By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Between December 15 and 17, Essex MPP Anthony Leardi delivered early Christmas presents to five local fire departments – totalling over $255,000 that will help local Firefighters prevent cancer.
The funds came from the Province’s Fire Protection Grant, which exists to provide Firefighters with the necessary protection that they need to protect themselves against the various things that are released during modern-day fires, due to synthetics used in the average establishment, MPP Leardi said.
The Fire Protection Grant reflects the province’s continued commitment to ensuring Firefighters have access to the tools, equipment, and infrastructure they need to stay safe while protecting their communities.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General has doubled this fund over the last year, increasing the program from to $20M in its second year. This helps municipal fire services invest in cancer prevention initiatives, equipment to address lithium-ion battery fires, and infrastructure upgrades and modernization, information from Leardi’s office notes.
The Town of Essex received $48,444.50 through Ontario’s Fire Protection Grant that will assist Essex Fire & Rescue Services.
“This is going to be great, it is there to protect your Firefighters,” MPP Leardi said to Essex Fire Chief Jason Pillon, who was thrilled to receive the funding on behalf of his crew.
“Cancer prevention is very important in the fire service,” Chief Pillon said, noting houses used to be built primarily of wood features. Today, many synthetics are used, such as rubber and plastic, which means there are more toxins and they burn hotter.
That, in turn, poses more risk to Firefighters.
Chief Pillon stressed the importance of cleaning gear, so those carcinogens and toxins are not further affecting the Firefighters and to ensure they are not taking them home to their families.
Essex Fire will use its grant funding to purchase a Roto-Decon SCBA washing machine, which helps deep clean and decontaminate Firefighter breathing apparatuses worn on the back. In addition, they will also be able to use the machine to wash their boots, helmets, and gloves. That will help complement its gear extractor, which washes coats and pants.
“Now, we can wash everything,” he said. Essex Fire will also be able to add a CrewProtect filtration system to all of its engines, which will help filter out airborne carcinogens and toxins released off Firefighters’ gear.
Firefighters decontaminate and clean before they get back into the cabs and head back to the station, he explained. This is another added feature to help further protect them.
“It’s all about the health and safety of our Firefighters…and their families,” Chief Pillon added about the grant. “Cancer prevention is very important to us. We want to make sure our Firefighters are protected and their families are protected.”
Firefighter SCBAs are in very toxic environments all the time, he said. “This will give us the opportunity to make sure that equipment is clean and our people aren’t putting contaminated PPE back on.”
In the years Chief Pillon has been involved in Firefighting, he said cancer prevention and awareness amongst firefighters has increased.
“Back in the day, a dirty helmet and dirty gear was kind of like a badge of honour on what you did. You were in the fire, you got dirty, you were in the thick of things. Now, our Firefighters can’t keep their gear clean enough. As soon as they get back, they want it washed.
“I can’t speak enough to our Firefighters. They see it, too. If their gear gets any kind of contaminants on it, we clean it,” Chief Pillon said. “We are fortunate we replace gear on an eight-year cycle, which allows us to have enough spare gear, so we don’t have a decrease in service-level.”
In addition to the funding provided to Essex, Amherstburg receiving $52,821.07, Kingsville received $36,224.56, Lakeshore received $82,000, and LaSalle received $36,223.56 from the Ontario government to purchase equipment that will help protect firefighters while they are on the job.
The funding was awarded before the start of Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, which is recognized across Canada in January.
