Neha Patil (Editor)

Calgary Fire Department

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Annual calls
  
~60,000

Fire chief
  
Steve Dongworth

Employees
  
1400 (all staff)

Stations
  
39

Calgary Fire Department

Established
  
1885 (Calgary Hook, Ladder and Bucket Corps)

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) provides fire services for the city of Calgary, Alberta.

Contents

The department was created on 25 August 1885 as the Calgary Hook, Ladder and Bucket Corps and a chemical engine was ordered soon after. The first Captain was George Constantine. Prior to the formation of the Corps, wells had been dug throughout the town in 1884 at the recommendation of George Murdoch, Mayor of the Town of Calgary. Prior to 1909, it was a volunteer fire department. In 1909, 40 full-time firefighters were hired. In 1910, it purchased its first motorized fire truck.

As of March 31, 2015, the department has 39 stations and employs over 1,400 personnel in both operational and support roles. Their headquarters is located at 4124 11th Street SE.

Fire Suppression

The Fire Service uses the term "Chief Officer" to describe individuals who are in a Chief role. These "Chief Officers" are responsible for overseeing management functions as well as supervising fire operations. In the Calgary Fire Department, the Chief Officers are:

  • Fire Chief – (1) oversees the entire Calgary Fire Department (CFD)
  • Deputy Chief – (5) oversee five of the six divisions of the CFD
  • Fire Rescue Services
  • Fire Rescue Support Services
  • Risk Management
  • Capital Development
  • Administration
  • Assistant Deputy Chief – (7) Four are tasked to Fire Rescue Services and the remainder are deployed where needed
  • Battalion Chief – (4) firefighters work on a platoon system. There are four platoons (A, B, C, & D) and each platoon is supervised by a Battalion Chief
  • District Chief – (20) the city is divided into 5 districts (East, West, North, South, & Central). Each district on each platoon is supervised by a District Chief, therefore there are 5 District Chiefs on at any given time (one in each district).

    • Company officers are in charge of each crew. Company officers include:

  • Fire captain – each fire engine (pumper truck) is supervised by a fire captain on each platoon. As there is an engine in each fire hall, the captain is in charge of the fire hall as well.
  • Fire lieutenant – every other fire apparatus is supervised by a lieutenant. These include: aerial trucks, rescue trucks, hazmat trucks, etc. Every hall has an engine, but only select halls have other apparatus, such as these.

    • Firefighters are the main work force of the fire department. They include:

  • Senior Firefighter – one on each Fire Engine (pumper truck)
  • Firefighter – drive the trucks and ride in the back
  • Probationary Firefighter – placed on Fire Engines as needed, ride in the back with the Senior Firefighter

    • Support Staff

    The Fire Department also relies on numerous Support Staff to fill various roles. Uniformed local 255 support staff members are firefighters who have moved into a different role with the Department. The Fire Marshal oversees the inspectors and investigators within the division of Risk Management. Each Support Section is also run by a Coordinator. These include:

  • Hazardous Material Coordinator
  • Emergency Management Coordinator
  • Recruitment Coordinator
  • Fire Inspections Coordinator
  • Wellness & Fitness Coordinator
  • Health and Safety Coordinator
  • Community Safety Coordinator

    • Many Support Sections also have Staff Support Officers. These include:

  • Hazardous Material Officers
  • Emergency Management Officers
  • Recruitment Officers
  • Wellness & Fitness Officers
  • Health and Safety Officers
  • Community Safety Officers
  • Fire Inspector II
  • Technical Services Officers
  • Public Information Officers
  • Shift Investigator
  • Training Officers
  • Arson Investigator
  • Fire Inspector I

    • The Fire Department also employs many other non-uniformed staff in numerous roles.

    Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic

    If a Firefighter, Company Officer, or Chief Officer is also qualified as an EMT-A or Paramedic, they wear the Star of Life insignia on their fire helmet.

    Fire Stations

    There are 39 stations assigned to the 14 wards across the city.

    References

    Calgary Fire Department Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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