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Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs

Hoselines

Autumn 2013 Joint Fire Department Effort Results in a

Successful Symposium What's Inside

Article Page

Symposium Photos 2

Banquet Photos 4

Fire Marshal Musings 5

Whitehorse Fire Dept. Promotion Night 6

Profile of a Fire Fighter 8

Operation “Third World Gear” 9

AYFC AGM Minutes 10

New face in the Fire Marshal’s Office 12

911 Progress 12

Yukon Studies NFPA 96 13

Suppliers 14

The fire departments surrounding Whitehorse, i.e. Hootalinqua, Ibex Valley, Golden Horn, Marsh Lake and Mount Lorne collaborated and worked together over the summer to host and produce the remarkably successful Yukon Fire Service Conference and Training Symposium in Whitehorse from August 21 through 25, 2013.

The event got underway on Wednes-day evening in the Whitehorse Public Safety Building with the Opening Ceremonies, the White Helmet cere-mony for departed firefighters, and welcoming and appreciation speeches. Of particular interest in the speeches was the statement by former Commu-nity Services Minister Elaine Taylor that she understands the commitment & passion that keeps fire fighters serv-ing and protecting their communities.

The highlights of Thursday were the report from the Fire Marshal’s Office; the presentation on Prevention and Training by Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Marcuson; the Burn Building over-view; the presentation by Kidde on fire extinguishers; the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs Annual General Meeting and the barbeque and zip line excitement at Takhini Hot Springs.

Friday’s activities were morning and afternoon presentation on Hybrid Vehi-cle safety by Matthew Stroud and a fun, shotgun start golf tournament fol-lowed by a tasty barbeque, both at Meadow Lakes Golf Course.

Saturday and Sunday featured hands on live fire training in the new Mobile Live Burn Training Facility. George

Klemm also taught the use of extrica-tion tools. These both took place near the Golden Horn Fire hall.

The event wrapped up with the Fire Marshal sponsored banquet at the High Country with the presentation of Long and Exemplary Service Medals and bars, with welcoming Speeches by Senior Fire Officials and Politicians and an inspiring talk about life safety and fire prevention by Spruce Groove Deputy Fire Chief Tim Vandenbrink.

Overall it was a successful symposium sponsored by the AYFC and the coor-dinating fire departments.

Thank you also to all the suppliers.

Well Done!

Some of the participants in the training sessions utilizing the Yukon Fire Services’ new Mobile Live Fire Training Facility shown here on the training grounds of the Golden Horn Fire Department August 24’13.

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Photos from the Symposium

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More Photos from the Symposium

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Some Photos from the Banquet Bob Atkinson receives his 20 year medal Jeff Stevenson receives his 20 year medal

Murray Williamson receives his 30 year medal.

Don McKnight receives his 35 year medal

Birnie Foster receives his 10 year medal

Rosa Brown receives her10 year medal

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Fire Marshal

Musings

Fire ground efficiency.

One of the greatest challenges fac-ing the rural volunteer fire chief is fighting fires with a small number of firefighters.

While larger departments can de-pend upon the immediate turn out of a dozen firefighters, the rural Chief may be faced with an initial response of only 5 or 6 firefighters of various training levels to a large house or garage fire that needs to be brought under control.

While the perfect solution would be to just "add" more volunteers to the system, we all know that in some rural areas the volunteer la-bour pool can be limited with those who are willing to serve al-ready volunteering.

The next best solution is to find and practice fire ground tactics that will bring efficiency to your fire scene and free up firefighters to take on more critical tasks.

As many of you know I volunteer at my local department, the Ibex Valley Fire Department which is not exempt from the challenge of

recruiting and retaining volunteers. To address this we practice tactics that afford maximize firefighter capacity on the fire ground.

Here are three examples:

The first is timed competitions for pump operation. Because the pump controls can be an intimidat-ing and confusing panel of levers and gauges, a firefighter feeling under pressure, can make a simple mistake and prevent water from leaving the truck. Timed pump op-erations are a fun way to practice pump operations, under pressure, but in a safe controlled environ-ment. The nature of the drill also means that everyone can have multiple re-tries as people compete to engage the pump and flow water as quickly and safely as possible.

This drill requires that the fire-fighter start from the outside of the truck. When the stop watch is started he must climb into the cab, engage the pump, exit the cab with the proper technique, climb the pump deck, prime the pump and flow water to a pre-connected hand line. The timer is stopped when the required pressure is reached. Our hall’s record is 17 seconds with all firefighters com-ing in under 21 seconds. As you can imagine, the faster we can ar-rive, flow water and begin to fight the fire, the better the outcome

A second time saver is practicing water supply set up and deploy-ment. These drills are practiced in our community, using our own houses or driveways as our fire scenes. We respond (routine of course) from our hall to a location where we believe there is a struc-ture fire. This drill requires every aspect of an actual call, including

radio use, incident command size up, firefighters in SCBA, full PPE, etc. Upon arrival, the pumper stops at the end of the driveway and al-lows a firefighter to exit and pull off a length of high volume hose. As the engine enters the driveway, the hose will now begin to follow the truck dropping a forward lay. Once parked, the hand lines are pulled and water flows. The pump operator then prepares for water delivery from a tender by hooking up the high volume line. The seemingly small action of drop-ping the high volume hose as the truck is arriving at the fire elimi-nates the need for firefighters to have to worry about initial water supply and frees up vital firefight-ers since the supply line is now in place. Water can be quickly pro-vided by the tender operator who now just needs to pick up the free end of the hose and connect. Also, the first arriving mutual aid depart-ment will now have a set up sup-ply line into which to pump .

The third example is calling for automatic aid. When the call is a suspected structure fire the first consideration after the page has been toned out is to call for auto-matic aid. Even with limited fire-fighters on scene, a lot can be ac-complished to protect life and property while the incident com-mander can be confident in com-mitting their resources knowing that help is on route.

There are many other fire ground time savers out there that I will write about in up coming editions. Thanks again for your dedication.

Stay safe out there.

Fire Marshal Berry

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Promotion Night at the Whitehorse Fire Department Alex Vautour

reads the Whitehorse Fire Fighter’s pledge just before being welcomed to the

position of Firefighter

by Fire Chief

Clive Sparks.

After reading the Whitehorse Fire Fighter’s pledge

Scott McFarlane is welcomed to the

position of Captain.

After reading the Whitehorse Fire Fighter’s pledge

Dave Dowie is welcomed

to the position of Platoon Chief.

After reading the Whitehorse Fire Fighter’s pledge

Kevin Lyslo is welcomed to the

position of Deputy Fire

Chief.

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It was obvious that uniforms had been pressed and med-als had been shone as friends, family and fellow fire ser-vices personnel gathered happily and proudly in the Ap-paratus Bay of the Whitehorse Public Safety Building on the evening of August 20, 2013 to witness the promotion of four Whitehorse firefighters. i.e. Alex Vautour to Firefighter Scott McFarlane to Captain Dave Dowie to Platoon Chief Kevin Lyslo to Deputy Fire Chief.

In attendance were three representatives from the Fire Marshal’s Office, the president of the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs, the appropriate, sincerely well-wishing politicians such as Whitehorse’s Deputy Mayor. These dignitaries contributed to the sense of pride and accomplishment that permeated the air that evening.

Following the formal promotion ceremony participants and attendees retired to the next room for snacks and refreshments and to pass on personal congratulations

The Pledge read by each of the Promoted Fire Service Personnel

I____ ______ as _____ _____ for the City of Whitehorse, recognize my obligation to protect life, property and the environment for the public we serve. I do hereby declare that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties incumbent upon me as _____ _____ for the City of Whitehorse Fire Department to the best of my knowledge, skills and ability.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public trust. I will constantly strive to achieve the high objectives and ideals of the Department and shall conduct myself at all times in such a manner as to reflect most favourably on the Department.

I dedicate myself in the discharge of my duties to the protection of Life, Property and the Environment for the citizens of and visi-tors to the City of Whitehorse.

Alex Vautour and his lovely fiancéé made a particularly photogenic couple The attendees and participants at the Whitehorse Fire Department Promotion Ceremony.

L to R are Alex Vautour, Scott McFarlane, Dave Dowie and Kevin Lyslo

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MINUTES Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs AGM 2013

August 22, 2013 Whitehorse Public Safety Building

Attendees: Jim Regimbal Dave Windsor Trevor Ellis Clive Sparks Dave Guhl Colin O’Neill Tyrone Larkin Mark Lutkehaus Juergen Willms Bob Atkinson Thom McMahon Allison Reid Jeff Stephenson Ken Oppold Rob Schneider Wray Lyons Vicki Hancock Dayne Jones Dan Nickason Murray Williamson

Call to Order at 1337 by President Regimbal

Adoption of Agenda: Moved By Vicki Hancock, Seconded by Jeff Stephenson, Carried

Adoption of Minutes: Moved by Dave Windsor, Seconded by Jeff Stephenson, Carried

Three new fire chiefs were introduced to the membership:

Dave Guhl- Marsh Lake Fire Rescue,

Thom McMahon-Mendenhall VFD, and

Mark Lutkehaus-Mt Lorne VFD

Reports:

President: See Attached, Moved to accept by Jeff Stephenson, Seconded by Dan Nickason

Treasurer: See Attached, Moved to accept by Dave Windsor, Seconded by Wray Lyons

Secretary: Membership applications are sent out to all departments in December each year. Each member has been given the criteria for the Yukon Long Service Awards. It is important to recog-nize the contributions of all fire personnel and this is AYFC’s role. Each fire department should make it a priority to submit their member info to the secretary so the awards can be done up and distributed each year. Moved to accept by Jeff Stephenson , Seconded by Vicki Hancock

Old Business:

1) Territory wide 911 Part of this is covered in the President’s Report.

Chief Sparks gave an overview on what has happened and where it is now. A working group con-sisting of AYC Chair, FMO rep, EMS, Whitehorse and AYFC and YG is established and had a meeting last week. The focus was narrowed by YG to can it be done and the answer was yes. NG911 was suggested by as it is not available why consider it now? Technically it is possible.

The Northwestel roll-out plan has gaps, cell phones don’t work everywhere but this happens na-tionwide too. Landlines would be the access for 911. Costs would be borne by user groups.ie each phone bill would have an additional fee just like the Southern Lakes area has now.

It would work the same as it does, RCMP would dispatch fire departments. Basic 911 would be the first step with enhanced 911 to follow in the future.

One issue that has to be addressed is the addresses in the outlying areas.

The next meeting of the working group is slated for early October. YG will be exploring ways to fund it. AYFC will keep pushing for it. Updates will follow when they become available.

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2) Fire Chief’s remuneration:

This is past its due date for review…4 years now. President Regimbal will send off a letter to get this rolling.

3) Special Resolution to waive the audit for a category “B” Society Moved by Dan Nickason Seconded by Dave Windsor Carried

4) Next conference: Chief Regimbal offered to hold it in Dawson City August 20-23, 2014

5) Presumptive Legislation This was addressed in the President’s report. It is going forward to include the volunteers and should be in place in 2014.

New Business:

1) Special Resolution- Fire Prevention Act As the Fire Prevention Act is over 20 years old, it needs to be rewritten. Motion: The executive will draw up a special resolution to YG to rewrite the Fire Prevention Act. Moved by Dan Nickason Seconded by Jeff Stephenson Carried 2) Special Resolution- Fire Works Chief Sparks proposed a ban on all fireworks in the Territory. It could be tied to the new Fire Pre-vention Act. It is withdrawn for now and will be readdressed at the January 2014 meeting. FMO will be contacted to have it put on the agenda. 3) Motion: That AYFC provide $1000 to Dawson City FD for CO/smoke alarm program in Dawson City. Moved by Clive Sparks Seconded by Ken Oppold Carried 4) Motion: To do CO/smoke alarm program in conjunction with Mike Marcuson as a challenge for the entire territory. Moved by Vicki Hancock Seconded by Jim Regimbal Carried Election of Officers: Vice-President: Chief Sparks allowed his name to stand for another year Acclaimed Secretary: Chief Atkinson allowed name to stand Acclaimed

Motion to Adjourn by Chief Sparks at 1530

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Profile of a Fire Fighter

Those who attended the training at the Golden Horn Fire Department on August 24th and 25thth may have met Golden Horn Firefighter, Ursula Geisler.

She’s 19 years old, speaks fluent English and German, and comes from a family history of firefighting going back to her grandfather back in Germany. Her two Golden Horn VFD brothers, Benny and Johannes, who provide some mild, enjoyable, sibling competition that keep training interesting, think it is great to have their sister on the department and teach her whatever they have learned. Her grandparents, her father and her mother are all proud of her fire-fighting skills, especially her mother, Birgit, who encouraged her to choose a non-traditional, active career in which she can give back to the com-munity.

Ursula thoroughly enjoys the training and gets a great deal from the stress-ful emergency situations where she feels she has been developing leader-ship skills. Since joining the depart-ment in 2011 she has demonstrated her skills in all firefighting position including incident commander.

She has trained in personal protective equipment, hoses, nozzles, pumps, firefighting tools, breathing appara-tus, search and rescue, interior attack and ladders to the point where a leg lock feels quite comfortable. She states that being a volunteer brings her joy.

When not volunteering at Golden Horn VFD, Ursula has been working in the tourism industry, where her fluency in German makes her a defi-nite asset, and at Mount Sima as a Park Supervisor. She spends a lot of time outdoors, has done all the ropes in Monkido and loves paddling,

climbing, mountain bik-ing, jogging, hiking and rappelling.

In September she began taking Brandon Univer-sity’s four year, Bachelor Level, Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies.

Her program is said to be changing the face of emergency management in Canada because, unlike the past options of transi-tioning to emergency management from a tradi-tional first response or military background, stu-dents have the opportu-nity to learn about and experience all aspects of managing how our com-munities deal with disasters.

Her eventual degree which is de-signed to combine social and physi-cal sciences perspectives of hazards and disasters within a liberal arts education framework, is producing new professionals with a broad scope of practice and wide-ranging knowl-edge.

Because emergency management is the development and implementation of policies and processes to help re-duce risks, prepare communities, re-spond to hazard impacts and recover from the consequences, her major areas of study will be:

Prevention and Mitigation:

To eliminate or reduce the impacts & risks of hazards through pro-active measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.

Preparedness:

To be ready to respond to a disaster and manage its consequences through measures taken prior to an event.

Response:

To act during or immediately after a disaster to manage its consequences to minimize suffering and losses as-sociated with disasters.

Recovery:

To repair or restore conditions to ac-ceptable level through measures taken after a disaster.

Good luck to Ursula who hopes to be back home in early May 2014. She is looking forward to being tested for Advanced Firefighter next summer at Golden Horn Vol-unteer Fire Department where they are all so proud of her.

Golden Horn Fire Fighter Ursula Geisler

Hoselines is published under the aus-pices of the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs P.O. Box31353, 211 Main St. Whitehorse, YT, Y1A5P7

Questions or comments

can be directed to the Editor, Tyrone Larkin

867 332 6788 tyronelarkin@northwestel.net

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September 24, 2013 For a third time in the last five years Yukon Fire Service has do-nated serviceable firefighting equipment such as hose, bunker gear and self contained breathing apparatus to Kamloops Fire Res-cue, who via Firefighters Without Borders will have it distributed to

organizations such as Operation Nicaragua and others, thus ensur-ing that such useful and expensive equipment which though not com-pliant with our current standards is put to good use by those who need them, is not used by Yukon Fire fighters and doesn’t go into Yukon

landfill sites

Special thanks is due here not only to those who held fundraisers and donated equipment, but also to Manitoulin Transport and Van Kam Freightways who donated the transportation to move the 11 pal-lets of equipment south.

“Operation Third World Gear”

-An update by Mike Marcuson

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New Face in the Fire Marshal’s Office

Welcome to Cornelia Wills, the Finance and Ad-ministration Assistant with the Fire Marshal’s Of-fice.

Cornelia became part of the Fire Marshal’s staff when the Safety Resources became part of the Fire Marshal’s responsibilities.

This married, mother of two adult children, twenty year Yukoner who greatly enjoys her role and working with the Fire Service serves the Office in the following ways:

Assists Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Marcuson with Training, Examination and Certification files;

Maintains the Incident Report Data Base;

Liaises with Deputy Fire Marshal Wayne Smith regarding the Health and Safety aspects for vol-unteers;

Performs Administrative duties for the Fire Marshal and for Safety Resources which is now under the direction of the Fire Marshal.

Fire Chiefs can help Cornelia do her work, and there-fore assist their own departments by:

Submitting firefighter hours and incident reports in a timely fashion;

Ensuring that registrations and criminal reports

are done and submitted.

Cornelia, who can be contacted at 867 456-6517 or Cornelia.Wills@ gov.yk.ca is looking forward to hearing from and serving you.

Cornelia Wills

Request to appear at the hearing:

The Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs (AYFC) appreciates all the hard work put into the July 5, 2013 Report on Matters Related to Emergency 9-1-1 Services. There is extremely good value in the report. The AYFC is quite concerned that there are many areas in Canada, including Yukon, that are not currently being covered by basic 9-1-1 services and that we are lagging behind 20th century technology. Proper steps need to be put in place to en-sure that every community has access to basic 9-1-1 and the AYFC feels that this should come from a National Body and not be left to Provincial/Territorial Governments and that these steps should include funding as well. Ultimately, the AYFC would like to see the CRTC look into ensuring that basic 9-1-1 is available to every community prior to looking at enhanced and NG 9-1-1. The AYFC thanks you for giving us the opportunity to comment on matters related to emergency 9-1-1 and look forward to seeing basic 9-1-1 available to all Canadian communities.

Our President, Fire Chief Jim Regimbal, has recently submitted the following to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission regarding Yukon wide 911:

Fire Chief Jim Regimbal

911

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Yukon Government and City of Whitehorse

Share in Commercial Kitchen Systems Training

Some of the course participants, Stan Dueck, Chief Building Inspector with the Government of Yukon, Deputy Fire Marshal Kevin Taylor, Instructor Phil Ackland and City of White-

horse Building Inspector Supervisor Doug Thorseth pause for a photo during the wrap up of Training in NFPA 96 at the end of August.

Phil Ackland instructed a course for the Yukon Government and City of Whitehorse on NFPA 96, Commercial Kitchen Sys-tems at the end of August in the Takhini Arena Mezzanine.

Phil, who has been in the com-mercial kitchen exhaust industry for over 45 years, sits on the National Fire Protection Asso-ciation’s technical committee for NFPA 96: Standard for Ven-tilation Control and Fire Pro-tection of Commercial Cooking Equipment.

He has written a series of books on commercial kitchen exhaust systems covering installation, inspection, cleaning and fire in-vestigation; offers training seminars to building and fire inspectors, fire investigators and insurance professionals; con-ducts fire investigations.

He also provides litigation sup-port testimony related to fire incidents in commercial kitchen exhaust systems and assists au-thorities having jurisdiction to develop and implement certifi-

cation programs for kitchen ex-haust cleaners and inspectors.

The course participants enjoyed the course and came away with new, practical knowledge and a much better understanding of NFPA 96.

It was encouraging to see the various levels of inspection au-thorities collaborating on such an important topic.

What a treat to have an expert of Phil Ackland’s calibre help-ing out in Yukon!

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Here are a few who contributed greatly to the success of this years symposium.