FIRE CHIEFS ELECT NEW PRESIDENT

WHITEHORSE, YUKON, September 25, 2008 – Calgary Fire Chief Bruce Burrell has been elected as the new President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) at its annual conference in Whitehorse.

The CAFC, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, is a non-partisan national association representing some 1,000 Chief Fire Officers located in every province and territory of Canada.  It is the only association that speaks for all elements of the Fire Services in Canada.

In accepting the Presidency from outgoing President Patrick Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario. Fire Chief Burrell stated, “My focus continuing to highlight the need for a national voice for the Canadian Fire Service. I will continue to support initiatives and calls to action by all levels of government to support volunteer firefighters and  changes to the building and fire codes.” He added, “I will work with CAFC members to enhance the capability of municipalities to deal with the broad range of risks facing them and their fire departments.”

Fire Chief Burrell began his firefighting career as a volunteer firefighter in New Minas, Nova Scotia and joinedthe Halifax Fire Department in 1984, and became Deputy Chief Director for the department in June 2003. He became Calgary Fire Chief  in August 2005.

The Calgary Fire Department has approximately 1275 members. There are currently 33 fire halls in Calgary, with another being opened in about a  month, serving Calgary’s population of  over one million.

Before his election as President, Chief Burrell was first Vice-President of the CAFC.

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Information:

Don Warden

Executive Director
Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
Cell: 705-444-9745
Blackberry: 705-717-8009

www.cafc.ca

Dawson City Fire Chief Jim Regimbal
President of the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs
Tel: 867-334-6371

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