On November 14, 2014, six crew members of HMCS Toronto, Lieutenant (Navy) Samuel Gaudreault, Lieutenant (Navy) Daniel Willis, Master Corporal Shirley Jardine, Leading Seaman Jean-Francois Martineau, Corporal Jo Boivin and Able Seaman Chris Richards, responded to a fire and assisted in the evacuation of a building in Antalya, Turkey, during a port visit.
The crew members used a fire hose, rigged in the street outside the building, to cool the structure and actually extinguished the fire. After supporting the evacuation of the building and handing over the scene to the fire department and police, the crew members returned to the ship. Two members of the Air Detachment also assisted with the response.
This incident demonstrated not only the personal fortitude and competence of these particular Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel, it also proves the effectiveness of the training provided to sailors to be of the highest calibre both within and without the uniform.
All members of RCN ship’s companies are first responders for fire and flood control, which is necessary for shipboard life, especially on board warships, due to the nature of their mission and in the interest of safety and security of those on board.
HMCS Toronto was in Antalya, Turkey for a short port visit following its participation in the Turkish-led anti-submarine warfare Exercise Mavi Balina, held in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
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Press release, Image: Canadian Navy