Standards

Comment: A genuine fire service wake-up call
What if you called 911 for an ambulance and it showed up 3,500 kilometres and three time zones away?

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Flashpoint: Is fire fighting a profession or a skilled trade?
I remember when I first got my passport that I had to get the photo verified by a guarantor who was someone who had known me for at least two years and was a member of one of a specific set of occupations. “Medical doctor” being on the list, I got my photo verified by my wife’s cousin, whom I have referred to ever since as “my gynecologist”. But I always wondered why doctors, lawyers, judges and the like were trustworthy enough to provide this service, but a fire captain or fire chief was not.

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NFPA Impact: Embracing innovation: Changing tactics and tools
You have all heard the old line about the fire services boasting more than 100 years of tradition unheeded by progress. This may be true, in that as a group we tend to look with skepticism on any new technology. We, as standards development bodies, have also done a great job conditioning the fire services to always look for certification.

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From the Editor: A call to al(arms)
It is quickly presenting itself as the most vexing problem confounding fire services from coast to coast to coast. People are dying needlessly because of the absence of a smoke detector that can be had for less than the price of a six-pack of beer.

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Comment: Website a story hub for firefighters
Shortly before sitting down to write this editorial on a Monday in late February I posted several news stories on the front page of our Firefightingincanada.com website, all involving significant structural fires in the previous few days.

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Flashpoint: Sprinkler misinformation hurting cause for safety
You know what bugs me? Urban myths. I hate it when inaccurate, misleading or downright wrong information is perpetuated by the media, the entertainment industry or just spread through the grapevine. Sometimes it is just a pet peeve or an annoyance but it can be a big deal when the public gets bad information about an issue that is needlessly costing the lives of dozens of Canadians each year.

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NFPA Impact: Canada needs to get tough on cigarette manufacturers
On Oct. 1, 2005, Health Canada introduced the Cig­arette Ignition Propensity Regulations. This was long-fought battle championed by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. The intent was to require manufacturers to produce cigarettes that have a higher probability of self extinguishing. It was estimated that this would reduce the number of fire fatalities by as many as 70 people a year in Canada.

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Letters to the Editor: February 2008
Editor’s note: Peter Sells’ December FlashPoint column has generated considerable feedback. Thanks to our letter writers for articulating their arguments and taking the time to send them to us. Peter’s reply is on page 54. To see Peter’s December column on two hatters, go to www.firefightingincanada.com and click on past issues.

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