With a call to action to improve occupational health and safety, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA) honoured 27 individuals whose names were added to the BC Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial during a solemn ceremony March 3 in Victoria.
After a procession of as many as 675 fire fighters from across the province, the BCPFFA joined politicians of all stripes in comforting the families of the fallen at the solemn event, held biennially at the Memorial site on the grounds of the provincial legislature.
Of the 27 fire fighters honoured, 24 died from occupational cancers, including a member of IAFF Local 2217 in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Speaking to those gathered, BCPFFA President Todd Schierling emphasized the need for enhanced safety standards, reduced exposure to toxic substances, improved mental health resources, early cancer detection screenings and strengthened training and education for those in the profession.
“I want to stress that this memorial stands as a call to action. It is our duty to do everything in our power to ensure that every fire fighter goes home safely to their family at the end of each shift,” Schierling said.
“I offer my sincere gratitude to the families, friends, members and community who stand by us here today. Thank you for supporting our mission for sharing in our grief and for helping keep the legacy of our fallen heroes alive.”
The ceremony included a reading of “The Firefighter’s Prayer,” the Bell Ceremony, presentations of the provincial flag to the families of the fallen and remarks from B.C. Premier David Eby, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and interim B.C. Greens Leader Jeremy Valeriote. IAFF 6th District Vice President Mike Carter attended the ceremony.
With nearly 1,000 people gathered, including IAFF members, family members, dignitaries and others, the 2025 BC Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony was the largest ever. Social media was flooded with photos and videos shared by the BCPFFA, its affiliates and media from across the province, serving to honor the fallen and remind the public about the dangers of the firefighting profession.
I want to stress that this memorial stands as a call to action. It is our duty to do everything in our power to ensure that every fire fighter goes home safely to their family at the end of each shift.
BCPFFA President todd schierling
The ceremony featured the unveiling of a new plaque dedicated to wildland fire fighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty, underscoring the growing dangers and the challenges wildfires pose in the province. Devyn Gale, a wildland fire fighter who was tragically killed by a falling tree in July 2023, was among the fallen who were honoured this year.
Schierling explained that the Memorial had existing plaques recognizing BCPFFA members, industrial/federal fire fighters and paid-on-call fire fighters. When the BC Wildfire Service inquired about honouring Gale at this year’s ceremony, he connected them with the Speaker of the Assembly and Gale’s union, the BC General Employees’ Union, and agreement for the new plaque quickly followed. It was unveiled by Gale’s sister, Kayln, and brother, Nolan, Legislative Assembly Speaker Raj Chouhan, Schierling and BCGEU President Paul Finch.
“Please know that you are an integral part of the firefighting community across this great province,” Schierling said of wildland fire fighters. “Our hearts are with you in grief and gratitude.”
The memorial was held in conjunction with the BCPFFA’s annual Robert E. Hall Legislative Conference, where fire fighter delegates lobbied the B.C. government on three legislative priorities: presumption for all forms of cancer with reduced years of service for eligibility, provincial participation in a fire fighter health screening program and funding for mental health resiliency under the BC First Responders Resiliency Training Program.
The conference is named in memory of Rob Hall, a Vancouver Local 18 member and BCPFFA secretary-treasurer who died of occupational cancer in 2007 at the age of 52.
More information about the 2025 BC Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, including the names of the fallen and video of the ceremony, is available online here.
