MEDIA RELEASE
Fire Chiefs for Dominion Fire Commissioner
(Wednesday, September
29, 2004)--Chief Director of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency,
Michael Eddy, has been elected President of the Canadian Association
of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) at its Annual General Meeting held September
29 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
CAFC’s new President called for the establishment of an Office
of the Dominion Fire Commissioner to co-ordinate the interest of
the Federal Government of the Canadian Fire Services. He also recommended
that the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
include an office specifically mandated to address fire and related
issues concerning emergency response and community preparedness.
“The safety of all Canadian citizens and of the firefighters
who protect them should be of paramount importance to our elected
and appointed officials,” Chief Eddy stated. “We call
upon all three levels of government in Canada to dedicate themselves
to life-safety issues,” he said.
As a case in point, the CAFC President pointed to resolutions on
automatic sprinkler systems adopted by Canada’s Fire Chiefs
at their St. John’s Annual Meeting. One resolution calls for
such systems in all new low-rise housing; another would encourage
automatic sprinklers for existing non-residential and for high-rise
residences.
CAFC counts 1,000 of Canada’s Chief Fire Officers as its members,
and is the voice of the Canadian Fire Services.
For more information:
Chief Director Michael
Eddy
Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency
Phone: 902-490-5540
Cell Phone: 902-478-7651
