History of the Timmins Fire Department
Early mining settlements were constantly faced with the danger of
fire. These communities, which suddenly blossomed in the virgin forests,
usually consisted of wooden buildings and had practically no fire
protection. As a result, any fire in such an area, under favourable
conditions, could easily destroy the Town and acres of surrounding
forest.
In 1911, such a tragic event occurred and South Porcupine was
destroyed. Seventy-three hardy pioneers had been suddenly killed while
the fire burned 864 square miles and caused $3 000 000.00 in property
damage.
Such a tragic event had its repercussions in the little settlement
that was soon to be incorporated as the Town of Timmins. The late fall
of 1911 saw interested citizens meeting in a box car of the Temiskaming
& Northern Ontario Railway, located on a railway siding. This
meeting gave birth to the first organized fire fighting brigade to
replace the bucket brigade, which often allowed a fire a good start due
to their lack of organization. This new fire department was organized
before the Town of Timmins was incorporated in 1912. The first Chief was
the Bank Manager of the Imperial Bank, Mr. Ken DeLong. This original
Fire Department consisted of the Chief and approximately twenty
volunteers.
The fire equipment in 1912 did not consist of much, especially when
one considers that the town had a population of 974. A steamer pump was
bought in 1912 for $5, 500.00 and this, along with the old hand reels,
was all the equipment they had.
1912 was a trying year for the infant fire department. Chief McKay,
who resigned on July 12, 1912, followed the first Fire Chief, Mr.
DeLong. Mr. John Knowland then became the new Fire Chief and under his
direction the department made some important improvements.
An embarrassing moment occurred in the same year when their rented
storage shed was destroyed by fire and all the contents were lost.
To replace the reels, the Town purchased a fire wagon in 1913. But,
as the town did not own any horses, it had to rely on the delivery teams
of the Town. At the sound of a fire alarm, it was not an uncommon sight
to see several teams racing to get to the Fire Hall first and hook up
to the fire wagon and departing for the scene of the fire. This was so
because a $5.00 reward was paid to the team that pulled the fire wagon.
This, of course, created considerable excitement in the small community.
Town Council, in the same year, passed a resolution to build a pump
house on the Mattagami River so that a sufficient supply of water would
be available.
The first paid man on the Fire Department was Mr. Dickson, who was
hired as a Fire Inspector. He was appointed by Council on December 14,
1914 and received a monthly salary of $25.00.
1916 was an active year for the Fire Department. At this time a new
fire wagon was purchased and the first street alarm system was
installed. Also, a new fire hall was built on the corner of Cedar Street
and Fourth Avenue. This location was used until 1957. During the year, a
new Fire Chief, Ernie Hill, was appointed on August 16, 1916. However
he was quickly succeeded by Mr. Day who was then succeeded by Mr. A.
King.
The Matheson fire of 1916 destroyed 1000 square miles of bush and
caused property damage estimated at $ 2, 000, 000.00 of property damage.
It claimed the lives of 223 people. This fire made the Town Council in
Timmins realize that a full-time Fire Chief was required to protect the
Town.
Thus, on March 1, 1917, Mr. Alex Borland, who came here from Cobalt
and highly recommended as a firefighter, was appointed Fire Chief. Chief
Borland was given 3 paid fire fighters and they were helped by about 20
volunteers.
In 1917, Chief Borland had the Town build a water tower behind the
new fire hall. Also, a 60 foot tower to dry the hose was built. At the
top of this tower a large bell was hung. This bell is well remembered
for the 9:00 curfew law at which time it tolled to send the young people
homeward.
The new Chief recommended that a team of horses be purchased solely
for the use of the fire department. Consequently, Toby and Teddie could
be seen almost punctually at 9:00 a.m. out for their daily exercises
with the teamster perched high on his seat with taut reins and bells
clanging.
It was not a pleasant or easy task being a full time fire fighter in
those days. It was a full time job being on duty, keeping equipment in
good repair and looking after the horses. These men were at the station
twenty-one hours per day, with only three one-hour breaks for meals at
home.
In March of 1917, a severe snowstorm struck Timmins and streets were
impassable. The T.N.O. Railway was snowbound and no supplies came in for
a week. If a fire had occurred at this time, it would not have been
difficult for a fire to have completely demolished Timmins. Fortunately,
no serious fires occurred, but such situations as the one mentioned
above kept the fire fighters edgy.
1922 saw the water supply taxed to the limit and Council was
seriously considering building a new pumping station. They were spared
this effort when the Hollinger built the present pump house in 1923.
Timmins bought the water at a nominal rate (in 1966 Timmins purchased
the water system from the Hollinger). Also in 1922, the two platoon
system was introduced.
1924 saw numerous improvements occur in the fire force. The men
received their first uniforms. A second team of horses was added to help
Tobie and Teddie. These “hayburners” remained on the force until 1934.
The most significant change was the addition of a gasoline driven fire
truck which arrived in 1925.
However, with a change to gasoline buggies, as they were often
called, came significant changes in working hours for the men. Now they
worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day. This gave the men more home
life.
In the year 1928, on the 10th day of February, the most disastrous
fire in the history of the Town of Timmins broke out in the Hollinger
Gold Mine. This fire claimed the lives of thirty-nine (39) of our
beloved citizens. There were special trainloads of specialized men and
equipment from the Coal Mines in the United States, to assist the local
mine authorities and personnel to combat the very damaging fire. As a
result of this fire, Ontario’s first Mine Rescue Station was opened in
Timmins in 1929 under the Ontario Department of Mines.
Fresh air breathing apparatus also became a common and important
piece of firefighting equipment. These air packs allowed the fire
fighter to enter a smoke filled building, which had been humanly
impossible to do without one. This enabled the men to extinguish many
fires before much damage had been done.
1946 improved the men’s working conditions. Ten new men were hired
and these additions enabled the working day to be reduced to eight hours
per day, six days per week. The Department also went on a three-platoon
system.
1948 saw a second pumper added to the force. This modern truck had a
1000 G.P.M. pump. It should be remembered that the population was now
almost 30 000 and that only the most modern equipment would provide
adequate fire protection.
On September 4th, 1957, the Fire Department moved to its current fire hall situated at 133 Cedar Street South.
In 1961 the Department introduced a four-platoon system, which worked
on a 10 and fourteen-hour system, with the twenty-four hour Sunday
kept. The Timmins Fire Department still presently employs this system.
1962 will long be remembered by the force for it was at that time the
pride of the department was purchased – an eighty-five-foot Aerial. Not
only did this enable the fire fighters to fight fires better, but also
it enabled them to save lives, since the ladder could easily be raised
to the upper floors of a building.
Chief Stanley received his pension in 1964 after being on the
Department for 40 years as a paid firefighter. Fire Chief James Morton,
who was hired in 1927, succeeded him.
During his term in office as fire chief, a new 840 G.P.M. diesel
pumper was purchased for the Timmins Fire Department. We had the
distinction of being the first Fire Department in the Province of
Ontario to put into the fire services a new diesel operated pumper.
In 1966 the Timmins Fire Department hired a full-time secretary.
Upon Chief Morton’s retirement in 1969, the Deputy Fire Chief William
H. Martin was promoted to the rank of Fire Chief, effective December
15th, 1969.
As Chief, he was responsible for establishing a Fire Prevention Bureau consisting of two Fire Inspectors in April of 1970.
In 1971, being a firm believer in trained fire fighters, the Chief
set up a system whereby the fire fighters were sent to the Ontario Fire
College in Gravenhurst, to take the twenty-two week Fire Technology
Course and also organized a new Training Program within the department.
In this way, the fire fighters became highly skilled and knowledgeable
in their field and were able to give the citizens of our Town better
fire protection when called upon.
Further to his belief in training professional fire fighters, Chief
Martin realized that the Volunteers also needed training in fire
fighting techniques. With this in mind, Chief Martin and the Ontario
Fire Marshal’s office organized and conducted the first Cochrane
District Regional Fire Training School for the Volunteers of the
Cochrane District, which was held in August of 1972.
Also, in June of 1972, we purchased a new ¾ ton utility truck, which
was equipped and put into service to carry rescue and rural fire
equipment.
Due to the expansion of the Administration Department, Chief Martin
was successful in acquiring new office quarters for himself and his
staff, which is situated on the second floor of the Fire Hall at 133
Cedar Street South.
In 1973, amalgamation of the Township of Mountjoy, the Town of
Schumacher and Town of South Porcupine, the Township of Whitney and
numerous unpopulated townships, saw the Town grow to 45,000 population
in an area of 1205 square miles and became known as the City of Timmins.
The Volunteer Fire Chief of the Town of Schumacher, Mr. Jim Forrester
became the new paid Deputy Fire Chief in charge of the east end
volunteers while Mr. Rolly Tremblay remained as Deputy Fire Chief in
charge of the paid fire fighters and the Timmins Volunteers.
The old Town of Schumacher and South Porcupine and the Township of
Whitney kept their Volunteer Departments, all headed by District Chiefs
under Fire Chief William Martin of the City of Timmins. The old Township
of Mountjoy, which had purchased fire services from the old Town of
Timmins for so many years, was now being covered by the new City paid
fire fighters at no charge.
During the next two years, the Fire Prevention branch was increased
from a staff of two to four fire Prevention Officers and the position of
Training Officer was implemented.
In July of 1975, Fire Chief Bill Martin retired and R.U. Tremblay
became the new Fire Chief while Jim Forrester became Deputy Fire Chief
for both the paid fire fighters and the volunteers.
In 1977, the City purchased a rescue truck with a 250 G.P.M. pump and
a 250 gallon water tank. It was equipped with the Hurst Rescue tool,
air chisels, air bags, jacks, RS 10, K-12 saw, rams and many other
pieces of rescue equipment.
In 1980, the emergency services were incorporated into the 911
communications system, with the central dispatching located in the
Police building.
Due to the Deputy Chief Jim Forrester’s serious illness, in January
of 1981, Albert Schaffer was hired as Deputy Fire Chief in charge of the
paid fire fighters and the Timmins Volunteers, while J. Forrester
remained as the Deputy Fire Chief for the east end volunteers.
Chief Tremblay retired on July 6, 1985. Albert Schaffer replaced him as the new Fire Chief.
After more than 10 years of serving as Fire Chief, Albert retired and the station came under the command of Lester Cudmore.
On January 1st, 2005, Fire Chief Mike Pintar became the new head of
the Timmins Fire Department, and on March 8th of that year, Joey
Stojkiewicz became the Deputy Chief.
After a lengthy illness,
Joey Stojkiewicz passed away on July 15th, 2011, leaving Gerry Sabourin
to replace him as the new Deputy Chief.