NATIONAL MOURNING FOR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

OTTAWA, February 6, 2007 – Captain Harold Lessard and Captain Thomas Nichols of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service are being mourned by the Fire Services across Canada and internationally.  They perished while fighting a fire in Winnipeg on Sunday.  Senior Fire Fighter Edward Wiebe has been upgraded from critical condition from injuries sustained in the same incident to guarded condition. 

“On behalf of the Canadian Fire Services, I extend our sincerest and deepest condolences to the families of Captain Lessard and Captain Nichols,” stated Patrick Burke,  President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and Ontario Fire Marshal.

“As firefighters and fire chiefs, we understand the grief being experienced by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and by the citizens of Winnipeg,” Fire Marshal Burke said.  “Senior Fire Fighter Wiebe will be in the thoughts of all of us until we learn that he has recovered from his serious injuries,” CAFC’s President added.

“The high level of firefighter training, combined with sophisticated technology are regretfully not guarantees that fatalities and injuries can be avoided,” said Fire Marshal Burke.  “Every firefighter knows that he or she is in one of Canada’s truly dangerous professions.  That knowledge joins all of us in mourning Captain Lessard and Captain Nichols and in wishing Senior Fire Fighter Wiebe a complete recovery.”

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Information:

Fire Marshal Patrick Burke
Government of Ontario 

Telephone: 416-325-3090

Cell Phone: 416-435-6134

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