NATIONAL MOURNING FOR FALLEN FIRE CHIEF

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Friday, October 24, 2008 –Fire Chief Garry Morden of Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services is being mourned by the Fire Services across Canada and internationally.  He passed away in Mississauga on October 22nd, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  Fire Chief began his Fire Services career as a firefighter in 1977.            

“On behalf of the Canadian Fire Services, I extend our sincerest and deepest condolences to the family of Fire Chief Morden,” stated Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell, President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC).

“As firefighters and fire chiefs, we share the grief being experienced by all Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services personnel and by the citizens of Mississauga,” Fire Chief Burrell said.  “What binds the men and women of the Fire Services together is the realization that what affects one of us has an impact on all of us.”    

Fire Chief Morden’s impact extended far beyond Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services.  As a long-serving member of the CAFC Executive Committee, he was known and respected by Chief Fire Officers throughout Canada.

“The high level of firefighter training, combined with sophisticated technology are regrettably not guarantees that fatalities and injuries can be avoided,” said Fire Chief Burrell.  “Every firefighter and officer knows that he or she is in one of Canada’s truly dangerous professions.  That knowledge joins all of us in mourning Fire Chief Morden.”

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For more information contact

Fire Chief Bruce Burrell                                 Telephone                    403-287-4255
Calgary Fire Department                                Cell Phone                   403-813-4064

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