Burn Fund Centre Opening Anniversary

The Burn Fund Centre officially opened on March 18, 2016

In 2002, the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund recognized the need to provide accommodation for the families of burn survivors and began a visioning exercise that led to the creation of the Burn Fund Centre which officially opened on March 18, 2016.

On this day, the Burn Fund Centre opened its doors welcoming the burn survivor community and the donors and fire fighters who made the Centre a reality. The Burn Fund Centre answers a critical need for suitable short-term patient accommodation for burn and trauma survivors and their families. It also serves as the home of the Burn Fund and BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association offices and offers accommodation to fire fighters visiting Vancouver for medical treatment.

Total Project Budget: $13.1M

  • City of Vancouver provided land for the Centre;

  • $4M investment from BC Housing & BC Ministry of Health;

  • $2.5M donation from the Jack & Darlene Poole Foundation;

  • $1.3M pledged from Fire Fighter Locals;

  • $750,000 in donated services from Concert Properties;

  • Ground Breaking – September 17, 2014;

  • Construction Started – November, 2014;

  • Construction Completed – December 2015;

  • Burn Fund Offices move to new location December 2015;

  • Grand Opening – March 18, 2016!

  • HomeAway Accommodation Suites opened in April 2016

Take a virtual Tour of the Burn Fund Centre

During Burn Awareness Week, members from Richmond Fire Department created this short video about the Burn Fund Centre.

 

Learn more Board of Director, Erin Dempsey-Moore and Prevention Officer, Kylie McDonald.

 

HOMEAWAY PROGRAM

The Centre provides 8 short-term accommodations—a home away from home, for British Columbians needing to travel to Vancouver under emergency circumstances for medical treatment due to burn and major trauma injuries, patients in discharge transition or returning for follow up treatment.  The suites include a kitchenette and there is also a communal full service family kitchen for meal preparation. Guests will find other comforts of home provided such as a family living room, library/study and outdoor decks.

Since March 2016,

  • 795 visitors have stayed over 11,000 nights at the HomeAway Accommodation Centre.

  • Longest stay was 1 year;

  • Youngest guest 18 months old;

IMPACT QUOTES

“The Home Away Program enabled my mom to stay in Vancouver to be with me through my burn recovery and be at the hospital every day to support me. It also gave me a safe, welcoming space to continue to heal before I was able to go home. I was given resources and an immense amount of support through the people I met at Burn Fund.”

—Talia, Burn Survivor

“We arrived in Vancouver with our son who had an accident with hot oil. The Burn Fund has been one of the most wonderful experiences throughout this time. Peter the manager has helped with everything we needed! We were here for 52 days and I couldn’t be more grateful to find this place. Thank you for your home away from home!”

—Taylor, Burn Survivor Parent

THE TEAM

Our incredible staff team occupies the 3rd floor office space and board rooms shared by both the BCPFFA and Burn Fund respective boards. Thanks to all our Fire Fighter locals, Burn Fund Reps, donors, partners and friends of the Burn Fund. We could not do this work without you!

 
 
 
 

International Women's Day

British Columbia’s Professional Firefighters recognize the crucial role of strong leadership and its positive impact on the lives of our members. We understand that effective leadership takes time, dedication, and a commitment to excellence. On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many exceptional women in our union who not only make our communities safer but also step up into leadership roles.

Leaders such as Darcie Sibbald, a dedicated firefighter who has been serving with Whistler Fire Rescue since 2000. She started her professional career in 2005 and has been an active member of Local holding the position of Secretary/Treasurer for ten years before becoming the local's President. “Collaboration, education, and good governance are essential for building strong Union/Labour relations. As a union representative, I am committed to fostering these values to ensure that our members receive the support and resources they need to thrive in their work. By working together, we can create a safer and more equitable workplace for all firefighters."

Leaders like Debra Rogers, a dedicated member of Campbell River Fire Rescue since 2009. Debra started as a fire dispatcher and transitioned into the suppression division as a firefighter. Debra assumed the role of Secretary with Local 1668 in 2022. As the only woman serving in the suppression division, she is determined to promote diversity and represent the issues specific to women in the fire service. Debra's involvement in the BCPFFA Women's Advisory Committee is a testament to her commitment to advancing these important issues.

Katrina Davison serves on the Vancouver Local 18 Executive Board and was elected to the International Association of Fire Fighters Human Relations Committee. She has been dedicated to promoting equality and fair treatment in the fire service and her election to the IAFF Human Relations Committee is a testament to her commitment to promoting diversity and ensuring that all firefighters are treated fairly and with respect.

The BCPFFA acknowledges the valuable contributions of women in firefighting. We believe that gender should never be a barrier to achieving success and that everyone, regardless of gender, should be able to achieve their goals in the fire service. We take pride in our union's diversity and inclusivity and recognize that a more diverse workforce leads to better outcomes and improved safety for our communities.

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many remarkable women in our union who have made significant contributions to the firefighting profession. We applaud their courage, determination, and leadership, which have helped make our communities safer and our union stronger.




Burn Awareness Week

BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund and BC Children's Hospital launch new e-learning course during Burn Awareness Week

BC Children’s Hospital has more than 1,000 burn-related visits each year. The new course takes just 30 minutes and is a critical resource for caregivers to learn about burn prevention.

Vancouver, B.C., February 7, 2023 – A new e-learning platform created by the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, with support from BC Children’s Hospital, is being launched during this year’s Burn Awareness Week (February 5 - 11). The course is a resource for caregivers to learn about burn and scald prevention. 

Each year at BC Children’s Hospital there are more than 1,000 burn-related visits for both treatment and follow-up appointments. Children with burn injuries require specialized care and a highly trained team of experts to not only treat the physical injuries, but also to care for the emotional well-being of both the patient and the family. 

“Approximately 150 patients with new burn injuries are treated at BC Children’s Hospital each year alone, with 78 per cent of those injuries occurring in kids under the age of five,” said Gayanne Pacholzuk, Prevention Coordinator at the Burn Fund. “One of the easiest steps we can all take to reduce the risk of burns in households is to share resources with caregivers on how to prevent these incidents from happening.”

The theme for Burn Awareness Week 2023 is scalds, which account for 70 per cent of all burn injuries in toddlers. Scalds are most often caused by hot liquids, steam or hot bath water. The most common occurrence is when a toddler reaches for their parent’s mug of hot coffee or tea, knocking it onto themselves. Toddlers are at a developmental stage where they need to explore and experiment, often lacking awareness of danger in certain situations. 

“Burns happen in seconds and they can be quite severe. As a doctor and parent, myself, I really want caregivers and parents to know that most toddler burns are scalds that happen in a home environment with hot liquids that we deal with every day,” says Dr. Sally Hynes, Burn Director at BC Children’s Hospital. “This e-learning course details important information on prevention, burn care and when to seek treatment from medical professionals at the hospital.” 

The free Too Hot for Tots e-learning course is now available to anyone who would like to learn more about scald prevention. Especially relevant to those with toddlers in their lives, this course offers an informative and interactive learning experience in just 30 minutes. Learn from BC Children’s Hospital Burn Director, Dr. Sally Hynes and hear personal stories from burn survivors and their families. The course can be accessed here or through the Burn Fund website. 

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About the Burn Fund

Fire fighters have been answering the call to support young burn survivors since the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund was founded in 1978. From rescue to recovery, more than 4,000 professional fire fighters in communities across BC and the Yukon are advancing the Burn Fund’s mission of supporting burn survivors through every step of their healing journey. 

The Burn Fund was created by the fire fighters to fund urgent equipment needs for burn survivors at BC’s trauma hospitals. Today the Burn Fund’s support has expanded to offer empowering programs for burn survivors of all ages, including Burn Camp for kids, as well as welcoming burn survivors and their families to the Burn Fund Centre, a home away from home for those travelling to Vancouver for treatment. Learn more at burnfund.org and follow the Burn Fund on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. at @BCBurnFund.
 

About BC Children's Hospital Foundation

BC Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children and youth. It’s one of the few pediatric medical and teaching facilities in Canada with an acute care centre, research institute, mental health facility, and rehabilitation centre all in one place. BC Children’s provides specialized care, innovative therapies, and pediatric expertise for BC’s kids, including the sickest and most seriously injured. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, we raise funds to provide kids with excellence in healthcare by continuously driving advancements provincially and globally. The generosity of donors fuels our ability to conquer childhood diseases, prevent illness and injury, and prioritize the unique needs of kids in every aspect of their care. Follow us at @bcchf or visit bcchf.ca for more information.

PHOTO ASSETS: Photos and videos can be found in this folder

MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Clark, Director of Communications
BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund
P: 778.789.0820
E: communications@burnfund.org

Increased Staffing of Fire Fighters in BC, but many are still behind the curve

The BCPFFA recognizes the collective efforts in achieving increased staffing levels across BC, staffing levels that support both the public’s and fire fighters safety.  Since the 2022 Civic Local Elections, we are now seeing approvals for increased staffing levels by respective city councils, in many cases playing catch up to the growth of the community. As communities grow, so must the critical infrastructure that supports fire safety and keeps our public, property, and fire fighters safe. However, many Professional Fire Departments are not keeping up with safe staffing levels and pose a risk to public safety as well as fire fighter safety, running lean budgets and/or staffing levels well below the NFPA 1710 standard.  To learn more about safe staffing view this short NFPA 1710 video. 

UPDATE: RECENT STAFFING INCREASES

The following cities have recently achieved significant growth strategies that put them on a path to safe staffing levels much of which was advocated by IAFF local affiliates and approved by Council.

  • Nanaimo council approved 40 firefighters over the next 2 years, and added 2 Fire Engines, staffed with 4 on each.

  • Township of Langley council approved 44 fire fighters over next 4 years; exploring 2 new halls;

  • Pitt Meadows council approved 8  firefighters to be hired in 2023; 

  • Saanich Fire hired 10 additional fire fighters in 2022  and 10 more over the next two years;

  • Penticton council votes next week (Tuesday Dec 20) to approve 4 additional fire fighters bring their frontline engines staffed with 4 fire fighters.

  • Prince Rupert Council approved 4 additional firefighters in 2022, on top of the additional 2 hired in 2021, bringing membership from 18 to 24.

  • Burnaby council approved 20 new suppression positions (5 Captains & 15 Firefighters) for 2023, and approved $50M for 2 'sister fire halls' by 2023.

Details on Staffing Growth

Nanaimo  Fire Department / Local 905

On December 1st, the City of Nanaimo Council unanimously approved the hiring of 40 additional full-time career firefighters for Nanaimo Fire Rescue!

Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters at the scene of a motor vehicle incident where the Trans-Canada Highway meets the Nanaimo Parkway at Cedar Road on Nov. 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

The first 20 firefighters will start on August 1st, 2023, and the second additional 20 firefighters will start on January 1st, 2025. The first 20 firefighters are specifically hired to staff a second Fire Engine in Fire Station 1, and the second 20 firefighters are specifically hired to staff a second Fire Engine in Fire Station 2. 

Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters at the scene of a motor vehicle incident where the Trans-Canada Highway meets the Nanaimo Parkway at Cedar Road on Nov. 29. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Local 905 President Chad Porter states, “This is the single most significant growth in Nanaimo Fire Rescue and IAFF Local 905 history; nearly a 50% increase in staffing over the next two years. We truly appreciate the support of council, and the investment into public safety and the safety of our firefighters.”

In addition to these 40 full-time firefighters, City Council approved using the $1,157,500 budget that was already approved for the purchase of a Heavy Rescue Truck in 2023, and topping that budget up to be able to purchase a Rescue Fire Engine instead, which is approximately $1,400,000. This Rescue Fire Engine will be both a Fire Engine and also carry extrication equipment, and will be a 5th front line fully staffed fire apparatus. City Council also approved using the City’s Strategic Reserve Fund to purchase another Fire Engine, at an approximate cost of $1,200,000 for the 2025 hiring group to utilize as a 6th front line fully staffed Fire Engine.

 

Township of Langley Fire Department, Local 4550

Councillor Tim Baillie, a retired firefighters himself, put forward the motion at the first Township council meeting since the new mayor and councillors were sworn in earlier this month.

On November 14, 2022, Township of Langley council unanimously approved to hire 40 new fire fighters over the next four years, a motion put forward by councillor Tim Ballie (retired L1271 member and BCPFFA VP Emeritus Member). In addition, councillor Baillie also mentioned the possible construction of two more firehalls (not part of the motion) and will be explored further.  View Youtube recording of the council meeting. A month later the 40 firefighters was boosted to 44 or 11 per year over the next 4 years.

 

Pitt Meadows Fire Department / Local 4810

At last month’s council meeting, Pitt Meadows City Council unanimously approved the addition of nine career firefighters, which includes two lieutenants, six firefighters and one training officer. This investment in Fire and Rescue Services will cost $95 per year or $7.90 per month for the average single-family home. The recruitment of nine firefighters will commence in December with the goal of additional firefighters being in place in early 2023. 

The city of Pitt Meadows expects to hire all nine new firefighters by early 2023. (Brandon Tucker/The News)

 

The city of Pitt Meadows expects to hire all nine new firefighters by early 2023. (Brandon Tucker/The News)

“We recognize the importance of providing the safest fire services model for the community and our firefighters,” says Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “This is a significant investment in our essential services and in enhancing community safety. These additional full-time firefighters result in a critical model shift from the current structure that has a high reliance on our Paid-On-Call members to a model with primary dependence on career firefighters. This model shift ensures that Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service will have fire and rescue coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week.Read more…

 

New firefighter positions boost on-duty staffing with a new full-time medic unit

Saanich Fire Department Local 967

Fire Department staffing levels are increasing with the recent hiring of ten additional fire fighters to support 2 new 24/7 fire fighter positions at station three, furthering Saanich’s 10-year commitment to decrease fire response times and improve service as identified in the 2020 Fire Master Plan. Read more… 

PURSUING ADDITIONAL STAFFING

Vancouver Fire & Rescue / Local 18

Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry says she will request city council provide $6.9 million in next year’s budget to hire 55 firefighters to help lessen the load on crews who continue to respond to a record number of fires and overdoses.  Read more…

 

Surrey Fire Services /  Local 1271 is working with the City on a multi year robust growth plan.

The Surrey Fire Service needs immediate attention with a growth plan for additional resources,” says Saverio Lattanzio, President of the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Association. “Fire fighters on the front line are stretched thin, suffering from burnout and in dire need of staffing. Properly resourced fire protection must be maintained to ensure public and fire fighter safety.

More than four-in-five eligible voters in Surrey (87%) support increasing Surrey Fire Fighters’ staffing levels to reach the average ratio currently seen in cities such as Vancouver, Burnaby, Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa. Read more…

 

Abbotsford Local 2864

Abbotsford Fire Fighters Association has been pushing for an increase in staffing and apparatus response capabilities since 2005.  Unfortunately, departmental staffing resources in suppression and prevention have continued to erode year over year.  With the city's population growth, call volume has dramatically increased  over the decade to put AFRS among the busiest departments in Canada in calls per career firefighter. Staffing levels simply have not kept pace. Multiple factors contributed to this deficiency. Unrealized AFRS Master Plans, poor communication among leadership in recognizing the issues and requesting proper support, and unnecessary financial restrictions imposed by the City of Abbotsford have all contributed to this deficiency in staffing.  As staffing shortfalls continue to plague the Abbotsford Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 2864 will continue to advocate for safe staffing so our members can protect this community and get home safely to their families.

While calls have more than doubled over 10 years, hiring hasn’t kept up with that pace. “Firefighters are getting hurt and experiencing near misses,” they wrote. “Property loss is occurring, directly resulting from being understaffed. Our life safety is important. YOUR life safety is important. Simply put, we’re seeing the results of falling behind. Now is the time for the city to recognize it needs to catch up.” Read more…

 

Chilliwack Local 2826 reported that staffing in Chilliwack has been decreased due to funding. On September 26th a commitment was made by the Fire Chief and backed by the city to keep staffing on our 2 engines at 4 fire fighters. The reason was a person trapped in a structure fire and the first arriving engine only had 3. On December 2nd the decision was made to no longer back fill with overtime citing financial reasons reversing their earlier decision, which was based on safety of both the public and fire fighters. The Department noted that if there is such a need for 4 fire fighters and if IAFF members couldn't fill these shifts they would back fill with paid on-call fire fighters. In the 41 days of backfilling with overtime there were 159 overtime shifts. All of these shifts were filled by our 39 suppression members sacrificing time off and holidays. At this time the city is only hiring 2 new positions and 1 for retirement. They have budgeted 1 new position for 2023. The Fire Chief has set a final number of 48 suppression fire fighters and does not plan to hire anymore nor put any more apparatus into service. Read article by PressProgress

Our Mayor and Council sent us a letter in May of 2021 telling us they no longer would meet with the local to discuss staffing or any issues that our local has, this quite frankly puts the public and responding fire fighters at risk every day.    

IAFF delegates on the final day of the 56th Convention unanimously adopted resolutions to censure local officials for aggressive anti-labour tactics and staunch opposition to legislation protecting fire fighters and paramedics on the job.  Read more…

Resolution 37 – Censure of Fire Chief Ian Josephson. The Fire Chief for the City of Chilliwack, British Columbia, during his tenure has refused to work in collaboration with the Chilliwack Professional Fire Fighters Local 2826 and fostered a toxic working environment across the department. Josephson threatened legal action following receipt of a Harvard Study critical of his leadership.

“This censure will show that fire fighters across the great union have their backs, and hopefully we can get someone else to lead this department,” said Mike Carter, IAFF 6th District Vice President.

 

Kitimat Local 1304: Seeking 40 more Firefighters

The firefighters union is calling on the District of Kitimat to increase staffing, saying the current level puts people at risk locally because of an increasing call volume. 

“Too often you see changes happen only after there has been a tragedy,” said Justin Medeiros, president of the Kitimat Firefighters Association.. “Council needs to take immediate action before it’s too late.”  Based on current activity, he said requests for service will hit approximately 3,200 calls this year and that’s enough to require 40 firefighters. Read more…

Penticton Local 1399 

Campbell Watt announced at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s meeting he’s bringing a notice of motion to the Dec. 20 session that will call for the immediate hiring of four new firefighters without any direct hit to taxes.Read more…


What is NFPA 1710?

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), offers standards on everything from the coat a firefighter wears into a fire; to the time it takes 911 to answer and dispatch a fire truck to an emergency; to the number of firefighters needed to safely and efficiently fight a fire; to how many firefighters should be on a truck.

Ultimately, Fire Departments need to meet safe staffing standards to ensure both public and fire fighter safety.

NFPA 1710 provides the minimum requirements relating to the organization and deployment of fire suppression operations, emergency medical operations, and special operations to the public by career fire departments.

Fire Fighting is a science, and how many fire fighters show up when you call 911 should not come down to politics.

The NFPA 1710 standard is based on science and research and it says fire engines and ladders should always each have a minimum of four firefighters.

Our industry uses a standard called NFPA 1710 to determine how to properly staff fire halls, fire trucks and ambulances.

For the 2016 edition of the standard, subsection 5.2.4 on fire department service deployment was revised to include three new occupancies, along with the appropriate response staffing levels for each. The minimum staffing level for each occupancy is listed below. (For the full breakdown of staffing requirements by position, refer to the subsections specific to each occupancy in 5.2.4.) Read more…

 
 

Bright Nights 50/50 Tickets Now On Sale!

Bright Nights 50/50 tickets are now on sale in support of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Last year’s jackpot reached an incredible $523,685! 

The Bright Nights 50/50 is an extension of the Burn Fund’s single largest fundraising event, Bright Nights in Stanley Park.The raffle was created in 2020 to recoup lost funds during the cancellation of the Bright Nights. It also supported fundraising efforts in 2021 when mechanical issues and the theft of electrical cords forced the premature closure of the event. 

This year Bright Nights will move forward without the Vancouver Park Board’s holiday train. A big draw for the event, the Burn Fund now faces a third challenging year of fundraising in support of its year-round programs.

Your ticket supports programs like Burn Camp for kids and the Home Away Program, which provides accommodations at the Burn Fund Centre for burn survivors and fire fighters who must travel to Vancouver for medical treatment. 

Support the charity of BC’s professional fire fighters and purchase your tickets today! Tickets are 1 for $15, 3 for $40, 6 for $60 or 25 for $250. With a deadline of New Year’s Eve, you could walk into 2023 a winner! 

About the Burn Fund: Established in 1978, the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund is the charity of more than 4,000 professional fire fighters from 53 communities in BC and the Yukon. Learn more at Burnfund.org.

 
 


B.C. further expands cancer coverage for fire fighters

BC Government News Release - Victoria

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 8:30 AM

Firefighters will now have easier access to workers’ compensation benefits and support services in recognition of their higher risk of developing work-related cancers.

“Firefighters are there for us when we are at our most vulnerable, and we need to be there for them when they need us,” said Premier John Horgan. “Their job places them in risk of exposure to toxic materials. If they get sick or hurt on the job, they deserve to have every support we can provide.”

The Province is amending the Firefighters' Occupational Disease Regulation under the Workers Compensation Act (WCA) by adding two cancers – pancreatic and thyroid – to the existing list of cancers and heart diseases that firefighters are at increased risk of developing.

“Despite the safety equipment, firefighters are still exposed to dangerous substances from burning materials,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “Over time, exposure can lead to serious, sometimes deadly, illnesses where prompt treatment is critical. I am proud to support these brave workers who selflessly put their health and lives on the line to keep British Columbians safe.”

If a firefighter develops one of the listed cancers after a certain period of employment, it is presumed that the cancer arose from their employment. The firefighter will be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove the cancer is work-related.

“Recognizing the health challenges that firefighters face is extremely important to our membership as they put their lives on the line every day in communities across this province,” said Gord Ditchburn, president, BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association. “I am very grateful to this government for listening to us, expanding the list of work-related cancers, and better supporting B.C.’s firefighters.”

These improvements support government’s priority to ensure workers who become ill or injured on the job face fewer barriers to accessing workers’ compensation benefits and resources.

Quick Facts:

  • Professional firefighters and approximately 10,000 volunteer firefighters in B.C. have access to workers’ compensation related to cancer and other occupational diseases.

  • For the occupational disease presumptions to apply, a firefighter must have worked the minimum amount of time specified in the regulation for each cancer.

  • B.C. has recognized occupational diseases for firefighters since 2005, when the Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation was established.

  • Additional types of occupational diseases for firefighters have since been added to the act and regulation. Cervical, ovarian and penile cancers were recently added to the regulation in April 2022.

  • B.C. recognizes 18 cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters.

  • Changes to the act in 2018 included firefighting as an eligible occupation in the new presumption for mental-health disorders.

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Media Contacts

  • Michael McKinnon, Deputy Communications Director, Office of the Premier, michael.mckinnon@gov.bc.ca

  • Ministry of Labour, Media Relations, 250 213-8637

  • BC Professional Fire Fighters Association, President Gord Ditchburn 604.436.2053