Calgary Fire Department honours fallen members

The noon bellrang 43 times in front of Calgary'smunicipal plaza Wednesday once for each of the firefighters who have died over the course of the city's historymarking the10th annual memorial for theCalgary Fire Department.

"Every day, across this city, the men and women of the Calgary Fire Department give their best in service to their neighbours and to their communities," said Chief Steve Dongworth.

"Many times, that means risking their lives to protect and save others. And sometimes, it means giving their lives to keep us safe."

An outdoor, three-storey monument bears thenames and photos of the nine CFD members who havedied on active dutydating back to 1923.

The other 34 names of firefighters who have died from work-related cancerare inscribed on plaques at theCFD headquarters.

One new plaque stands out among the rest for Francois J. Rivestwho died in 2015 from cancer related to workplace hazards.

"For the longest time, we recognized those people who we knew were lost to the fire scene, or as theresult of an accident in a vehicle," said Dongworth.

"We didn't recognize that for some, there was a cumulative effect that had the same outcome a family lost their loved one," he added.

"It's equally important to recognize those folks as well."

Calgary fire chief Steve Dongworth explains why cancer has claimed so many firefighters' lives

8 years ago

Duration 1:52

Of the 43 Calgary firefighters who have died in service, 34 (roughly 80 per cent) died of occupational cancer.

Dongworth said the department is increasingly focused on safety and actively monitors its members' health including mental health.

"There's a continuing conversation now about at what time do we begin to consider post-traumatic stress disorder, where it perhaps leads to suicide, as something that we should consider to be a line of duty death as well."

The annual event began at Mewata Armoury, thenthe CFD Honour Guard, Pipe and Drums and firefighters marched along Stephen Avenue to city hall.

Flags at fire stations across the city were lowered to half-mastfrom sunrise to sunset to mark the occasion.

Flags will again be lowered to half-maston Sept. 17 in honour of the International Association of Firefighters Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs.