Area fire departments receiving provincial cancer prevention funding

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Ontario government has invested $30 million over three years to provide 374 municipal fire departments with funding to support cancer prevention initiatives. Locally, Woodstock is getting just under $16,500 and Ingersoll will receive a little over $8,000.

The funding through the Fire Protection Grant will be used to purchase equipment and make infrastructure upgrades to help reduce the long-term effects of exposure to fire-related contaminants and chemicals.

Woodstock Fire Chief Jeff Slager explained it is an exciting time in the fire service and emergency management sectors.

“We are seeing an unprecedented number of grant application opportunities which is great and this is an excellent one from the province of Ontario. We are very grateful to be a recipient of the funds to be able to put towards equipment that will be effective for our firefighters.”

Slager said this particular grant proposal asked for a wish list of items that could be used to boost cancer prevention, something he has been advocating for a long time.

“We have had growth in our department over the last few years as far as staffing goes, and every firefighter has two sets of bunker gear. If a set becomes contaminated at a fire or any type of scene where a carcinogen can get on the bunker gear, our firefighters can remove it.”

The department uses what are called extractors or washing machines, and dryers so firefighters are able to have a quick turnaround.

“Then they have a clean set of gear that allows them to remain in service,” added Slager.

One set of bunker gear costs between $3500 and $4000 and it takes 24 to 48 hours for a contaminated set to be put back into service. The department has added 11 new firefighters in the last two years.

“That increases costs so we rented bunker gear to try and reduce the immediate cost. Everybody had at least one set we owned but renting the additional gear allowed us to meet that need for two sets each. The funding will finally allow us to close that loop.”

Approval for the grant was on the agenda at this week’s Woodstock City Council meeting and is expected to be rubber-stamped by councillors.

“It’s expensive stuff. It’s not one of those things where you can go to a workwear store and purchase off the rack. Each set lasts 10 years and is sized to each firefighter so it fits properly. When they are wearing their additional 80 pounds of equipment, they don’t want the gear to be too bulky and not work with them,” explained Slager.

He added there is a risk anytime members of his team attend a fire scene but improved training materials ensure the practice is safe.

“We try to minimize the products we use to burn. It’s a product that has very few carcinogens in it. We don’t use plywood, we don’t use hardwoods and products with glues in them. It’s a clay-pressed board that when burnt achieves the heat we need to complete the training.”

Ingersoll Fire Chief John Holmes explained his department will be using its funding to purchase a gear dryer.

“This is a piece of equipment that goes with the extractor and was purchased a number of years ago. It will assist in the turnaround time when cleaning our turnout gear. Currently it takes about 10 hours to completely dry a set and with the addition of the dryer it should cut that time in half or less. It will get our firefighters back in service more quickly and efficiently.”

He added Ingersoll applies for any available grant and they have been successful in recent years.

“There is a round of provincial grant funding that will be available for the next two years and we will apply for that when the time comes. We are always striving to make our industry as safe as possible for our Firefighters. Cancer prevention is always top of mind and most things we purchase incorporate some type of safety measure.”

Holmes said the department has already started to make the switch in its vehicles to keep its self-contained breathing apparatuses and dirty turnout gear out of the cab and the addition of a gear dryer lends itself very well to that safety theme.

“Firefighters put service over self each and every day, facing dangerous situations to protect their communities,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Our government has been a leader in protecting them, while they’re protecting us. Today’s announcement is another concrete step to make sure these heroes get the care, resources and support they deserve.”

Firefighters are more likely to experience health problems because of exposure to hazardous chemicals. In Canada, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer every year and half of those are from Ontario.