Honour roll

Firefighter Peter Kuhn as a Silent Sentry at Toronto's 2001 Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service.

On October 14, 2001, Toronto's Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service honoured all firefighters that died in the line-of-duty since 1848. A special headdress honour guard was dedicated to our 2002 fallen Acting Captain Jeffery Carl Spencer, Captain Patrick Joseph Carey and Captain Douglas Lorne Storey.

FDNY Ice Sculpture by Darlene Racicot & photo by Deb Lemaire, Timmins, Ontario.

The memorial service also remembered New York City firefighters that died during the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Yolanda vanderGaast sculpted the life-and-a-quarter size bronze firefighter with flames lapping up its feet, while rescuing a swaddled baby. Six columns of black granite list our 145 fallen firefighters. The granite is the upper stem of a cross with a Maltese Cross suspended above our Honour Roll. During any given sunrise, a shadow outlining the Maltese Cross moves across the fire station wall.

They are "valiant hearts" that made a "supreme sacrifice" while protecting lives, property and the environment in Toronto.

An original dedication ceremony that introducted the new firefighters memorial monument was held on October 1, 2000.

Last Alarm
The dedication ceremony closed with the ringing of the bell and the firefighter's prayer, two traditions of the fire service that reflect respect and honour to those who gave their lives to their duty. A distinctive bell ringing marks the end of an emergency and a return to quarters. It has three rings, three times.

"And so, to those who have selflessly given their lives for the good of Toronto, their tasks completed, their duties well done, to our fallen comrades, their last alarm, they are going home."

Firefighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty God,
Wherever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child,
Before it is too late,
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert,
To hear the weakest shout,
Then quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling Lord,
To give the best in me;
Halting all the fear and pain;
Protecting Life and property.

And when that moment comes, dear Lord,
When end of life draws near,
I trust to your eternal love
All those whom I hold dear.

Highlights of significant historical firefighter fatalities
The first Toronto Firefighter killed in the line-of-duty was William Thornton, on Friday, November 24th, 1848. In the 1840's, Toronto's firefighting forces had only recently organized into less than a half-dozen volunteer companies, originally operating out of a Fire Hall on Church Street, near Court Street. Firefighters still pulled manual pumpers by hand, and horse-drawn tankers brought water from the waterfront. In this environment, fires were extremely difficult to fight, and the various companies of firefighters took fierce pride in their service to the community.

Just after 1:00 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, November 22nd, 1848, a fire erupted in Webb's Shoe Shop on King Street near Church Street. The owner, who lived above the shop, sounded the alarm by shouting in the streets as he ran to and rang the bells at St. Jame's Church. Pulling their apparatus the short distance from the fire hall on Church Street, the firefighters were confronted with heavy fire spreading to a total of four shops, all with apartments above on both King Street and Church Street. While operating to cut off the flames, as the structures weakened, Firefighter Thornton became trapped during a wall collapse. Even though he was wearing a helmet, the heavy stone façade crushed his skull. He was carried out by another firefighter, back to the hall and a doctor was summoned. He lived for two days until succumbing to his injuries on Friday, November 24th. He was buried two days later with a full Fire Brigade funeral. His mother and two sisters, whom he supported, benefited from donations made by his colleagues.

FIVE firefighters died during a structural collapse at the MacIntosh Grain Elevator at Front and George Streets, July 10, 1902.

THREE names on the Honour Roll are of firefighters that died at the En-Ar-Co boat explosion on July 23, 1934. Another FOUR names were added from deaths subsequently attributed to the disaster. Sadly, some of those that perished were working for other firefighters that were attending an annual family picnic in Niagra Falls.

On May 17, 1947, Pumper 4 from the Berkeley Street Fire Station and Pumper 5 from the Lombard Street Fire Station collided at the corner of Parliament and Queen Street, while responding to a 2nd Alarm Fire at Queen Alexandria School, killing THREE Firefighters. Coincidentally, the same intersection claimed the lives of ten civilians at the Ruphert Hotel arson fire on December 23, 1989.

Hurricane Hazel swept FIVE firefighters from Kingsway-Lampton into the Humber River on October 16, 1954. One body was never recovered.

On December 4, 1978 THREE firefighters were killed at Kimberly Clark Paper Co. when huge rolls of paper, soaked with sprinkler water crushed them during a structural collapse.