Canadian Fire Chiefs deliver climate change message to the United Nations following devastating fire season in Kelowna, B.C.
Firefighting in Canada is diverse and challenging. There are many factors which have an impact on firefighter safety, community safety and the environment. Examples of current factors which influence firefighting include:
The construction of tall wood building. In Canada the recent National Building Code allows for the doubling of the permissible height from 6 to 12 stories. The code calls for the use of mass timber construction, which combines strength and fire resistance ratings.
Lithium-ion battery operated devices. With all this electricity now being drawn from lithium-ion battery (LIB) powered devices, bikes, scooters, hoverboards, and road vehicles of all sizes, an LIB fire is no ordinary fire. It erupts rapidly and with volatile force, Thermal runaway leads to the fire. Thermal runaway describes the quick uncontrolled release of heat energy from a battery cell. More heat happens than the battery can release. A single cell of thermal runaway can become a chain reaction in neighbouring cells, which can cause a fire or explosion.
Recruitment and retention. The results of the 2023 Great Canadian Fire Census are in, and the trends illustrate a growing threat to response capacity. Falling volunteer numbers, increasing call volumes, fiscal challenges, and firefighting’s reclassification into the top tier of carcinogenic jobs are some of the key factors putting on the pressure for the firefighting profession.
From: U.S. vs. Canada Codes: What’s Different and When Does NFPA Apply? (qrfs.com)
From: Getting ahead of the flames - Fire Fighting in CanadaFire Fighting in Canada
From: New data captures a Canadian fire service in crisis - Fire Fighting in CanadaFire Fighting in Canada
