A Line of Duty Death Service is being held to honour the life of a New Westminster firefighter whose life was cut short by occupational cancer.
New Westminster Firefighters, members of IAFF Local 256, recently announced the death of retired training captain Dave Phillips, affectionately known as Super Dave. Phillips, 63, passed away on Nov. 20.
"Super Dave was legendary for his incredible preparedness—if you needed something, you could count on him to have it in the back of his truck. Beyond his resourcefulness, he was a mentor, a leader, and a steadfast friend to those who worked alongside him,” said a post on the New Westminster Firefighters Facebook page. “His sense of humour and genuine care for others made him an irreplaceable part of the fire service community.”
Phillips began his career as a New Westminster firefighter in 1995. He retired in December 2020 after 25 years of service.
“As we mourn this tremendous loss, we also extend our deepest condolences to Dave's family. Our shared grief is a testament to the profound impact he had on all of us, and we stand together in honouring his memory,” said the post. “His unwavering dedication to his team and his commitment to helping others left an indelible mark on everyone he touched. Dave will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the lives of those privileged to have known him.”
Fire Chief Erin Williams said Phillips was not only a coworker but a good friend. He said Phillips was hired as a firefighter for the City of New Westminster in August 1995 and was promoted to training captain in 2014.
“Dave was instrumental in building the NWFRS training division into what it is today, and his passion for serving the community didn’t stop at being a firefighter. He volunteered countless hours in the community working with the NWFRS Charitable Society and helping anyone who needed it,” Williams said in a statement to the Record. “He proudly served the community as a firefighter, and sadly his life was cut far too short as the result of occupational cancer. He will be greatly missed by his brothers and sisters in the fire service.”
According to a Health Canada report, cancer accounts for more than 85 per cent of duty-fatality claims, based on workers’ compensation claims data, among Canadian firefighters. The report – National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting – states that firefighters have a nine per cent higher risk of cancer diagnosis, and a 14 per cent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general public.
Williams said a Line of Duty Death Service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. at the Anvil Centre. The service will begin at noon with a firefighter procession led by pipes and drums starting on Fourth Street and marching towards Anvil Centre.
The City of New Westminster has issued a notice that traffic and parking restrictions will be in effect on Columbia Street between Fourth and Eighth Streets on Dec. 18 to accommodate the Line of Duty Funeral Procession for Phillips. Timing and location of restrictions are as follows:
- No parking on Columbia Street between Fourth to Eighth streets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- No vehicle traffic between Fourth to Eighth streets from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- No vehicle traffic between Sixth to Eight streets (only) from 2:30 pm to 3:30 p.m.
Pedestrian traffic will not be affected by the parking and vehicle restrictions.
