| Topic: Firefighting – When is a bunker suit required | Issued by: Chief Compliance Officer |
| Statute: General Regulation 91-191 | Date Issued: September 17, 2025 |
| Section: 51.2, 51.3, 51.4 & 51.5 | Date Revised: |
Question:
Do firefighters always need to wear their bunker suit when responding to a call?
Answer:
The requirement for bunker suits relates only to structural firefighting, some activities conducted by firefighters are not related to structural firefighting. As examples, responding to medical emergencies, vehicular traffic, fighting grass fire, water rescue, etc. In this case, the firefighters are not involved in the activities of structural firefighting, and a bunker suit is not required. The type of protective equipment required are link to the hazards that the firefighters are exposed to and the employer shall conduct a risk assessment to determine the adequate protection.
There are exemptions to this interpretation. The regulation requires specific protective footwear, respiratory protective equipment and body harness and ropes when the firefighter is involved in the activity of rescue. Rescue is not defined in the regulation but is defined by Oxford dictionary as: To save somebody/something from a dangerous or harmful situation.
When responding to a vehicular accident where there is potential for a fire, firefighters should be prepared to engage in structural firefighting by wearing their bunker suits, which will also better protect them from the hazards of an explosion.
When responding to a grass fire, or are called to fight forest fires, the protective equipment provided by the firefighters can be the same as wildland firefighters.
Referenced legislation
"Structural firefighting" means the activities of rescue, fire suppression and conservation of property from fires involving buildings, structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft or other large objects;
“Firefighter” means an employee who provides fire protection services to the public from a fire department within a local government or rural district, and includes an industrial firefighter;
51.2(1) When engaged in structural fire-fighting, a firefighter shall use protective headwear that meets or exceeds NFPA 1972, “Standard on Helmets for Structural Fire Fighting”, 1992 edition.
51.3 When engaged in structural fire-fighting or rescue, a firefighter shall use protective footwear that
(a) meets or exceeds NFPA 1974, “Standard on Protective Footwear for Structural Fire Fighting”, 1992 edition or the standard for Grade 1 footwear, with sole puncture protection and electric shock resistant soles, in CSA standard CAN/CSA Z195-M92, “Protective Footwear”,
(b) is water resistant for at least 12.7 cm above the bottom of the heel, and
(c) has a slip-resistant outer sole.
51.4 When engaged in structural fire-fighting, a firefighter shall wear protective handwear that meets or exceeds NFPA 1973, “Standard on Gloves for Structural Fire Fighting”, 1993 edition.
51.5 When engaged in structural firefighting, a firefighter shall wear a protective coat and trousers that
(a) meet or exceed NFPA 1971, “Standard on Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting”, 1991 edition or CGSB standard CAN155.1- M88 (as amended Nov.90). “Fire Fighter’s Protective Clothing for Protection Against Heat and Flame”, and
(b) fit properly in sleeve length, coat length, chest girth, waist girth, trouser inseam length and crotch rise so as to minimize inefficient operations and unsafe situations resulting from the interference of one piece of clothing or equipment with another.