‘Occupational illness’ kills two more Calgary firefighters as city marks annual memorial – Calgary | Globalnews.ca

Two more Calgary firefighters’ names have been added to the city’s monument honouring fallen firefighters.

Captains Robert Alland and Gary Pozzo died of “occupational illness” in the past year, joining the majority of their fallen colleagues whose deaths did not come during active firefighting.

“Each of the names we recognize today were more than just our colleagues and friends — they are an empty chair at the dinner table and someone who is missed every day,” Calgary Fire Department Chief Steve Dongworth said in a statement. “Their service and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Names of the now 60 dead firefighters — nine died during active fires and 51 due to illnesses related to firefighting — adorn the three-story Walls of Memory/Lantern of Light monument in the Police Officers and Firefighters Tribute Plaza in the city’s Municipal Complex Plaza.

Dongworth said CFD is working to improve the culture and practices of health and safety.

“We will honour these individuals with our action, by constantly innovating to make sure our firefighters go home healthy and safe to their families, at the end of each shift and at the end of their careers.”

“The equipment we provide, the training we offer, our health screening practices — all of it is designed to ensure we make this job as safe as possible,” he said.

The firefighters were honoured at an annual memorial service midday Tuesday, with Mayor Jyoti Gondek, councillors, the Calgary Fire Fighters Association and members of the public in attendance.