The Responder Fall Winter 2014 page Web

Fall/Winter 2014 | 1

Fall/Winter 2014

ResponderTHE

A L B E R T A F I R E C H I E F S A S S O C I A T I O N

TRANSCAER®

A Collaborative Approach To Hazmat Emergency Response

Fire Service Grows As Parkland County Grows

50 Years Of Commitment

2 | The Responder

2014_367_ad_the_responder_outlines_11_06.indd 1 11/6/14 1:05 PM


CONTENTS 5 From The Publisher

6 TRANSCAER® A Collaborative Approach To Hazmat Emergency Response

12 Fire Service Grows As Parkland County Grows

16 A River Rescue In The Dead Of Night

18 Scenes Of Convention 2014

22 50 Years Of Commitment

26 ATCO Celebrates Volunteer Fire Fighters

30 ATCO Boosts Edmonton’s Fire Cadet Program

31 Fire Fighters Freeze For A Cause —Rooftop Campouts For Muscular Dystrophy

34 Catch The Big One! Exclusive First Responder Fish Tournament

35 Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) By Your Side

38 Wearing Sandals At A Fire!

The Responder is the official publication of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. The magazine is published twice a year.

The publication is distributed free of charge to emergency services personnel throughout Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. In addition, The Responder is distributed to urban and rural municipalities, Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and other organizations with an interest in fire and related emergency services.

Publication Mail Agreement: 40065432 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

Rose Country Advertising & Public Relations 11904 -113 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Canada T5G 3C2

Phone: 1.800.661.4278 Email: [email protected]

Publisher/Editor Brian Stecyk Email: [email protected]

Advertising Sales Brian Stecyk Email: [email protected]

Creative Director Margaret Horton Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2014, RC and AFCA. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publisher or the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association.

Cover Photo: When Rob and Kate Johnson got married they accepted the fact that they were not just married to each other but that Rob had a 24/7 365 days-a-year relationship with the Ponoka Fire Department.

ResponderTHE

A L B E R T A F I R E C H I E F S A S S O C I A T I O N

4 | The Responder

This past few months have been an exciting time for the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. On behalf of all our members, I extend sincere appreciation to Chief Dan Lemieux of Grande Prairie and Chief Everett Cooke of Grande Prairie County.

The convention was outstanding—we had the best attendance ever. Their enthusiasm was contagious as shown by the many volunteers who made our visit enjoyable. The introduction of the training programs prior to the formal convention was a great idea and everyone who participated learned from the process.

I recently attended the Alberta Urban Municipalities Convention where ATCO Gas hosted a reception to recognize the importance of volunteer fire fighters. It was also an occasion to launch our two new recruitment videos which are now available for you to use.

We continue to have a very positive relationship with government and from discussions I have had we know they are listening to us.

Many of you know one of our board advisors, Leon Smallboy of the First Nations (Alberta) Technical Services Advisory Group. He has a new responsibility—he was recently elected as President of the Aboriginal Fire Fighters Association of Canada. Congratulations Leon.

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Parkland County Fire Department. I have been proud to be part of their growth over the years. On behalf of the AFCA, I extend congratulations to Chief Jim Phelan and all the past and present fire fighters in Parkland County.

Bill Purdy Executive Director, AFCA Deputy Chief Wabamun Fire Department

Dear Friends,

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Past projects included a sewing seminar in an orphanage in Ladyville, Belize in 2012 and donations of sewing machines in Sandvillle Belize where women now sew linens for the local seniors home.

A Belize orphan can now make clothes thanks to the generosity of Canadians.

Contact Dr. Roman Bayrock: [email protected] or call 780.475.8484

Organized by the Edmonton Riverview Rotary Club

Donate A Used Sewing Machine TodayMake a difference—help teach women to sew!


From The PublisherIt was nice to meet so many of you at the AFCA Convention in Grande Prairie. Your positive response to The Responder is especially gratifying. Changing a publication is much like starting over and it takes time. It is so nice to hear

that fire fighters and others are not only reading the magazine but are looking forward to the next issue.

I have been working on a special project with one of our advertisers—the Hawkeye Marine Group. We are developing a first responder’s fishing derby. There is an article in this issue that shows how first responders can catch a big one! The event will be held in Bamfield, British Columbia. I know the fishing is good because my wife and I went to find out. In about eight hours of fishing two of us caught our limit of Chinook salmon (several over 20 lbs.), a halibut, rock cod, ling cod, red snapper, red eye and our guide fed us fresh crab. What a trip!

If you know of a story we should cover—a celebration; anniversary, award, new facility or any other item that

you think your fellow fire fighting community should be aware of please let me know. Don’t be afraid to brag a little—it’s not bragging if it is true! If you are an advertiser we could do an article about your product or services—just let us know.

This magazine is fully paid for by advertising so it is very important for readers to support those who advertise. It wouldn’t happen without them. It would also be nice for you to tell them you saw their advertisement and then thank them for their support.

Brian Stecyk Publisher/Editor

To learn more:www.firetrucks.ca

* Actual unit shown is available for immediate delivery. Subject to prior sale.

6 | The Responder

The rail disaster at Lac-Mégantic was the most recent wake-up call for transportation entities, first responders and the public. Where there are highways and railways, and there are dangerous goods, first responders need to know all about them. It’s not simple—there are thousands of potentially hazardous products that travel by our homes and businesses every day.

It would be easy to say “don’t transport them,“ but these chemicals and other products are the building blocks for many of the products that make our lives the way they are. The best thing we can do is to learn to deal with them safely and be able to respond effectively when spills or accidents happen.

A pioneer of the TRANSCAER® initiative, Terry Litchfield attended a unique Union Pacific Railroad and Dow Chemical hazmat response training exercise in Texas back in the early 1980s. At the time, Terry worked in the Canadian chemical industry and recognized the need for a new approach to the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Populations were increasing, and the types and characteristics of chemicals and other hazardous materials were becoming increasingly complex. So Terry brought this transportation community outreach concept back to Canada, and it was immediately embraced by the Canadian Chemical Producers Assoc. and their carriers. Thus began a new transportation safety driven initiative north of the border. In 1985, TRANSCAER® was officially adopted by the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). Today this collaborative program is led by

TRANSCAER® A Collaborative Approach To Hazmat Emergency ResponseBy Brian Stecyk

Dustin Ritter, right, from CP Rail explains how a foam nozzle works.


CIAC and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), with the Canadian Assoc. of Chemical Distributors (CACD), the Canadian Assoc. of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the Chlorine Institute (CI), and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, as national partners.

Through this initiative, CIAC partners with other associations in Canada (those representing manufacturers, distributors, transportation companies, government regulators, and emergency responders) working to ensure that transportation safety best practices are shared, and that consistent, state-of-the art training and emergency preparedness activities are carried out across North America.

On September 12th and 13th, the Prairie Region TRANSCAER® Committee (PRTC), with Northwest Tank Lines as the lead company, hosted Calgary TRANSCAER®

Terry Litchfield stands next to a Northwest Tank Lines tanker. Northwest Tank Lines is a very strong proponent of the TRANSCAER® initiative.

Like everyone else who attended these members of the Claresholm Fire Department were eager learners.

2014 in CN’s Sarcee Yard. Both days were well-attended despite cold and blustery weather. Calgary Fire Department Deputy Chief Coby Duerr kicked off the event early Friday morning with an inspiring welcome speech.

Then, at the start of each day, delegates heard brief presentations from Transport Canada, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and Alberta Transportation, before engaging in the practical part of the workshop. The workshop site was segregated into six interactive hazmat training stations. Attendees were then divided up into small groups, with each group spending time at each training station—where they were able to see various pieces of transport equipment, and to discuss emergency response procedures with industry experts.

The welcome sign displays the logos of the major supporters of TRANSCAER®.

This quick attack vehicle from the Shell Scotford Complex can pump 2,000 gpm.

8 | The Responder

“We had wonderful participation and support from industry and the entire Alberta fire fighting community, with the Calgary Fire Department being particularly helpful. Of course community first responders are already focused on hazmat transportation challenges, but there is always more that they can learn, as things are changing every day,” says Litchfield.

“Anytime we get this kind of training, it is valuable. Awareness, knowledge and information for first responders is essential and helps us a great deal. We really appreciated the opportunity and were proud to support this initiative,” stresses Captain Royal Slade, Hall 4 Calgary Fire Department.

Rich McClelland, Environmental Protection Officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development echoed those sentiments, “Having this training and being able to respond appropriately is definitely key.”

Rick gave an overview of the Dangerous Goods hotline—1-800-272-9600. “Last year we received 23,000 calls—5,000 were requesting information while

17,000 were reporting of spills, 5,000 of which were oil industry spills.” Rick added that there are 330 railroads under provincial jurisdiction and more and more the industry is changing because of the “pipeline by rail concept ”.

“Railways are a real concern to us,” said Leon Smallboy of the First Nations (Alberta) Technical Services Advisory Group and AFCA Board Advisor. “We should research how many go through First Nations. It affects everyone and we need to know how to respond and who to call.”

One of the industry trainers, Randal Sarrazin of Chemtrade said, “We feel that we should continually make outreach efforts to fire departments. They are the first responders at a hazmat accident scene, and it’s important for them to know what is being shipped and how to deal with it in the event of a spill.”

An interesting display at the event was the response unit displayed by Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency Response Corp. (LPGERC). Managing flammable liquids such as propane can be a real challenge at an accident scene, as evidenced by the recent train derailment of propane cars at Gainford, Alberta.

LPGERC teams are available 24/7, 365 days a year to help with emergency responses involving flammable gasses and liquids. They are committed to providing initial advice within minutes, a Remedial Measures Advisor (RMA) on site within six hours and a Response Team on site within 12 hours. Since creation in 1997, LPGERC has responded to 280 incident activations with no issues.

“We have a consistent response plan across all provinces and we work closely with municipalities, regulators, carriers and fire departments whenever we are needed,” says Patrick Knight, Flammable Liquids Operations Manager for LPGERC, “We believe strongly in training. We hold regional and national training sessions for our ER teams, and we have 16 on-line training modules.” (learn more at www. http://lpgerc.ca)

Another fascinating module at the event was the CCPX 911 Safety Train railcar. Transformed into a walk-in training centre by the Chemical Industry Association of Canada, the railcar permits trainees to see how rail tank


cars are constructed, and the loading and unloading safety technology built into them. Veteran dangerous good officers Karl Tirschmann with CN and Gary Bauer from RAC walked the attendees through the many components of the safety train and an attached CN locomotive. Cary Dampier from GATX Railcar in Red Deer, and Randy Sarrazin from Chemtrade in Prince George also helped display the safety train and CN’s impressive valve and fittings trailer.

“Knowing how these things are set-up and how pressurized vessels operate will be very helpful for anyone with a major railway going through their community, as we do in Banff,” stated Kent Paterson of the Banff Fire Department.

Quantum Murray displayed one of its product transfer pumps.

Sometimes fire departments may be too small to have the necessary expertise and equipment for responding to hazardous material accidents.“ That’s where we come in,” says Geoff Murray of Quantum Murray Emergency Response. “We provide a highly trained emergency response team for all dangerous goods, industrial cleaning and waste disposal. Either the responsible party or a fire department gives us a call and then we get our ER team underway immediately.” At their workshop display, QMLP displayed a number of product transfer pumps, and discussed other emergency response techniques and services.

Bob Smith, Emergency Services Supervisor at the Shell Scotford Complex, had an impressive piece of equipment on display—their quick attack vehicle. It can pump 2,000 gpm through the pump on top of the unit with two five-inch Storz connectors. Although for use primarily at their site, the unit is also part of the response capability of the Heartland Mutual Aid Group.

ERCO Worldwide is a chemical producer that also participated. Bev Bentz and Lisa Burletoff stressed their company’s desire to meet the needs of fire departments. They produce sodium chlorate in their plant near Grande Prairie, and chlor alkali products in Saskatoon. Lisa is working towards a future TRANSCAER® event for northwestern Alberta fire departments that will be held

It was easy to learn about chemical handling, valves, safety equipment and other safety features by going inside this Chemical Industry mobile demonstration unit.

10 | The Responder

near Grande Prairie in September of 2015. Watch for details.

Another company that everyone knows, Agrium, was on site. They also stressed their desire to work closely with local fire departments. The AGRIUM ER team is continuously involved with “scenario training” to help first responders. One necessary scenario is an “anhydrous ammonia leak”, which could involve all emergency response agencies.

The tanker was completely covered with foam—just what would be needed to supress a fire.

“There is growing interest in hazmat and how to work with rail companies. There are increasing amounts of commodities going by rail and we need to know how to deal with them. Lac-Mégantic woke everyone up. As first responders we have a lot to learn and a lot to do when an incident occurs,” says Tanya Brunelle, casual on-call fire fighter, Canmore Fire & Rescue.

Some people really got into the action. Randy Siemens, Emergency Services Coordinator and Chief at Lamont County Emergency Services got to operate the hose. Canadian Pacific Railway and Tervita provided the chemical foam and other equipment for training, and Randy got the hands-on experience of spraying a tanker-trailer unit—assisted by CP Rail Hazmat and ER Officer Dustin Ritter. CP also had their impressive and well equipped response trailer on display for everyone to walk through.

Randy Siemens of Lamont County tries one of the foam spray units—you can tell by his smile he really enjoyed the experience.

At the Agrium station, delegates heard about the hazard response required for anhydrous ammonia.

These City of Calgary Fire Fighters were listening intently to information about LPG emergency response but were ready to roll with trucks standing by if a call came in.


Other organizations providing information to delegates included: Kara Edwards of the Chemical Industry Association of Canada, Scott Legge and Darcy Hall, NOVAlert Technical Advisors of Nova Chemicals, and Saturday’s workshop kick-off speaker Tom Blaney, CEO of Northwest Tank Lines. Northwest had a number of their tank trailers on display, and David Comly explained the many safety features built into these highway transport units.

Dean Angell, Captain and Training Officer of the Mirror Fire Department was impressed, “We have a large transfer site for CN. I came because we wanted to know what resources there are—what we can handle ourselves and what we can access when we need it. I highly recommend that people attend these events.”

“We are just getting underway with plans for training sessions next year. We will have them in all four western provinces—we just haven’t formalized the schedule yet,” says Randy Mak, of Dow Chemicals and Chair National TRANSCAER® Committee. “We also welcome requests. The best thing to do is to check the schedule of events on our website www.transcaer.ca.”

Perhaps Captain Garth Misura of the Okotoks Fire Department summed it up best, “I love this event. It is a chance to interact with people in the industry who we would never normally meet. It takes some of the fear of hazmat response away. The people providing the information are very practical—not theoretical—which is just what first responders want! It wouldn’t hurt any fire department to have people attend.”

Scott Legge and Darcy Hall of NovaAlert were on hand to answer questions and provide technical advice.

Equipment like this response unit contributed to the visual impact of the TRANSCAER® event.

I love this event. It is a chance to interact with people in the industry who we would never

normally meet.

“ “Proudly supporting the fire services of Whitecourt-Ste. Anne• Alberta Beach• Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation• Blue Ridge • Cherhill• Darwell• Entwistle• Evansburg• Fallis• Gainford

• Gunn• Lac Ste. Anne County• Mayerthorpe• Niton Junction• Onoway• Parkland County• Peers• Rich Valley• Rochfort Bridge

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• Sangudo• Sunset Point• Whitecourt• Wildwood• Woodlands County• Yellowhead County

12 | The Responder

Fire Service Grows As Parkland County GrowsBy Brian Stecyk

It wasn’t a County 50 years ago and the way of life and population were much different. In 1964 the MD of Stony Plain #84 was a sprawling agricultural area adjacent to the western boundary of the City of Edmonton and stretching approximately 60 miles west to Entwistle. Agriculture was king with the emerging electrical generation industry just getting a foothold with Calgary Power’s new plant at Wabamun. The MD population was 9,264. The MD surrounded the urban communities of: Village of Spruce Grove (pop. 596); Town of Stony Plain (pop. 1,463); Village of Entwistle (pop. 411); Stony Plain Indian Reserve at Enoch and Wabamun Indian Reserve.

But things were beginning to change. Annexation by the City of Edmonton reduced the boundaries but people began to be attracted to the rural lifestyle and smaller communities. Today the County of Parkland boasts 30,568 residents (2013) and those sleepy rural communities have changed dramatically: City of Spruce Grove (27,975); Town of Stony Plain (15,051); Village of Wabamun (661); Stony Plain Indian Reserve (987) and Wabamun Indian Reserve (1969).

Agriculture although still important has being overshadowed by power generation and industrial activity in the Acheson industrial area and tourism developments throughout the County. With thousands of acreages and expanding hamlets the nature of emergency response has also changed dramatically.

This change is most evidenced by the new Acheson Fire Station that was officially opened on September 23. The Acheson Industrial Area is home to more than 200 businesses and is expanding rapidly. The new station is state-of-the-art with meeting rooms; exercise room; training facilities and of course all the emergency response capabilities of a modern fire hall. Designed by S2 Architecture, the new building is a beautiful complement to architectural design in Parkland County. The response area will include not only the industrial area but the surrounding residential and farm areas on the eastern end of Parkland County.

Acheson is just one of the seven regional fire districts within the County. Each is dedicated to a response area and hosts a well-trained emergency response team.

Parkland County Fire Chief Jim Phelan presided over the official opening ceremonies for the new Acheson Fire Station. Joining him were (l to r) Kim Mozac, Deputy District Fire Chief Seba Beach; Ken Lemke MLA, Stony Plain; Doug Horner MLA, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert; Rod Shaigec, Mayor Parkland County; and Amber Coleman, Deputy Fire Chief Parkland County and Captain Devon Fire Department. The separation of the fire hose officially opened the new facility.


Parkland County owns and operates the facilities in Tomahawk, Acheson, and Parkland Village. Halls in Seba Beach and Wabamun are not owned but are cost-shared and operated by Parkland County. Parkland County has a full-time Fire Chief, three full-time Deputy Fire Chiefs, and over 150 part-time Fire Fighters and Fire Officers operating out of five fire stations. In addition, they have cost share agreements for the operation of three more fire stations with other municipalities. These are located in the towns of Devon and Stony Plain and in Yellowhead County.

Mutual aid agreements involve all the members of the Edmonton Capital Region Board (27 municipalities) with the closest being the City of Spruce Grove, City of Edmonton, Sturgeon County, Lac Ste. Anne County, and Leduc County. The two First Nations communities at Enoch and Duffield call Parkland Fire Services to help if the response required is beyond their capabilities.

“We recently sent six units to assist Edmonton Fire and Rescue when we were called in to help with an industrial fire in the west side of Edmonton in Winterburn. It is just one example of working well with our neighbouring departments,” says Parkland County Fire Chief Jim Phelan.

It is a busy fire department, handling about 850 calls per year and issuing over 3,500 fire permits annually. “The type of call has changed over the years,” says Phelan. “More and more we are seeing increases in motor vehicle collisions and rescue. Grass and brush fires vary by year and weather conditions.”

Deputy Fire Chiefs Amber Coleman and Trevor Sutherley.

The County is also bisected by CN Rail’s mainline. Response to rail related incidents although infrequent are usually major events. Some memorable responses included the fire on the trestle over Moonlight Bay on Lake Wabamun; the 176,000 litre bunker oil spill into Lake Wabamun in 1995; and the recent derailment of tanker cars hauling propane at Gainford.

Parkland Village is a unique modular housing community located in Parkland County. Currently over 1,850 residents live in 812 homes. It is a high density community and thus has a need for an on-site fire department.

Fire station in Parkland Village.

“Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities and the Parkland County Fire Department have always shared a symbiotic relationship. They not only foster a sense of safety and comfort to the residents of Parkland Village, they also engage with the community through local BBQs and events. We have a high level of admiration and appreciation for the department and consider them an integral part of our community,” states Amy Roberts, Regional Manager, Edmonton and NE Alberta, for Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities.

The most significant industrial area in Parkland County is the Acheson Industrial Area, just south of the Yellowhead Highway and straddling Highway 60. It is a big area accommodating over 200 businesses and 9,000 employees on its 10,000 acres. The range of businesses is incredibly varied. Proximity to rail and three major highways makes it a transportation and distribution hub for many of the businesses.

14 | The Responder

For years fire response was delivered from other halls in Parkland County but now with the exceptional new Acheson Fire Station open and operating help is close at hand should an event occur. The new facility will enable quick response which may be reflected in reduced insurance rates for the businesses and nearby residential areas. “When we designed the Acheson Fire Station we focussed on functionality--ease of use and form--an attractive structure that Parkland County could be proud of,” says Linus Murphy, architect of S2 Architecture.

At the grand opening of the new hall dignitaries joined in to extol the virtues of the new hall. Parkland County Division 2 Councillor Jackie McCuaig, expressed appreciation for the volunteers who man the fire service, “We very much appreciate the personal sacrifices our volunteer fire fighters make. The call is out for this hall. We need more people to step forward.”

“This is a major step forward for Acheson and a substantial benefit for every business. The ABA will work with the County to encourage and support volunteers to operate this hall,” says Roger Ward, president of the Acheson Business Association.

“Getting volunteers from businesses is a real challenge,” explains Chief Phelan. “Involvement with the fire department can mean 10 to 12 hours a week. A business can be in quite a predicament with 10 to 12 hours a week of lost-time and productivity. There is no way they can write the costs off in taxes. We need about 40 fire fighters for this location and we now have about 12.”

“My message to potential fire fighters is about priorities. I tell them that their family is #1; where they earn their living is #2; and Parkland County Fire Department is #3 in all the things they devote their time to. With all the competing demands people have I want them to know

No one is ever too young to be introduced to the fire department. The hose tower in the new Acheson Fire Station.

We very much appreciate the personal sacrifices our

volunteer fire fighters make. The call is out for this hall.

We need more people to step forward.

“

“


what we consider their priorities should be if they are to join our department,” says Phelan.

An effective response team requires regular sophisticated training. The new Acheson Fire Station is fully equipped as a major training centre. A hose-tower equipped with window access points and typical fire standpipe system is a feature of the new facility. It will enable training in fire technical rope rescue.

In addition, there is a major lecture/training room equipped with smart boards, projector, and sound system. The room can be divided in half for smaller groups. “Every hall has a number of qualified instructors and each conducts regular training. Acheson will be used for advanced training and certified training courses for our own fire fighters as well as fire fighters from a number of other communities,” adds Chief Phelan.

“Our fire fighters are trained to the same international standards as any other department in North America. Just because they are volunteers doesn’t imply they are less qualified than full time fire fighters,” concludes Chief Phelan.

Fire fighters from the new Acheson Fire Station have already been dispatched to calls..

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16 | The Responder

A River Rescue In The Dead Of NightBy Brian Stecyk

When the call arrived at Parkland County Fire Services, Tomahawk Station, the members scrambled to respond. A river boat was stranded high and dry on an island in the middle of the North Saskatchewan and the four occupants were calling for help.

Eighteen responders from the Tomahawk, Seba Beach and Wabamun fire stations plus the RCMP attended starting at 8:00 pm. They headed to the location the stranded boaters had indicated. In that area there are few access points to the river—the banks are heavily wooded and ravines and wet areas make access difficult.

Led by District Deputy Fire Chief Len Pischke, the rescuers headed for the isolated location. They waded through swamps, creeks, and brush for hours dragging their Zodiac behind them. The boaters were not where they had indicated. The searchers spread out but were hampered by communications problems as radios didn’t work effectively in the river valley ravines—they changed to cell phones which did work. Unfortunately the boaters didn’t know how to get GPS coordinates from their cell phones so rescue was much more difficult.

They were not about to give up in spite of the darkness. Finally they called the Edmonton Police Service and asked for help from Air-1, the Edmonton Police helicopter. After completing a call it arrived on the scene and began a grid search along the river using its infrared

River rescue is something we seldom get involved in.

More often our Zodiak is used for boater rescue on Lake

Wabamun.

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The Tomahawk, Seba Beach, and Parkland Team photo at the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The newest tanker truck in Parkland County Fire Services fleet.

capabilities and night sun. An hour later the stranded boaters were located—now the rescue really began. They were approximately 10 km further up river. The rescuers reached the island and encountered an unburned forest of huge trees interlaced with deadfall. At about 3:00 am they finally reached the four boaters and managed to get them to shore. It was a long night for the volunteers who made it home at 5:00 am.

“River rescue is something we seldom get involved in. More often our Zodiak is used for boater rescue on Lake Wabamun,” says Pischke. “Our water training is also on the lake so this event was something new for us.”

This event is typical of the close working relationship between the Seba Beach and Tomahawk Stations. They operate as one fire district with two fire stations. Between the two stations there are 32 members including seven women. They currently have three junior members—Haidon, Cindy, and Connor.

“I joined because it’s fun!” says 16 year-old Haidon Berryman, already a two-year member. “My brother got me started—I can’t go on calls and I do a lot of training and learning about the tools. I also like to be close to the action (continued on page 20)

The fire department made a presentation at the

Tomahawk school—I joined because I thought it would

be cool and it is.

“ “

18 | The Responder

Scenes Of Convention

2014


Scenes Of Convention

2014

20 | The Responder

(continued from page 17)

and want to know what’s going on with the fire district and the police,” he adds.

Brother Landon also started when he was 14 and now is a full-fledged member. “The fire department made a presentation at the Tomahawk school—I joined because I thought it would be cool and it is,” says Landon.

Training is a major component of their operations. Fourteen members have been certified to the National Fire Protection Association Professional Firefighter Level 1 thanks to the in-house training program. Every Thursday the members congregate at the Tomahawk fire station for training with a usual attendance of 20 or more.

The two stations are close. Like many small communities it is a family affair with husbands and wives, brothers, sisters, uncles and cousins—everyone is involved. The members illustrate the diversity of volunteers: housewives, pipe inspector, retired police officer, farmer,

construction worker, coal miner, bookkeeper, students, air cargo worker, wake boarder specialist, maintenance supervisor, public servant, tradesmen, electrical worker and many more.

The two stations cover the largest response area of Parkland County with their two tandem axel tanker trucks, two fire engines, rescue truck, two squad vehicles and Zodiak. “More and more we are responding to motor vehicle collisions and medical calls. Structure and wildland fires are fewer than in previous years and we also have occasional incidents of moose versus car. Our biggest recent event was the liquefied petroleum gas tanker car derailment at Gainford. We also cover the portion of Highway 16 west of Highway 43 with the Wabamun Fire Station,” says Deputy Chief Pischke.

2014 also marked the 50th Anniversary of the Tomahawk fire station. A celebration held on September 20 marked the event.

District Deputy Fire Chief Len Pischke is ready to go!


Tomahawk and Seba Beach members are almost ready for their Thursday night training session.

The Tomahawk Fire Department’s 50 Year Celebration Cake.

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22 | The Responder

Two members of Parkland County Fire Services, Wabamun Fire Station, were recognized at the 50th anniversary of Parkland Fire Services on June 14, 2014 in Wabamun Alberta. Bill Purdy, District Deputy Fire Chief and Executive Director of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association and Willie Wichuk, Fire Fighter, joined the department June 1, 1964. Both still are very active members. Parkland County Fire Chief Jim Phelan was the Master of Ceremonies and called on Alberta Provincial MLA for the Stony Plain Constituency, Mr. Ken Lemke to present The Fire Services Exemplary Service Medals in recognition of 50 years of loyal and exemplary service to public safety in Canada. One hundred and fifty former members, elected officials, guests and a representative of the Alberta Office of the Fire Commissioner were in attendance.

50 Years Of Commitment

Do you recognize this man? You may if you look on Page 4—He is Bill Purdy, Executive Director of the AFCA and District Deputy Chief Parkland County Fire Services, Wabamun Fire Department.

I just wanted to help, so I joined the fire department. It is sure a lot easier now with

better equipment.

“ “

By Brian Stecyk


Fifty-one years ago, Bill and fellow citizens of Wabamun approached the MD of Stony Plain saying they needed a fire hall. The previous year there had been a number of serious fires.

In 1964 the hamlet of Wabamun under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District of Stony Plain #84, was the first community to receive fire equipment. The Municipal District had a very aggressive fire protection plan and over five years placed fire equipment in numerous locations throughout the Municipal District. The name changed to Parkland County and the County continues to provide services to many communities, including Tomahawk, Seba Beach, Parkland Village, Acheson, Carvel, Duffield, Kapasiwin, Lakeview, Falis, Betula Beach, South Seba, Keephills, and Spring Lake.

In June 1964 a new 650 front mount pumper on a Dodge chassis was delivered. The hall, (a temporary building) donated by Calgary Power was replaced by a new facility which opened in late fall of 1964 as a joint

Bill Purdy and Willie Wichuk pose with former fire fighting colleagues at the 50th Anniversary Event.

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use facility—fire hall and police station. Volunteers were recruited and the new fire service was underway. Bill Purdy was one of the first of 25 members to sign on.

“I just wanted to help, so I joined the fire department,” says Willie. Now 72 years of age, Willie usually drives the tanker and operates the engine. “It is sure a lot easier now with better equipment,” he adds.

24 | The Responder

Wabamun Fire Chief Jeff Wiggins accepts a 50-year commemorative plaque from MLA Ken Lemke.

The response area extended 14 miles east, 15 miles west, south to the North Saskatchewan River and north to the County of Lac Ste. Anne. It also included the Paul Band First Nations.

By today’s standards bunker gear was primitive—long coats, high roll-up boots and standard helmet. There was no SCBA until the mid-1970s and no radio communications.

Since that time, 213 personnel have passed through the hall for a total of 955 years of volunteer time. The department has been served by five chiefs—Art Burham (64-68); Grant Kulak (68-78); Bill Purdy (78-89); Dale Wiggins (89-92) and Jeff Wiggins (92 to present).

Bill recalls the first call. “It was a hog barn located 20 miles from Wabamun. The weather was extremely cold and the water supply was Mink Lake, two miles away. No back up tanker. We would extinguish the fire—go for water—return to a fully involved fire and then do it again. It took 12 hours to get the fire out. The loss value was $5,000 plus 45 pigs.”

Over the years, the greatest property loss was the burning of the Canadian National Railroad trestle which crossed Moonlight Bay on Lake Wabamun. The fire caused by a broken brake ignited the wooden structure and shut down the main line to Vancouver for six months.

Call volumes have changed dramatically over the years with about 20 calls in 1964 and 240 in 2001. Currently there are about 100 calls per year. The growth has resulted in need for new equipment and new facilities. When Wabamun was re-instated as a Village in 1980, the new municipal building included a village office and fire hall.

Local fundraising was critical to the provision of equipment. In the 1970s volunteers raised money for the purchase of a rescue van and in 1983 they raised enough for a Jaws of Life.

“We are adjacent to a large lake and often get called for water rescue,” says Bill. Originally we had a Boston Whaler which was the property of TransAlta but no rescue equipment. Thanks to the generosity of TransAlta, our navy now has a Sea-Doo and a 12 foot Zodiac. All members are trained in ice and water rescue and we have an in-house water rescue instructor who trains our members as well as those from other departments.”

Perhaps the biggest change over the 50 years is communications. The call to action in 1964 was a siren mounted on a power pole—supported by four private phones plus one at the Calgary Power plant. Now pagers, hand-held radios and cell phones let the team know they are needed. In addition all the trucks have state-of-the-art communications systems. Dispatch is handled through the 911 call centre in Stony Plain.

“With the tremendous volume of traffic along the TransCanada Yellowhead Highway, the lake and the railway we have some significant response challenges. The CN train derailment in 2005 taxed our resources—we

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Fifty years and still going strong—Bill Purdy and Willie Wichuk.

had to evacuate residents and work with an unknown oil product that was spilling into Lake Wabamun and spreading rapidly because of strong winds. The more recent derailment of propane tanker cars at Gainford was another serious response situation,” says Purdy.

Thane John-Lapierre and Jaelyn Kinsey are eager members of the Junior Fire Fighter program in Wabamun.

Recruitment of members is a constant effort by the fire department. The junior fire fighter program is attracting young people to the fire fighting profession. In Wabamun, Jaelyn Kinsey and Thane John-Lapierre are two of the most recent recruits. “My father is a fire fighter in Wabamun. It’s an awesome experience,” says Thane. Jaelyn’s dad is also on the fire department but she has an additional incentive. “I live in a very competitive family with four brothers. This is one thing they didn’t do and I wanted to show them up!” she exclaims.

The Village moved into new offices in 2005 leaving the previous facility entirely to the fire department. The extra space was welcomed as it was adapted for training facilities. In 2011 the Village approached Parkland County and asked that they consider administering the fire department. The change was made and now Chief Phelan manages the Wabamun department as part of the Parkland County network.

26 | The Responder26 | The Responder

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association held its annual conference in Edmonton in the third week of September. As usual over 1,500 municipal councillors and administrative staff attended educational events, meetings to discuss provincial matters with cabinet ministers and to network and share experiences at social events.

The opening reception was hosted by ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric. “We chose the theme: A Tribute to Alberta Volunteer Fire Fighters to recognize our longstanding

ATCO

By Brian Stecyk

Volunteer fire fighters are some of the most important people

across this province. “ “

Hundreds of AUMA delegates joined ATCO to recognize volunteer fire fighters.

partnership with Alberta’s fire and rescue community and in support of the Alberta Volunteer Fire Fighters’ Answer the Call campaign” explained ATCO Gas President Bill Stephens. “We are also proud to recognize the more than 30 ATCO employees serving as volunteer fire fighters in communities across the province. This is a natural fit for them due to their training in emergency response and that, in operations, they frequently attend fire emergencies to de-energize the site. The AUMA reception has been designed to recognize

Celebrates Volunteer Fire Fighters


Peter Krich Fire Chief Camrose Fire Department leads the AFCA volunteer fire fighter recruitment initiative.

Celebrates Volunteer Fire Fighters

the contribution that they, and many others like them, have made to ‘Answer the Call’ to save and protect lives.”As convention delegates arrived at the event held in the Empress Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, they were greeted by several volunteer fire fighters. The Alberta Fire Chiefs Association was represented by Vice-President Peter Krich and Executive Director Bill Purdy. With the help of Donovan Creative, recruitment displays and signage was placed throughout the ballroom and patio. A display in the foyer enabled delegates to pick up information and

Brandie Burton, Devin Fleming, and Clive David of the Leduc County Fire Department were on hand representing volunteer fire fighters.

mementos. The most popular item was a USB memory stick shaped like a fire hydrant.

The message was not lost. “It is absolutely fabulous that ATCO looks outside itself to recognize the value of volunteer fire fighters,” said Vanessa Van der Meer, Mayor of the Village of Linden. “We are constantly amazed by the phenomenal response times and sacrifices that are made by our volunteer fire department—we wouldn’t have a fire department without volunteers.”

28 | The Responder

Peter Krich, Camrose Fire Chief; Bill Stephens, President ATCO Gas; and Bill Purdy, Executive Directior, AFCA pose on the terrace of the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.

Councillor Tammy Rubbelke of the Town of Pincher Creek also welcomed the recognition. “Volunteer fire fighters never get enough credit. They are often away from their families and friends and they respond every hour of the day and night. Anything we can do to support our volunteer fire fighters is worth it.” Here pride in her community was evident as she added, “Because of Fire Chief Dave Cox and Deputy Chief Pat Neuman and the rest of the volunteers we have the best fire department in Western Canada!”

Several delegates tried on bunker gear and many talked about their local experiences and value of their volunteer fire departments. The most common comment was—“without our volunteers we would never have a fire department.”

Two new recruitment videos were launched during the event. “These videos will be widely available and every fire department should consider posting them on their websites,” says Peter Krich. “They will also be featured on the AFCA website and on http://www.albertavolunteerfirefighters.ca/”

Several delegates tried on bunker gear. Bunker gear makes quite a fashion statement for volunteer fire fighters.


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CO detector(s) installed and maintained according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Expiry date written on CO detector(s) with a marker. Date of expiry: ________________________________

CO detector(s) battery replaced annually, if applicable.

CO detector(s) vacuumed monthly.

Visit atcogas.com to learn more.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness

Take these steps to prevent CO in your home:

Fuel-burning appliances (i.e. furnace, hot water heater, fireplace, natural gas range, etc.) checked by a qualified technician regularly according to manufacturers’ specifications.

Last inspection (date): _______________________________

Furnace filter checked monthly and replaced (if necessary). Date last replaced: _______________________

Indoor and outdoor vents and chimneys cleared of debris, snow and ice (if necessary).

Area around fuel-burning appliances clutter free.

Flames of all natural gas appliances checked regularly (it should be blue).

Adequate air supply (nearby window opened) when using a wood-burning fireplace.

Vehicles never idled in garage, even with the overhead door open.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odourless, colourless and lethal. You can prevent and detect it by taking simple steps at home. Cut out and complete this checklist to stay safe from CO:

30 | The Responder

Some Edmonton high schools students are learning about vehicle extrication, search and rescue techniques, CPR and advanced first aid, fire fighting in controlled scenarios and much more thanks to a generous commitment by ATCO Gas.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services’ (EFRS) Fire Cadet program welcomed its first class to the EFRS Training School on September 8, 2014. ATCO Gas has made a three-year commitment to funding of the Fire Cadet Program in Edmonton.

In addition to the skills that fire fighters learn the new Fire Cadets will learn important life skills, such as pride, leadership, commitment, discipline and teamwork.

“Two core values of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services are relationships and teamwork. Both of these values are reflected in this program,” said Fire Chief Ken Block. “This generous contribution is a testament to the strong relationship that we have built with our valued partner, ATCO Gas. Through teamwork, we will together be changing the lives of Edmonton youth through the powerful reach of this program.”

Students will leave the Cadet program with the foundation and skill set necessary to pursue and compete for an exciting and rewarding career in the fire service. Other students will take the skills they have developed and apply them to other, meaningful community and professional work. Students will also receive high school credits upon completion of the program.

“At ATCO Gas, our business goes beyond the safe, reliable delivery of natural gas,” says Keith Carter, Senior Vice President, ATCO Gas. “ATCO Gas is pleased to partner with Edmonton Fire and Rescue with the inaugural Fire Cadet Program. It also resonates with our core values and reflects our shared commitment to youth and safety in one unique program.”

Twenty Cadets are currently enrolled in the program. Once the program is at full capacity, three classes will run at once.

There are more options than ever for people to take Lakeland College’s 1001 firefighting program. Take the 12-week program at the college’s training field in Vermilion or at Fire Hall #3 in St. Albert.

2015 start dates:

St. Albert: March 9

Vermilion: April 7 April 20 July 13 Aug. 4

Regardless of what option you choose, your training will prepare you for the front-lines of the fire service.

Department: Emergency Training CentreCode: 14_7750_AFCAGazetteMagadPaper: AFCA Gazette Magazine Cost centre: 01 2092 INSSize: 3.625” x 4.75”Full colour1/4 page VerticalCost:Graphic designer: Kathleen Hughson Lakeland College 1 800 661 6490 ext. 8513 [email protected]

1 800 661 6490 www.lakelandcollege.ca/1001

More options for Firefighter 1001

ATCO Boosts Edmonton’s Fire Cadet ProgramBy Brian Stecyk

Two core values of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services are

relationships and teamwork. Both of these values are

reflected in this program.

“ “


—Rooftop Campouts For Muscular Dystrophy

By Lynn Brown Annually fire fighters in Alberta and across Canada step out onto rooftops in freezing winter temperatures to pitch tents, crank up propane heaters, sip coffee and prepare for a 2- 4 day siege aimed at raising funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

On top of the roof in St. Albert. Fire Fighters James Klassen, Mike Chyka, Erik Anderson and Scott Wilde raise money for MD.

For A Cause Fire Fighters

32 | The Responder

Fire stations from Airdrie, Edmonton, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Grande Prairie, Leduc, Lethbridge and Fort McMurray collaborate with their volunteers to pull together the annual Rooftop Campout for Muscular Dystrophy. Each Station has its fundraising target and they do not stop until the donations meet the goal. Boots are out and passersby are invited to ‘fill the boot’ for a worthy cause.

Campouts usually run 2-4 days but early in 2014, the Edmonton group did not reach its goal of $125,000 so decided to stay until they met their target. It took two extra days but they did it. Fire fighter Paul McDougal who has been involved from the very first campout nine years ago says, “You really do get emotionally overwhelmed by the support for this cause. From a street person with a quarter to Mayor Iverson arriving with a generous cheque it all counts. The extra two day stay created such a swell of awareness that a corporation was moved to donate $10,000.” When Edmonton Fire Chief, Ken Block won “Fire Chief of the Year” for 2013 his prize donation of $10,000 went to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Muscular Dystrophy Canada began in 1954 when a young girl with MD did not qualify for a government-supplied wheelchair because she did not need it every day. Her family went to their local fire department and fire fighters went door-to-door to raise enough money to help. The effect of this gesture decided that Muscular Dystrophy would become a funding priority for Canadian fire fighters. They are the major fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Canada—800 fire stations across Canada contribute over three million dollars a year to the cause.

The idea of winter Rooftop Campouts started as a way to simulate the experience of coldness felt by patients whose weakened muscles cannot keep them warm. The fire fighters come down from the experience, cold, worn out and more dedicated than ever. In a world that has a universe of causes this is a campaign that taps into hearts and brings awareness to the public in a way that is both touching and memorable.

Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive disease that results in the weakening and wasting of muscles to the point where walking, speaking and even breathing becomes a struggle. There is no cure. Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s Director of Revenue Development, Jo-Ann Burton, explains that, “There are over 150 types of the disease, it is mainly genetic and anyone can get it at any age. Challenges increase for researchers and caregivers when each patient has to get a custom diagnosis, custom therapy and often custom-made equipment adapted for proper fit and support.

There are over 150 types of the disease, it is mainly genetic and anyone can get it at any age. Challenges increase for researchers and caregivers

when each patient has to get a custom diagnosis, custom therapy and often custom-

made equipment adapted for proper fit and support.

“

“

Do you need a place to sleep? This Edmonton crew of Paul McGonigal, Steve Eliason and Natasha Ward built an igloo complete with a snow bench—now that is rooftop living!


“She says that, “50 per cent of raised funds go to services like specialized equipment, information communication, advocacy, one-on-one peer support and aids to increase comfort for daily living. The other 50 per cent is distributed to research projects.”

Shannon Brausen now in her 40s has had MD since birth but was not diagnosed until she was 13. She says, “At birth I couldn’t smile, at 11 I was clumsy, at 20 I walked with a cane, at 30 I used a walker and at 40 I got a power wheelchair.” This chair came because of Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s unique equipment program funded in large part by fire fighters in Canada.

When asked how the chair had affected her life Shannon replied, “I had not been to West Edmonton Mall for 10 years! You have no idea how amazing it felt to wheel past all those stores. Now I can go somewhere! I’ve been to San Francisco, rock concerts and even Victoria’s Secret! I can’t dance but my friends and I laugh as I wiggle in my chair.”

An exciting development for Shannon was becoming president of her local MD Chapter. “I’m no longer able to work so this gives me a feeling I can accomplish something.” She participates in many fundraising events including the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy. Through it all her praise for fire fighters is boundless. “They are my heroes. They keep me going and they inspire me to inspire others who are struggling with the disease.” Her own son has MD and she describes how much easier it is to relate to him through her own experiencing of the challenges and adaptations one learns through time and great effort. “Having the strong foundation of family, friends, therapists, MD Canada and the fire fighters is what gives us our strength,” says Shannon.

The launch of a Neuromuscular Disease Network in Calgary, in June of this year was a critical development in the ‘fight for a cure.’ This network enhances delivery of clinical care, improves research collaboration and gives direct access to the people they are trying to help. For patients and families empowerment comes through improved access to information, resources and connections with each other. Now rural patients can connect to exchange therapy tips and friendship. Data collection is used to give credibility to funding requests. Now the support and strength that comes from connectedness is enhanced in the caring community that surrounds the disease. The fire fighters

can also plug in to see who they are working for and how appreciated their work is.

Volunteering isn’t about receiving anything in return, says Paul McGonigal, fire fighter and top MD fundraiser. He rejects personal praise repeating, “It’s a team, it’s a community, it’s about real heroes; Moms and Dads and kids who fight bravely every day. It feels great to be part of a quality organization with committed leadership who show an appreciation for your efforts. What you get back can’t be bought. It makes you a better person.”

Getting new fire fighter recruits to participate in fundraising is an ongoing issue. Paul says, “You have to put in your time to get to hang out on the Rooftop Campout. Making a commitment to the charity is a big responsibility and takes time but once you work with the amazing families and see how strong they are you’ll feel inspired.”

Paul’s plans include encouraging new fire fighters to commit as volunteers. His new focus will be “public awareness.” He feels if the public is aware of the tragic consequences of this disease the money will follow. “Let the young guys have the fun on the roof.”

It is Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s 60th anniversary this year and the Rooftop Campout’s 10th anniversary next year but Paul says, “We are not celebrating because we haven’t found a cure.” This persistence follows the fire fighters code of ‘not leaving until the job is done.’

Is your fire department ready to reach new heights? Call Jo-ann Burton, Director of Revenue Development Prairies and Northwest Territories, Muscular Dystrophy Canada: 780-489-6322 or email [email protected]. Learn how you can freeze for a cause!

You really do get emotionally overwhelmed by the support for this cause. From a street person with a quarter to Mayor Iverson arriving with a generous cheque

it all counts.

“

“

34 | The Responder

Fishing is superb! Just look at the photo of your editor and his wife holding a 65 lb halibut caught just outside of Bamfield last August. The tournament will run from April 2015 to October 2015. There are lots of prizes to be awarded at the end of the season.

By Brian Stecyk

April sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut, feeder spring salmon

May feeder spring salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut

June sockeye salmon, feeder spring salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut

July spring salmon, coho salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut, tuna

August spring salmon, coho salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut, tuna

September spring salmon, coho salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut, pink salmon, chum salmon, tuna

October spring salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, sea bass, red snapper, ling cod, halibut, tuna

In addition, at the end of the season, a draw will be held of all the 2015 registered participants. The winner will receive a complete fishing experience package: transportation, accommodation, meals, and guided fishing during the 2016 season.

All rules are posted on the website: www.hawkeyemarinegroup.com.

Hawkeye House living room—a beautiful place to stay right on

the edge of the water.Hawkeye Ostrums Lodge at twilight. The lodge can accommodate a group

of up to 21 people.

The Hawkeye Marine Group wants you to catch the big one! This year, the Hawkeye Marine Group began supporting first responders by sponsoring the hole-in-one competition at the AFCA annual golf tournament.

Next year they are undertaking a continuing program of sponsorship and are creating a fishing tournament exclusively for first responders and their immediate families. First responders from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or British Columbia—fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, ambulance personnel, and similar professionals can participate.

The Hawkeye Marine Group owns and operates several lodges (fishing resorts) in Bamfield, British Columbia. Bamfield is on the west coast of Vancouver Island and about 80 km west of Port Alberni.

Winners in each category will be awarded their choice of either a salmon rod and reel or a halibut rod and reel. There are 11 species of fish you can catch with the largest of each species winning a prize at the end of the season:

Catch The Big One! Exclusive First Responder Fish Tournament


Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) By Your Side

Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC) formerly LPG Emergency Response Corp. (LPGERC) began operating in 1997 with a mission to provide 24/7/365 emergency preparedness and response services to shippers and carriers of LPG gas covered under the TDG Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) Act and Regulations. ERAC provides the ERAP development and a national preparedness and response capability to over 300 organizations across Canada. When activated our Response Teams (RTs), Remedial Measure Advisors (RMAs) and Flammable Liquids Technical Specialists (FLTSs) will often report to Incident Command who is often the local Fire Department Chief or designate. Operating under Incident Command System, the ERAC Response Team reports to Operations as a strike team.

The ERAC has developed preparedness and response plans that cover the entire country in support of oil and gas producers, carriers and first responders. The ERAC ensures well-trained and qualified people, quality equipment, knowledgeable advice and timely assistance to allow responders to deal effectively with LPG incidents by road, rail and stationary tanks greater than 450 L. LPG Products included are:

Propane (UN1978)Butane (UN1011)Propylene (UN1077)Butylene (UN1012)Isobutene (UN1969)Isobutylene (UN1055)LPG (1075)

Recently, after the tragic events of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec where a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded killing 47 people, Transport Canada issued a Protective Direction 33 which requires shippers to have an ERAP for the following:

Flammable Liquids, N.O.S. (UN1993)Alcohols, N.O.S. (UN1987)Gasoline (UN1203)Hydrocarbons, Liquid, N.O.S. (UN3295)Ethanol (UN1170)Petroleum Distillates, N.O.S. (UN1268)Fuel, Aviation, Turbine Engine (UN1863)Diesel Fuel (UN1202)Petroleum Crude Oil (UN1267)Ethanol and Gasoline Mixture (UN3475)

By Spencer Buckland, President of Emergency Response Assistance Canada

ERAC rail incident response. ERAC rail incident response.

36 | The Responder

The ERAC, with support from the Canadian Fuels Association, Canadian Propane Association, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Rail Association of Canada created a new ERAC Flammable Liquids (FL) Division to support the requirements of Protective Direction 33.

One significant difference, in the new Protective Direction 33 ERAP requirement for the Flammable Liquids, is Transport Canada requires all ERAP holders to provide fire fighting technical advice and fire fighting foam and equipment to the first responders on scene as needed. The ERAC is committed to providing this support on behalf of our Plan Participants (those we serve as shippers and carriers of dangerous goods) ERAC has developed detailed activation and response plans which identifies significant foam and equipment caches strategically located coast to coast. In addition, we have recruited Flammable Liquids Technical Advisors available 24/7 to provide fire fighting advice by phone and Flammable Liquids Technical Specialists to provide fire fighting advice at the scene alongside the rail technical specialists identified in our Plans.

The ERAC operates across Canada with 10 LPG Response Teams, 33 LPG RMAs, four Home Base Coordinators (HBCs), 11 FL Response Teams, 15 FLTSs, five FLTAs and one Emergency Call Centre operated under a division of STARS.

The ERAC takes great pride in providing the training and assessment of all of our responders and being Canada’s only national emergency preparedness and response organization with a Transport Canada approved ERAP. Our priority is to ensure we have competently trained individuals ready and able to support flammable gas and liquids incidents to ensure public and first responder safety.

ERAC response personnel are extensively trained in the handling, storage and/or transportation of LPG and Flammable Liquids products and containers. The ERAC provides Plan Participants with responders trained using National Fire Protection Association standards as guidelines. Once a year, Regional Training and Assessment is held in each region across Canada for the RMAs, FLTSs, Response Team Leaders (RTLs), Alternate Team Leaders (ATLs), FLTAs and the Response Team Members to test their skills and update them on any new developments. Once every two years, a National Training session is held for all the RMAs, FLTSs, HBCs, FLTAs, RTLs and ATLs across Canada to share their experiences, learn new skills and refresh their knowledge. In addition to the above training, all FLTAs and FLTSs will receive Fire Specialists training for crude and flammable liquids.

More information on the ERAC and our services is available at www.lpgerc.ca

ERAC truck incident response. ERAC Regional Training session.


At Emergency Response Assistance Canada formerly known as the LPG Emergency Response Corp. we have been providing emergency response and preparedness for road, rail and stationary tank incidents involving LPG for over 14 years. ERAC has been providing a quality system to manage the Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP’s) of more than 300 members from the petroleum and transportation industries. Recently we have expanded our response services to include Flammable Liquids. We are a national, not for profit, organization committed to excellence in serving our response teams, industry plan participant members and working closely with first responders and regulators of Dangerous Goods.

We are recruiting Full-time (based in Calgary) and Part-time (across Canada) Flammable Liquids Technical Advisors (FLTAs) and Specialists who are willing to support the development, implementation, evaluation and training within our new Flammable Liquids Division. You will be involved in both training and ERAP activation responses. You will be required to travel within Canada to coach, mentor, support and participate in Regional Training and assessment of our Response Teams. Many of our FLTAS are career and volunteer firefighters.

Qualifications:• 5+yearsinFirefightingandHazardousMaterialsEmergency

Response Industry• TDGERAPregulationsknowledgeorexperience• Hazardassessmentknowledge,SafetyandRiskManagement

Knowledge and experience• Trainingexperience• Written,verbal,strongcommunicationandorganizationalskills• VerifiableexperienceinRailincidentresponse,strategic

planning, prioritizing, supervision, detailed report writing and problem solving.

Education/Experience: • NFPA472HazmatTechnician/SpecialistandAdv./TankCar

Specialist Trained• NFPA1001Firefighterlevel1&2orIndustrialfiretraining

certificate• ExperienceinEmergencyResponseOperationswithinrailorata

terminal facility preferred • IncidentCommandtraininglevel300–400anasset• CSO,NCSO,CSSorCRSPdesignationwouldbeanasset• CrudeByRailorNFPA472,Chapter16,FlammableLiquidsBulk

Storage Speciality

To apply please send your resume to [email protected]. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

ERAC rail incident response.

38 | The Responder

Would you wear sandals when responding to a fire? Never! But everyday fire fighters in some parts of the world do because that is all they have.

Thanks to the generosity of many Alberta fire departments that is changing. Victor Fernandez of Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad (CAFSA) is sending a container of donated used equipment to Paraguay. The container contains everything required to completely outfit 265 fire fighters—from boots and socks to helmets and neck guards. The package also contains 25 sets of breathing apparatus.

Special with this shipment are two incubation units for a maternity ward in a Paraguay hospital—they do not have

any and often babies die because of lack of equipment. Fire fighting and medical equipment ready to be discarded in Canada is state-of-the art in Paraguay.

Your fire department can make a difference—the kind of equipment doesn’t matter—Victor will find a new home for it where it will help save lives and property again. So far CAFSA has been involved in 14 missions to South America, Philippines, and Africa. An ambulance was recently sent to Sierra Leone. Send Victor an email and let him know what you have that you no longer need [email protected]. Also visit http://www.cafsa.net/ to learn more and see details of previous shipment successes.

A Filipino fire fighter at a fire call. Victor Fernandez is putting finishing touches to a container load of fire fighting gear and equipment plus two incubators destined for Paraguay.

Wearing Sandals At A Fire!By Brian Stecyk


Two fire trucks donated by Leduc County are now helping save lives in the Philippines.

This unit donated by Agrium was delivered to El Salvador.

265 used helmets ready to go.

40 | The Responder

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The Responder Fall Winter 2014 page Web

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