Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Fire Services

09/13/2026

It was a true honour and pleasure to join the Harbour Main–Chapels Cove–Lakeview Fire Department as they celebrated their 54th Anniversary of dedicated service.

As Region 1 Director with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services, I was proud to stand with the members of Harbour Main–Chapels Cove–Lakeview Fire Department as they marked more than five decades of commitment to protecting their communities. Anniversaries like this are a reminder of the countless hours, the courage, and the unwavering spirit shown by generations of firefighters who have answered the call.

To the Harbour Main–Chapels Cove–Lakeview Fire Department: congratulations on 54 remarkable years. Your service, your pride, and your dedication continue to make a lasting impact on the people you serve. Thank you for the invitation and for the work you do every single day.

09/07/2026

Please see the following update to our original post:

Visitation
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Stacey's Funeral Home, Gander
60 Roe Ave Gander, NL A1V 2E1

Service
Thursday, September 10, 2026
2:30 pm
Evangel Pentecostal Church, Gander
130 Magee Road, GANDER, NL

Fire Service Participation:

Uniformed fire service members from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are warmly welcomed to attend and participate in the fire service honours for Chief Noel Rideout.

Departments wishing to attend with fire service vehicles or apparatus are also welcome. Gander Fire Rescue will assist with coordination of visiting apparatus.

Planned fire service honours will include an Honour Guard, firefighter honour corridor, transportation of Chief Rideout aboard Gander’s historic 1939 pumper, and a fire service apparatus procession to All Saints Cemetery, followed by final fire service honours at the graveside.

Following the interment, Gander Fire Rescue will host a reception at the fire hall, and attending fire service members are welcome to join the family there.

It is with great sadness that the family of former Gander Fire Chief Noel Rideout advises the fire service community of his passing.

Chief Rideout dedicated a significant part of his life to the fire service and to the community of Gander, including serving as Fire Chief of the Gander Fire Department. His connection to the fire service remained an important part of his life, and it was his wish that the fire service be represented as part of his final farewell.

The Rideout family and Gander Fire Rescue
are working together to finalize arrangements for fire service funeral honours as part of his service in Gander.

The funeral will be a uniformed service, and fire departments and fire service members from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will be invited to attend. Opportunities will also be provided for members of the fire service to participate in the ceremonial components of the funeral.

At present, the service is anticipated to take place in Gander on either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. The exact date, time, location, ceremonial arrangements and instructions for participating departments and members will be distributed as soon as they are confirmed.

Departments wishing to attend are therefore asked to watch for a subsequent notice containing the formal invitation and fire service funeral details.

The Rideout family would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary support already received from the fire service community. The calls, messages, memories and offers of assistance have been overwhelming and are a powerful reminder of the fire service family to which Noel belonged for so much of his life.

Further information will follow as arrangements are finalized by the Rideout family and Gander Fire Rescue.

Sincerely,

Evan Cox
President
NL Association of Fire Services

09/05/2026

Hello NLAFS Members,

Due to the 2024 NLAFS Financial Audit being completed late it was not presented at our last annual convention as is normally done. In place of this, we will hold a virtual presentation for our members on Wednesday, Sept. 9th, at 8:00 P.M.

If you are interested in attending, The meeting link is below.

81aba7bc-b724-4d2f-b1bf-9c7b2e34502e@fc1985fe-38da-479f-8c4f-f661eb469fde?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/81aba7bc-b724-4d2f-b1bf-9c7b2e34502e@fc1985fe-38da-479f-8c4f-f661eb469fde?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

If you would like to view the 2024 Audit prior to the presentation it can be found in the members only section of our website. Click the "Resources" dropdown at the top of our homepage, then click "Members Only," where you will be prompted to enter the password to access all of our members-only documents. If you have not previously received the password please contact our office administrator Megan King at 709-424-6500. She will verify that you are a member in good standing and provide you with the required password.

Sincerely,
--
Evan Cox
President
NL Association of Fire Services

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

08/29/2026

Congratulations to Fred Hollett on the occasion of his retirement. We certainly hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life and find the time to spend with family and friends. We look forward to working with Chief Terry Scott in his new role going forwards. I think I speak for all of the fire service when I say your impact on it as a whole has contributed greatly in our province and we thank you for that over the many years. I am sure you will only be a phone call away if we need to absorb any of your wisdom and lived experience. Thank you for all you have done.

Sincerely,
Evan Cox
NLAFS President

This guy is the real deal. Over 50 years of service in fire fighting in many capacities, including military service from 1973-78.

Fred Hollett served as the Chief of the Portugal Cove - St. Philip's Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years - after serving 35 years with the province. And we were lucky to have him.

Today, as you get ready to retire, staff with The Town of Portugal Cove - St. Philip's had a chance to show their appreciation for all you’ve done.

Thank you for your service to our country and our province.

08/28/2026

We are proud to announce that Fire & Emergency Services Training School 2027 will be taking place back in Grand Falls-Windsor from May 29 to June 4, 2027!

Our town has been working hard to rejuvenate and improve our training grounds, creating an even better environment for firefighters to learn, train, and develop their skills.

The firefighters of Grand Falls-Windsor are looking forward to welcoming firefighters from across Newfoundland and Labrador for a week of professional development, hands-on training, and camaraderie.

We’re proud to once again host this great event and showcase what Grand Falls-Windsor has to offer the fire service community.

08/28/2026

Our Convention 2026 Tentative Schedule is now available on our webpage! Use the following link to check it out!

Convention . The NL Association of Fire Services are pleased to have the 2026 Convention in Gander, On September 25-27.   “Standing Together: Evolving, Leading and Building Resilience”   2026 Firefighter Registration   2026 Sustaining Members Registration   2026 Nomination Form   2026 Memor...

08/24/2026

Thank you to the firefighters who gave up their weekend to complete training as Structural Protection Unit (SPU) Leads for the Fire Services Division (FSD). Firefighters from all across our province were strategically selected by FSD and traveled to St. John's this past weekend to receive training from Albert Roach, the SPU supplier for our province.

Thank you also to FSD and the Government of NL for arranging this training and prioritizing our province's emergency preparedness.

Videos are in the comments.

08/24/2026

NLAFS Members! Newfoundland Power has donated a quantity of used Commercial Grade 49" LG Ultra HD Displays to the NLAFS.

We will distribute these units to applying fire departments for use in their firehalls via a lottery-style selection process.

All technical specifications for these units can be found here: https://www.lg.com/uk/business/commercial-display/digital-signage/standard/49uh5b-b/?srsltid=AfmBOoodJPSQRQSuTLWkYNWZJ1Pd2Tdiks1AgeXzyz4vHqq8CmJdcael

Fire Departments must:
- Be a member in Good Standing with the NL Association of Fire Services
- Complete and submit this form.
- Be aware that the delivery/pick-up of the awarded items is the responsibility of the selected Fire Dept, in a timely manner. There will be a two week window, from the time of notification from our office, to make arrangements to have the items picked-up during our regular office hours from 9:00A.M. to 4:00P.M. Monday to Friday in Clarenville. After two weeks, the items will be deemed as forfeited and distributed to another dept.

Application deadline: 11:59p.m. Aug.31st, 2026

IMPORTANT! If your Department is not in good standing, you will be notified, and your application may be void if outstanding fees are unresolved.

Please use the following link to apply:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQkWa7ops4kBdZRpHYvIfSsnHV60sqkwg-n2Fq6xu3ZQMRlQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Newfoundland Power has donated a quantity of Commercial grade 49" LG Ultra HD Displays to the NLAFS. We will be distributing these units for use in firehalls to fire departments that apply, using a lottery-style selection process. All technical specifications surrounding these units can be found her...

08/24/2026

🌸 The countdown is on — are you ready for High Tea? 🌸

We’re getting closer to this year’s elegant High Tea Party, happening September 26 at 11:00 AM at the Gander Fire Hall, and we can’t wait to see everyone dressed in their finest!

👒 Time to get those fascinators, hats, and Sunday-best outfits ready!
Show off your creativity — there’s a prize waiting for the most original creation.

Join us for a beautiful morning filled with:
🍰 Delicious breakfast & treats
🎲 Bingo and entertainment
🍷 W**e & cheese social
🏆 Prizes, laughter, and great company

This event is part of the Convention 2026 Partners Program, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic gathering.

Help spread the excitement — share this post and let’s make this High Tea Party one to remember! 💕

For all current Convention information, visit:
https://nlfireservices.com/convention-2026/

08/24/2026

A message from your Region 1 Director Jeff Jackson.

Today, I had the honor of attending the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Memorial Service, held at their beautifully renovated memorial site.

As Region 1 Director with the Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Fire Services, it was a privilege to stand with the members of the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department as we paused to remember and pay tribute to all those who have served and have since passed.

This memorial is more than a place of reflection—it is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment shown by generations of firefighters who protected their neighbors with courage and heart. Their legacy continues to guide and inspire the fire service community today.

To the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department: thank you for the invitation, and for the care you put into honoring your past members. Your commitment to preserving their memory speaks volumes about the strength of your department and the community you serve.

May we always remember those who answered the call, and may their service never be forgotten.