The Espanola Fire Department's goals are to stop fires before they start and to achieve this they provide public education on a regular basis and when necessary, they enforce the Ontario Fire Code and Espanola's by-law for open air burning.  Working together with our community will help to provide a fire safe environment.  

OPEN AIR BURNING BY-LAW:    Click on the following link to access the Open Air Burning,  By-law No. 2493/12

SMOKE ALARMS:  Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.  It's the law!  Smoke alarms don't last forever.  Replace smoke alarms with new ones if they are more than ten years old.  Only working smoke alarms can save lives.

CO ALARMS:  Install one outside your sleeping areas and one by each fueled fired appliance according to manufacturer recommendations.  Reduce the carbon monoxide risk by having your fuel-burning equipment inspected by a professional every year.

To protect residence, businesses and visitors, the Town of Espanola requires a coordinated emergency response by a number of agencies under the direction of the Municipal Emergency Control Group. 

The Town of Espanola's Emergency Management Committee have developed an Emergency Response Plan. Every official, municipal department and agency must be prepared to carry out assigned responsibilities in an emergency. 

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time.  Utilities can be out, roads closed, and crucial supplies unavailable.  While local, provincial an federal officials prepare for emergencies, individuals can plan to be prepared at home and at work.

Everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves and their families for up to three days in the event of an emergency or disaster.  The Government of Canada's website GetPrepared.ca provides an outline of what individuals and families need to have prepared to survive an emergency for 72 hours.  

Being a volunteer firefighter is both challenging and rewarding.  The Espanola Fire Department consists of volunteer firefighters that take pride in belonging to a highly trained fire department.  

Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered during vacancies.  Completed applications can be dropped off at the Fire Hall or  faxed: 705-869-6000. To access an application form, click on the following link:  Firefighter Application Form

Certification is now mandatory for all fire departments in the province of Ontario.

Being a firefighter in the Town of Espanola involves more than training and fighting fires.  The department is looking for those who are enthusiastic, can be on call and also willing to participate in community events.

Firefighters must also be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum skill level required in the areas of training for their position to ensure they are able to do the work safely and effectively at a measurable skill level.

In 2014, as directed by the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office, all fire departments began training according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Training Standard and the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario.

In 1970, the original fire hall officially became operational.  Prior to that, Espanola's fire services had been taken care of by the paper mill - now Domtar.

The mill's one fire truck was housed in the mill's fire hall.  If a fire was reported, all firefighters responding went directly to the fire; the one firefighter that lived closest to the mill would drive the truck.  Should a call come through during dayshift hours, the mill's firefighters would immediately respond to the fire and drive the truck to the fire.  And during that time - before the use of pagers, the mill's steam whistle was made use of to alert firefighters of a fire call.  A whistle-code was used to indicate what part of town there was a fire.  Three short whistle blasts would identify a "mill fire", 3 short and 1 long for the "downtown" business section and so on.  Fighting fires decades ago, firefighters of the day wore rubberized fire coats which did not provide much protection.  The headgear worn was a rubberized rain hat that did not provide a great deal of protection either as they were very crude in design and therefore not very effective.  Fighting fires without the use of SCBA was common at that time.

Around 1969, Ken Shore became the Town's first official Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Jean Louis Bourcier and two Captains - John Ostroski and Jack Campbell.  Together with the officers there were a total of 22 volunteer firefighters.

Some of the first hired firefighters now have sons with the current Fire Department, for example Deputy Chief Henry Girard (father - Henry Girard Sr.), Rheal Lachance (father - Rheal Lachance Sr.).

The department over the years has had two Fire Chiefs since Chief Shore retired, Chief Ray Langlois and the current Chief, Mike Pichor.  Also, Deputy Chiefs and Assistant Chief  - Wayne Ashton, have been a big part of the department, the first being Deputy Chief Bourcier, followed by Deputy Chief, Jim Ramsay and currently, Deputy Chief Henry Girard.

There came a time when the department needed to expand the number of volunteer firefighters as a result of the number of shift workers unable to respond, the total had then expanded to 24.  That number remained the same until about 2010 when it was increased to 28 due to the Ontario Fire Marshal's requirements.   

September of 2018, Town Council gave approval for the construction of a new fire hall that would replace the old 1970 fire hall to meet the ever-changing requirements of fire services.  The new fire hall would be a custom built design just under 8000 square feet.  The official hose-cutting ceremony took place June 2019 followed by an official grand opening of the fire hall that welcomed the community to view the new fire hall - July 2019.  

This page is dedicated to our Firefighters who have passed on and to give recognition to their dedication serving our community.

                                              February 7th, 1944 - April 28th, 2024