Statement from M.D. (Matt) Pegg, President, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

AJAX, ON, Oct. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), I would like to thank Commissioner Paul Bélanger for his Report on the Elliot Lake Commission of Inquiry, in particular Part 2: The Emergency Response and Inquiry Process. 

The OAFC was pleased to participate in the inquiry process and to provide the expertise and experience of Ontario's fire chiefs in important areas that include emergency incident response and incident command. 

While the OAFC will now undertake a fulsome review of the report and recommendations contained in the report, our initial cursory review suggests that the Commissioner gained an understanding of the issues related to emergency management in Ontario, particularly as they relate to incident management, training, communications and HUSAR. 

The OAFC looks forward to entering into discussions with Government and the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management on these important issues such that the OAFC can continue to share the expertise of Ontario's fire chiefs, who each and every day respond to and command emergencies across Ontario.

Under the Command of Fire Chief Paul Officer, the members of the Elliot Lake Fire Department acted promptly as they responded to this tragedy.  The OAFC joins with Commissioner Bélanger in commending their actions, performed in service to their community under these extremely demanding conditions.    

SOURCE: Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

Richard Boyes, Executive Director, OAFC,1-800-774-6651