TORONTO

Fallen firefighters honoured at memorial service

toronto.ctv.ca Published Sunday, June 3, 2007 6:30PM EDT

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Toronto firefighters who lost their lives to work-related cancers were honoured at a memorial service on Sunday morning.

About 150 colleagues, friends and family members were on-hand as the names of 24 firefighters were added to the Annual Toronto Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Service honour roll.

The memorial, held at Station 334 on Queens Quay, commemorates firefighters who have died in the line of duty in Toronto since 1848.

Toronto has lost 179 firefighters in its history.

Provincial legislation that took effect earlier this year calls for the recognition of firefighters who contracted cancer from the job.

"It's important to recognize the cancer they succumbed to was related to the occupation they performed to protect the citizens of the City of Toronto," said Toronto Fire Chief William Stewart.

"For us to have it recognized now through presumptive legislation through the province of Ontario (and compensation) for the families now and the future, it's a very good day for the fire service in Ontario."

Mary Bricknell's husband John was among the firefighters who died from work-related cancer. He inhaled deadly toxins while fighting an oil tanker fire on the Don Valley Parkway in 1972. John died 28 years later from leukemia.

"He just loved his job," Mary said. "I don't think he ever missed any time. He was always there an hour before his shift and he was always late coming home."

Kirk Bricknell was only six years old when his grandfather passed away.

"I play hockey, so he used to come to most of my hockey games and cheer me on," he said, tearing streaming down his face. "He was a good guy."

Recent changes to Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Act makes it easier for firefighters to qualify for compensation for job-related cancers and heart attacks.

New regulations identify eight types of cancer presumed to be work-related when contracted by full-time firefighters. Under the new regulations, heart attacks suffered by firefighters within 24 hours of battling a blaze will also be presumed to be work related.

The newest names added to the wall on Sunday are: