60 bells rung for fallen Calgary firefighters

Bells tolled 60 times as Calgary firefighters, along with the City of Calgary, honoured lives, which have fallen in the line of duty on Tuesday.

Calgary has lost 60 firefighters in the line of duty, with two being added with plaques to the three-story Walls of Memory/Lantern of Light monument on the tribute plaza at the Municipal Building.

The Calgary firefighters walked with the Mewata Armoury before arriving at the Municipal building in the morning.

Your Calgary Firefighters will be walking in solidarity from Mewata Armoury at 1100h and arriving at the City of Calgary Tribute Plaza in front of City Hall at noon. #neverforget #yycfire

— Calgary Firefighters Association (@CGYFireFighters) September 13, 2022

Firefighters’ names were shared after the bell was rung, all while bagpipes were played.

The members added to the memorial with plaques are captains Robert Allan and Gary Pozzo.

Of the 60 firefighters lost, nine died in active duty, and 51 died due to illnesses related to firefighting.

Plaques with the names of firefighters that lost their lives while in the line of duty rest on a table in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews Calgary)

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

The fire department says they have made changes to their culture and are making changes to encourage the safety and well-being of their firefighters.

“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,” Dong said.

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

‘It’s a big step to grieving’

Former Calgary Firefighter Captain, Gary Pozzo, passed away in April 2021, to an occupational disease related to firefighting.  His son, Kent, was on-hand to watch his father’s name be added to the memorial Tuesday.

“The sun was shining, and I thought it was going to be overcast and rain, but the sun broke through, and it was [like] they’re all looking down on us, it’s nice,” he said. “It’s a glorious day.”

Pozzo said his father was well-known around the city and was an inspiration for himself and his brothers. He recalled that his adoration for his father began at a young age.

“They got a call when I was sitting in the firetruck playing with the steering wheel, and I wouldn’t get off the firetruck, and my dad just said, ‘You know what, we got to go, buckle him in, let’s go’,” he said. “I got to go to the call with them, and I thought that was pretty cool. It made me want to be a firefighter even more.”

He says his father will be remembered as a caring man who was a hard worker that spent thirty years as a firefighter before retirement was brought upon him.

“He showed up at work and chief came and said, ‘You’re done, you’re retired, go home.’ My mom knew, so she had a scotch poured for him when he got home, and he was sitting on the deck with a cigar, happy as happy can be,” Pozzo said.

“He probably could’ve done another five years, he was a strong man. [He] loved going to the hall, [he] loved the guys.”

Pozzo said Tuesday’s memorial service is a big step in helping his grieving process.

Anyone looking for more information on the Calgary Fire Department and the fallen firefighters can visit their website.

A firefighter helmet near plaques with the names of firefighters that lost their lives while in the line of duty rests on a table in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews Calgary)