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Toronto Fire Services

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Toronto Fire Services
Agency overview
Established1874
Employees3100
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefWilliam Stewart
EMS levelBLS
MottoCourage, Compassion, Service
Facilities and equipment
Stations81
Engines87
Trucks29
Tenders1
Fireboats2
Website
City of Toronto: Fire Services

The Toronto Fire Services is part of the Emergency Services that respond to 911 calls in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.


Overview

The Toronto Fire Services is responsible for responding to fires, rescue and assisting with medical situations within the City of Toronto. It was created in 1998 from the merger of the former fire departments of the original City of Toronto, East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and York. It is the largest fire department in Canada and the 4th largest in North America behind New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. This Professional organization has negotiated amongst the best contracts in the world. One could question why 3000 firefighters are needed given the number of fires, but the Union was able to maintain numbers and increase pay by offering supplementary services.

History

Fire services in Toronto began in 1874 in the former City of Toronto, and consisted of volunteer fire companies. Prior to 1874, fire services were volunteer companies in the city. After the Great Toronto Fire in 1904, which destroyed much of Bay Street from The Esplande West to Melinda Street, the Fire Department in Toronto became a critical city service and has evolved into the professional service that exists today.

As of April 2009, the departments and commissioners were replaced by divisions under the City Manager (and Deputy Managers), so the TFS is now referred to as the Toronto Fire Services Division[citation needed]. Today some firefighters make Ontario's annual "Sunshine list". [1]

Early Fire Companies

  • 1st Engine House 1826 at Church Street and Newgate Street (Adelaide Street East)
  • Independent Fire Company Engine House No. 2
  • York Fire Company 1826
  • Hook and Ladder Fire Company 1831

Command

File:TFS William Stewart.JPG
Chief Wm. Stewart

As of 2007, the current Fire Chief is William Stewart (C1), under whom serve four deputy Chiefs (C2, C3, C4, C5), and four division commanders (C6, C7, C8, C9) - all based at 4330 Dufferin Street, the central headquarters for both Toronto Fire and Toronto EMS.

File:TFS Firefighter.JPG
Toronto Fire Captain

Fleet

A Toronto Fire Services Vehicle.

Toronto Fire Department began using motorized vehicles after 1910. Before that, the TFD used horse drawn engines and ladders.

The TFS inherited all the vehicles of the fire departments prior to amalgamation. The current strength of TFS consists of 179 vehicles. Since amalgamation, apparatus numbers are numbered by a letter and 3 digits. The digits refer to station number and the letter refers to type of apparatus, for example T333 is the tower located Station 333. Spare apparatus are numbered with four digits. Occasionally secondary units with the same numeric designation are given a letter as a suffix ex. Pumper 335 (P335) and Pumper 335B (P335B).

A list of types of vehicles used by the TFS : (prefix letter in brackets with x's as placeholders)

  • Aerial (Axxx)
  • Tower (Txxx)
  • Platform (PLxxx)
  • Pumper (Pxxx)
  • Rescue/Pumper (Rxxx)
  • Fireboat (FBxxx)
  • Hazardous Materials Unit (HZxxx)
  • Hazmat Support Truck (HMSxxx)
  • Decontamination Truck (DExxx)
  • Squad (Sxxx)
  • High Rise Unit (HRxxx)
  • Water Tanker (WTxxx)
  • Van (Vxxx)
  • Trench Rescue Support Truck (TRSxxx)
  • Air/Light Unit (LAxxx)
  • District Chief (Cxx)
  • Platoon Chief (Cxx)
  • Division Commander (Cx)
  • Deputy Chief / Fire Chief (Cx)
  • Command Truck (Cxx)

Miscellaneous

While not part of the fleet, Box 12 and Support 7 are canteen trucks (International/Dependable/PK Welding van) run by volunteers, and are present at large emergencies to provide food and beverages for Toronto firefighters. In addition, there are various Hazardous Materials Support trucks and a Trench Rescue Support truck that respond to specialized calls. These trucks are unmanned, and are only used by trained personnel. TFS also has a fleet of various Mechanical support Trucks.

Operations

File:TFS Training Exercise.JPG
A firefighter walks to the scene of a training simulation with her gear.

TFS operations consists of 81 stations and divided into four geographical command units.

TFS also provides fire fighting and rescue operations in the water. The TFS operates two fire boats, the William Lyon Mackenzie and Sora. Both are stationed at station 334.

At the Toronto City Centre Airport, TFS may be called to assist the fire service at the airport.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the TFS formed a search and rescue unit called the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue or HUSAR. HUSAR responds to collapsed buildings and other incidents beyond the reach of regular fire fighters.

Ranks

Toronto Fire Services Platform 432.

See also

Other members of the Toronto's Emergency Services structure consists of:

Other agencies with historic ties to the TFD and TFS:

References

  1. ^ http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/toronto/archive/2010/04/01/ontario-releases-2010-sunshine-list.aspx Number of city police officers, firefighters skyrockets

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