Vancouver Fire Fighters

09/13/2026

Today is Firefighters' National Memorial Day. Fire services from across the country will gather in Ottawa at the Canadian Firefighters Memorial to honour those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Every name added to that memorial is someone's father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister. Someone who answered the call and didn't come home.

Vancouver Fire Fighters Local 18 stands with the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation and fire services across the country in remembering our fallen sisters and brothers.

We will continue to fight for the safety standards, cancer protections, and mental health supports that honour their sacrifice by making sure fewer names are added to that wall.

09/11/2026

Crews, chiefs, and civilian staff at Hall 1 were joined today by the U.S. Consul in Vancouver to observe a moment of silence in honour of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The tribute stood as a solemn reminder of the lives lost and the courage shown by first responders on that day, and of the enduring bond shared by fire services across the border.

09/11/2026

Today we honour the 343 fire fighters and the 2,977 innocent souls who lost their lives on 9/11. We also remember the more than 3,000 people who have died in the years since from the after-effects of many months spent bravely searching Ground Zero for survivors and for the remains of the fallen. And we remember the servicemen and women lost and injured in the War on Terror that followed, a war many of our members served in.

While many only remember the events of the day, the work went on for months, and in some cases years.

21,905 separate pieces of human remains were recovered from Ground Zero. Those who served in the aftermath still carry the burden of those recoveries; not just in their bodies but in their souls. Sometimes the price of service was paid acutely, as it was by 343 on the day itself and for some it was paid over time - whether it be from Cancer or PTSD.

We are separated by a border from our brothers and sisters who serve in the United States, but we are bound by something much stronger: a desire to serve the many, to run towards danger while most run away, to do what is necessary for others in their time of crisis, even at the expense of ourselves.

In the aftermath of 9/11, our countries came together as one. In the days that followed, several hundred fire fighters from Vancouver and Burnaby travelled to New York City. FDNY was still deep in the work of recovering their own. Our members and hundreds others from Canada, were there for what came next: sitting in the halls, attending funerals, some days more than one, helping find small moments of normalcy inside grief that had none.

We stood as allies in those moments and as friends. Countries and borders did not matter - our friends needed help, and our members and thousands of others stepped up from all over the world. That is something we can all be proud of.

The VFRS T-shirt you see in the video above was recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center, believed to have belonged to one of the missing FDNY members. It was sent here to Local 18. It has stayed with us since, a reminder of a bond, a brotherhood and sisterhood, that doesn't stop at a border.

To all who served on that day, and in the weeks, months, years and decades that have followed: thank you for your service, your courage and your sacrifice.

We honour them. We remember them. We will never forget.

The photographs used are stills from the documentary film "The Day No Birds Sang" by Studio 104 Entertainment

09/09/2026

Now in its 40th year, the Hall Of Flame Calendar is the longest continually running firefighter calendar in the world. Every purchase and every ticket helps fund Vancouver Firefighter Charities' community programs, including Snacks For Kids, Sports For Kids, Toys For Kids, and Lifelines For Seniors, as well as the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, which supports the VGH and BC Children's Hospital burn wards and the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Camp.

The 2027 Hall of Flame Calendar Launch Party takes place September 19 at the Hollywood Theatre, and this year's theme is 80's Disco Night so dust off your dancing shoes and get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hall-of-flame-presents-80s-night-tickets-1995409393210?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/07/2026

It’s easy to forget what it once cost to sign a union card.

In 1911, when Vancouver firemen formed their first union, the city found out and offered them $10 to disband it. They took it. A few years later the city cut their wages anyway.

When the men organized again in 1916, they did it knowing where the city stood. They were told there was no reason for a union, that any problems could be worked out between the parties. Maybe the council believed that. But a fireman making $80 a month, with no labour code, no right to strike, and no one to appeal to, had a very different view of what “between the parties” meant.

There was real risk in what they did. A fireman who spoke up could be let go, and there was nothing to stop it. Most of these men had families, in a city at war. Losing the job meant losing a great deal.

They organized anyway.

And in July 1917, when they walked out of their halls for three hours, the mayor warned them they were hurting their own cause in the eyes of the public. Some aldermen argued they should be dismissed. A few thought they should be charged. The assistant chief later said a fireman walking down the street that summer was looked at with suspicion because of how the whole thing had been framed.

They walked out anyway.

By the end of the day they had one day off in four, their wages restored, and a promise that no one would be punished. A year later they helped found the IAFF.

Every one of those men put his career on the line for the belief that the job could be better than it was. Most of them never saw how much better it got. They did it for people they would never meet.

That’s us.

We work under a contract because they worked without one. We have a grievance process because they had none. We have a seat at the table because they earned it.

This Labour Day, it’s worth remembering that the rights we have today didn’t arrive on their own. They were built by people who had every reason to stay quiet, and chose not to.

The best way to honour that is to keep building.

Happy Labour Day.

📸: IAFF founding - 1918 - Washington, DC - Vancouver is the only Canadian delegation present.

George J Richardson - Newly appointed Secretary

09/05/2026

Members wrapping up at a fire on Joyce Street.

No further details at this time.

09/03/2026

In Solidarity continues with Eric Himmelman, firefighter with VFRS since 2017.

Eric is community minded through and through, and being a firefighter gives him the responsibility to look after the community he cares so much about.

The biggest challenge? Staying sharp. There's always new techniques, new knowledge, new skills to build, and Eric says the real work is constantly pushing himself to get better.

And the important stuff: tonight's fire hall dinner is fried chicken sandwiches, and Eric's crew will tell you he doesn't miss a meal.

In Solidarity is an ongoing series highlighting the members of IAFF Local 18 who make our union strong.

09/02/2026

Some days on the job are hard. Some days look like this: Firefighter Mickey Fabbiano inspiring the next generation at Camp Ignite a few weeks back.

Thank a firefighter for what they do and watch the reaction. Most of them look a bit puzzled, like the thought hadn't occurred to them. Not because the job isn't hard. It's because they can't imagine doing anything else.

That's the part people don't always see. The love for the work is real, and it shows up in moments like this one just as much as it does on the tough calls.

09/01/2026

Vancouver Fire Fighters would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Joan Phillip （Amshen） 彤菲麗, who passed away suddenly last week.

When our team reached out to Joan to meet in 2023, she did not hesitate and scheduled a meeting right away. Meeting her, she was immediately warm, interested in the work our members do, and supportive of our legislative asks.

Joan was a great friend to our union and was always keen to pick up the phone and discuss what was going on with us directly. She happily met with us at home, at conventions, or in Victoria.

She was also part of the largest expansion of presumptive cancer coverage in BC’s history.

Joan was always concerned about our members’ mental health and how the trauma of our work affected us. As someone who grew up in the DTES, she understood the toll that working and living in that area can take, and she was always keen to hear how members at #2 hall were holding up, and even more keen to know what we as a union were doing to support our people.

We will miss you Amshen Joan Phillip, thanks for being a friend and advocate for us❤️

08/29/2026

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THANK YOU, VANCOUVER

We sincerely thank Vancouver Fire Rescue Services for the confidence and trust they have placed in Dependable with the purchase of five new fire apparatus.

Our team looks forward to building these apparatus and supporting the firefighters who rely on them to serve and protect their community. 🔥

Thank you for choosing Dependable Emergency Vehicles.