Fire Department Report for January - February 2013

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2013

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receives this report for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To update the Committee on the operations of the Fire Department.

DISCUSSION:

Fire Prevention Inspection & Public Education:

During this reporting period the department delivered 6 Public Education sessions at the fire hall for a total of 84 children and 26 adults.
In conjunction with the View Royal Casino Fire Extinguisher training was delivered to all Casino staff (27 people) in 3 different sessions over this reporting period.
Regular fire inspections are being conducted as per our frequency of inspection guideline.
The department is currently reviewing plans and attending meetings with municipal staff and developers on 3 projects.
During this period 1 fire investigation was conducted as follows:
1. 494 Island Hwy The department received the report of two separate fires at the above location involving the spontaneous combustion of kitchen / cleaning rags. The investigation has not been concluded as of yet and the investigation continues focusing on the cleaning process as well as the chemical combinations of the cleaning solutions.

On February 14th the division participated in its second PARTY Program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) educational session at Victoria General Hospital. Four members from the department ran the “Car Crash Station” and spoke to over 100 grade 10 students from local high schools about our role in a motor vehicle accident as well as some of the trauma our members see and have to deal with. This session was extremely well received by the students and program staff. Our next education sessions will be on May 16th and 23rd.

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

8 Members completed JIBC First Responder training with AED endorsement
29 Members attended Winter Driving Awareness, instructed by Road Masters
15 members completed Red Cross Health Care Provider
4 members completed Hazardous Avoidance Tactics driving course
5 members completed Hazardous Materials Awareness class hosted by JIBC
2 Members attended Hazardous Materials training hosted by CRD
1 Member completed two practical evaluations for NFPA 1001 training
3 Members completed 5 written evaluations for NFPA 1001 training
Attended Greater Victoria’s Training officers Bi-Monthly meeting
Additional Tuesday night training for NFPA 1001 practical’s

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Program:

The following are the most noteworthy activities and events for the Emergency Program this reporting period:

EP officer attended one LGEPAC meeting
EP Officer and DEPC attended REPAC meeting
Updating of EOC binders and forms continue
DEPC drafted new Volunteer Ethics agreement and personnel info forms
Communications closet cleaned and organized
Assisted RCMP member with Emergency Management scenario and attended RCMP Emergency planning presentations
Planning for EP Week events including Regional EP Display
Draft Emergency Bylaw and Staff recall policy
Emergency Management Committee meeting held
Mobile Weather station ordered
Participating in UBC Master’s thesis project for earthquake loss and damage modeling using HAZUS (FEMA) software. This project will provide valuable earthquake planning information for no cost to View Royal

Emergency Program Training:

Information Officer – 1 Director
ICS 100 – 1 Director
EOC3 Operations – 2 Staff, 1 FF.
Intro to EM – 1 FF
EOC 1 - 1 FF
Reception Centre – 1 ESS
Managing Walk-in Volunteers – 3 ESS
Earthquake Presentation PGSC – 7 ESS and 1 DEPC

Emergency Support Services

The ESS team had no callouts this reporting period. Our ESS Team was active with the following activities:

Reconnaissance and mapping of Colwood Reception Centers
Level one training
New volunteer orientation

Two monthly meetings were, as usual, well attended. One Regional ESS Directors meeting was hosted by View Royal. A coordination meeting with the Deputy ESSD’s and EP staff was also held.

Troy Mollin, Emergency Program Officer Cindy Heslop, Deputy Emergency Coordinator Ruth Reynolds, Emergency Support Services Director

Pre-fire Planning/Mapping/Fire Hydrants:

Four new pre-fire plans were completed during the reporting period and two existing plans were revised. A total of 57 buildings have had pre-fire plans prepared.

The Town’s GIS contractor has completed work on a new wall map in the fire station. The department also met CRD Parks GIS staff to the discuss the need for a new Thetis Lake/Mill Hill park map which would provide detailed information such as the trail network, fire access roads, significant geographical features and boat access points. This map will be produced by CRD Parks at no cost to the Town.

The Songhees nation has started a project to produce a GIS map of their community. The fire department, which has detailed and accurate address data of the Songhees nation, has provided this information to assist with the completion of the project. I will continue to meet with the contractor managing this project to ensure that the department’s mapping needs are met.

CRD Water installs three new hydrants each year at the request of the fire department. The department is currently determining where it wants these hydrants installed. The department will also provide CRD Water with a list of hydrants that require maintenance.

David Brown, Pre-planner

Chiefs Comments:

January saw the delivery of our replacement fire engine from SMEAL Fire Apparatus. This unit replaces our current second due pump of 26 years. Training and equipping of the new engine is expected to be completed in March with an in service date of mid-April. This project was managed and concluded successfully by Training Officer BEVAN over the course of the last two and a half years. I am pleased to report that the vehicle satisfies all our requirements and has exceeded our expectations. The truck was delivered on time and under the approved budget.

The fire station replacement project is moving forward very well. Both the CAO and Fire Chief have been meeting regularly with the architects and other professionals over the past 2 months. As of this date, HCMA has concluded 50% design drawings for the technical aspects of the building. We anticipate a presentation to the Committee in April with preliminary designs along with form and character visions from the Architectural team.

2012 was a successful year for the department. Calls for service remained as expected from previous years, several significant projects were completed by the respective divisions and volunteer commitment remains high. Currently our volunteer strength is at 33 members; however this is a dynamic number and can change from month to month. I am confident with our continued recruitment strategy and retention model for the next 12 to 24 months. As part of the departments continued evolution, staff and volunteers will be engaging in a two day strategic planning session to review and update our current 2009-2012 Operation Plan. Issues of equipment, staffing, recruiting and response are reviewed and modified to address changing demands or trends.

In October 2012, the department engaged the Fire Underwriters Survey to update our current fire protection model. This review and update will replace the existing survey from 2003. With significant Town investment in the Fire Department over the past six years, I anticipate an improved insurance rating for residents with potential cost reductions in fire insurance. I will report to the Committee when the report is received.

SUBMITTED BY: Paul Hurst, Fire Chief

REVIEWED BY: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer