Toronto Fire Services

Toronto Fire Services (TFS)

"Courage, Compassion, Service"
Operational area
Country	Canada
Agency overview
Established	1874 (as Toronto Fire Department), 1998 (as Toronto Fire Services)
Annual calls	111,758 (2014)
Employees	3,100
Staffing	Career
Fire chief	Matt Pegg (Interim)
EMS level	BLS First Responder
Facilities and equipment
Stations	82
Engines	83 (55 pumpers/28 rescue-pumpers)
Quints	30
Tenders	1
HAZMAT	2
USAR	1
Fireboats	2

The Toronto Fire Services (TFS) provides fire protection and first responder or emergency medical responder assistance to the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Toronto Fire Services is currently the largest municipal fire department in Canada.

Overview

The Toronto Fire Services was created in 1998 from the merger of the former fire departments of the original City of Toronto, East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and York. It is the largest fire department in Canada (ahead of Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa) and the 5th largest municipal fire department in North America behind New York City, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.

History

Fire services in Toronto began in 1874 in the former City of Toronto, and still consisted of volunteer fire companies. Prior to 1874, fire services were composed of poorly trained volunteer companies in the city. The first company was created in 1826 and hook and ladder in 1831. Most were able bodied men who were trained to operate pumps to draw water from the lake.

The city's poor fire fighting services were highlighted by the Great Toronto Fire in 1849 and again in 1904. After the latter fire, which destroyed much of Bay Street from The Esplanade West to Melinda Street, the Fire Department in Toronto became a critical city service and has evolved into the professional service that exists today.

Early fire companies

• 1st Engine 1826 at Church Street and Newgate Street (Adelaide Street East), renumbered as Station 5 in 1861 and closed in 1874
• Independent Fire Company Engine House No. 2
• York Fire Company 1826 at Fireman's Hall (Church Street and Newgate Street)
• Hook and Ladder Fire Company 1831
• Fireman's Hall 1839 at Bay Street 1839; closed 1841
• Station No. 1 1841; closed 1924
• 4th Engine House at St. Patrick Market on Queen Street West 1842, closed 1861
• Hose Company No. 2 at Berkeley Street 1849; closed 1859
• 7th Engine Company at Elizabeth Street 1857; closed 1859
• Station No 2 at 163 Portland 1871; closed 1968
• Station No 3 at 488 Yonge Street 1871; closed 1926
• Station No 5 at Court Street 1874; closed 1886
• Station No 6 at 315 Queen Street West 1874; closed 1942

Township Fire Departments

• Scarborough Fire Department 1925 - replaced 5 volunteer bucket brigades 1850's^[1]
• North York Fire Department 1923 - merged 7 separate volunteer brigades^[2]
• New Toronto Fire Department 1930 - merged with Etobicoke FD 1967^[3]

Organization

The Fire Chief (C1), under whom serve five deputy Chiefs (C2, C3, C4, C5, C50), and four division commanders (C6, C7, C8, C9) - all based at 4330 Dufferin Street, the central headquarters for both Toronto Fire and Toronto Paramedic Services (former headquarters for TEMS and Metro Toronto Ambulance). Former Chief Bill Stewart's retirement was announced on February 13, 2012 and took effect on April 30, 2012. Sales is a former Markham Fire Chief who also worked as a political bureaucrat in Town of Markham and as General Manager with the City of Barrie prior to his appointment.^[4]

The Chief's position is being held by Deputy Chief Matthew Pegg as Interim Chief following the departure of Jim Sales.^[5]

Previous Chiefs

With the exception of Sales, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Fire Department Chiefs have been promoted within the department's ranks.

• Jim W. Sales 2012-2016
• William A. Stewart 2003–2012
• Alan F. Speed 1997–2003
• Peter L Ferguson 1995-1998
• Walter Shanahan 1988–1995, Toronto Fire Department
• Bernard (Ben) Bonser 1977–1988

Rank Structure

RANK	Chief of Department	Deputy Fire Chief	Division Commander	Platoon Chief	District Chief	Captain	First Class Firefighter	Second Class Firefighter	Probationary Firefighter
INSIGNIA							No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia
HELMET COLOUR				White	White	Red	Black	Black	Black
DESCRIPTION			Command officer responsible for all four shifts within one of the geographic divisions (North, East, South, or West) of the city	Command officer responsible for all fire stations within all four districts of a command for one shift (North, East, South, or West)	Command officer responsible for all fire stations within a district (ex. 11 District, or 42 District).	Company Officer in charge of one fire truck and crew.
NOTES	"Chief" marked on the back of his or her bunker jacket.	"Deputy Chief" marked on the back of his or her bunker jacket	'Division Commander' marked on the back of his or her bunker jacket.	"Platoon Chief" marked on the back of his or her bunker jacket	"District Chief" marked on the back of his or her bunker jacket.

Operations

Fire Apparatus

Toronto Fire Department began using motorized vehicles after 1910. Before that, the TFD and previous fire companies used horse drawn engines and ladders. Prior to the 1970s, the TFD had open air vehicles (driver cab not covered and mostly aerial trucks), but since then both the TFD and TFS use full covered vehicles. Prior to the 1950s, TFD used tiller-ladder trucks and since have reverted to smaller aerial units that can operate in narrow streets in Toronto.

The TFS inherited all the vehicles of the fire departments prior to amalgamation. The current strength of TFS consists of 179 vehicles. Since amalgamation, apparatus numbers are numbered by a letter and 3 digits. The first digit stands for the command that the apparatus is in (1-North, 2-East, 3-South, 4-West). The second digit stands for the district within the command that the apparatus is in. The last digit stands for the station within the district within the command that the apparatus is assigned to.

A list of types of vehicles used by the TFS : (prefix letter in brackets with x's as placeholders)

• Aerial (Axxx) - most common ladders found in the city; lengths range from 75 to 105 feet (22.86 to 32 metres)
• Tower (Txxx) - 2 articulated boom ladders, with 1 found in South and 1 in North Command; length 114 feet (34.75 metres); T331 is now a spare
• Platform (PLxxx) - 1 ladder with attached platform, found in West Command; length 100 feet (30.48 metres)
• Pumper (Pxxx)
• Rescue (Rescue Pumper) (Rxxx) - a pumper with the addition of extrication equipment (Jaws of Life) and other tools
• Fireboat (FBxxx) - 2 units, both stationed in Toronto Harbour
• Hazardous Materials Unit (HZxxx) - 1 in both North and South Commands
• Hazmat Support Unit (HSxxx) - Unmanned equipment vehicle
• Decontamination Unit (DExxx)
• Squad (Sxxx) - heavy/technical rescue units, with 2 located in South Command and 1 in each of West, North, and East Commands
• High Rise Unit (HRxxx) - 1 only, in South Command
• Water Tanker (WTxxx) - 1 only, in East Command
• Rapid Attack Vehicle - (Van335)
• All-Terrain Vehicle (ATVx) - used at special events, such as the Canadian National Exhibition
• Trench Rescue Support Truck (TRSxxx) - 1 only, in East Command
• Air/Light Unit (LAxxx) - 1 in each Command (A/L 114, A/L 231, A/L 333, A/L 421)
• District Chief (Cxx)
• Platoon Chief (Cx0) - 1 in each Command (C10, C20, C30, C40)
• Division Commander (Cx)
• Deputy Chief / Fire Chief (Cx)
• Command Truck (CMDxx) - 3 throughout the city
• Mechanical Response Unit (MRUxxx)
• Training Aerial (TRAx) - used by Professional Development and Training
• Training Pumper (TRPx) - used by Professional Development and Training
• Spare vehicles (X5xxx) - non-permanent additional vehicles added to station

Fire Boats

The Toronto Fire Department and successor Toronto Fire Services has operated fire boats since 1923.

• Fireboat "Charles A. Reed" - a wood hull boat entered service in 1923 and remained in use until 1964^[6]
• Fireboat "William Lyon Mackenzie" - entered service in 1964 replacing Charles A. Reed; main fire boat and icebreaker
• Fireboat "Sora" - light utility boat built in 1982 for the Canadian Coast Guard and acquired by TFS in 2006; back up to WL Mackenzie, but lacks icebreaking features. The Sora was retired from TFS on October 31, 2015.
• Fireboat "William Thornton" - Mid-shore patrol built in 1982 for CCG and acquired by TFS in 2015; has replaced the Sora

Miscellaneous Units

While not part of the fleet, Box 12 (Box 12 Association) and Support 7 (Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association) are canteen trucks run by volunteers and are present at large emergencies to provide food and beverages for Toronto firefighters. Formed in 1975, the GTMAA vehicles are painted with TFS scheme, but not the logo (using the GTMAA patch instead).

In addition, there are various Hazardous Materials Support trucks and a Trench Rescue Support truck that respond to specialized calls. These trucks are unmanned, and are only used by trained personnel when a specialized call is dispatched. TFS also has a fleet of various mechanical support trucks. Smaller compact cars bearing the TFS colours and logo are driven by fire prevention officers and other commanding officers.

Toronto Fire will also acquire use of the Long Range Acoustic Device. It was one of three purchased by the Toronto Police Service for use during the G20 summit in 2010 (1 for Marine Unit, 2 for Public Safety Unit).^[7]

Prior to amalgamation, the Scarborough Fire Department had their fleet painted yellow. In the years following amalgamation the markings on the fire trucks were a patchwork of the various schemes used by the former boroughs. All had "Toronto" decaled or painted where the former borough's name used to be and the new Toronto Fire crest was added with the new numbering scheme. Over the past 12 years - post amalgamation - the majority of the older vehicles have either been retired or repainted to match the new scheme: fire engine red with yellow reflective trim and markings.

Fire Stations/Apparatus

The Toronto Fire Services (TFS) currently operates out of 83 Fire Stations (including one open seasonally) throughout the city, organized into 16 Districts. Each District is part of one of four geographical divisions of Command. Each geographical division is divided into four Districts.^[8][9]

North Command

The North Command's Office (Command 1) is located at Fire Station # 116, 1 Ester Shiner Blvd

District 11

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
111	3200 Bayview Ave.	P111, C11
112	5700 Bathurst St.	R112
113	700 Seneca Hill Dr.	P113, A113
114	12 Canterbury Pl.	P114, T114, LA114, CMD10, PC10
115	115 Parkway Forest Dr.	R115
116	1 Esther Shiner Blvd.	P116
121	10 William Carson Crst.	P121
122	2545 Bayview Ave.	R122

District 13

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
123	143 Bond Ave.	P123
125	1109 Leslie St.	P125
131	3135 Yonge St.	P131, A131
132	476 Lawrence Ave. W.	P132, C13
133	1505 Lawrence Ave. W.	R133, A133
134	16 Montgomery Ave.	R134
135	641 Eglinton Ave. W.	P135

District 14

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
141	4100 Keeley St.	P141
142	2753 Jane St.	P142, A142, C14
143	1109 Sheppard Ave. W.	P143, S143
145	20 Beffort Rd.	P145, HAZ145, HS145
146	2220 Jane St.	P146

East Command

The East Command's Office (Command 2) is located at Station 221.

District 21

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
211	900 Tapscott Rd.	P211, TK211
212	8500 Sheppard Ave. E.	P212, C21
213	7 Lapsley Rd.	A213
214	745 Meadowvale Rd.	R214
215	5318 Lawrence Ave.	A215

District 22

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
221	2575 Eglinton Ave.	P221
222	755 Warden Ave.	P222, A222
223	116 Dorset Rd.	P223, SUP7
224	1313 Woodbine Ave.	R224
225	3600 Danforth Ave.	R225, C22
226	87 Main St.	P226, A226
227	1904 Queen St. E.	P227

District 23

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
231	740 Markham Rd.	R231, A231, LA231, C23, PC20
232	1550 Midland Rd.	P232, S232
233	59 Curlew Dr.	P233
234	40 Coronation Dr.	P234, DE234
235	200 Bermondsey Rd.	R235, TRS235

District 24

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
241	3325 Warden Ave.	R241
242	2733 Brimley Rd.	P242, C24
243	4560 Sheppard Ave.	R243
244	2340 Birchmount Rd.	P244, A244
245	1600 Birchmount Rd.	P245

South Command

The South Command's Office (Command 3) is located at Fire Station # 332, 260 Adelaide St. W.

District 31

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
311	20 Balmoral Ave.	P311
312	34 Yorkville Ave.	P312, A312, C31
313	441 Bloor St. E.	P313, S313
314	12 Grosvenor St.	P314
315	132 Bellevue Ave.	P315, A315

District 32

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
321	231 McRae Dr.	R321, A321
322	256 Cosburn Ave.	P322, A322
323	153 Chatham Ave.	P323, C32
324	840 Gerrard St. E.	P324, A324
325	475 Dundas St. E.	P325, R325, A325
326	30 Knox Ave.	R326

District 33

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
331	33 Claremont St.	P331, A331, S331
332	260 Adelaide St. W.	P332, HR332, HAZ332, HMS332, DC33, PC30, CMD30
333	207 Front St. E.	P333, T333, LA333
334	339 Queens Quay. W.	P334, FB334
335	235 Cibola Ave, Toronto Island	P335, V335

District 34

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
341	555 Oakwood Ave.	R341, A341
342	106 Ascot Ave.	P342
343	65 Hendrick Ave.	P343
344	240 Howland Ave.	P344
345	1285 Dufferin St.	R345, A345, C34, BOX12
346	Canadian National Exhibition	P346 (Seasonal)

West Command

The West Command's Office (Command 4) is located at Fire Station # 442, 2015 Lawrence Ave. W.

District 41

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
411	75 Toryork Dr.	R411, A411
412	267 Humberline Dr.	R412
413	1549 Albion Rd.	R413
415	2120 Kipling Ave.	P415, A415, C41

District 42

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
421	6 Lambton Ave.	R421, A421, LA421
422	590 Jane St.	P422
423	358 Keele St.	R423, A423, C42
425	83 Deforest Rd.	R425
426	140 Lansdowne Ave.	P426, R426, A426

District 43

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
431	308 Prince Edward Dr.	P431
432	155 The East Mall	P432, PL432, C43
433	615 Royal York Rd.	P433, A433
434	3 Lunness Ave.	R434
435	130 Eighth St.	R435

District 44

Station #	Station Address	Apparatus/Callsigns
441	947 Martin Grove Rd.	R441, A441
442	2015 Lawrence Ave. W.	P442
443	1724 Islington Ave.	P443
444	666 Renforth Dr.	R444
445	280 Burnhathorpe Rd.	P445, S445, C44, PC40

Apparatus Glossary

• Pumper (P) - Standard pumper truck
• Rescue (R) - Rescue pumper truck
• Aerial (A) - Standard rear-mount ladder, often a quint
• Tower (T) - Articulating platform ladder quint
• Platform (PL) - Standard rear-mount ladder quint w. attached platform
• Squad (S) - Technical heavy rescue
• High Rise (HR) - High rise incident truck
• Hazmat (HAZ) - Hazardous Incident Team
• Fire Boat (FB)
• Command Vehicle (CMD) - Walk-in command van
• District Chief (C) - District Chief SUV
• Platoon Chief (PC) - Platoon Chief SUV
• Air/Light (LA) - Air/Light support vehicle
• Trench Rescue Support (TRS) - Trench Rescue support vehicle
• Hazmat Support (HMS) - Hazardous Incident Team support vehicle
• Canteen Vehicle (SUP7) - Long-term incident refreshment van
• Canteen Vehicle (BOX12) - Long-term incident refreshment van
• Decontamination (DE)

Communications

Response Guidelines

Structure/Building Fires

Alarm Type	Alarm Level	Units Assigned
Structure Fire	1st Alarm Assignment	1 Squad/Rescue, 3 Pumpers/Rescues, 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 District Chief, High Rise Unit(if in High Rise Building in South Command)
Working Fire	1st Alarm Assignment, *Upgrade*	1 Rescue (R.I.T.), 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 Squad/Rescue, 1 Platoon Chief, 1 Air & Light Unit
2nd Alarm Fire	2nd Alarm Assignment, *Upgrade*	1 Rescue (R.I.T) 3 Pumpers/Rescues, 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 Squad, 1 District Chief, 1 Platoon Chief, 1 Haz-Mat. Unit, 1 Air & Light Unit, 1 Command Unit
3rd Alarm Fire	3rd Alarm Assignment, *Upgrade*	3 Pumpers/Rescues, 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 District Chief, 1 Tower, 1 Tower Support
4th Alarm Fire	4th Alarm Assignment, *Upgrade*	3 Pumpers/Rescues, 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 District Chief, 1 Air & Lighting Unit, 1 Platoon Chief (Comms)
5th Alarm Fire	5th Alarm Assignment, *Upgrade*	3 Pumpers/Rescues, 1 Aerial/Tower, 1 District Chief

Gear

• Starfield Lion Flame Fighter - current bunker gear
• Traditional Composite Firefighting Helmet

Budget Cuts, Vehicle Reduction, Station Closure

As part of the City's 2013 Budget plans, the City of Toronto demanded a 10% cut by all city departments. TFS has recommended vehicle reduction at several stations (Stations 213, 215, 324 and 413) and one station to close (Station 424) to meet the 10% reduction target.^[10] As well the cuts will lead to fewer firefighters on staff.^[10]

In 2014, 4 pumpers (P213, P215, P413, P424) were taken out of service and Station 424 was shut down.

See also

• List of historic Toronto fire stations
• Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal
• Woodbine Building Supply arson

Other members of the Toronto's Emergency Services structure consists of:

• Toronto Paramedic Services
• Toronto Police Service
• Heavy Urban Search and Rescue

Other agencies with historic ties to the TFD and TFS:

• Buffalo Fire Department, New York

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toronto Fire Services.

• City of Toronto: Fire Services
• Toronto Fire Services Active Incidents (LiveCAD)