Calgary Firefighters

Never Forget – Senior Firefighter Gordon L. Paul – August 7, 2007

Occupational Cancer

Council Approved It. Calgary Still Doesn't Have It.

This year's City budget included funding for an additional fire engine to help meet Calgary's growing emergency response demands.

Council approved it.

Taxpayers funded it.

But today, that engine is still sitting on the sidelines.

On Sunday, the City of Calgary itself acknowledged that your Calgary firefighters responded to three significant fires in less than three hours, a day that "challenged the department's ability to manage multiple complex emergencies while maintaining emergency response coverage for Calgary residents."

Those incidents included:
🚒 Multiple rescues from a structure fire
🚑 Six patients transported to hospital
🏢 Approximately 50 residents displaced
🔥 Two fully involved garages threatening nearby homes
♻️ A major landfill fire requiring extended operations and specialized tactics

Despite these challenges, your Calgary firefighters continued protecting the rest of the city by coordinating resources and filling gaps. Council heard during budget deliberations that Calgary Fire was already stretching resources to keep emergency coverage in place. They recognized the need and approved funding for another engine.

Now it's time to put those approved tax dollars to work.

Every staffed apparatus strengthens Calgary's emergency response, improves resilience during major incidents, and helps ensure that when the next emergency happens, your Calgary firefighters have the resources they need to protect our city.

Learn more about why investing in Calgary Fire matters:
https://loom.ly/aKtLjR4

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A Day That Tested Your Calgary Firefighters

Three major fires. One fatal collision. Countless lives forever changed.

While many Calgarians were enjoying the Heritage Day long weekend, your Calgary firefighters were responding to one of the busiest days of the summer.

In less than three hours, crews battled three significant fires, rescued multiple occupants, treated six patients, and helped approximately 50 residents forced from their homes. The City of Calgary acknowledged the incidents "challenged the department's capacity."

Later that evening, just before 11:00 p.m., your Calgary firefighters responded to the devastating three-vehicle collision on Tsuut'ina Trail. Firefighters arrived to find two vehicles fully engulfed in flames, immediately beginning fire suppression, searching the vehicles and providing emergency care alongside Alberta Health Services.

Four people lost their lives and four others were injured. Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan called it "an unimaginable tragedy."

These are the days the public rarely sees. Firefighters move from one major emergency to the next, often without pause, bringing professionalism, compassion and commitment to every call.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Sunday's events, and we thank every firefighter, paramedic, police officer and dispatcher who worked through an extraordinarily difficult day.

Efficiency Starts With the People Who Know the Fleet Best

Calgary Fire mechanics play a critical role in keeping emergency apparatus safe, reliable and ready to respond.

We are aware of several concerns within the shop that deserve attention:
• Calgary Fire mechanics have been available while apparatus was assigned to contractors.
• Contractors are being used beyond what was initially understood as supplemental support.
• Apparatus that could be serviced in-house has been sent to outside vendors.
• When apparatus leaves the shop, spare units must be placed in service, reducing fleet flexibility.

Contractors can help manage workload, but they should complement the skilled people already doing this specialized work, not replace them. Calgary Fire mechanics have spent decades building knowledge of this unique fleet. Their expertise supports your Calgary firefighters and helps keep Calgarians safe.

As Calgary grows, City Council must prioritize investing in our people, using the capacity already available and protecting the institutional knowledge that keeps our emergency fleet moving. That is responsible, efficient and in the public interest.

Jeromy "Pathfinder" Farkas
Kim Tyers
Councillor Jennifer Wyness for Ward 2
Councillor Andrew Yule
Councillor D.J. Kelly
Raj Dhaliwal
John Pantazopoulos Councillor for Ward 6
Myke Atkinson - Independent Candidate for Ward 7
Nathaniel Schmidt
Ward 9 Harrison
Andre Chabot
Rob Ward - Ward 11 Councillor
Councillor Mike Jamieson
Dan McLean ​
Landon Johnston for Ward 14

Never Forget – Fire Chief Wayne R. Morris – August 1, 2012

Occupational Cancer

☀️ Long Weekend? We're Working It. 🚒

Today's Calgary Herald highlighted the work of your Calgary firefighters during Calgary's summer heat.

As Calgary Firefighters Association President Jamie Blayney shared:

"We want firefighters here at the top of their game. Protecting ourselves against this heat is some of the most important things we can do to make sure that we're there ready to go when Calgarians need us."

Whether you're checking out a festival, finding the perfect patio, exploring Calgary's history or just chasing the sunshine, we hope you make the most of the Heritage Day long weekend.

Have a fantastic Heritage Day long weekend from your Calgary firefighters. Enjoy the sunshine... we'll be here if you need us. ☀️🚒

Never Forget – District Chief Richard D. Befus – July 31, 2014

Occupational Cancer

Never Forget – Captain Garry D. Kendall – July 31, 2000

Occupational Cancer

Calgary showed up for Parker.

To every one of your Calgary firefighters who answered the call, thank you.

Over the past two weeks, firefighters from across our city stood shoulder to shoulder with our partners, searching tirelessly and hoping for a different outcome. Our Aquatic Rescue Team and Technical Rescue Team worked in some of the most difficult and hazardous environments, going where only highly trained specialty teams can safely operate.

We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the Calgary Police Service , whose leadership, coordination, and relentless commitment guided this search from beginning to end. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, searched neighbourhoods, handed out posters, and stood beside Parker's family. This is what Calgary does. We look out for one another, and this search was another powerful example of the Calgarian spirit.

Calls like these leave a lasting impact. They remind us that behind every emergency is a family, a community, and people whose lives are forever changed.

For firefighters, the work doesn't stop. When the tones sound again, we answer. We take what we've experienced, support one another, and bring our very best to the next person who needs us. That resilience is part of the job, and so is looking after each other.

To every firefighter involved in this search, if this call is weighing on you, please reach out. Our Peer Support Team is here because firefighters look after firefighters. You never have to carry these calls alone.

Our hearts remain with Parker's family, his friends, everyone involved in the search, and all those grieving this unimaginable loss.

Parker, you will not be forgotten.