It’s now been 15 years since two volunteer firefighters died on the job in Listowel, Ont. On March 17, 2011, flames tore through a dollar store. Ken Rea and Ray Walter were inside the building when the roof collapsed. According to the North Perth Fire Department, crews initially believed it was built using a steel truss system. An investigation later determined the roof contained lightweight construction material, which can become volatile when compromised in a fire. In response to that finding, officials said first responders would have used a different plan of attack to fight the flames. Rea and Walter’s names are now inscribed on a memorial outside the municipal headquarters in North Perth. It reads: “In honour of those who have fallen. Dedicated to those who serve.” In recognition of the anniversary, the Minto Fire Department posted a tribute to Rea and Walter on social media. Building code changes The Rea and Walter Act, first proposed in 2017, aimed to create greater transparency around the communication process. Specifically, municipalities were required to keep track and notify local fire departments about the use of lightweight construction materials. Those proposed changes have now been incorporated into Ontario’s Building Code.
