Toronto Firefighters Protect Aboriginal Sacred Fire- St James Park -Occupy Toronto

Nov 14th 2011- Firefighters were showered with applause when they were called to a fire at the site of the Occupy Toronto protest.

Fire crews weren't cheered for extinguishing the blaze -- they were applauded for allowing it to burn.

Source: http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111114/111114_occupy_fire/2011...


Firefighters took a look at the small fire and spoke to the people responsible for it, and decided not to extinguish it because it's considered a sacred fire and is being tended to by aboriginals around the clock.

http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111114/111114_occupy_fire/2011...

Toronto firefighters have launched a website and say they'll go door-to-door in the city to explain to residents why their jobs shouldn't be cut in the upcoming budget exercise.

All city departments have been told by Mayor Rob Ford to cut their budgets by 10 per cent as part of a plan to wrestle with a $774 million shortfall — and that includes the fire department.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/09/07/toronto-firefighters-b...


Toronto Firefighters you are the 99%- Occupy Canada Stands with you against Mayor Fords proposed Austerity cuts. Toronto Fire Services are fighting back against Mayor Rob Ford's proposed budget cuts on their new site notgravy.com, but the city's budget chief insists there is no money "to shell out."

It's a tongue-in-cheek jab at Ford's mayoral campaign to "stop the gravy train" at City Hall.

Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association are concerned cuts will mean fewer firefighters and trucks on the road, resulting in delayed response times.

Ford has mandated 10 per cent cuts across all city departments -- including essential services such as fire, police and TTC -- to offset the $774-million budget deficit.

Their current budget is $371 million, 92 per cent of which goes toward salaries and benefits. They say a 10 per cent cut would mean 400 fewer firefighters and the permanent removal of 20 trucks.

Source: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110909/toronto-fire-not-crav...


Thank you Firefighters of Toronto! hearts go out to all of you! you are the 99% The city of Toronto is proposing austerity cuts to firefighters. Occupier's across Canada stand with you! You are an essential service, respect goes out to the heroes who put their lives on the line to save lives.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday is performing to justify cuts to fire services, given that the police ended up receiving a budget increase. According to Holyday, carrying a gun and protecting citizens from bad guys make the police a special case. "Their job does not carry the same degree of hazard as a police officer," Holyday told the Sun. Because there's nothing safer than running into a burning building

Source: http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/political-whoas/2011/11/09/doug-hol...


Occupy Toronto protesters applauded emergency crews after an early-morning visit on Monday.

Fire fighters showed up at St. James Park around 3:30 a.m. to examine a campfire. Demonstrators said it was a First Nations sacred fire and then linked arms around the fire, preventing crews from extinguishing it.

City crews eventually left the fire alone, allowing it to burn. Demonstrators applauded the firefighters, thanking them for a peaceful resolution. -

-I was there linking arms with fellow occupiers at 3:30 am and thanked the fire fighters and emergency workers for respecting the sacred fire and our peaceful assembly. We all showed respect and applauded them for the peaceful resolution. Hope the video goes up, I'll post it when it does..so much positivity! -Derek

Source: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/168030--occupy-toro...