Markham Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) Fire Chief Adam J. Grant has been named Chief of the Year by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
“Chief Grant is the consummate professional and he has made great strides in modernizing Markham’s fire service,” says Markham CAO Andy Taylor. “It’s nice to see his efforts recognized by his peers, as reflected with this award.”
Grant has been a member of MFES for the past 17 years and was appointed fire chief in November 2020. He was recognized by the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs for his outstanding leadership and contributions in the fire sector.
Under his reign, MFES introduced a new auxiliary vehicle equipped with the DRAGO water cannon to its fleet, a first in North America for any fire service. DRAGO extinguishes and cools fire five times faster and uses 70 per cent less water than a traditional nozzle. It shoots mist more than 200 feet with a width of 50 feet and requires just two firefighters to operate. It offers firefighters an increased level of safety, the City reports.
In 2021, MFES announced an agreement with Humber College to enhance inclusion and reduce participation barriers for Black, Indigenous and racialized Markham students wanting to launch careers in firefighting. Through the program, Humber offers eight scholarships for students to study and train. Successful scholarship students who complete their schooling and certification are offered a job interview with MFES, and if successful, offered employment.
Also in 2021, MFES and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service signed an agreement to provide 24/7 emergency call-taking and dispatch service to Markham. The City credits the agreement with helping MFES improve its responsiveness, realize capital savings and modernize emergency services.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti extends his congratulations to Grant. “Markham is proud of you and your outstanding efforts in continuing to champion equity, diversity and inclusion within the fire service,” he says. “Thank you for your dedication and commitment to ensuring our community is safe.”
Photo: Markham Fire and Emergency Services Fire Chief Adam J. Grant. (City of Markham photo)
