IAFC and TransCanada Extend Partnership

Fairfax, Va. – The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and TransCanada Corporation today announced an extension of their partnership to 2020 to enable the organizations to work collaboratively to provide training and education for first responders on energy and pipeline safety.

Since 2013, the IAFC and TransCanada have partnered to deliver an innovative training program, primarily through the creation of an online pipeline incident training portal as well as the delivery of a series of regional town halls across the U.S.

TransCanada’s commitment to provide resources over the next three years will support the continued growth of first responder outreach relationships between TransCanada and local jurisdictions as well as in-person town hall events, fire preplan development and tabletop training to meet the needs of local emergency responders.

The organizations will also continue to share their commitment to providing the emergency management community with the necessary online training and resources to promote safe response to pipeline incidents.

“The IAFC is delighted to continue our strong partnership with TransCanada,” said Chief John Sinclair, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “The education, training and resources we are able to provide responders and communities are invaluable. The IAFC shares TransCanada’s fierce commitment to energy and pipeline safety.”

“The goal of our partnership has always been safer pipelines, safer emergency response and safer communities,” said Vern Meier, vice president of Safety, Quality & Compliance at TransCanada. “We couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last few years with the IAFC and the opportunity we’ve had to reach out to local emergency responders across the U.S. both online and in-person at our town halls. We are excited to continue this partnership, which will further the level of training and awareness of pipeline safety among emergency responders, especially in the areas where we live and work.”

In 2017, a series of five town halls hosted in locations across the U.S. will focus on pipeline response plan collaboration, with TransCanada sharing its local asset maps and response software capacity.

Following each town hall, TransCanada and the IAFC will work to establish preplans with local fire departments and will return to lead a joint tabletop exercise and improve response collaboration.

In addition, TransCanada will be a visible presence at IAFC conferences throughout the year. These include the International Hazardous Materials Response Team Conference, June 15-18, 2017, and the VCOS Symposium in the Sun, Nov. 9-12, 2017.