Yellowknife (Mar 01/06) - City Hall is scrambling to figure out what to do now that the Workers' Compensation Board has issued a dozen orders to upgrade safety procedures following the deaths of two firefighters last year.

Cyril Fyfe, 41, and Kevin Olson, 24, died while fighting a blaze at the Home Building Centre on March 17, 2005. On Tuesday, the WCB issued 12 orders, giving the city between two weeks and five months to meet them.

There may be possible prosecutions coming out of the review as well as the issues ordered to the city, which has a right to appeal. - Communications officer Tanya Fraser

The WCB is also warning of possible prosecution, although it won't say who is being targeted.

Dave Devana, acting city administrator, said the city will act on some orders, but wants an explanation of others. The city has 30 days to appeal.

"What they don't tell us is why we have the order, because we don't have the detailed report," said Devana.

"Why did they come to this conclusion?"

The orders include creating a full-time safety officer position to act as a liaison between the fire chief and the city's occupational health and safety committee.

Others call for an external audit of the fire department's operational procedures; re-certification of fire hall management; and regular site and building inspections by the fire department to identify hazards they encounter while on duty.

The orders will obviously cost the city some money, but Devana isn't sure how much just yet.

Craig Halifax, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters local 2890, said he hoped the orders would help improve morale at the department.

"The past year has been an extremely trying time for everyone," said Halifax.

Fire Chief Mick Beauchamp declined to speak specifically about the WCB orders.

"We really haven't had time to sit down and do any action plan or anything like that," said Beauchamp.

"Once we start getting that, I'm sure through city administration, more information will be coming."

A full report is expected to be completed before the one-year anniversary of the men's deaths.

The WCB report isn't the only one the public and the city is waiting for. NWT fire marshal Bernie Van Tighem said he will release his report once the WCB report is issued.

The WCB has a year to complete its report, but a spokesperson for the board said it might not be made public.

Communications officer Tanya Fraser said the report is being reviewed by an independent legal counsel, who is assessing whether prosecution is possible under the NWT Safety Act.

"There may be possible prosecutions coming out of the review as well as the issues ordered to the city, which has a right to appeal."

Safety orders

1. Implement a fire department health and safety program by June 29, 2006.
2. Create a full-time safety officer position within the department by May 31, 2006.
3. An independent audit of the department's operational procedures and standard operating guidelines and do similar audits every three years by July 28, 2006.
4. An independent evaluation to identify possible gaps in training practises and curriculum used to train career and volunteer firefighters by June 29, 2006.
5. Supervisory and management personnel must recertify to meet National Fire Protection Association standards by June 29, 2006.
6. Evaluate the current accountability system to ensure personnel take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety on the job and ensure personnel are trained on whatever system is adopted by April 28, 2006.
7. Log personnel attending a fire, what their position is and equipment they used and how they arrived on the scene, as well as who was in charge of a specific vehicle or apparatus by March 17, 2006.
8. An emergency recall system that includes a system of transmitting the information to the dispatch centre. As well, ambulances will be dispatched to the recall scene unless engaged in other urgent medical activities by March 15, 2006.
9. With Municipal Enforcement Division, review emergency scene management procedures and standard operating guidelines by March 15, 2006.
10. Regular reviews of firefighter fatality investigation and prevention program reports from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. Any suggestions to improve operating procedures or guidelines to be forwarded to senior administration by June 29, 2006.
11. Fire department personnel to inspect sites and buildings around the city on a regular basis to identify hazards they may encounter by June 29, 2006.
12. Incident debriefings must take place in a timely manner and minutes regarding deficiencies found and corrective measures to be implemented noted. Recommendations out of the meetings shall be posted and forwarded to senior management by May 31, 2006.