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, Air 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 Ladder 5, Car 73, Command Unit, Car 1, Car 2, Car 3, Car 10, Pump 47, Pump 90, Ladder 90, Training 1, Training 2, Training 3, Training 4, Training 5, Supply 2, RIT trailer, Support 41 6 246 Wentworth St. N 1982 Pump 6, Car 74, Air 6, Parade 1926 Bickle-Ahrens-Fox, 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, Support 12 (Cross-staffed by L12) 13 (Mechanical Division) 177 Bay St. N Maintenance 1, Maintenance 2, Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit 14 595 Chapel Hill Rd. Tanker 14, Fire Safety House 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, 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, Support 21, Trail 1 23 19 Memorial Square, Dundas 1972 Engine 23, Support 23, Parade 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. Fire Prevention 1, Fire Prevention 2 30 (Stores) 489 Victoria Ave. N

Response Guidelines and Special Units

Urban Responses Call TypeAlarm LevelInitial AssignmentReport of Structure FireFire3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74) or

2 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)Multiple Alarm (Upgrade)Fire1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 District Chief, Box 43 Rehab UnitFire AlarmFire2 Units (Engine, Ladder or Rescue)Smoke Appliance Fire

Unknown Fire

Fire Out

Chimney FireFire1 Engine and 1 LadderVehicle Fire Rubbish Fire

Grass Fire

Smoke Detector

Residential Alarm

Burn ComplaintFire 1 Engine or 1 LadderMedical EMS/Police Assist

Carbon Monoxide

Odours - Fire Related

Gas Spill - Minor

Propane Leak - Minor

Hydro Problem

Electrical Problem

Furnace Problem

Flooding Assistance1 Engine or 1 Ladder or 1 RescueVehicle AccidentRescue1 Engine or 1 Ladder, 1 RescueVehicle Accident - Entrapment Vehicle Accident - HighwayRescue2 Engines, 1 Rescue or

1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 RescueStuck ElevatorRescue1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 RescueRail TrailRescue1 Engine or 1 Rescue, 1 District ChiefPool Rescue Water RescueRescue1 Engine, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief or

2 Engines, 1 District ChiefIndustrial AccidentRescue2 Engines, 1 RescueRope RescueRescueClosest Engine or Ladder, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, 1 Rescue, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)Confined SpaceRescueClosest Engine or Ladder, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, 1 HAZMAT Unit, 1 Rescue, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)HAZMAT Odours Propane Leak - MajorHAZMAT1 Engine or 1 Ladder or 1 Rescue, 1 HAZMAT UnitNatural GasHAZMAT2 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)HAZMAT - L1HAZMATClosest Engine or Ladder, 1 HAZMAT UnitHAZMAT - L2HAZMATClosest Engine or Ladder, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)HAZMAT - L3HAZMAT2 Closest Engines or Ladders, 2 HAZMAT Engines, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)

Rural Responses Call TypeAlarm LevelInitial AssignmentReport of Structure FireFire2 Urban Engines or Ladders, 2 Pumpers, 1 Ladder or Tower, 1 Rescue, Squad or Support Unit, 4 Tankers, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)Fire Alarm Smoke

Appliance Fire

Unknown Fire

Fire Out

Chimney FireFire1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or LadderVehicle Fire Rubbish Fire

Grass Fire

Smoke Detector

Residential Alarm

Burn ComplaintFire 1 Pumper and 1 TankerMedical EMS/Police Assist

Carbon Monoxide

Odours - Fire Related

Gas Spill - Minor

Propane Leak - Minor

Hydro Problem

Electrical Problem

Furnace Problem

Flooding Assistance1 Pumper or 1 Rescue or 1 Squad or 1 Support UnitVehicle AccidentRescue1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue or 1 Squad or 1 LadderVehicle Accident - HighwayRescue2 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 RescueRescue1 Urban Engine, 1 Pumper, 1 Rescue, Squad or Support Unit, 1 District Chief, Marine Rescue Support 12Industrial AccidentRescue1 Urban Engine, 1 Urban Rescue, 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or TowerRope RescueRescue1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, 3 Technical Rescue Engines, Confined Space Support 23, 1 District Chief, Safety Chief (Car 73)Confined SpaceRescue1 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 - MajorHAZMAT1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 HAZMAT UnitNatural GasHAZMAT1 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/HAZMAT1 Pumper, 1 Rescue, Squad, Support Unit or Tower, 3 Tankers, 2 HAZMAT Engines, HAZMAT 2, Rescue 4, HAZMAT Support 4, 1 District Chief, 2 Safety Officers (Car 73, Car 74)

Special Units TeamDutiesUnitsTechnical RescueRope Rescue Confined Space RescueEngine 3, Engine 12, Engine 17, Engine 23 Support 23 HAZMATHazardous Materials and CBRNE IncidentsEngine 8, Engine 11 Rescue 4

HAZMAT 2, HAZMAT Support 4 (Both Cross-Staffed by Ladder 4)Marine RescueWater Rescue Pool Rescue Vehicle into Water1 Engine, 1 Pumper, 1 District Chief, Support 12 (Cross-Staffed by Ladder 12)

Hamilton Fire Department

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