Hamilton Fire Department
# Hamilton Fire Department

The Hamilton Fire Department provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency medical assistance to the city of Hamilton, Ontario.

## History

The fire department in Hamilton dates back to 1879, when Alexander Aitchison was appointed Fire Chief of the city. Aitchison was responsible for radically reforming the department, and during his tenure, the department was changed into an entirely paid one, as well as introducing the first swinging harness and sliding pole in Canada.

Starting in 1990, Hamilton area firefighters have been instructed on how to operate heart defibrillators, as it often takes less time for firefighters to reach victims compared to ambulance paramedics. A study found that the policy change decreased the amount of time between a 911 call and when the patient received defibrillation by almost 30 percent.

In 1997, the department faced one of its worst crises: the Plastimet fire. The fire was located at a plastics-recycling facility, and began a warehouse containing bales of polyvinyl chloride plastics. Firefighters battled the conflagration for four days, and the plume of toxins and smoke released by the burning plastics may have caused the deaths of several Hamilton firefighters in the years after the fire. The Plastimet fire remains the largest plastics fire in Canadian history, and one of Canada's worst environmental disasters.

In 2001, Hamilton amalgamated with the other municipalities of Hamilton-Wentworth Region to create an expanded City of Hamilton. As a result, the Hamilton Fire Department, which served the original city, was merged with the fire departments of Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook and Stoney Creek. The department went from 12 stations to 26, and became a composite department with both full-time and paid-on-call firefighters.

In 2010, the department changed to a 24-shift schedule. Previously, firefighters had worked 10-hour day shifts and 14-hour night shifts.

In 2011, the department hired Rob Simonds as its new chief, replacing the retiring Jim Kay.

In 2012, a firefighter was terminated after using racial slurs during an argument with a coworker. In 2015, an arbitrator determined that the firefighter had been terminated without just cause. The firefighter was reinstated, and received a 10-day suspension in accordance with the arbitrator's findings. The other firefighter involved in the altercation received a 5-day suspension for his role in the incident. The incident led to calls for greater diversity in the department.

In 2016, David Cunliffe was appointed Fire Chief, succeeding Robert Simonds.

In 2019, a Hamilton firefighter suffered serious injuries after falling off the edge of the Niagara Escarpment while trying to rescue a group of lost hikers.

## Fire stations and apparatus

| Station | Address | Build year(s) | Apparatus |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 (Central Station) | 35 John St. N | 1913/1976/2006 | Engine 1, Ladder 1, Pumper 1, Platoon Chief 1, Supply 1 |
| 2 | 1400 Upper Wellington St. | 1991 | Engine 2, District Chief 3, |
| 3 | 965 Garth St. | 1978/2000 | Engine 3 |
| 4 | 729 Upper Sherman Ave. | 1994 | Ladder 4, Engine 4, Support 4, HazMat 2 |
| 5 & 22 (Training) | 1227 Stone Church Rd. E | 2011 | Engine 5, Car 73, Pump 90, Ladder 90, Training 1, Training 2, Training 3, Training 4, Training 5, Supply 2, RIT trailer, Spare Pump 41 |
| 6 | 246 Wentworth St. N | 1982 | Pump 6, Car 74, Air 6, Parade 1926 Bickle-Ahrens-Fox, Spare Pump 47, Box 43, Box 43A |
| 7 | 225 Quigley Rd. | 1985 | Engine 7 |
| 8 | 400 Melvin Ave. | 1957/2000 | Engine 8, District Chief 2 |
| 9 | 125 Kenilworth Ave. N | 2002 | Pump 9, Ladder 9 |
| 10 | 1455 Main St. W | 1953/2000 | Ladder 10 |
| 11 | 24 Ray St. S | 1959/2013 | Engine 11 |
| 12 | 199 Hamilton Regional Rd. 8 | 1989 | Engine 12, Ladder 12 |
| 13 (Mechanical Division) | 177 Bay St. N | | Maintenance 1, Maintenance 2, Maintenance 3 |
| 14 | 595 Chapel Hill Rd. | | Tanker 14 |
| 15 | 415 Arvin Ave. | 1995 | Pump 15 |
| 16 | 939 Barton St. | 1995 | Pump 16, Tanker 16, Squad 16 |
| 17 | 363 Isaac Brock Dr. | 1985 | Engine 17, Tanker 17, Pump 17 |
| 18 | 2636 Hamilton Regional Rd. 56 | 2001 | Pump 18, Ladder 18, Tanker 18, Rescue 18 |
| 19 | 3302 Homestead Dr. | 1991 | Pump 19, Tower 19, Tanker 19, Rescue 19 |
| 20 | 661 Garner Rd. E., Ancaster | 2009 | Ladder 20 |
| 21 | 365 Wilson St. W., Ancaster | 1990 | Engine 21, Pump 21, Tanker 21, Rescue 21 |
| 23 | 19 Memorial Square, Dundas | 1972 | Engine 23, Support 23, Parade, Spare Pump 42, Spare Pump 45 |
| 24 | 256 Parkside Dr., Waterdown | 1992 | Engine 24, Ladder 24, Tanker 24, Support 24 |
| 25 | 361 Old Brock Rd., Greensville | 1967/2000 | Pump 25, Tanker 25, Rescue 25, Brush 25 |
| 26 | 119 Lynden Rd., Lynden | 1976/1995 | Pump 26, Tanker 26, Support 26 |
| 27 | 795 Old Highway 8, Rockton | 1967/1993 | Pump 27, Tanker 27, Squad 27 |
| 28 | 1801 Brock Rd., Freelton | 1962/1994 | Pump 28, Tanker 28, Rescue 28 |
| 29 (Fire Prevention) | 55 King William St. | | |
| 30 (Stores) | 489 Victoria Ave. N | | |

## Response Guidelines and Special Units

### Urban Responses

| Call Type | Alarm Level | Initial Assignment |
| - | - | - |
| Report of Structure Fire | Fire | 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) or 2 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |
| Multiple Alarm (Upgrade) | Fire | 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 District Chief, Box 43 Rehab Unit |
| Fire Alarm | Fire | 2 Units (Engine, Ladder or Rescue) |
| Smoke Appliance Fire Unknown Fire Fire Out Chimney Fire | Fire | 1 Engine and 1 Ladder |
| Vehicle Fire Rubbish Fire Grass Fire Smoke Detector Residential Alarm Burn Complaint | Fire | 1 Engine or 1 Ladder |
| Medical EMS/Police Assist Carbon Monoxide Odours - Fire Related Gas Spill - Minor Propane Leak - Minor Hydro Problem Electrical Problem Furnace Problem Flooding | Assistance | 1 Engine or 1 Ladder or 1 Rescue |
| Vehicle Accident | Rescue | 1 Engine or 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue |
| Vehicle Accident - Entrapment Vehicle Accident - Highway | Rescue | 2 Engines, 1 Rescue or 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue |
| Stuck Elevator | Rescue | 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue |
| Rail Trail | Rescue | 1 Engine or 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief |
| Pool Rescue Water Rescue | Rescue | 1 Engine, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief or 2 Engines, 1 District Chief |
| Industrial Accident | Rescue | 2 Engines, 1 Rescue |
| Rope Rescue | Rescue | Closest Engine or Ladder, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, 1 Rescue, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |
| Confined Space | Rescue | Closest Engine or Ladder, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, 1 HAZMAT Unit, 1 Rescue, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |
| HAZMAT Odours Propane Leak - Major | HAZMAT | 1 Engine or 1 Ladder or 1 Rescue, 1 HAZMAT Unit |
| Natural Gas | HAZMAT | 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |
| HAZMAT - L1 | HAZMAT | Closest Engine or Ladder, 1 HAZMAT Unit |
| HAZMAT - L2 | HAZMAT | Closest Engine or Ladder, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |
| HAZMAT - L3 | HAZMAT | 2 Closest Engines or Ladders, 2 HAZMAT Engines, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, Safety Officer (Car 73) |

### Rural Responses

| Call Type | Alarm Level | Initial Assignment |
| - | - | - |
| Report of Structure Fire | Fire | 2 Urban Engines or Ladders, 2 Pumpers, 1 Ladder or Tower, 1 Rescue, Squad or Support Unit, 4 Tankers, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73) |
| Fire Alarm Smoke Appliance Fire Unknown Fire Fire Out Chimney Fire | Fire | 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or Tower |
| Vehicle Fire Rubbish Fire Grass Fire Smoke Detector Residential Alarm Burn Complaint | Fire | 1 Pumper and 1 Tanker |
| Medical EMS/Police Assist Carbon Monoxide Odours - Fire Related Gas Spill - Minor Propane Leak - Minor Hydro Problem Electrical Problem Furnace Problem Flooding | Assistance | 1 Pumper or 1 Rescue or 1 Squad or 1 Support Unit |
| Vehicle Accident | Rescue | 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue or 1 Squad or 1 Tower |
| Vehicle Accident - Highway | Rescue | 2 Urban Engines, 1 Rescue, 1 Tanker (Ancaster - 403) or 1 Urban Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad, 1 Tanker (Stoney Creek - QEW) |
| Pool Rescue Water Rescue | Rescue | 1 Urban Engine, 1 Pumper, 1 Rescue, Squad or Support Unit, 1 District Chief |
| Industrial Accident | Rescue | 1 Urban Engine, 1 Urban Rescue, 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or Tower |
| Rope Rescue | Rescue | 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73) |
| Confined Space | Rescue | 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, 1 HAZMAT Unit, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73) |
| HAZMAT Odours Propane Leak - Major | HAZMAT | 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 HAZMAT Unit |
| Natural Gas | HAZMAT | 1 Urban Engine, 1 Urban Rescue, 2 Pumpers, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or Tower, 4 Tankers, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73) |
| Aircraft Emergency (John C Munro Airport) | Rescue/HAZMAT | 1 Pumper, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or Tower, 3 Tankers, 2 HAZMAT Engines, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73) |

### Special Units

| Team | Duties | Units |
| - | - | - |
| Technical Rescue | Rope Rescue Confined Space Rescue | Engine 3, Engine 12, Engine 17, Engine 23 Support 23 |
| HAZMAT | Hazardous Materials and CBRNE Incidents | Engine 8, Engine 11 Rescue 4 HAZMAT 2, HAZMAT Support 4 (Both Cross-Staffed by Ladder 4) |
