The family of a Truro area firefighter killed in a training exercise is pushing for better safety measures.
Skylar Blackie, 28, died after a fire extinguisher exploded in his face during a training exercise at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School (NSFS) in Waverly in 2019.
The school was ordered to pay just over $100,000 in fines and scholarship funding after it admitted to failing to perform routine inspections or keep adequate record of safety checks.
Investigators found if the extinguisher had been checked, it would not have been in use for training.
Blackie’s family has started an online petition calling for changes to safety regulations and on government to offer more funding for training.
“We’ve stayed quiet for far too long. The Nova Scotia Firefighters School must be held accountable, and we need your help to ensure no other family endures this pain.” Jessica Gillis (Blackie) wrote in a Facebook post.
The NSFS also had to give three recorded presentations to firefighting organizations about the incident and how it could have been prevented.
However, Blackie’s family feel the presentations were “hastily prepared” after they attended the third session.
They are starting the petition to draw attention to his death to ensure it does not happen again and are calling for leadership changes at the firefighters school.
A main focus area of the petition calls on government to make legislative changes to provide better oversight, funding for training and improved safety regulations.
“Fire departments in Nova Scotia, particularly those in volunteer-run and rural areas, rely on a training fund. This fund has recently been depleted, creating potential gaps in essential firefighter training.”
Since its launch on Thursday, hundreds of people have already signed the petition.
