Communicator

30 COMMUNICATOR ©iStock / DigitalStorm F E AT U R E is expanding its fire services offering to existing industrial customers, says Gordon. "Many of our customers – every pulp and paper mill, every manufac- turer or gas plant – has emergency response and fire services needs and we are able to help with that. Motion Canada can provide almost anything except fire- trucks," he says. Gordon adds that the company has traditionally had a strong presence in the head-to-toe personal protection equipment market, including turnout gear, helmets, gloves and boots. It can also supply hand tools such as axes, some hoses and nozzles, and MSA and Honeywell self-contained breathing apparat- uses. And Motion Canada has partnered with companies like Solberg, one of the world's leading suppliers of firefighting foam, to ensure that the needs of industrial customers are met. Sells says there have been several firefighting innovations in recent years, which, like most new technologies, decrease in price once they gain market acceptance. "For example, thermal imaging cameras are now used more widely compared to 20 years ago, as are alternative extinguishing agents such as fire suppression foams and gels," he says. "Perhaps the most significant change we could make in Canada would be to mandate residential fire sprinkler systems in all new construction, as has been done in some U.S. jurisdictions." Block agrees that the technology is evolving and that there has been some significant research in fire behaviour strategy and tactics. "Up until the last few years, the fire service really depended on past practice and anecdotal informa- tion, but now we are more performance-measurement oriented and we are using data, experience and science to inform our business decisions. That's a big change," he says. Block adds that there has also been a change in attitude and treatment of the physical and psychological impacts on firefighters brought on by their working environment. "Occupational disease like specific cancers, for example, are recognized in legislation in most provinces as being occupational in nature to firefighters, and now mental wellness and post-traumatic stress disorder are being addressed," he says. Changes like these are what Block sees as the fire service dismantling the silo in which it operated for years. "I think we've recognized that we need to be progressive. We need to build relationships with key external stakeholders such as our elected officials. That's fundamental to the fire service moving forward effectively, and it's part of my mandate as CAFC president," he says. He points out that CAFC's vision and mission is to unite Canada's fire service leaders, and to connect the provincial, territorial and allied associations and external stakeholders for the advancement of public and firefighter safety. "I think that's a very solid vision and mission, and on point with where we need to go," adds Block. "I see some good things in the future of the Canadian fire service." MI Motion Canada has traditionally had a strong presence in the head-to-toe personal protection equipment market, including turnout gear, helmets, gloves and boots, hand tools such as axes, hoses and nozzles, and self-contained breathing apparatuses

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