VICTORIA—Firefighters who have battled British Columbia wildfires, fire investigators and fire crews working for Indigenous groups will be eligible for greater access to job-related health compensation under legislation introduced Thursday. Labour Minister Harry Bains tabled amendments to the Workers Compensation Act that extends occupational disease and mental-health benefits to more people who work around fires. Wildfire Service firefighter Max Arcand uses a torch to ignite dry brush during a controlled burn to help prevent the Finlay Creek wildfire from spreading near Peachland, B.C., on September 7, 2017. Presumptive illnesses faced by firefighters are recognized under the act as conditions caused by the nature of the work, rather than having firefighters prove their issue is job related to receive supports and benefits. Bains says the government expanded the presumptive job-related conditions last year to include mental-health disorders for police officers, paramedics, sheriffs, correctional officers and most urban firefighters.

Source: thestar April 11, 2019 19:07 UTC