CFSA Blogs

March 21, 2024 - Blog Post
Author: Anthony Rago and Moriel Kaplan, Jensen Hughes, Inc.

Considerations for the Protection of Compact ASRS

Warehouse fires in recent years have drawn attention to the significant fire risks and fire protection difficulties posed by automated warehousing facilities. High-storage densities, limited access, electronic conveyancing systems, high racking, overpacking and overstacking can all elevate fire risk, making fire safety design more challenging.

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March 21, 2024 - Blog Post

Lithium Ion Battery Fires: Ontario Fire Departments seeking data

A total of 55 fires in Toronto last year (2023) that resulted from the failure of lithium-ion batteries. In New York City, they continue to see the same rise in incidents with evidence continuing the first several weeks of 2024.

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December 13, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Anthony Rago

CFSA President's Holiday Message

Season’s Greetings! As we approach the end of 2023, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we've shared as the CFSA community. It's hard to believe that the year is drawing to a close, yet the momentum at CFSA continues to push forward.  

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November 15, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Larry Brassard, Griffin Protective Services

Preventing Fires at Construction Sites

Preventing fires at construction sites is crucial for the safety of workers, communities, and the protection of valuable assets. Several high-profile fires in Ontario this year highlight the need for proper preventive measures to be put in place.

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September 18, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Jason Reid

What does it mean to “Implement” the Fire Safety Plan in your high-rise building?

An important question as we lead up to Fire Prevention Week 2023

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August 24, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Grant Lobdell, President, Dyne Fire Protection Labs

Replacing Sprinklers After a Fire

After a fire, all sprinklers affected by the incident shall be replaced according to the current, 2023 edition of NFPA 25, the Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. Note this includes more than just those sprinklers that activated.

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August 10, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Harry Mitchell Rikesh Amin, Mohammad Heidari, Panagiotis Kotsovinos, Guillermo Rein

Structural hazards of smouldering fires in timber buildings

Smouldering, a slow, persistent, and flameless form of combustion has only been observed in few fire experiments of mass timber compartments. Smouldering is a phenomenon well-understood in the wildfire community, but is not yet recognised as a hazard in the fire safety design and fire-fighting of modern timber buildings.

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June 30, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Sean Tracey

The Case for Residential Fire Sprinklers in Department Master Plans

It’s common for fire departments to prepare and follow a Master Plan. Typically, this identifies the community’s risks and lays out a strategy to be used over the next three to five years to mitigate these.

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June 13, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Ali Asgary

Canada urgently needs a FEMA-like emergency management agency

Disasters often bring politicians, policymakers, researchers and the public to the discussion table. Due to their catastrophic impacts, disasters and emergencies prompt a large array of stakeholders to focus intently on the issues at hand, providing windows of opportunity for change.

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June 13, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Gabriel Wainer

Predicting and planning for forest fires requires modelling of many complex, interrelated factors

Global warming is here. As anticipated for more than 50 years now, the temperature and levels of atmospheric CO2 have increased.

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June 12, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety

Meet the Board Initiative - June 2023

Meet the Board Initiative - June 2023 "A quick chat" at the water cooler with Kevin Mai, Canadian Fire Safety Association Secretary"

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June 2, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Nicole Ruehle, Past President of Fire Protection Student Association (FPSA)

Bringing Students and Working Professionals Together: Seneca College Industry Dinner and Career Fair

On the morning of March 16th, 2023, fire protection students at Seneca Polytechnic joined with industry professionals to learn about the many opportunities within the fire protection industry.

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June 2, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Marius Cornel Șuvar, Laurențiu Munteanu, and Zoltan Vass

The role of numerical modeling in scientific fire investigation

Numerical fire modeling is a widely recognized and accepted tool for analysis in fire research. The results of the investigation carried out on-site are compared with the results of fire evolution obtained by computer simulation, using numerical models.

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May 1, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Mike Clouthier

Evolution of Air Sampling Smoke Detection

Let’s start at the beginning: In 1970, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) used a nephelometer to carry out research into forest fires. The Australian Postmaster-General's Department (APO) then engaged the CSIRO to investigate technologies that could prevent service interruption due to fire.

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April 5, 2023 - Blog Post

Meet the Board Initiative - April 2023

"A quick chat" at the water cooler with Jessica Potvin; CFSA Director; Chair; Social Media Committee Meet the Board Initiative - April 2023

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April 1, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Mike Clouthier

Aspirating Smoke Detection

Aspirating smoke detection is a very reliable method of detecting smoke by using a sophisticated detector that recognizes the existence of smoke particles suspended in the air.

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March 6, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Kate Schramm

 Meet the Board Initiative - March 2023

A quick "chat at the watercooler" with CFSA Director Kate Schramm

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February 27, 2023 - Blog Post
Author: Lamberto Mazziotti, Piergiacomo Cancelliere1, Giuseppe Paduano1, Paolo Setti, and Samuele Sassi

Fire risk related to the use of PV systems in building facades

Thanks to the technical development of the photovoltaic industry, PV system can easily be architectonically integrated into building construction elements.

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February 3, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Chris Logan

Fire Sprinkler Gauges

Fire Sprinkler Systems are required to have gauges at various locations throughout the system. The control valve and main drain are the primary location for gauges to be read in order to simplify inspections, and make discovering issues with the sprinkler system easier.

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January 27, 2023 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Jim Burns; CFPS

Crowd Managers and Drills: Are they required in Canada?

If you’re in the fire protection and life safety industry you’ve undoubtedly heard about the tragic incident at the Astroworld Festival in Houston Texas on November 5, 2021.

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December 21, 2022 - Blog Post
Author: Anthony Rago

CFSA President's Holiday Message (2022)

As the year comes to an end, the holiday season gives us the opportunity to relax, disconnect from our work, and enjoy time with our family and friends. Take this down-time to reflect on the past year, the accomplishments you’ve achieved, and relationships you’ve formed.

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November 17, 2022 - Blog Post
Author: Sean Tracey

A New Guide for Fire Chiefs on Development Review

It is important that fire chiefs get engaged in the proper design and application of standards to any new developments taking place in their community so that these design reflect the capabilities of the fire service.

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November 16, 2022 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Kate Schramm

CFSA Scholarship Awards 2022

Each year the CFSA gives away multiple scholarships for various programs representing the diversity of fire protection for students enrolled in a full-time Fire Protection Technology program. These scholarships are awarded to students excelling in their study of fire protection systems, codes and standards, and fire prevention who also demonstrate

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October 24, 2022 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety
Author: Scott Pugsley, SET, FPET

50th Anniversary for Seneca College

The School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology (SFPET) at Seneca College is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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August 15, 2022 - Blog Post Tag(s): Fire Safety || Indigenous
Author: Laurie Sallis

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC)

Never has the conversation of fire safety in Indigenous communities been more pertinent, from the community level to the federal level. The curtains are rising, and the realities are not looking good.

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August 15, 2022 - Blog Post Tag(s): Building Codes
Author: *Avinash Gupta, P.Eng.; CBCO, CRBO, LBO; Mohamed Mohamed, P.E., P.Eng.; Dominic Esposito, P.Eng.

Performance-Based Building Code - Decrypting Potential Challenges to building professionals

In Canada, efforts are in progress to transition National Building Code of Canada (NBC), which contains primarily perspective requirements, to a performance-based code which would specify performance criteria. How can our professionals prepare for this?

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