Yellowknife (Feb 24/06) - Yellowknife's fire chief says firefighters need to talk to him or his deputy if they feel their fire protection gear is unsafe.

Mick Beauchamp, Yellowknife's fire chief, holds a copy of the National Fire Protection Association standards - one of several volumes that line his office bookshelf. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Mick Beauchamp spoke to Yellowknifer for the first time since a hot exchange of letters between himself and union local president, Craig Halifax, surfaced last week.

Beauchamp said although the NWT fire marshal has the authority to recommend changes to fire protection gear to the minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the ultimate responsibility for the fire department's gear rests with him.

Nonetheless, Beauchamp said it's up to individual firefighters to report to his deputy if there is a problem with their gear.

"Nobody has been coming up and talking to us," said Beauchamp.

"They seem to be talking more in the way of letters or through the media now. I think every firefighter has an obligation to report safety issues within his division.

"If someone has a safety concern and they don't report it upwards to the people responsible for it, then they're doing a real disservice to the fire department."

Beauchamp said he was disappointed by Halifax's letter, but he and his deputy chiefs are "big people" who will deal with any outstanding issues firefighters might have.

"We're not mind readers, and we can't operate that way," said Beauchamp.

In a Feb. 3 letter, Halifax, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters local 2890, complained to Beauchamp of an "extreme safety issue" regarding their fire protection gear. He also forwarded the letter to NWT fire marshal Bernie Van Tighem, the Workers' Compensation Board and the city.

Beauchamp fired back with a letter of his own the same day, accusing Halifax and the union of trying to trigger a safety investigation of his department by taking their concerns outside the division.

He also threatened to take legal action for making their complaints public - a violation of the firefighters' collective agreement, he wrote.

The fire chief said he doesn't plan to actually sue the union, but may seek a ruling from an arbitrator or a labour board.

"These types of actions are the last thing you want to take," said Beauchamp.

"(But) they need to know that there are other recourses available to management."

On Wednesday, Yellowknifer was taken on a tour of the fire hall, including the lockers containing firefighter gear.

Some of their protective jackets and pants are more than five years old, but Beauchamp said the only damage on them are minor rips and tears.

"A large number were starting to get a little frilly at the legs. Some were being patched once too often," said Beauchamp.

Beauchamp said all their gear - other than station uniforms - meet standards set out by the National Fire Protection Association, which are updated about every five years. NWT regulations state that fire equipment is still legal as long as it meets the standard at the time of purchase.

The choice to go to a cotton variety, non-NFPA-approved station uniform was reached by consensus among firefighters, who complained that the synthetic, NOMEX brand of uniforms they wore previously were too hot and uncomfortable, said deputy chief Darcy Hernblad.

NOMEX and KEVLAR are materials most often used to make fire protection gear.

The fire chief said his choice of words in describing the Yellowknife Fire Department's fire protection gear in the city's 2006 budget was simply there to convince city council that it should approve the item. He wrote that firefighters' gear were in a "state of poor repair."

The budget item calls for the replacement of 20 sets of protective jackets and pants at a cost of $30,000. Another $40,000 has also been approved so the fire department can upgrade 10 breathing apparatus units.

Beauchamp said the fire department must compete for dollars like any other city department.

"When we said it was in state of poor repair or doesn't meet NFPA standards, it doesn't mean in any way, shape, or form that this gear was presenting a threat to firefighters," said Beauchamp.

"It's just language we use to convince other people that it's time to give us this money so we can get a heads up on everything before it becomes a threat."

Last week, City Hall issued a request-for-proposals, inviting suppliers to submit tenders to replace protective jackets and pants.

Halifax could not be reached for comment.