Amid LODD, Unions Call for Resignation of Nova Scotia Firefighters' School Director

Union leaders and the family of a firefighter who died while attending the Nova Scotia Firefighters School are calling on the school's executive director to resign.

Truro Firefighter Skyler Blackie died in March 2019 after the expired extinguisher he was using exploded during a certification exam.

The family was provided information recently revealing Blackie informed his instructor, but was told to use it anyway, according to the CBC.

Truro firefighters have not used the training facility in five years.

Blaine Blackie, Skyler's father, joined firefighters' unions in Halifax and Truro in calling for Executive Director John Cunningham to resign.

Fire officials noted the provincial government ended a stop work order allowing it to resume its activities. All classes had been suspended since August.

"It took the stop work order to sort of get them off their butt and start looking after the safety there, which sort of goes to their character. They've had five years to look after the safety there and they have not done anything until their hand was forced," Blackie said.

President of the Truro Professional Firefighters Association Tom Malone told a reporter: "Now we are asking all other N.S. fire departments to not use the fire school until major changes are made to management, board of directors and funding." 

Halifax Professional Firefighters Vice-President Joe Triff added: "The culture at the fire school is responsible for a death of a firefighter, And we don't believe that the leadership that was in place at the time has taken this seriously."