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"Everyone seems so busy these days," says
Pawlett. "Becoming a firefighter takes many
hours of training so there is a huge time
commitment. Juggling work, family, per-
sonal interests and the fire department
proves too much for many people."
While the interface between fire services and
the public is most apparent at the municipal
level, fire protection is also a vital aspect of a
wide range of commercial and industrial activ-
ities, from airports to oil refineries, mines,
chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, and
large manufacturing facilities across Canada.
Matt Gordon, a Motion Industries Canada
fire services specialist, is part of the com-
pany's team providing logistical support to
customers who have fire protection teams.
He is also a professional firefighter with
insight into some of the challenges facing
fire services in Canada, including how to best
use the latest firefighting equipment and
techniques.
"The in-joke in the fire service is that it's
100 years of tradition unimpeded by prog-
ress, but in reality, that's not the case," says
Gordon. "There have been significant advan-
ces since the National Institute of [Stan-
dards] and Technology in the U.S. doing
studies on fire behaviour, which have
changed firefighting tactics."
The equipment used to fight fires is also
changing, he adds. For example, a new sugar-
based foam is now available that biodegrades
in 42 days, avoiding the chemical residues
from traditional foam that could remain in
the ground for years.
The evolution of supplies and equipment
is a big reason why Motion Industries Canada
The evolution of supplies and equipment is a big reason why
Motion Canada is expanding its fire services offering to existing
industrial customers
continued on page 30
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