAGEMENT/ EXCLUDING STAFF/ LOCAL 79

TOTAL

122

21

5

2

150

60

9

4

2

75

7

6

1

49.3*

63.3

9

4

2

3

18

32

7

2

2

43

33

5

2

40

525

61

20

2,774

80

7** 86.3

7 3,170.3

2,168 2,398

605

Operations Senior Management and Officers Note: Based on approved positions as reflected in the 2013 operating budget and organizational chart. * Includes 0.5 management position (shared position with EMS) and summer students totaling 0.8 FTE’s ** Includes Administrative Assistant at Dr. Forman’s Office

14

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 14

1 P314 2 P332 3 P313 4 R325 5 P331 6 P312 7 R426 8 P315 9 P333 10 P132 11 P114 12 R231 13 P325 14 P344 15 P223 16 P232 17 P442 18 R134 19 P142 20 P234 21 P146 22 P324 23 R112 24 P433 25 P443 26 R225 27 P143 28 R345 29 P445 30 R421 31 P141 32 P222 33 P311 34 R115 35 P323 36 R413 37 P322 38 P415 39 R441 40 P145 41 R235 42 P334 43 P426 44 P135

4,581 4,777 -4.10% 4,341 4,448 -2.41% 3,610 3,400 6.18% 3,495 3,762 -7.10% 2,953 2,883 2.43% 2,891 3,247 -10.96% 2,865 3,115 -8.03% 2,835 3,088 -8.19% 2,803 2,865 -2.16% 2,689 3,060 -12.12% 2,665 2,935 -9.20% 2,643 2,915 -9.33% 2,635 3,095 -14.86% 2,632 2,654 -0.83% 2,526 2,656 -4.89% 2,526 2,832 -10.81% 2,505 2,816 -11.04% 2,453 2,560 -4.18% 2,444 2,800 -12.71% 2,427 2,502 -3.00% 2,409 2,562 -5.97% 2,366 2,268 4.32% 2,365 2,641 -10.45% 2,355 2,471 -4.69% 2,271 2,519 -9.85% 2,253 2,265 -0.53% 2,230 2,333 -4.41% 2,171 2,405 -9.73% 2,165 2,262 -4.29% 2,154 2,337 -7.83% 2,153 2,302 -6.47% 2,141 2,446 -12.47% 2,103 2,163 -2.77% 2,101 2,108 -0.33% 2,037 2,215 -8.04% 2,033 2,238 -9.16% 2,017 2,147 -6.05% 2,008 2,253 -10.87% 1,972 2,075 -4.96% 1,960 2,065 -5.08% 1,952 2,162 -9.71% 1,946 2,059 -5.49% 1,944 2,367 -17.87% 1,906 2,063 -7.61%

% Change

2011 Runs

2012 Runs

Apparatus

2012 Rank

% Change

2011 Runs

2012 Runs

Apparatus

2012 Rank

Pumpers/Rescue Pumpers

45 R411 1,887 1,949 -3.18% 46 P226 1,881 2,087 -9.87% 47 R341 1,876 2,360 -20.51% 48 R423 1,838 1,962 -6.32% 49 R224 1,826 1,818 0.44% 50 P245 1,797 2,028 -11.39% 51 P343 1,755 1,823 -3.73% 52 R243 1,754 1,919 -8.60% 53 R133 1,729 2,210 -21.76% 54 P233 1,716 1,882 -8.82% 55 P116 1,682 1,677 0.30% 56 P244 1,676 1,937 -13.47% 57 P111 1,645 1,743 -5.62% 58 P121 1,638 1,706 -3.99% 59 P242 1,594 1,675 -4.84% 60 R122 1,556 1,584 -1.77% 61 P431 1,549 1,637 -5.38% 62 R435 1,541 1,754 -12.14% 63 R444 1,534 1,682 -8.80% 64 P342 1,527 1,639 -6.83% 65 P113 1,515 1,568 -3.38% 66 P123 1,493 1,565 -4.60% 67 R241 1,477 1,487 -0.67% 68 P212 1,431 1,491 -4.02% 69 P125 1,422 1,426 -0.28% 70 P422 1,364 1,420 -3.94% 71 P413 1,353 1,676 -19.27% 72 R326 1,332 1,354 -1.62% 73 P213 1,308 1,690 -22.60% 74 R321 1,301 1,377 -5.52% 75 P424 1,286 1,350 -4.74% 76 P227 1,275 1,466 -13.03% 77 R425 1,245 1,312 -5.11% 78 P432 1,243 1,289 -3.57% 79 R412 1,184 1,257 -5.81% 80 P131 1,176 1,307 -10.02% 81 R434 1,172 1,254 -6.54% 82 R214 1,158 1,219 -5.00% 83 P224 1,049 1,259 -16.68% 84 P211 936 961 -2.60% 85 P215 914 1,087 -15.92% 86 P335 138 130 6.15% 87 V335 77 72 6.94% 88 P346 n/a 28 n/a

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 15

Demographics and Statistics...Continued from page 15

% Change

2011 Runs

2012 Runs

Apparatus

1 S313 2,776 2,384 16.44% 2 S143 2,011 1,814 10.86% 3 S232 2,011 1,726 16.51% 4 S331 1,992 1,668 19.42% 5 S445 1,601 1,389 15.26%

1 HR332 3,499 3,410 2 HZ145 1,663 970

% Change

2011 Runs

2012 Runs

Apparatus

Speciality and Support 2012 Rank

1 A312 2,542 2,632 -3.42% 2 A325 2,381 2,299 3.57% 3 A142 2,136 2,319 -7.89% 4 A315 1,793 1,708 4.98% 5 T114 1,776 1,946 -8.74% 6 A222 1,733 1,934 -10.39% 7 A231 1,729 1,918 -9.85% 8 T331 1,673 1,718 -2.62% 9 A113 1,622 1,477 9.82% 10 T333 1,586 1,464 8.33% 11 A131 1,525 1,511 0.93% 12 A244 1,479 1,803 -17.97% 13 A133 1,434 1,513 -5.22% 14 A426 1,419 1,427 -0.56% 15 A226 1,356 1,414 -4.10% 16 A322 1,287 1,475 -12.75% 17 A421 1,211 1,308 -7.42% 18 A441 1,182 1,326 -10.86% 19 A213 1,160 1,226 -5.38% 20 PL432 1,100 1,130 -2.65% 21 PL415 1,083 1,150 -5.83% 22 A345 1,059 1,021 3.72% 23 A341 1,014 1,147 -11.60% 24 A135 1,003 1,176 -14.71% 25 A324 954 908 5.07% 26 A423 945 1,021 -7.44% 27 A433 919 991 -7.27% 28 A411 784 928 -15.52% 29 A321 700 794 -11.84% 30 A215 660 720 -8.33%

2012 Rank

Heavy Squads % Change

2011 Runs

2012 Runs

Apparatus

2012 Rank

Aerials/Platforms/Towers

2.61% 71.44%

3 HZ332 1,577 1,066 47.94% 4 CMD10 261

271

-3.69%

5 LA421 236

251

-5.98%

6 LA333 219

187

17.11%

7 LA114 169

139

21.58%

8 FB334 168

185

-9.19%

9 LA231 150

162

-7.41%

10 CMD30 119

126

-5.56%

11 WT211 17

9

88.89%

12 TRS235 6

12

-50.00%

Note: Based on Information provided by TFS

16

16

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 42

3 9 7 5 9 9 9 7 1 2 2 1 1

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Average Age 45.9 46.0 46.3 Average Years of Service 17.4 17.5 17.6 Average Age when starting 31.7 30.7 30.6

Average age when retiring 56.1 56.3 56.8 Average sevice when retiring 30.4 30.5 31.6

Operations

Captain Average Age 52.9 53.3 53.9 Captain Avg Years of Service 28.0 28.3 28.6 DC Average Age 58.2 57.4 57.6 DC Avg Years of Service 33.8 33.7 33.8

46.6 17.9 28.3

46.9 18.1 31.4

56.9 29.3

58.6 32

53.9 28.5 56.8 33.2

54.4 28.9 57.1 33.1

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970

93 42 90 97 79 49 50 53 40 63 160 84 93 106 1 136 68 133 68 71 68 127 192 184 130 112 68 104 86 79 48 60 68 34 37 21 9 6 3 1 1 0 1

Left TFS

3 8 9 5 10 7 7 6 3 3 0 0 4

# of Members

# of District Chief per each Service Year

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Start Date

District Chief Years of Service

1 0 2 43 80 51 80 57 52 30 48 50 18 19 9 4 2 1 1

# of District Chiefs each age

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Age of District Chiefs

1 1 0 1 11 23 28 38 43 55 56 65 51 53 32 31 20 16 7 8 7 2

# of Captains per each Service Year

43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Captain Years of Service

93 42 90 97 79 49 50 53 40 63 160 84 93 106 1 136 68 133 68 71 68 127 192 184 130 112 68 104 86 79 48 60 68 34 37 21 9 6 3 1 1 0 1

# of Captains each age

0-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Age of Captains

# of Members each Service Year

2 6 7 8 21 33 31 40 28 32 38 35 38 59 44 52 77 90 86 85 85 114 102 111 115 132 152 153 149 151 149 141 133 102 111 77 67 43 41 21 16 12 13 3 1 2 1

Years of Service 3888 Members

# of Members each age

Age of 3888 Members 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

70 120 84 113 87 60 49 60 50 91 65 98 124 70 65

*This chart is produced from data on record January 1, 2013 370 members can retiree without a penality as of this date. 289 are over 50 years old with at least 30 years service and 81 are 50 with an 85 factor.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH

17

Demographics and Statistics...Continued from page 17

2012 Vehicle Runs by Command

Command 1 Command 2 Command 3 Command 4

Unallocated

264,703

Total

$356,765.7

27,434 27,855 37,519 27,699 5

120,512

% Change

2011 Runs

District Chief Cars & Platoon Chiefs 2012 Runs

Net Operations $290,272.7 Fire Prevention and $12,394.3 Public Safety Communications and $26,916.4 Operational Support Professional Development $24,058 and Mechanical Support Headquarters $3,124.3

Apparatus

Total

61,641 54,457 92,126 56,388 59 32

2012 Rank

Command 1 Command 2 Command 3 Command 4 Chiefs Cars Unallocated

2012 Incidents by Command

1 C33 4,732 4,317 9.61% 2 C31 3,857 3,798 1.55% 3 C13 2,753 2,860 -3.74% 4 C34 2,335 2,220 5.18% 5 C32 2,246 2,125 5.69% 6 C14 2,220 2,380 -6.72% 7 C23 1,903 1,839 3.48% 8 C11 1,900 1,826 4.05% 9 C41 1,890 1,794 5.35%

Gross Salaries and Benefits Materials and Supplies Equipment Services and Rents Contribution to Reserves Interdepartmental Charges Other

$340,387 $7,849.5 $724.1 $4,942.6 $8,902.5 $7,254.5 $28.2

$370,087.90

10 C42 1,843 1,889 -2.44% 11 C12 1,782 1,613 10.48% 12 C22 1,644 1,683 -2.32% 13 C44 1,480 1,474 0.41% 14 C24 1,410 1,444 -2.35% 15 C43 1,119 1,077 3.90% 16 C21 795 858 -7.34% 17 C30 144 126 14.29% 18 C10 143 106 34.91% 19 C20 114 126 -9.52% 20 C40 108 100 8.00%

18

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 18

Year

Net Operating budget % Increase

1998

$218,964.9

1999

$217,885.7

-0.5%

2000

$230,728.0

5.9%

2001

$248,428.6

7.7%

2002

$262,067.4

5.5%

2003

$277,075.5

5.7%

2004

$297,944.9

7.5%

2005

$303,829.4

2.0%

2006

$327,746.2

7.9%

2007

$330,143.9

0.7%

2008

$351,649.4

6.5%

2009

$361,377.2

2.8%

2010

$358,977.8

-0.7%

2011

$359,569.1

0.2%

2012

$356,765.7

-0.8%

2005 – 2011 TFS Response Statistics (at time of dispatch – CAD Data) Call Type Check Call Carbon Monoxide Fire Alarm Ringing Fire (including vehicle fires) Gas Leak Hazardous Materials Island Lake Mutual Aid Medical Call Police Assist Rescue Suspicious Substance

2012 3,298 3,702 22,219 11,166 1,632 1,287 87 21 1 67,783 239 2,820 60

2011 6,083 3,976 22,476 10,248 849 1,584 95 8 0 86,380 16 2,579 79

2010 6,435 4,121 23,950 10,615 538 1,731 107 7 1 83,196 24 2,476 71

2009 6,958 3,850 25,564 10,640 610 1,620 76 5 0 79,747 23 2,156 50

2008* 7,033 3,511 27,635 10,168 590 1,823 70 10 1 78,251 18 2,322 39

2007* 7,181 3,596 27,978 11,496 622 1,949 73 6 1 75,177 31 2,381 41

2006* 7,003 3,652 28,196 10,679 496 1,877 97 14 1 73,140 31 2,199 21

2005* 7,509 3,828 29,063 11,315 531 1,738 76 6 2 72,645 28 2,311 31

Vehicle Incident Water Problem

7,947 670

9,249 720

9,623 623

8,878 682

8,805 664

9,675 670

10,238 573

9,483 917

Wires Down

1,042

992

889

1,155

1,004

1,465

1,042

970

TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS % Change

123,974 145,334 144,407 142,014 -14.74% 0.64% 1.69% 0.05%

TOTAL NUMBER OF UNIT RESPONSES % Change

264,703 -4.18%

276,261 276,729 -0.17% -0.56%

141,944 -0.28%

142,342 2.21%

139,259 -0.85%

140,453

278,281 289,460 297,287 294,660 -3.86% -2.63% 0.89% -2.95%

303,606

Notes: *Total numbers have been restated for previous year to remove the “Test Event” category, as this code does not result in any vehicle movements.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 19

Demographics and Statistics...Continued from page 19

How does Toronto’s rate of injuries from residential fires, compare to other municipalities?

Factors that can influence the rate of injuries and fatalities occurring in fires in a community include:

Rate of Residential Fire Related Injuries per 100,000 Persons (Community Impact)

Fatalities

• Urban form/densification (rural/urban/high-rise apartments or office towers/ commercial/ industrial/forests) and the degree of risk (such as fire spread, age and type of building stock, type of occupancy, etc.) associated with these varying forms • The extent of fire prevention and education programs.

• The daily inflow and outflow of commuters, tourists, seasonal residents and attendees at cultural, entertainment or sporting events, is not factored into this population-based measure.

• Municipal efforts to reduce the incidence of false alarms.

Rate of Residential Fire Fatalities per 100,000 Population (Community Impact)

How does the TFS measure up?

How do Toronto’s in-service fire vehicle hours, compare to other municipalities?

The number of in-service vehicle hours that are available in a municipality can be influenced by: • Service level determined by municipal council. Some municipalities have composite fire stations i.e. full-time and volunteer fire fighters sharing same facility) in urban areas.

• Varying population densities and nature/extent of risks within urban areas can impact this result.

Number of Staffed In-Service Fire Vehicle Hours (in Urban Areas) per Capita (Service Level) & Urban Population Density

20

• Geography/topography, transportation routes, traffic congestion, travel distances (station location, etc.).

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 20

How does Toronto’s rate of residential fires compare to other municipalities?

Factors that can influence the rate of fires in a community include: • Urban form/densification (rural/urban/ high-rise apartments or office towers/ commercial/ industrial/forests) and the degree of risk (such as fire spread, age and type of building stock, type of occupancy, etc.) associated with these varying forms.

Rate of Residential Structural Fires with Property Losses per 1,000 Households (Community Impact)

• Within an urban setting the age and concentration of homes or apartments (particularly older homes constructed close together on narrow streets) can create greater risks of fire spread.

How does Toronto’s fire cost per in-service vehicle hour, compare to other municipalities?

Municipal results for fire cost per in-service vehicle hour can be influenced by: • The severity or nature of risk associated with each incident impacts the number and type of vehicles responding (responses) as well as deployment strategies (number and type of apparatus by response type).

• Other considerations: indicate whether or not the available apparatus and equipment are suitable and safe for carrying out the mandate of the department, are appropriately staffed, properly maintained, replaced as required, and are supplemented by adequate and appropriate apparatus and equipment • What year’s wage rates are reflected in costs which can vary according to where the municipality is in the collective agreement cycle (wage rates could be one or more years old pending outcome of negotiations or arbitration on new agreement)

Cost of Fire Services (Urban Areas) per In-Service Vehicle Hour (Efficiency)

How does Toronto’s fire response time compare to other municipalities?

Response times in the urban areas of municipalities can be influenced by many variables, including: • Geography/topography, travel distances (station location/coverage areas, deployment strategies), transportation routes, traffic congestion, seasonal weather conditions, etc.

90th Percentile Station Notification Response Time (Customer Service)

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 21

Demographics and Statistics...Continued from page 21

Age of Current Fleet YEAR APPARATUS #

MANUFACTURER

AERIALS 2007 2002 1997

A113 A131 A133

Spartan Spartan Spartan

Smeal Smeal Smeal

1999 2001 2007 2001 2001 2002 2007 2007 2004 2001 1999 2001 2004 2006 2009 2002 2007 2002 2006 2004 1999 2002 1997 2007 2006 2005 2005

A135 A142 A213 A215 A222 A226 A231 A244 A312 A315 A321 A322 A324 A325 A341 A345 A411 A421 A423 A426 A433 A441 PL415 PL432 T114 T331 T333

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan E-One Spartan E-One E-One E-One

Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Superior Smeal E-One E-One E-One

2005 2007 2004 2007 2004 2002 2007 2004

P111 P113 P114 P116 P121 P123 P125 P131

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Seagrave Smeal Smeal Seagrave Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal

2005 2005 2010 2007 2004 2010 2005 2007 2007 2005 2002 2007 2004 2007 2007 2007 2007 2004 2010 2007 2010 2002 2010 2010 2007 2010 2010 2002 2010 2007 2006 1997 2007 2005 2007 2002 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007

2005 2005 2010 2005 2007

P132 P135 P141 P142 P143

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Seagrave Seagrave Crimson Seagrave Smeal

2007 2005 2007 2007 2002

PUmpers

22

YEAR APPARATUS #

MANUFACTURER

P145 P146 P211 P212 P213 P215 P222 P223 P224 P226 P227 P232 P233 P234 P242 P244 P245 P311 P312 P313 P314 P315 P322 P323 P324 P325 P331 P332 P333 P334 P335 P335B P342 P343 P344 P413 P415 P422 P424 P426 P431

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Ford E-One Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Seagrave Seagrave Crimson Smeal Smeal Crimson Seagrave Smeal Seagrave Seagrave Smeal Seagrave Smeal Seagrave Smeal Seagrave Smeal Smeal Crimson Smeal Crimson Smeal Crimson Crimson Smeal Crimson Crimson Smeal Crimson Smeal Dependable E-One Smeal Seagrave Seagrave Smeal Smeal Seagrave Seagrave Smeal Seagrave

P432 P433 P442 P443 P445

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Smeal Seagrave Smeal Seagrave Smeal

YEAR APPARATUS #

RESCUES 2009 2009 2002 2009 2000 2000 2009 2002 2000 2009 2002 2000 2002 2000 2000 2009 2002 2009 2002 2002 2001 2010 2002 2010 1998 2000 2001 1998

MANUFACTURER

R112

Spartan

Smeal

R115 R122 R133 R134 R214 R224 R225 R231 R235 R241 R243 R321 R325 R326 R341 R345 R411 R412 R413 R421 R423 R425 R426 R434 R435 R441 R444

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Am. LaFrance

Smeal Smeal Smeal Almonte Almonte Smeal Smeal Almonte Smeal Smeal Almonte Smeal Almonte Almonte Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Smeal Almonte Crimson Smeal Almonte General Almonte Almonte General

Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan Spartan

Seagrave Seagrave Seagrave Dependable Seagrave

Am. LaFrance

Spartan Spartan

Squads 2004 2004 2009 2012 2012

S143 S232 S313 S331 S331

Speciality Trucks 2007

2010 2004 2010 2008 2012 2010 2005 2005

A/L 114 A/L 231

Freightliner Dependable

A/L 333

Freightliner Dependable

A/L 421 COM 10 COM 30 HAZ 145 HAZ 332

Freightliner Dependable

High Rise 332

Freightliner Dependable

Freightliner PK Vans Freightliner

Spartan Spartan Spartan

Dependable Dependable Dependable

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 22

TFS NEW VEHICLE ORDER STATUS - As of March 15, 2013 # of Vehicles

Budget year

New Truck(s)

Builder Chassis/Body

Status

12

2012/13

Rescues / Pumpers

Spartan ERV (Formerly Crimson Fire)

The chassis inspection has been performed on the first 2 of 12 units. In the interest of saving time, the remaining chassis will be inspected as part of the final inspection. The final inspection of the first unit(s) is March 25th. Spartan ERV have requested to display one of the finished units at FDIC April 22, so it's in their best interest to be on time.

1

2012

Squad

Dependable EV

An additional unit was added on to the contract to purchase S331, which was fortunate due to the accident incurred by S143. This unit will replace the written-off S143.

1

2011

Command Vehicle

EVI

The Radio Technicians are almost finished installing the various radio/CAD/ MDT systems in the truck. The Ops Training coordinator will be performing the crew training sessions in the near future. An air compressor has been ordered for Station 332 as well as a 50-amp shore power drop.

1

2013

Chev Tahoe

I'm adding-on to an EMS RFQ to purchase one Chev Tahoe (in red) to the Emergency Planning section to replace their Suburban (removed from service) used to pull the Gator trailers.

1

2013

3/4 ton 4x4 Pick-up

I'm adding-on to a Corporate Fleet contract to purchase one 4x4 pick-up required for the Mechanical Division to carry the mobile fuel supply tank to emergency scenes. The existing unit is in very poor shape.

6

2011

Rear-mount Aerials

Smeal

All six units are now delivered and in various stages of PDI, radio installation, training preparation, and equipment mounting. These trucks incorporate a unique diesel generator that functions as an idle shut-down system to save fuel and reduce the requirement for exhaust system regeneration.

1

2012

Mobile BA Compressor

Levitt

The order for a Jordair mobile BA compressor unit has recently been awarded to Levitt Safety. The units primary function will be to quickly replace one of the station units when out of service for an extended period. It could also be used for mobile air supply at a major incident or large training event if required.

Toronto Fire Services Response Statistics - 2008-2012 Total Number of Incidents

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

142,087

142,014

144,407

145,334

120,512

-0.1%

1.7%

0.6%

-17.1%

278,281

276,729

276,261

264,703

-3.9%

-0.6%

-0.2%

-4.2%

Change from previous year Total Number of Unit Responses

289,460

Change from previous year 90th percentile Response Time - Alarm to Arrival

7:46

7:37

7:36

7:38

7:17

90th percentile Response Time - Dispatch to Arrival

6:41

6:38

6:40

6:44

6:31

90th percentile Response Time - Enroute to Arrival

4:39

4:42

4:43

4:50

4:45

Note: Response time data is now being reported using a Business Intelligence tool, rather than directly from CAD data. Data from previous years has been restated for comparability.

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Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee Medal T

he Diamond Jubilee Medal was created in honour of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. The medal recognizes Canadians from all walks of life that have made significant contributions to Canada by dedicating themselves to making positive contributions to their communities through volunteering countless hours and by making significant contributions in the field of humanitarian and charitable causes. A peer must nominate all recipients and a total of 60,000 medals were awarded across Canada.

The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, announced on February 3, 2011, that the Queen had approved the creation of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and he and Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, unveiled the medal’s design at Rideau Hall. The Governor General struck the first medal on December 6, 2011.

The Medal was designed in part in Canada and cast at the Royal Canadian Mint near Ottawa. It takes the form of a disc, with a crowned effigy of the Queen, circumscribed by the words ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA. CANADA - translated from Latin, meaning, “by the Grace of God – Queen - Canada.”

On the back is the royal cypher, crowned and superimposed upon a diamond shield, on top of a bed of four maple leafs and a ribbon, with the dates 1952 and 2012, and the words VIVAT REGINA - translated from Latin, meaning, “long live the Queen.” The medal is rhodium plated, and is worn suspended from a broad red ribbon with blue outer stripes, and small double white stripes in the middle.

On February 26, 2013, 76 members of Local 3888 were awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony held a Qssis Banquet Hall in Scarborough. The event was well attended by friends and family. The Hon. John McKay, MP PC presented this Royal Honour to our well-deserved recipients.

In receiving the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, the following Toronto Fire Fighters have been recognized as having made significant contributions in the field of humanitarian and charitable causes. These efforts to help those less fortunate in our city and around the world, demonstrate the true commitment to service of Toronto Fire Fighters in their community and to their country. These charitable and humanitarian efforts include raising funds for and committing countless hours of their time to such worthy causes as: Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Princess Margaret Hospital, Camp Bucko, Ronald McDonald House, The Toronto Fire Fighter Toy Drive, as well as lending their time and knowledge to lesser-advantaged countries around the world.

Kevin Ashfield, Chris Bardecki, Paul Beames, Rick Berenz, Gerald Brinston, Chris Burrell, Daniel Driscoll, Paul Fiset, John Graziano, Paul Halls, Matt Harper, Al Harris, William “ Bill” Hawley, Patrick Hayter, Patrick Howlett, Ken Jackson, Adina Kaufman, Paul Kennedy, Larry Lalonde, Craig Lester, Dan McMurray, Jeffrey Penfound, David Pineau, Jonathon Robinson, Doug Sargent, Gregory Schultz, Ed Swiderski

By Rodney Johnston, Toronto Fire Fighter

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The Fire Service is an extremely challenging and dangerous profession, where we are sometimes exposed to hazards - not only to our physical well being but also to our mental health.

The following members have shown leadership in recognizing these numerous hazards and have dedicated their lives to helping those who help others, while at the same time, providing education as to the many dangers, known and unknown, in our profession. While each year, fire fighting takes a devastating toll on our members, the dangers have become less apparent in the public eye but ever more lethal, as more and more fire fighters fall to work related illnesses, while also exacting a serious toll on their mental health. We recognize these individuals who work everyday to shed light on the toll on the health, safety, and well being of fire fighters. They have fought to educate, raise the standards of health and safety and improve public awareness. We also honour those who have dedicated their lives to serve and be there for the families of our fallen when tragedy strikes, so that those who make the ultimate sacrifice are properly acknowledged and are never forgotten.

with the goal of improving the lives of its members and the people of this city, has ensured the success of this Association.

Furthermore, the example set by those leaders of all the former municipalities laid the foundation for where we are today.

The commitment and sacrifice that these individuals have selflessly given to improving the lives and livelihood of fire fighters, their families and the people of Toronto, as well as their former municipalities, has demonstrated an incredible record of service, which in total, amounts to hundreds of years of dedicated leadership. These contributions to every facet of our profession have touched the lives of many generations of fire fighters and their families. We are grateful for their tremendous dedication and commitment to service.

Paul Atkinson, Andrew Berg, David Conner, Hugh Donnelly, Robert Feeney, Samantha Hoffman, Richard Holmes, Tom Karnas, David King, Edmond Lynch, Tim Metcalfe, David Morley, Ron Nickle, Barry Parker, Todd Riley, John Semple, Ron Seymour

Active Steve Buckingham, Greg Colton, Hugh Doherty, Doug Erwin, Mark Fitzsimmons, Rick Gallo, John Jones, David Holwell, Keith Hamilton, John Maclachlan, Kevin McCarthy, Neil McKinnon, Mike Neely, Jeff Nester, Mike Ogle, Frank Ramagnano, Ernest Thorne, Damien Walsh, Chuck West

The following group of individuals are being recognized for their contribution as leaders within the profession of fire fighting and their dedication to public service. The success of any organization is always dependent upon leadership. Through times of stability but especially in difficult times, having leaders with vision and the courage to move their Association forward,

Retired Al Cheater, Paul Enright, Charles “Bud” Exton, Ian Hamilton, Jim Lee, Scott Marks, Robert McWhinnie, Barry Papaleo, John Poirier, Wes Rowe, Robin Sanders, John Vonk, William “Bill” Waugh

The next time you see one of our fine recipients of this Royal Honour wearing it proudly on their chest, please be sure to congratulate them on a job well done, and for honouring the Toronto Fire Services with their selfless contributions.

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By Fred McKay, Acting District Chief, Station 142-D

I

would like to take a moment to tell you about a special hockey game that was held on April 24th, 2013.

It was organized by Eddie Tiatto (P146, “A” Platoon) and played by Toronto Fire Fighters, mostly from “A” Platoon in North Command - but with a few ringers and imports from other Commands as well. The purpose of the game was two-fold: to honour the memory of my son, Private Kevin Thomas McKay; and also to raise money for Camp BUCKO, a very worthy cause. This game has been held on three occasions since Kevin’s passing.

First, let me tell you about Kevin...

Pte. Kevin Thomas “Mickey” McKay Kevin grew up in Horseshoe Valley, where he attended W.R. Best Public School and Eastview Secondary School.

He trained as a carpenter at Georgian College and helped to build many

26

homes in the area. Kevin had a keen desire to help people and enlisted with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry at the age of twentyone. Deployed to Afghanistan in the autumn of 2009, he was subsequently assigned, with his unit, to the village of Nakonay, Panjwaii District - one of the most dangerous areas in the world.

Their security patrols enabled the children of the area to attend schools and to have a better future, free from oppression. Sadly, Kevin was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on his very last night patrol, just two days before the end of his tour of duty. He was buried with full military honours in the National Military Cemetery, Ottawa. Kevin was known to have a keen wit and a great sense of humour. He smiled easily and laughed often. He loved his family,

friends and army pals and they loved him in return. He will be missed. He was everyone’s friend.

And now about Camp BUCKO...

When I was arranging Kevin’s funeral, I was asked if there was a certain charity where mourners could make donations in Kevin’s memory, and I immediately chose Camp BUCKO. As a fire fighter, I had long been aware of the great work this organization does to provide a camping getaway every summer for kids with burn injuries. Kevin had loved camping and fishing and canoeing and being outdoors, and I felt this would be a very appropriate charity to patronize in his memory. My wife Beth and I were privileged to be invited to the camp this past summer, and were inspired by the kids’ upbeat attitude and fun-loving spirit.

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The Game...

The Rinx on Orfus Road graciously and generously donated the ice time.

This year, money was raised for Camp BUCKO from the sale of ball caps, designed by our younger son Riley, an architecture student and design whiz, as well as by a silent auction and raffle draw. Members of the TFS Pipes and Drums Corps piped the players onto the ice. VIP’s in attendance were our assisting officer from the Canadian Forces, Lt. Rob Culos, of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Infantry Regiment, and former TFS Fire Chief, Bill Stewart. Flowers were presented to my wife Beth, and after the ceremonial puck drop, the battle was on.

Two full benches produced a searing

pace. Two hours of hockey resulted in a low scoring affair, largely because of the stellar goaltending at each end, keeping the high-powered offences of both teams at bay. Both teams gave the maximum effort and there was only one small donnybrook - staged for the spectators, I think…

At the end of the game, we all retreated to the bar for the compulsory “cold one” and the raffle prizes and silent auction items were distributed to the lucky recipients. I am pleased to say that the sale of the hats, the silent auction and the raffle draw resulted in a sizeable donation for Camp BUCKO. On behalf of my wife Beth, our son Riley and myself, I wish to convey

our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated in this game and to all those that made a donation to Camp BUCKO in Kevin’s memory.

We are also grateful to those who donated the raffle prizes and auction items. We would also like to say a special thank you to Eddie Tiatto, who has been the driving force behind these hockey games for three years. Eddie, your tireless efforts and emotional support mean a lot to my family and me. Thank you my friend.

It would be an understatement to say our lives have been an emotional roller coaster since we lost Kevin.

These hockey games have provided us with many proud and happy memories that will serve to push our sadness aside.

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&

FIRE FIGHTER

SURVIVAL RESCUE &

RITSO-Seriously?

By Geoff Boisseau and John McGill, Toronto Fire Fighters

Gear is in the van New battery in the radio FIT arrives Check the staffing All right, you are ready to go and ‘District Chief’- a few miles of rough road behind you and smooth sailing ahead. Count down is on…your wife already has your days planned and you couldn’t help but notice that in her plans there was no talk of golf. You smile and think to yourself, “We’ll have to see about that…”

You’ve spent 34 years riding fire trucks from one end of the city to the other. You think that you’ve seen it all and heard it all. Rode on every type of apparatus the city has to offer and now you are closing out your career in a van. Your first wife has moved on,

A

28

kids have grown, and you’re ready for the next phase of life. Your new kids are the crews in your district, whether it is the 50-year-old Captain, 45-yearold Actor or the 23-year-old recruit.

Grabbing a bite to eat, you top up your water bottle and shoot the breeze with the District Chief coming off shift. You don’t recognize him – guess he’s from another Command – he looks young, or at least, still has his hair. He had a good night, only three after midnight. The FIT tells you the Car is in good shape but will need some fuel.

The apparatus crew are all in and discussing the Leafs. All agree maybe next year…or maybe the year after.

It’s funny you think, the more things change, the more things stay the

same. With the exception of the lack of ashtrays and burning cigarettes, this morning chatter around the kitchen table is pretty much the same as your first day on the job. The Newbie at the station introduces himself and says he has a newborn at home. You snicker, trying to remember those days; sometimes dragging your butt into work after being up all night with a crying baby. Wow, this kid is younger than my kids! Where has the time gone? As a recruit, you were told time flies on this job and you just had one of those moments - your youngest is now 28.

Damn, where has the time gone?

Ok, time to take care of business.

You head off to the bathroom for your morning ‘constitutional’ and someone is in there. Go downstairs and find a S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 28

vacant stall. Having a seat, you notice a copy of Fire Watch wedged in the back of the stall door. Leafing through it you notice an article on something called ‘Grab Lives’. You are familiar with it, read it when it came out and carry a copy in your brief case. The article catches your attention and you read through it again. Something about this article hits home with you. Not all of them do, but this one does. Secretly, you know it’s because losing a fire fighter at an incident is your biggest fear. You have never shared this with anyone, not even your best friends on the job, but it is always there, sitting in the back of your mind, at times adding stress to an already stressful situation.

You finish the article for the second time and wonder if those two guys can write about anything else. Some of their stuff is interesting, but some of it you just never ‘got’. Oh well,

this one is a good one.

Suddenly, the speaker cracks and you are dispatched to the report of a house fire. You know the address and you know that you will be the first in District - seriously bad timing. Time to go (literally) and you get to the Car fast. Been first in before and will be again, part of the job.

Confirm radio channel Because on this job anything can happen at any time, you have always been one of those guys who is always prepared. You have a flashback to when you were a Newbie and your Captain was a Korean War vet. He was always saying to you, “Son, only your god can help you if you are not prepared.” And you have shared that saying as your own.

Suddenly, all kinds of sayings you have picked up over the years start flooding into your head, sayings like, “Sorry for asking you to do your job,” or “There is

a difference between a work horse and a show horse,” or “Show up, keep up, shut up,” and the all time classic, “Kid, you roll up your sleeves to work, not to flex.” Funny how our mind brings up things at the oddest of times.

While responding, you listen carefully to the radio. What do they have? What kind of dwelling? Occupants? Interior attack? Who is going where? All of these things will help you get a good handle on things even before arriving.

As you’re sitting in the passenger seat feeling like Miss Daisy, getting jostled around as the FIT has to swerve through rush hour traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, potholes etc., you can’t help but wonder if these people would be so indifferent to our lights and sirens if we were responding to their house.

You look to your left and chuckle, your FIT is nearly as old as you and yet he still loves the job as much as the day he started. He looks at you and has

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RITSO? SERIOUSLY?...Continued from page 29

the wide eyes of someone with a mix of excitement and adrenaline. You think to yourself, a good FIT is worth their weight in gold - you chuckle, in this case he is worth about $6.4 million USD. Over the radio you hear the first in trucks arriving. You know them all, actually played hockey with a couple of them. The first in Captain was a Newbie at your station. He was one of those guys that you thought had a great future, one of the guys who ‘got it’. He is now known as a ‘good’ or ‘solid’ fire fighter, which is one of the highest compliments that a person can get on this job. Your FIT turns to you and says, “It sounds like they have a good working house fire, reports of people trapped.”

Now you get that adrenaline rush.

You can’t help it; even though you are the District Chief and not making an interior attack, years of riding the trucks have conditioned your body to react this way. You know the risks that the crews are facing, what can happen to them or trapped civilians, how things can go sideways in a second. Almost like a reflex, your mind takes you back a number of years to a bad house fire around Christmas. You were the Captain of one of the first arriving trucks. It was a fire where a family with two children died.

That was horrible, one of the worst moments in your career. Your crew carried 30

one of the kids out after finding her in a closet. She was about the same age as the son of one of your crew at the time.

He took it hard. It’s something that you think of regularly, although you never tell anyone about it.

Never mind that right now you tell yourself, its time to focus. About two blocks away now. You can see the thermal column. Heavy black, turbulent smoke…oh boy it’s bad. You can hear on the radio that despite the efforts of the initial crews, they haven’t made any progress on it yet. You feel that deep-seated fear in the back of your mind trying to push to the front and take over all of your thoughts…today might be the day.

Your FIT parks and you put yourself on scene and take Command. Call for a second and give a quick base location. Turning toward the fire, you take a quick size-up of the house. It’s a two story detached, looks to have been built in the mid to late 1960s, heavy smoke coming out of the front, and flames out of the side and rear. Not much chance for anyone inside you think to yourself, briefly flashing to your memory of the little girl. You give your FIT a knowing look, his face is confident. Again, another solid fire fighter you trust.

A fire fighter is at the back of the van and she is grabbing the RIT Kit and

TIC - that was quick! She gives you that look that says “RIT- seriously?” Her crew does not want to be RIT, they want to fight fires, but you are glad that it is that crew. Looks like her Actor is in charge today - good kid - you wonder if he still thinks about that family we lost that night - how’s his boy?

You know that many crews feel this way about RIT, however, you also know that they probably have the most important job on the fire ground. One that you hope you will never have to see in action.

Set-up accountability, develop a plan.

What has to be done? Tasks, tactics…

You start on the Alpha side of the house and go through your mental checklist: two 38mm lines going in the front door, so at least two crews inside; heavy smoke still coming out the front windows, a ground ladder was placed by an initial crew to make entry into the second floor to search, that’s another crew upstairs. Walking around the building, you take note of means of entry/egress they can use, smoke/ fire conditions, structural integrity of the building, and any other issues you may have to consider (there are some small second story windows). An upper floor window is now filled with smoke and fire – it’s getting oxygen from somewhere.

Your FIT is setting up entry, he’s worth his weight in gold you think to yourself.

He is doing his job, which allows you to focus on the task at hand.

Conditions just changed rapidly what the hell just happened? Did it flashover? Holy shit, crews are inside; my biggest fear is not going to come true today – it’s pushing hard to get out from the back of your mind…to overwhelm you, to force you to make a wrong decision. You won’t let it…push back…don’t panic…stay focused….the crews need you now more than ever.

You have to take control of this…take a breath…

“EVACUATE, EVACUATE,

EVACUATE,” you call over the radio.

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,”

echoes across the radio in response.

“Aw shit,” you mutter under your breath…

To be continued…

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EXECUTIVE TALK BILL MCKEE

mckee@torontofirefighters.org 416-948-3888

We have many issues that we’re currently tackling as a union. From right to work legislation to the reduction of staffing, we’re constantly waging battles on firefighter’s issues. Two-hatting has become an issue of contention. I’ve had members ask why the IAFF and the TPFFA are so aggressive in pursuing members who are part-time firefighters (two-hatters). The recent tragedy in East Gwillimbury demonstrates clearly that communities that require full-time fire services cut costs by subsidizing with part-time services. This puts the public at a greater risk. We are constantly striving to improve our response times and educate elected officials that seconds count. Some of our members who part-time in communities that could have, and should have, full-time fire services are helping the municipality to cut costs. And in turn, to provide subpar service to citizens who often pay higher property taxes than in Toronto. Those people are entitled to, and pay for, the same quality of service that you would get living in a big city. How would you feel if part-time firefighters were brought into Toronto? Let me remind you, a member of council introduced this. So don’t sit there and be naive and say it will never happen. You could only be one election away from losing everything you have. If you are member part-timing in another municipality I would encourage you to submit your resignation. If you truly want to serve and protect the community you reside in, spend your time advocating for public safety in the area. If you want to make a change and help those communities you can run for council or assist your own local in its initiatives to ensure that each community across Ontario has the same protection and is entitled to the same level of fire service.

GEOFF BOISSEAU

boisseau@torontofirefighters.org 416-708-3887

I am now in my second term as an Executive Officer and still find the job both interesting and educational. Thanks again to my North Health and Safety Team of Mike Russell and Steve Green who have continued doing a great job in the hall inspections and we continue to bring forward any H&S concerns. Past Chair Ian Hamilton has retired and we wish him well and thank him for his years of dedicated service to both the Health and Safety of the members and his years on the Executive Board. Ian has made this job safer. As Constitutional Chair we have been preparing for upcoming Constitutional amendments and over the last year have had the Conflict of Interest Policy and Union Substitution Policy passed by the membership.

There has never been a more difficult time for the fire service and for all fire department Locals. With seemingly daily attacks on our profession, and all public service unions, and Municipalities in the midst of budget and service cuts, we have taken a stand for public safety and have worked hard to educate members of the public and politicians alike. Member participation has been and will continue to be key to our success, but as you know it is not over. We must continue to work hard to ensure that our message is heard.

We must be unified, remain on the high road, and continue to act as true professionals.

I am looking forward to continuing to serve you as a member of our executive and will continue to deal with any new challenges we are faced with in the future. Remember- Be Safe.

Your fire ground survival: “There are things you can’t control, so you better know how you’re going to react to them…you’d better have a plan.”

Laurence Gonzales author Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why

Gord Snellings

snellings@torontofirefighters.org 647-445-0601

Let me begin by offering my gratitude to the membership of Local 3888 for the opportunity to serve the interests of the Association and all members in the role of Charity/Public Relations Chair.

The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, through the endeavors of the Charity Committee and in concert with the tireless efforts of many volunteers from the Association, is committed to supporting many charities and citizens in the City of Toronto.

It is the mandate of the Charity/PR Committee to orchestrate direct and indirect involvement by the Association in a broad array of charitable fundraising efforts and the facilitation of charitable donations.

Involvement in fundraising efforts like the Boot Drive for Muscular Dystrophy, The Plane Pull for ALS, The Women’s HalfMarathon/5 K Run in support of Pediatric Oncology of Ontario are representative of but a few of the larger charitable organizations we support. Beyond this, the Charity Committee publicly supports individuals and families in Toronto who have had the misfortune of experiencing a fire in their home. Our efforts focus on assisting these individuals in rebuilding their lives after such tragedies occur.

These efforts together are instrumental in demonstrating to the public that our commitment to helping the community extends beyond the confines of the fire hall while on duty.

Indeed, and in particular during these times of fiscal restraint, it is imperative that we as fire fighters work together to galvanize our positive public image in the minds of the public we serve. I am encouraged by, and greatly appreciate, the enthusiasm of the many members who give of their precious time to assist in our charitable efforts. Further, I look forward to working with all volunteers in the many upcoming events.

On behalf of myself and all members of the Charity/Public Relations Committee, I wish all members of Local 3888 a safe and enjoyable summer!

JAMES REED

reed@torontofirefighters.org 647-889-6472

My second term began back in December after a lengthy and exciting election. As challenging as that was, I think it is great to see so many members step up and run for an Executive position. This led to excellent conversations in the stations. I am honored and proud to have been chosen to continue to represent West Command. As everyone knows these are challenging times. We are facing attacks from all three levels of Government. Federally Bill C-377 looks to force unions to publically disclose all expenditures over $5000. While we are completely open to our membership having access to our financial information, this onerous process is nothing more than another union busting endeavour. Provincially, any possibility of a Tim Hudak Conservative Government sends chills down my spine. I recently presented some information to the Stewards on what we can expect from a Hudak Government, quite frankly, it will change our profession forever. All of us are aware of what we have just been through Municipally, and that fight is far from over. In my career I have never seen such an attack on Unions and Firefighters specifically. It’s time to stand together Brothers and Sisters.

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Executive Talk...Continued from page 31

EXECUTIVE TALK

NEIL MCKINNON

mckinnon@torontofirefighters.org 416-659-2624

Here we are again, another year older and hopefully another year wiser. It’s been a whirlwind adventure since taking over as Chair of the Grievance Committee and certainly brought a whole new meaning to the phrase, “24/7 – 365 days a year” for me.

The learning curve has been immense and extremely time-consuming. Hopefully over time, the workload gets easier; but for that, I’ll have to wait and see.

The Committee, made up of Dave Holwell, Doug Erwin, Geoff Boisseau and myself, constantly strive to represent the membership with a high degree of professionalism. Unfortunately, most of the time we’re involved, the situation is less than ideal. We are left to make the best of a bad situation.

As well, I have been assigned, once again, to the Ceremonial & Bereavement Committee, the Health & Safety Committee and the Constitution & Policy Committee. I hope that with my years of experience, I can be a valuable asset.

Only time will tell what the year will bring us, and all I can do is promise to do my best to ensure the membership gets the representation that they deserve and desire.

DOUG ERWIN

erwin@torontofirefighters.org 647-220-8787

I am now well into my third term serving the membership of Local 3888 as an Executive Board Officer and it continues to be an honour and a privilege to fulfill this role. As in the year past, we again find ourselves in very challenging times and continue to fight staff and service cuts, as well as attacks on unions as a whole. I am extremely proud of how our Local responded to our call for help to fight the threatened cuts proposed in the 2013 City Budget, and I would like to thank all those who devoted the time and effort to get our message out. We still have a lot of work to do but I am confident that we will rise to meet the challenge.

There is a concerted effort underway to try and undermine all that has been accomplished by organized labour over the past half century. Now is the time for all unions, especially those in the public sector, to stand together and present a united front in order to combat these attacks. As we are all well aware, there is an agenda by many in Government, at all levels, to go after the public service in an attempt to reduce or eliminate many of the gains we have fought so hard to achieve in regard to salaries, pensions, benefits and collective bargaining rights. This is an ongoing battle and our membership has to be aware that the threat is real and our only chance to protect what we have, is to fight against those who seek to undermine the role organized labour plays in our society.

This term, I have remained as Chair of the Finance/Building Committee and I continue to take the responsibility of overseeing the financial transactions of our Association very seriously. I would like to take this opportunity to thank fellow Committee members Geoff Boisseau, Neil McKinnon and Frank Ramagnano, as well as our bookkeeper, Beatriz Coniglio, for their assistance in fulfilling the mandate of this Committee. I would like to also thank our Office Manager, Bill Radcliffe, and Office Administrator, Julie Frost, for all the help they provide to the entire Executive Board throughout the year.

I also continue to serve as a member of the Grievance Committee, Benefits Committee, and the Entertainment, Recreation, Sports/Social Committee. I am also the Executive Board Liaison for the Communications Division and Radio Technicians.

In closing, I would again like to thank the membership for their support and as I previously stated, I feel very privileged to have the honour of representing our Association.

JOHN MACLACHLAN

maclachlan@torontofirefighters.org 416-951-3887

First and foremost, thank you to west command for voting me in for a third term. The third term commenced with many challenges from the get go. Watching members step up to the plate from doing flyer drops to making your presence known at city hall displayed a unified front despite criticism from certain councillors. During the 2 days at City Hall, we remained professional while delivering our core values, which has always been the concerns of the citizens of Toronto.

I remain the chair of the EMS committee. Dynamics have changed however, and we are now focussing on changes in call criteria effective June 4, 2012. A 6-month review was to take place following June 4, 2012. As of March 25, 2013, no review has taken place. Members have been diligent in regards to providing our committee detailed incidents where our services would have made a significant difference. These emails are logged into our database, forwarded up the chain along with our notes expressing our concerns. Chief Sales has been included in all of these emails forwarded through the chain dating back to September 5, 2012.

In closing, please continue to provide me with your concerns. As stated above, our core value as 3888 members remains strong and focussed on providing the best possible service to our Toronto citizens.

DAVE HOLWELL

holwell@torontofirefighters.org 416-807-7753

Yes, you made a difference! Remember that. There have been some crazy things going on in the last many months; not as before when I spoke about elections and political will or wishes. Crazy things in the sense that we never thought that we would have to step up and fight a fight that should be fought by our boss.

With the help of our members, we made a significant difference during the budget process. We delayed a decision to reduce our in-service fleet and close a fire hall. We could not avert their sights on reorganizing some divisions, ultimately displacing and reassigning members. These were life-altering decisions that TFS management thought would only require three long days to make!

The separation of management and labour has never been clearer within TFS. It is us against them, and instead of support and a sense of direction, we constantly encounter negative impact and discipline. The decisions that are being made today, and actions that are being taken, clearly indicate a blurred vision going forward, and memories impaired. It is frustrating to see how people forget where they came from and to think that the world they lived in was such a dark, evil place that they now want to fix.

Fire fighting is a special and rewarding occupation. Be aware of the effort and be aware of the part you play. Respect your career and your profession. Share stories, good and bad, because through all the runs and all the battles, it is the memories that last forever, not the people. We lost a good friend this past week, way too soon. The memories shared of a father, husband, son, fire fighter and friend to many, will live on. Those times are gone. Some of those people are gone. That management team is certainly gone. We must do everything we can to support each other and all the values of our profession. Step up. Make a difference.

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KEVIN MCCARTHY

mccarthy@torontofirefighters.org 416-708-6817

In today’s environment, everyone is taking measures to cut costs and save money. When it comes to your benefits, the city and their provider, Manulife, are certainly doing what they can to keep expenses down. A few years ago, the Association took part in sessions to make our member’s aware of what benefits they had and to provide information about the amount of fraud within the industry.

Fraud is a concern we all should be aware of because it does drive up the cost significantly. The difficult part is to know what is considered fraud and what is not.

Manulife often puts out surveys to maintain quality assurance. What started out as simple questionnaires, which were non-evasive and ensured immediate repayments of claims, in recent months have become quite the opposite? Members are now being asked about previous history, sometimes unrelated to the request of benefit. Information being provided can also be shared with other organizations, including the city and the department. These questions are not limited to just the surveys but are also now being asked on the standard forms we use to submit expenses.

The Benefits Committee is currently discussing these concerns with legal. The topic has also been reviewed and is on the minutes of the Benefits Monitoring Committee, which is made up of representatives from both the Association and the city.

Have you ever gone through your benefits usage online? It is not a bad idea to do that every once in a while. For instance, it does tell you how much of a benefit you may have or when you can use it again. It is convenient and does allow you to get paid quicker, but is it possible that you were not paid for something you were entitled, and with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you forgot to check? Go back and look! Make sure you get what you are entitled to.

The benefits master plan is the contract agreement between the City and Manulife, which the Association reviews on an annual basis.

It basically outlines how all of our benefits are administrated. It is important for the Association to review the master plan because Manulife may make changes, which could affect how a benefit is paid. Last summer, there were a number of newspaper articles that highlighted changes to travel insurance. They spoke about limiting travel because someone had a change of prescription or had seen a doctor in a short span prior to travel. A minor change in the master plan such as this could significantly affect who and when someone is able to use that insurance. The Benefits Committee is reviewing the master plan and will take appropriate action if required.

MIKE OGLE

ogle@torontofirefighters.org 416-948-9598

As the Chair of the Ceremonial and Bereavement Committee, my duty is to make sure that if required for a funeral of an active, retired or fellow IAFF member, that Local 3888 is represented. Whether it be sending flowers to a retired member’s service or arranging to send members to IAFF funerals in other jurisdictions, I strive to ensure that our Local is represented.

I have also worked hard over the past few years as a member of this Committee to increase our attendance at public functions, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Beaches Easter Parade and the Labor Day Parade. All of these functions require our membership to come out and show those that attend these functions that their fire fighters care. Ask any of our members who attend these events the response of the citizens as we march by, their applause and respect is free public relations of the best kind.

I continue to sit on the Charity/Public Relations Committee and I will continue to contribute to the very active charities that we support.

As well, I am on the Human Relations Committee and am now starting to take courses to assist me with this very active Committee. My goal would be to have our membership try to attend just one event a year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns.

HUGH DOHERTY

doherty@torontofirefighters.org 416-433-0446

I’d like to start by thanking so many of you for the support and commitment of the Local’s efforts to counter City Council’s and TFS administration’s efforts to make cut to Fire Services. The number of firefighters who wore your Local’s red shirts at council, to visualize the number of firefighter’s positions being eliminated, was excellent. And also thank you to those who took time to delivery signs, pamphlets and to wear your unions red shirts.

However our fight is not over yet! As the year progresses we have many challenges, which collectively, we need to address during 20132014. The Fire Underwriter’s Survey, Pomax report and the upcoming budget will be a few of the challenges that we will face.

Our salaries, benefits and pensions are under attack, and there is no end in sight. As we saw with the tragic events in Boston the same media, who continually attack public service workers, praised the heroic work performed by the many public servants. We must continue to challenge those who attack public service workers, as well as herald the fine services we provide. As firefighters we are entitled to earn fair wages and benefits to provide for our families.

Collectively, we need to face the challenges, and with the entire Association, bolster the image of Fire Services to the public at large. We need to speak about services offered, such as auto extrication, water rescue, trench rescue and high angle rescue as a few added services.

Those whom we serve must be made aware of the variety of demands and services Toronto Firefighters offer and the need to maintain or increases resources in equipment, manpower and apparatus.

Your executive has been working diligently to develop programs to address the many issues. Many special committees have been created and funds allocated to develop programs to fight the negative comments and to further enhance the services offered by Local 3888 to the citizens of Toronto. Your executive needs your assistance when you are required to educate the public. Your time and energy will be required The challenges we face will take a unified front to meet the challenges. This is not the first time the Association has seen regressive actions from politicians and rate payers. Collectively we overcame the famous “RAE Days” and 1998’s amalgamation. This is no different and together will can overcome and defeat these attacks and challenges. It is very satisfying to represent and serve the membership and that the membership is so willing to participate and help fight attacks to our chosen profession.

JANOS CSEPREGHI

csepreghi@torontofirefighters.org 416-806-6286

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” Henry V monologue by William Shakespeare.

I am honoured to be serving my third term as a TPFFA Executive Officer. Granted, only one of these terms involved an election campaign, while the other two resulted in acclamation. I am not sure if this is a result of the stellar representation in North Command or a savvy membership not quite crazy enough to step into the spotlight during this tumultuous time.

Regardless, the TPFFA has remained strong, composed and willing to answer the call when a show of solidarity is needed. The high road has been a difficult path to maintain, but our self-respect and enviable position in the public trust has not been compromised.

However, there have been casualties in this battle. It pains me to read the most recent transfer sheet and see the words “position eliminated”. Lives have been altered significantly without any justification. The dust has yet to settle and the ramifications of such reckless decisions have yet to fully impact our service. Rest assured that our Association will use every resource at its disposal to make things right.

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By Tony Macdonald, Retired Toronto FIRE Captain

Member Profile

I

n 1991, shortly after achieving the rank of 1st Class Fire Fighter, Peter Cooper purchased a brand new, red Honda CRX Si. It was delivered to Station 142, and this two-seat hatchback has been his primary daily commuter vehicle, travelling to and from work for the past 22 years.

Why would we care about this? Well, Peter has developed a habit of getting into his car and driving on long trips around North America. Not just to warm places like Florida or California, but also a number of times to the far North, even driving across the Arctic Circle.

Route 66 was the first two-lane road in the United States, built in 1926, at a time when a lot of Americans couldn’t afford to own their own cars. Following the old cart paths and Pony Express routes across America, it crosses eight States and three time zones, heading southwest and linking the main streets of what were then western frontier towns, before they became the cities we recognize now. Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1989.

Most of the American Interstate Highways weren’t built until the mid 1970’s, and that briefly spawned the era of the Cannonball Run, an illegal race to see who could drive the fastest from New York City to Los Angeles. The fastest run was made in 1979, in 32 hours and 51

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minutes, in a Jaguar XJS, averaging 87 mph, including all stops.

During his second time down “Route 66,” Peter heard a representative from an insurance company say that most people drive 24,000 kilometers per year. He wondered if he could do a year’s worth of driving in one trip within North America?

In 2003, he drove out west on the Interstate Highways that have replaced Route 66, including stops at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. From Santa Monica, the western end of Route 66, he then drove to all four corners of “The Lower 48.” He went up the Pacific Coast Highway to Point Roberts and Blaine, Washington (N/W corner); back down to San Ysidro, California, just north of the border crossing to Tijuana, Mexico (S/W corner); east, following the Gulf of Mexico coast to Key West, Florida (S/E corner); and up the eastern seaboard to Van Buren, Maine (N/E corner).

When back in Toronto, he found he was 1,800 km short of 24,000, and he had to be back on shift in a day and a half. Going back on shift officially signifies the end of a road trip to Peter and he hadn’t reached his goal yet. So, in just over a day, he drove to North Bay, Toronto, Montreal, and back to Toronto. Mission accomplished, in 45 days!

On his trips, Peter sleeps only in his car, waking up in his ‘room with a view.’ That is his idea of a true road trip. He was starting to discover what sort of EXTREME road

tripping could be accomplished in a very small, bare bones car.

His car has a 1.6 liter, four cylinder engine with only front wheel drive, no power steering, no power brakes, no power windows or door locks. The seats aren’t leather or heated. It was built before the age of ABS and airbags and it has no built in GPS, or cup holders. It has no stability or cruise control and ground clearance is only 10 cm. It only holds 40 liters of gasoline.

Other than the stereo, his Honda has no modifications, and has only received original replacement parts.

Peter says, “I stop at the well-established truck stops that cater to the long haul truckers. The food’s a good fill for the buck, the coffee’s always fresh, and a shower costs $5.00. Once a week, I use coin-op’s for laundry. I love long distance driving and the freedom of the open road. It allows me to visit and experience many new places, meet many new people. I’m an avid amateur photographer and I photo-document all of my road trips.”

Peter researched that the equatorial circumference of the Earth is 40,074.06 kilometers. He wanted to drive the equivalent of going around the Earth, but didn’t want to just retrace his previous drives. So, in 2004, he left Toronto, driving west across Canada to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the start of the Alaska Highway.

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on Peter Cooper Originally built as a Military Highway in 1942, it is over 2,250 kilometers long. It was constructed in eight months, through some of the harshest terrain and weather conditions imaginable.

The first part of this road trip would start by going up the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse in the Yukon, then up the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, where the last “World Gold Rush” occurred in 1898. Then 700 kilometers up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and the 200-kilometer “Ice Road” to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT; the farthest north one can drive in Canada.

Peter tries to plan for everything that can happen during a major road trip. He gets an engine/transmission oil change and a full mechanical check-up. He also starts each trip with new tires, timing belt, and water pump. Sleeping in the car in extremely cold temperatures with the engine running puts extra “mileage” on the belt and pump.

Among other things, he packs the car with a portable GPS, full size tool and first aid kits, full size and “mini” spare tire, puncture repair kit, scissor and hydraulic jack, tire chains, a two-ton come-along, hatchet and axe, two collapsible avalanche shovels, road flares and reflective triangles, two mountaineering white gas stoves, four liters of white gas, ten days worth of freeze dried food, portable water purifier, 1,100 BTU propane heater, four liters of propane, 20 liter fuel container,

two heavy duty tow straps, various weights of winter weather clothing and gear, four season mountaineering tent and sleeping bag, a Therma Rest sleeping pad, and lots of duct tape.

Peter says, “I don’t want any newspaper headlines about how some Toronto Fire Fighter died of CO poisoning while sleeping in his running car in the Arctic. So I use two small portable carbon monoxide detectors.

I have a cut-off hockey stick that I wedge between the gas pedal and the front of the drivers seat to keep the engine near 1,100 RPM’s while I sleep. On the recommendation of my tire shop, the winter tires I drive on are no name Champiro’s.”

He always drives with a summer weight oil and Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer in the engine and gearbox. At -40F, the car would never start if shut off for a few hours. It has battery and block heaters, but he seldom sleeps at a place where he could plug them in.

Tuktoyaktuk can only be driven to in winter, on roads made when the longest river in Canada, the MacKenzie, and the Beaufort Sea are frozen. He fueled at Eagle Plains, which is the most northern truck stop in Canada, and just north of there, the Dempster crosses over the Arctic Circle, at a latitude of 66° 33’ 44”. From “Tuk” it’s 1,400 km back south to Whitehorse, to continue northwest, finish the Alaska Highway and continue up to Fairbanks, Alaska.

“I had purchased a new digital camera

before leaving Toronto but my camera card failed on the way back down the ice road and all my pictures on the ice road and in “Tuk” were lost, including the ones in front of the Tuktoyaktuk Fire Hall. Other than a “Tuk” gas receipt, I didn’t have any “picture proof” of my car in “Tuk,” which really bothered me,” lamented Peter.

North of Fairbanks is the Dalton Highway.

It’s about the same length as the Dempster and built around the same time, in the mid 1970’s. Like the Dempster, it is also two lane dirt, constructed a meter above the permafrost.

It was built to construct the Trans Alaska Pipeline. A 48” diameter steel pipe to pump crude oil 1,270 kilometers from the oilfields at Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay on the Beaufort Sea to Valdez, which is the most northern, year round, ice free port, where the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989.

“As a fire fighter, think of relay pumping thick crude oil, through 12 pump stations, a distance of 1,269.7 km, down a four foot diameter hose, over earthquake prone land, with temperatures ranging between -63C to over 37C. At its peak, it carried over two million barrels per day. Since construction, approximately 14 billion barrels have been pumped. Quite an amazing engineering feat!”

The Dalton Highway is the most northern highway in North America.

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Member Profile...Continued from page 35

It starts north of the Dempster and at its northern terminus in Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, its latitude is not only north of Inuvik, NWT, where the Dempster ends, but also significantly north of “Tuk,” and is the furthest north one can drive in North America About 100 km north of where it crosses the Arctic Circle, in Coldfoot Alaska, is the most northern truck stop in North America.

On January 26, 1989, a North American record low temperature of -63.3°C, was documented there.

North of Coldfoot, Peter got to see part of the westerly migration of a “Porcupine Herd” of 123,000 caribou.

“Not having pictures of the car in Tuktoyaktuk still bothered me. When back in Whitehorse, and with new camera cards, I drove 1,400 km, back to Tuk, got my pictures again, then drove down to Carmacks, Yukon” From Carmacks, the two lane dirt Robert Campbell Highway heads southeast for 500 kilometers to Watson Lake on the Alaska Highway and is the beginning of the Cassiar Highway, running south through the interior of British Columbia. Peter saw a sign for the Cantung Road, short for Canadian Tungsten, also known as, “Nahanni Range Road”. It’s a dirt road, 200 kilometers long, which goes through a few mountain ranges.

It was built in the early 1960’s to access the huge Tungsten Mine, in Tungsten, NWT. He didn’t have enough fuel to attempt it, so he drove to Watson Lake, filled up the car, and his 20-liter fuel container.

“The car is my transportation, accommodation, and my ‘shelter from the storm’.

With 40 liters of gas in my tank, another 20 liters wedged behind the passenger seat, 4 liters of white gas for the stoves, and 4 liters of propane for the heater, I am hyper-aware that I am a “bomb on wheels”. Almost every other vehicle is a Big Rig or B-Train of fuel.

Any accident could be catastrophic.”

He let a few people back home know where he was going, and then drove back to attempt the Nahanni Range Road. He made it to within 19 kilometers of the top but kept 36

getting the car stuck in deep snow and was getting exhausted jacking it up and digging it out with his avalanche shovel. Admitting defeat, he headed back to Watson Lake, and carried on with the journey.

South through the interior of BC to Vancouver, a ferry ride to Victoria, up to Port Hardy at the top, back down to Nanaimo, west to Tofino and Ucluelet, back to Victoria and Va n c o u v e r.

Then he drove all four corners of the “Lower 48” again.

While in San Francisco, he broke his left clavicle, wiping out while skateboarding a big hill. He could still change gears with his right arm, though. He visited every major city except Austin, on his way through Texas.

“Another neat way of remembering my trips is by trading shoulder patches with fire fighters from over 100 different Fire Departments. Fire fighters are great for recommending places to eat or visit within their communities. It is always fun comparing respective apparatus, equipment, call volume, wages, benefits, pensions, work shifts, and promotional policies. I was invited for many meals, always having to insist on paying my share.

Often, I was invited to sleep at their “fire house” but I always politely refused. I snore, and on these road trips the car is always my bed.

Surprisingly often, I was asked if I wanted to go on a ‘ride along’ if a call came through when at their station. That, I always accepted.”

“The total fuel expense to drive the ‘around the world’ distance, including idling time, was $3,180.00 in Canadian funds. I wonder what it would have cost in a vehicle with a six or eight cylinder engine?”

Peter has since been on three more trips to the far north, with another one

more than the circumference of the earth.

On one trip, he crossed the Arctic Circle at all three places possible in North America.

He rolled his car, coming to rest on its roof in deep powder snow, on a minus 40-degree day. “That seems to have cured my occasionally squeaky sun roof”.

He successfully completed the previously failed Nahanni Range Road.

On the Ice Road Trucker Highway, he wondered how fast he could drive on ice. “After a few test runs and working up my nerves, I buried the car’s speedometer at its maximum indicated 200 kph and it was still accelerating. When it wouldn’t go any faster, I slowly counted to 10, then backed off the gas, and came to a stop with my heart in my throat. I took a picture of my GPS, which showed I was tracking on eleven satellites and read it 219 kph, on sheer ice with no-name, nonstudded tires! I don’t recommend doing that and I’ll never do it again. It’s the most scared I’ve ever been.”

Another milestone was when his odometer passed 500,000 kilometers in Alaska. His trips have all been accomplished solo, with no sponsorship.

When people hear about his trips, they usually look over at his Honda and ask “in that?”

Peter says, “Being a left handed Aries, born on April Fools’ Day, maybe explains some of this? I dunno.”

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October 16, 1954 Clarence “Tiny” Collins • Frank Mercer • Roy Oliver • David Palmateer • Angus Small After tearing through the Caribbean and the United States, the arrival of Hurricane Hazel in Toronto on October 15, 1954 continued to wreak havoc on civilians and first responders alike. The low likelihood of such a strong hurricane reaching the Toronto area caught residents off guard and totally unprepared for what was to come.

Flash flooding all over the Toronto area had residents quickly taking refuge on rooftops, cars and in trees to escape the swiftly rising water.

Full-time and volunteer fire fighters from all neighboring departments faced an evening full of rescues, as so many people became stranded in the rapidly deteriorating conditions. Human chains, ropes and even small rescue boats unsuitable for the conditions were all utilized in order to bring people to safety by fire fighters. In one instance in East York, a Toronto Fire Department Aerial was positioned over the flooded Don River with a rope attached to bring a man to safety after he had clung to a tree for more than five hours.

While the damage from the hurricane was widespread, the Humber River area suffered the most destruction. With the waters of the river rushing at over thirty miles-per-hour, the current made rescue boats essentially useless. As darkness fell upon the river, Kingsway-Lambton Volunteer Fire Fighters responded to a call to help civilians that had become trapped on the roof of their car beneath an underpass.

Captain James Britton, Deputy Fire Chief Clarence Collins and Fire Fighters Roy Oliver, Jack Phillips, Angus Small, Marsh Palmateer, and Dave Palmateer arrived at the station and boarded their pumper.

They responded to the call while former volunteer, Frank Mercer, followed in his car to see if he could help. When they arrived, there were no stranded citizens in sight and the water quickly obstructed their exits. Frank Mercer’s car stalled and before it was washed away by the floodwater, he was pulled to the top of the pumper, where the rest of the crew decided to wait out the storm. As Mercer’s car was swept down the river, the crews used their radio to call for help and Fire Chief Bill Bell and police quickly tried to assemble a rescue attempt from shore.

As rescue attempts failed and the truck began to float downstream, the fire fighters knew they needed to abandon the pumper and try to get to shore in a final effort. As the truck was washed away, each man plunged into the raging water. Floating on his back and going downstream headfirst, James Britton smacked into a big tree and was able to hold on until Police could reach him with a rope. Meanwhile,

Gregory Law

February 17, 1967 - May 24, 2013 Start April 30, 1990

he tried to assist Frank Mercer who was holding onto a smaller tree nearby, but he was quickly swept away into the water. As Marsh Palmateer and Jack Phillips entered the water they fell into a current that brought them to shore and eventual safety. The other four men, Clarence Collins, Roy Oliver, Angus Small and Dave Palmateer were not as fortunate, as the current directed them away from the shore and it was impossible to swim against.

With hundreds of people reported missing and dozens dead the following morning, hundreds of fire fighters from Toronto and other neighboring departments volunteered their time off to search for the bodies of the fire fighters and other victims of Hurricane Hazel.

The bodies of Clarence Collins and Frank Mercer were found the following day in the search effort. Meanwhile, it took nearly a week to find the bodies of Dave Palmateer and Angus Small. The remnants of the truck were also found quite a distance away from where it became stuck and it was completely destroyed. Despite an extensive search effort, both the body of Roy Oliver and the civilians who were reportedly trapped on their car were never found.

Deputy Chief Clarence “Tiny” Collins was forty-six and had been on the Kingsway-Lambton Fire Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife Roxena and son William James.

William Frank Mercer was forty-three years old and was a carpenter for the Etobicoke Board of Education. He was survived by his wife and one daughter.

Roy Oliver was thirty-five years old and was survived by his wife and three sons.

David Palmateer was forty-one, married with two children and had been a volunteer fire fighter for twenty-five years.

Angus Small, who was first to respond to the station, was forty-four and survived by his wife and two sons. His son would later serve the Etobicoke Fire Department for twenty-five years.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, a fund was set up to benefit the families of the five fire fighters who gave their lives while responding to the call. For a brief time after the hurricane, Toronto Fire Fighters staffed the Kingsway-Lambton Firehall and a plaque honoring the five men was later affixed to a large rock near the river.

Due to the death toll and damage caused by Hurricane Hazel, the name was retired from use for North Atlantic Hurricanes. The event remains the largest single-day death toll for Etobicoke area fire fighters.

Wayne Boyd

December 6, 1948 - February 20, 2013 Start September 27, 1976

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.

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STATION 141

By MATT DUNN, TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER

uilt in 2011, amidst the ongoing construction of the Spadina subway extension, Toronto’s Fire Station 141 now calls the corner of Keele Street and Murray Ross Parkway home, after the original hall was in service for more than forty years.

B

A

s years of planning to expand subway service to York University and beyond to neighbouring Vaughan finally came into effect, one of the first requirements was the creation of a new Fire Station to service the Keele/ Finch neighbourhood. In 2007, with plans to accommodate a new bus loop, parking spaces and an entrance to the new Finch West Subway Station, the Toronto Transit Commission approached Toronto Fire Services with their proposal to buy the land and relocate the original Station #141, which still stands at 3965 Keele Street.

With a history dating back to 1969, as North York Fire Department Station #10, the original hall had long served a busy area of both Toronto and former North York.

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During the mid-1960s, plans were well underway to continue the growth of the North York Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Ivan M. Nelson. By late 1966, plans to build both NYFD Stations #9 and #10 had long since received the approval of the Ontario Municipal Board, yet no construction had begun. In submitting his recommendations in December 1966, Chief Nelson indicated that both stations were urgently needed and he advised that both should be ready for use no later than August of 1967. Despite his approval, the North York Traffic, Fire and Licensing Committee continued to study fire protection in the Borough and only

by March of 1968, did they formally recommend that it was absolutely necessary to build both fire stations immediately to prevent possible disasters in the York University and Northeast areas of the Borough of North York.

With both stations officially approved at a cost of no more than $100,000 each, instructions were given to have them completed in the same size and design, in order to maximize cost savings both in construction and architectural design fees. Although he had been the architect for five of North York’s previous fire stations and was recommended by the Fire Chief, Council surprisingly decided not to utilize the services of architect Harold Savage and instead awarded the design contract to Allward & Guinlock Architects. Increasingly odd, NYFD Station #7, which was to be used as a prototype for the two additional stations, was one of the five designed by Mr. Savage. After awarding the construction contract to Elmont Construction Limited for $199,600 for both fire halls, they were soon completed and went into service in 1969.

For many years, North York’s Station #10 filled what had been a large void in the Borough’s fire protection.

Less than ten years after the opening of the station, its two apparatus

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Station 141...Continued from page 39

10-Pump and 10-Aerial accounted for 11% of North York’s total call volume, more than any other station in North York. By 1980, the area bordered by Keele Street, Finch Avenue, Jane Street and Steeles Avenue had the highest number of emergency calls anywhere in the city and exceeded the second highest by more than one hundred calls.

The area also had the highest rate of fires, which accounted for more than 25% of all calls. The 1974 triple combination pumper and the 1977 100-foot aerial in service at Station #10 at the time began struggling to meet the increasing emergency demands in the area.

With aerial response times in both the Jane/Finch and Weston Road areas becoming increasingly important, the decision was made to relocate the aerial from Keele Street to the new Station #14 on Jane Street, south of Finch, after its completion.

Even after losing the aerial to what would become Toronto Station #142 post-amalgamation, the Keele Street pumper, now designated P141, continued to be one of the busiest in the north end of the city, due to increasing development of the surrounding area, including the nearby York University campus. Much like the current subway construction has done, a torrential rainstorm in 2005 significantly changed P141’s response routes when water levels climbed so high, so quickly, that a four lane section of Finch Avenue west of Sentinel Road was washed away, leaving a massive hole that remained under construction for many months. At almost the exact same location four years later, P141 responded to a horrific car accident when an impaired driver going nearly 200km/h crashed into a minivan, cutting it in half and leaving three people dead and others seriously injured. Only hours later, on what was a busy night shift, a multiple

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shooting at Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue left another person dead and four others injured.

The York University campus itself has also been the site of a number of major incidents in recent years, such as the fouralarm fire at the York Track & Field Centre in October 2010, to the York Central Utilities Building fire two months later, which caused residences to be evacuated when heating was cut by the fire damage. In the following year, P141 responded to another major emergency at the campus where a young worker was tragically killed in a construction accident when a drilling rig tipped over. Aside from the university, the running area of Station #141 continues to include other concerns, such as the large tank farms east of Keele Street, north of Finch Avenue West, and the nearby York University Village, which is only footsteps away.

Some of the recent major fires in the area include a three-alarm fire in a Mansur Terrace semi-detached home in 2008, and a very similar fire in April 2013 on Assiniboine Road that caused close to $500,000 in damage.

Although the new hall has been in service for well over a year now, the nearby subway completion has caused P141 to run out of the back of the hall to avoid traffic problems on Keele Street. The new single storey hall includes several features, such as a hose tower, crew quarters, fire prevention offices and a green roof with drought resistant plants to help with storm water management and heating and cooling costs.

Though it continues to run with just a single pumper, the 12,000 sq. ft. facility, designed by Tomas Brown Architects, boasts two double depth apparatus bays, which could easily house additional trucks, should they be required as the area becomes more densely populated in the years to come.

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Letter from the Editor…

I

liked the Advice from a Tree and thought it was well suited to this “Behind the Mask” publication in the Spring 2013 issue of Fire Watch. The job has put

together a presentation on Pride; a fire fighter’s job is to go out on a limb when others are hanging onto the limb.

Our culture is unique and we continue to feed ourselves with knowledge and training.

Now, I will take you back two or three issues when I introduced the Peer Support Survey, which was posted on Survey Monkey back in December 2012. I have downloaded and tabulated the results from 300 Respondents - approximately one eighth of TFS Operations staff alone.

If you are anything like me, you will be enriched with the variety and quality of responses, much like the tree’s advice. It appears to me that those who responded took the time to answer with integrity; this is where the value is Brothers and Sisters. While several items have been addressed, others have yet to be. Your team is here to support you and each other, so many thanks for your comments and responses!

Lynn

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 41

1

Survey Says...

Your Opinion, Recommendations and Comments Count Percentage of Respondents Indicated

Topic Area

In no particular order, there were many topics of interest indicated - many of which have already been covered either through the Health & Wellness Module, Coursemill, or previous Behind the Mask articles - and will be revisited, once new topics have been covered: • Finances/Bankruptcy/Wills/Estates • Depression, Anxiety, PTSD • How to Help Others/Supporting Mental Illness/Health • Stress/Job Challenges/Impact, Group Dynamics/Relationships/Divorce, Morale, Bullying • Death • Sleep Deprivation • Diet, Nutrition, Stretching Exercises, Recipes, Fitness, Exercise, Alcoholism • Children/Teens • 24 hours shift/Time Off • MS = Multiple Sclerosis?

• Suicide • Supporting Mental Illness • Positive Outcomes of Seeking Assistance/Stigma, Job Challenges, Benefits

45%

Contacted the Peer Support Team Previously

70%

Contact was simple

50%

Value Confidentiality

Suggestions:

75%

Did not require a Referral and sought out someone to speak with and/or seek advice from.

55%

Indicated the Referral could have been more suitable

R: It is our approach to be available where the need is. We have completed drop-ins, offered psychological support/first aid, defusings and made contact over the phone. It is our goal to continue this method of reaching out to you, however, to reach the masses, it is our goal to expand providing education regularly through Coursemill, H&W Seminars, PCs/Deputy Meetings and any opportunities which are available to us, which we can create for your and our betterment.

90%

Support Follow-Up and Courtesy Calls & find Psychological First Aid helpful

88%

Had more than 10 years on the job

87%

Find The Mask Articles Useful/Helpful

Doing a good job, keep up the positive influence and wellness initiatives.

Have one person in charge of a shift; this way the support team could make quarterly visits to the hall to give any updates and for the guys/gals to meet the Support Team before they actually need them.

A Few Respondents were unaware of their Peer Support Team and what exactly it is or what it does.

Maintain at least a 4 to 1 ratio of Operations/non operations personnel on the team.

R: The Peer Support Team is made up of volunteers from Operations and Support Divisions, several of whom started in Operations and were promoted into a Support Division. As a volunteer Team, we encourage and accept applicants from all Divisions to complement the Service as well as the Team, both from an experience perspective (what they have to offer) and from a value perspective (what they bring to the Team). We have all applied and been properly screened. Many of us have also joined the Team with high recommendations and support from our Supervisors, Brothers and Sisters.

We receive basic recertification training every year and have training and/or experience in many of the topic/issue areas for which we are approached. If this is not suitable to/for you, we have an extensive Referral list (inside and outside the city) of Professional Psychologists – it is your call, we are here to be of assistance to you, in the way that works for you.

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER - SPRING EDITION 2013

2

Your Team vigilantly tries to identify themselves through Contact Sheets posted in each station, Behind the Mask articles, Health & Wellness Seminars/Sessions/Training and Hall Visits/Drop Ins. We are a large department and are making proactive attempts to reach out to you. Always feel free to contact us as well for assistance, information or comments, through our website tfspeersupport.org or individual e-mail addresses or by calling 24/7 416-338-9327. You need not identify yourself.

prefer and are more transparent with Peer Support, who can relate to or at least understand and are familiar with the job, culture and issues. The Team also has external referrals that can provide psychological assistance, as required and requested. For many years now, we have been working to customize our referrals to ensure that they are suitable to deal with fire fighter issues, we take a preference to those who have been recommended or have previously had fire fighters/first responders as clients.

More activity, perhaps phoning DCs to encourage Captains to be looking for this support in more situations. Simultaneously, support could be more proactive finding where they can help.

iPhone/Mobile app R: I like this idea and hopefully this will be a future additional feature, in the meantime, visit our website at tfspeersupport.org!

R: The Team has taken a more proactive approach in reaching out to PCs, DCs and even speaking with Captains after calls are identified as potential risk. Our SOG, G-CRIS, mandates Communications to contact us within certain parameters; however, we also actively tune in to the media for calls, receive information from our Public Information Officers and tune in to CAD calls.

Should be contracted out to a confidential third party.

R: Research from US and Canadian Fire Services shows that fire fighters

The department as a whole should have its own psychologist.

R: We support this as well and have been actively requesting and relaying support and the need for one, both from a fire fighter and Team perspective. I encourage you to do the same through our Association and Management. In the meantime, your Team provides peer support and has a referral list with several people who have members of the fire fighter family as clients and are familiar with the issues that we face.

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES / TORONTO PROFFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION L 3888

PEER SUPPORT / CIS RESPONSE TEAM CONTACT SHEET TEAM MEMBER

CONTACT

PD&T PD&T 223 C 233 D FP 143 A 132 B 242 B

------------------ 647-409-3135 ----------------------------------- 416-723-8374 ----------------------------------- 416-676-3074 ----------------------------------- 647-409-2633 ----------------------------------- 416–676–2942 ----------------------------------- 416–676–3105 ----------------------------------- 416–602-0848 ----------------------------------- 416–723-8376 ------------------

HUGH DOHERTY

324B

------------------ 416-433-O446 ------------------

doherty@torontofirefighters.org

CONTACT

EMAIL

------------------ 416-450-8372 ----------------------------------- 416-318-9167 ----------------------------------- 416-271-7540----------------------------------- 905-375-7369------------------

hughdonnelly@rogers.com

CHAPLAIN

HUGH DONNELLY TODD RILEY BARRY PARKER DAVID KING Website:

East West South North

www.tfspeersupport.org

EAP / CIS Team Phone - 416-338-9327

3

EMAIL

LYNN PEZZELATO DAVID MORLEY JOHN DRIMMIE CARY STATHER GORD THOMPSON STEVE ZAVITZ ANDREW GLIOSCA RODNEY JOHNSTON

lpezzela@toronto.ca dmorley@toronto.ca johndrimmie@gmail.com cstather@toronto.ca gthomso@toronto.ca szavitz@rogers.com gliosca@ymail.com rj3111@hotmail.com

tsriley@primus.ca bparker@stpaulsbloor.org g_david_king@yahoo.ca April 2013

Communications – 416-338-9001

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER - SPRING EDITION 2013

icture a shiny new state of the art Ford/LaFrance fire truck being delivered to serve a quaint little cottage community on Toronto Island circa 1939. History has forgotten what this truck replaced to improve fire protection on the island, but safe to say, it was a significant upgrade.

Fast forward about 71 years to an amalgamated City of Toronto that had a weathered old pumper stored for years in the Deforest fire station, then moved repeatedly to free up space.

This story is about the transformation of that old truck with a seized engine, rotted tires and faded paint, to a revitalized, easy to drive parade piece.

The rebirth would not have happened without the vision and hard work of Mechanical Division Captains, Peter Ross and Stewart Dey, after what can

P

44

only be explained as a combination of blind dedication and too many episodes of “Monster Garage.”

The goal was to produce an antique fire truck that was reliable, easier to drive, and easier to maintain, when compared to existing antiques in the fleet. The rebuilt truck was to serve two purposes: its obvious use for parades and other department functions, but also a more sombre task, to function as the casket carrier at department funerals and alleviate having to modify the member’s front line truck and lift a casket way up to hose bed level.

The original truck had a driveline consisting of a damaged Ford Flathead V8 and a manual 4-speed “crash box” transmission (aptly named if you’ve ever driven one). If you ever wondered why the steering wheels on antique fire vehicles were the size of a hula hoop, it was simply for leverage. The brakes

were hydraulic and just as manual as the steering. Once people heard the true reasons for this project, Peter and Stewart received invaluable help from various individuals and companies. The first and most important donation was from Pine Tree Lincoln Ford, which donated the entire front end of an old minivan. After some basic measurements and a leap of faith, they removed the original engine, transmission, drive shafts, steering gear, wheels, suspension and front axle, in order to test-fit the modern components in their place.

They removed all body components from the frame to repair the rust and damage, and sent them for final painting. With all body components out of the way, they fabricated engine mounts, transmission supports, power steering system brackets and brake component mounts, all to blend new with old. Hub extensions were machined to bring the front

wheels to the same axle spacing as the rear wheels.

The original 6-volt positive ground electrical system was removed entirely.

The boys installed a battery bank, protected by a custom roll door near the rear step, because there was no room left up front.

The original water tank was removed so that a 1000 lb. full extension slideout tray could be installed in the hose bed for casket mounting, and a false hose load was created for more cheerful parade use.

The “cab” section created a number of challenges to overcome, with the custom fitted wood floor, recovered seats, brake and gas pedal modifications, dash rebuilding and the “gear shift” that looks original, but is simply an automatic shift. This is likely the only 1939 truck with a “check engine” light on the dash!

With the mechanical systems secure, the body panels all replaced and all basic equipment installed (ladders, hard suction, extinguishers, nozzles, siren, and lights), it was ready to get its stripes, with gold leaf decals and hand painted accent lines providing the finishing touch.

On January 10, 2013, the Island Pumper had its first actual test drive around the Toryork grounds! On February 27, 2013 it had its first public engagement at the opening of the Toronto Public Libraries’ Literary Festival launch.

Peter Ross and Stewart Dey dedicated countless hours of their own time to complete this project. Their wish is that this often frustrating labour of love can bring a smile to the face of people attending parades and functions, and help ease the pain when our department is mourning.

As the Division Chief of the Mechanical

Division, it gives me great pride to salute these two members who used their talents to go far past the call of duty in order to create something for everyone to enjoy. We would also like to thank the following individuals and companies that provided labor and materials, often at no charge, simply to see this project succeed: • Action Hydraulics • Auto Upholstery Centre • Bill Ash, Kleinberg Signs • Brian Wood Ltd. • Cardanic Drive-Line • Dependable Emergency Vehicles • First Unit Fire & Safety • JF Tire • NAPA Auto Parts • Morgan Tracy, Keep-Fill hardware • Pine Tree Linclon Ford • Texis Exhaust Ltd. • All TFS Me chanical Division Staff for their help and support

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 45

Fit to SURVIVE Sunny Orange Shake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (175 ml) lower-fat vanilla yogurt • 2 tbsp (25 ml) skim milk powder • 1⁄2 cup orange juice

Preparation:

In a blender, combine yogurt, skim-milk powder and orange juice; blend until smooth.

Nutrients per serving: • Calories: 254 • Saturated fat: 2.3 g

• Protein: 11 g • Carbohydrates: 46 g

• Fat: 3.6 g • Sodium: 153 mg

Very high in: vitamin C, riboflavin, folacin, vitamin B12, calcium High in: thiamine, pantothenic acid, magnesium Source of: vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6, zinc This shake is packed with bone-building calcium.

Allergy and Asthma Millions of Canadians suffer from allergies and asthma. When your immune system identifies a normally harmless material as a threat, it can set off symptoms like sniffles, sneezes, rashes, or breathing problems.

Hay fever

You may have heard the term “hay fever,” but seasonal allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, are triggered by several different types of pollen, but not by hay. When trees and grasses begin growing in the spring and early summer, they release light, powdery pollen that floats in the wind.

If you’re allergic to this pollen, it can result in sniffling, sneezing, wheezing, a runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes.

Allergy triggers, or allergens, vary depending on the time of year. In late summer and early fall, weed pollen (especially from ragweed) and fungal spores are the main culprits. As well, the specific allergens in the environment will vary with the geographical area.

So if you’re an allergy sufferer, how can you enjoy the outdoors without experiencing unpleasant symptoms?

46

Here are a few tips: • Keep windows closed so pollens can’t drift in. Air conditioning will keep you more comfortable in hot, humid weather.

But don’t forget that air conditioners also create the best conditions (damp and dark) for moulds to grow in your home. Do some spring cleaning, and do it regularly.

• If possible, stay inside when pollen counts are high (watch for these in weather reports) and on windy days when pollen and spores can get blown around. Avoid being outdoors in the early morning hours (between 5 am and 10 am), when pollen counts are usually highest.

• If you’ve been outside all day, remove all your clothing and put it aside to be laundered, and take a shower after coming home. This will prevent you from taking all that pollen to bed with you.

• Don’t hang your laundry outside to dry - it can trap pollen and mould, bringing them inside. Use your dryer instead.

If these measures don’t work, talk to your health care provider about what you can do if you’re suffering from allergies. There are eye drops, nasal sprays, and oral antihistamines that can be helpful in treating your specific allergy.

Poison ivy

Contact dermatitis is another kind of allergy, one that appears as a skin rash after you have touched some sort of allergen. One of the most common triggers of contact dermatitis in the great outdoors is poison ivy. The resin of the plant contains an oily substance called urushiol that’s easily released and spread when the leaves are crushed, rubbed, or burned.

There’s usually no reaction the first time you’re exposed, but watch out! About 85% of people will eventually develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy after being exposed to it several times. Within 12 to 40 hours of exposure to this innocent-looking shrub, susceptible people will typically develop an itchy rash, starting as reddened skin, leading to bumps and blisters. After a few days, the blisters break and the oozing sores begin to crust over and heal.

Your best defense is to avoid contact with poison ivy plants. Learn to recognize them by their slightly glossy green leaves growing in groups of three - but their shape can vary. If you’re in heavily wooded areas and it’s impossible to avoid them, wear long

Recipe courtesy of Simply Great Food. Dietitians of Canada.

The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition

sleeves, long pants, and gloves. Remember, the oils can cling to your family pet’s fur, so be careful when handling your pet after spending time in wooded areas - a bath may be necessary.

What if you’re unlucky enough to get some urushiol on you? First, try to wash it off right away. Even a running stream will do, but soap and water is best to keep the oil - and the rash - from spreading. The rash will usually go away on its own in a few days, but it can be uncomfortable in the meantime. Wet cold compresses can soothe the rash, while calamine lotion, witch hazel, or Burow’s solution helps dry it out. Bathing in water prepared with colloidal oatmeal can also be soothing. Oral antihistamines can be helpful in controlling itchiness. See a doctor if the rash is severe, is on the face or genitals, or covers more than 20% of the body. Prescription medications, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, can help in such cases.

Allergy shots If you have severe allergies, you or your allergist might have considered “allergy shots” - officially called allergen immunotherapy.

But are all those needles worth it? For some people, the answer is “yes.”

Like a vaccination, immunotherapy allows you to gain “resistance” or immunity to the things to which you’re allergic. That way, your body won’t overreact when you’re exposed to these triggers, or allergens, and your symptoms won’t interfere as much in your daily activities.

However, the therapy might require patience on your part. Allergen immunotherapy is not a one-time injection, but rather a series of shots. It starts when a doctor or allergist injects a tiny amount of the allergen, and then increases the amount of allergen injected each week, depending on how sensitive you are. It can take 4 to 6 months of weekly injections to reach the amount that is needed for immunity, which is called the maintenance dose. This dose is given every 1 or 2 weeks, eventually spreading out to every 3 or 4 weeks, and continuing for 3 to 5 years or longer.

The good news? After this process, people are usually less sensitive, so they don’t need as much allergy medication - sometimes

even none at all - and can enjoy their daily activities more easily. Allergy shots may be needed for people who are exposed to a lot of allergens (e.g., pollen, dust mites) and they can’t avoid them, or when allergy symptoms are so severe that allergy medications can’t control them. Experts suggest that immunotherapy is especially helpful for people with asthma because their attacks are often triggered by allergens.

Parent power fights asthma Experts are beginning to understand that allergies and asthma are related. In fact, children with allergies often have asthma and a skin condition known as atopic dermatitis (eczema) as well. Since allergy triggers can lead to asthma attacks, effective control of allergies may lead to better control of asthma. Identifying these triggers and then avoiding them may help prevent asthma attacks. Asthma symptoms can also be brought on by such triggers as exercise, viral respiratory infections, and irritant fumes or gases. Unfortunately, asthma attacks cannot always be prevented.

Seeing your child have an asthma attack can be worrisome and very frightening, and can make you feel unsure of what to do the next time an attack occurs. Your child’s doctor and pharmacist will recommend the right medication(s), doses and delivery devices for

your child to treat an asthma attack. These can come in such forms as aerosol inhaler, turbuhaler, or diskus.

Learn how to give the medications properly and make sure you understand the “action plan” designed to best manage your child’s asthma. An action plan includes a strategy to prevent an asthmatic attack by avoiding certain triggers and taking medication, as well as a rescue plan, which would be implemented should an asthmatic attack happen. Keep the action plan handy. It includes a list that takes you through specific steps to know when the asthma symptoms are worsening, what to do during an asthma attack, what dose of the medication to use, and when to seek medical attention. You might also be advised to use a peak flow meter at home, which measures how well the lungs are working.

Overall, the goal of asthma management therapy and the action plans is to have no asthma symptoms at all (i.e., no wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath). You know you have reached good asthma management when your child does not miss any school as a result of asthma, can take part in normal physical activity, has good quality sleep that is uninterrupted by asthma symptoms, and does not have to take the rescue asthma medication more than 4 times per week.

If your child has an asthma attack, here’s what to do: • Act calm and confident and speak to the child reassuringly.

• Give the asthma-reliever medications at the very start of an attack as directed by your doctor.

• Try to determine what triggered the attack, and then remove it (or the child) from the area.

• Follow the action plan. If your child uses a peak flow meter, take a measurement to use with the action plan.

• If the attack is under control, you can relax. If it isn’t, follow the action plan you may need to call the doctor or get immediate medical attention.

You can be your child’s most important ally in controlling asthma. Inform teachers, principals, school nurses, coaches, and babysitters of the asthma, what triggers it, and what should be done during an attack. As kids get older, you can teach them to manage their asthma themselves. And if you’re a smoker, try to quit, or at least don’t smoke in the house - smoke aggravates asthma symptoms.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 47

3888 Recent happenings

Operations Division recruits begin their careers on May 13, 2013.

Joshua Alexander, Kathrine Bull, Andrew Caprio, David Cicchelli, Wayne Clark, Grant Corkery, Robin Earl, Christopher Etsell, Braden Fox, Christopher Foxwell, Ryan Garbutt, Trevor George, James Green, Kelli Gunn, Beau Hobbs, John Ross Holmes, Dave Hook, Kevin Hooke, Robert Howe, Andrew Ingraldi, Robert Law, Jason Madill, Brandon Marks, Jason Marshall, Mike McQuade, Keith Melbourne, David Morais, Charles Morren, Erin O’Brien, Jeffrey Pett, Meaghan Riggs, Justin Rogers, Dustin Stacey, Mark Taylor, William Tilley, Kathryn Weiss, Andrew Wilson, Colin Wright

Operations Division recruits beg in their careers on March 11, 2013.

Yehhia Ahmed, Kyle Allin, Ashok Badhan, Nicholas Blicharski, Andrew Braatz, Graham Carter, Louise Che n, Mathew Chen, Josh Crawford, Steven D’Aloisio, Erin Daw son, Andrew DeFazio, Michael Djogovic, Jordan Dougherty, Mar k Eisler, Sam Gainer, Paul Garber, Ryan Grech, Nick Halatsis, James Irwin, Vanit Kalsi, Rudi Kerschl, Shahram Kouhbad, Terry Lelmonis, Jason Lim, Mike Maroy, Shawn McCormick, Sean McCoy, James McCreight, Robert Michon, Ashkan Moz afari, Colton O’Keefe, Mohanroy Periana, Dan Pirko, Rashid Raw dat-El-Balah, David Rountree, Josh Rypan, Sashar Sadeghpo ur, Justin Talbot Michael Tsirakidis, Vannetta Tustian, Matthew Wall is, David Wells, Steven Wieclawek, Aaron Yoworski

Welcome also to

Fire Prevention Division recruits begin their TFS careers on April 6, 2013.

Sherry Ballantyne, Melissa Ciccocelli, Justin Darke, Paul den Hollander, Ari Finewax, Maria Fuina, Tali Ground, Kevin Hooke, Keith Jackson, Sebastian Jakiela, Jeremy Lewis, Greg Mas, Justin Mullin, Frank Paniccia, Christopher Prince, David Santi, Al Schriver, Alex Vashkevich

48

Fire Prevention Division recruits begin their TFS careers on November 5, 2012.

: Ghulam Yehhia Ahmed, Murray Donald Belyea, Geoffrey Boscom be, Konrad Budomoski, Mal colm Gamage, Jerami Haden, C hristine Konoplicky, Chris Lippers, Richard Rawdat-E l-Balah

Zoltan Aklantisz, Scott Dalzell, Christian DeMarco, Kevin Godward, Vincent McGee, Sean McKibben, Stuart Ormond, Cherwin Perdon, Louri Svinoukhov S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 48

Ed Kennedy and Damien Walsh present IAFF General President, Harold Schaitberger with a cheque for $10,000, toward the IAFF’s Charitable Foundation at the Federal Legislative Conference on April 22, 2013, in Ottawa.

Toronto Fire Fighters participate in a Pond Hockey Tournament on March 5, 2013.

In this shot, our TPFFA team poses after beating the U of T Varsity Blues Women’s team by a score of 14 to 13.

Fourteen members of Local 3888 volunteered their time to assist the Easter Seals Telethon, held on March 10, 2013, at the CBC Building in Toronto.

Toronto Fire Fighters House League Playoff Champions, “Lombard.” Standin g from L to R Bruce Green, Davis McIntyre, Wes Edwards, John Carpe, Chris Linton, Rob MacRin er, Paul Mogavro, Ed Lukachko, Brian Pett, Joe Pan zini. Kneeling from L to R - Chuck Langill, George Divitcos, Dave Willats, Troy Lindmere. Absent Mike Langford, Frank Ramagnano.

On May 7, 2013, over 40 Toronto Fire Fighters participated in the Island Classic, playing Disc Golf on Wards Island. $1300.00 dollars was raised for Cystic Fibrosis Canada - more money than the five previous years combined! Special thanks to Ed Krolow, Troy Jacklin and Pete Guttenberg for organizing the event.

Team “Berkley St.” was the 2013 House League and Playoff Champions in the Old Timers League. Standing from L to R - Don Lines, Sheldon Beard, Kevin Bail ey, Mike Smith, Chris Morgan, Ken Lines. Kneeling from L to R - Bill Hawley, Brian Kelly, Dave Fairman , Dave Willats, Steve Applebee. Abse nt - Scott Bailey, Grant Boyd, Al Falk ner, Dave Walsh.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 49

2013 UPCOMING EVENTS LOCATION

June 3 -6, 2013

OPFFA Convention

Sault St. Marie

June 7, Friday

Local 3888 Retirement Dinner and Dance

Q'Ssis, Toronto

June 9, 11am, Sunday

TFS/TPFFA Memorial

Station #334

June 12, Wednesday

Stewards Meeting

Union Office, Toronto

June 20, 21 2013

Rob Penny Slo Pitch Tournament East Point Park, Scarborough

June 24, Monday Day (0930 Hrs)

3888 General Union Meeting

RCL Br. 527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.

June 25 Tuesday Night (1900 Hrs) 3888 General Union Meeting

RCL Br. 527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.

July 9, Tuesday

TPFFA Picnic

Centre Island, Toronto

July 29 - 31, 2013

IAFF Canadian Conference

Halifax, Nova Scotia

August 21 - 25, 2013

IAFF H&S - EMS Conference

Denver, Colorado

Advertisers Index City Savings Credit Union............................................................... Inside cover page 2 Mortgage Train...................................................................................................Page 4 North City Insurance Broker...............................................................................Page 4

All Ex members of 113 are eligbleAND VERY WELCOME to

join the Toronto Fire department Pensioners Assn ( TFDPA ) upon their retirement!

Fire Services Credit Union...................................................................................Page 6 TPFFA Golf Tournament......................................................................................Page 8 TPFFA Picnic.......................................................................................................Page 8 Red Knights MC................................................................................................ Page 10 USHTA Integrative Health Clinic....................................................................... Page 10 Divorce Wealth................................................................................................. Page 10 The Wearhouse................................................................................................. Page 50 TFDPA Message................................................................................................. Page 50 Gelman & Associates........................................................... Inside Back Cover Page 51 Old Mill Eastside.............................................................................Back Cover Page 52

50

Please pass this on to your friends and renew other old friendships at our Annual General Meeting in Sept!

Please Contact me Brian Young TFDPA Omers Rep @

416-489-4478 or BRIREN@Sympatico.ca

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | F I R E WAT CH 50

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