Who We Are:
The Alberta Fire Fighters Association represents professional Fire Fighters, Paramedics, and Dispatchers in 20 communities across Alberta and the North West Territories. Over seventy-five percent of Alberta's population is served by professional Fire Fighters.
The Alberta Fire Fighters Association (AFFA) is affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Our locals, through the IAFF, are affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
We are Alberta's Professional fire fighters working on the front lines serving our local communities and keeping the public safe.
What We Do:
FIRES
Alberta’s Professional Fire Fighters mitigate all types of fires. From single and multi-family residential structures, to industrial complexes, schools, vehicles, and wildland fires, AFFA members are on the frontlines serving their communities. The number of fire fighters responding to a fire varies from one jurisdiction to the next and depends on the severity of the incident. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that 15 - 17 personnel respond to a single-family house fire, due to the many tasks and responsibilities which need to be taken care on an active fire scene.
AUTO EXTRICATION AND EQUIPMENT RESCUE
At times, firefighters are required to stabilize vehicle accident scenes and to plan an efficient and expedient rescue. When a few wasted seconds can cost lives, sometimes the Jaws of Life are utilized to remove victims from the crashed vehicle. These hydraulic tools are specially designed to remove patients from vehicles. Often the firefighter must ensure that the vehicle is stable so it does not shift during the rescue, which could endanger both those that are injured and the emergency personnel on scene. They help the injured by providing medical assistance – supporting their head and neck, and stabilizing any broken bones, dressing open wounds, etc. – before other medical assistance arrives.
MEDICAL RESPONSE
From a child choking, to a person suffering a heart attack or a fall, firefighters in all jurisdictions provide life-saving medical care when someone is injured or experiencing a medical problem. Eight departments are fully EMS integrated and are the provider of Advanced Care Paramedic services for their communities.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE
The number of unknowns often poses a larger threat than the spill, leak, fire or break. HazMat teams are trained to handle material spills, leaks and fires. They include: natural and chlorine gas leaks, gasoline spills, fuel tanker, rail car, boat and industrial accidents, in addition to chemical spills and radiation leakage.
Hazmat incidents are potentially one of the most dangerous and unpredictable types of calls firefighters can respond to and every call is a potential HazMat call. Each year thousands of firefighters are exposed to chemical and biological hazards in the performances of their duties.
TECHNICAL RESCUE
Technical Rescue can be broken down into many different, but related, disciplines. Rope rescues, including high angle rescue and confined space rescues both use ropes to other hardware to rig rescue systems to access and remove patients.
AQUATIC RESCUE
Aquatic Rescue can be broken down into many different, but related, disciplines. Open water, swift water, surface ice, and diving operations are the different types of aquatic rescue services that firefighters provide to their communities across Alberta.
DISPATCH SERVICES
IAFF Dispatchers provide professional call-taking and dispatching for 286 communities across Alberta. Operating from 5 Dispatch Centres (Red Deer, Lethbridge, Strathcona County, Grande Prairie, and Fort McMurray). Most are based in professional IAFF Fire Halls, benefitting from fire specific training opportunities and education.
FIRE PREVENTION
The Fire Prevention Bureaus across the province have certified Alberta Safety Codes Officers in accordance with the Alberta Safety Codes Council.
• Fire Inspection Services Our members conduct routine inspections of commercial businesses, public buildings and multi-family residential occupancies. The inspections limit the risk to life and property loss by identifying conditions, which could contribute to the start and spread of smoke and fire.
• Fire Investigations Fire investigators investigate every fire or explosion that results in property damage, injury, death, and arson to determine the origin, cause, and circumstances of the fire/explosion. Incident commanders will initiate the investigation immediately after the fire is brought under control. The results of the investigations are forwarded to the Provincial Fire Marshal for statistical purposes and possible amendments to safety codes.
• Public Education Our members run many programs to connect with their communities and provide them with fire safety information so they can prevent fires from occurring, but also be prepared for when they do.
WILDLAND
The IAFF is making sure our members are equipped and trained to safely and effectively respond to the challenges of wildland and urban interface fires. Increasingly, dangerous urban interface fires are raging across North America, becoming catastrophic with enormous loss of property and significant risk to human life. Consequently, IAFF members are faced with a variety of extraordinary challenges that will only worsen if not addressed.
