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Committee of the Whole/Documents/CAO UPDATE
Staff Report

CAO UPDATE

January 14, 2025Pages 457–4642 sections

A report from the Chief Administrative Officer highlighting significant municipal activities and departmental updates for November and December 2024.

1 CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Hire of Troy Ziegler as new Director of FinanceLaunch of 'Social PinPoint' digital engagement tool planned for late January429 business licence renewals issued in 2024Knollwood Park playground equipment installation nearing completion14,700 holiday lights installed across seven trees at Centennial Park
Page 457–464

BRITISH COLUMBIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION

Affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters since 1929

Minister of Housing
May 15, 2024
MLA: Hon. Ravi Kahlon
ravi.kahlon.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Re: Single Egress Stairway in Multi-Family Homes

I am writing on behalf of the Executive Board of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA), representing 55 Local Affiliates and 4,500 professional fire fighters. We have concerns about the proposed amendments to the Provincial Building and Fire Codes and wish to bring them to your attention.

While we appreciate the consultation and collaborative efforts taken by the Provincial Government, we are particularly concerned about the proposed allowance of a single means of egress for new low to mid-rise residential buildings of up to eight (8) storeys. We believe this measure poses an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of occupants, the public, and our fire fighters.

To address this issue, the BCPFFA has created a working group that includes a National Building Codes Consultant from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the Fire Chief’s Association of BC (FCABC). In addition, the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA), the Ontario Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) all have positions of great concern and oppose the single stairway concept.

Fire services emphasize the importance of fire safety to the fire commissioner's office, which oversees fire safety in British Columbia. Allowing for a single means of egress for residential structures risks the health and safety of the occupants, the public, and all first responder members. Therefore, we urge the Provincial Government and Minister of Housing to be mindful of past incidents that have established the baseline building codes we follow today.

The BCPFFA strongly recommends that sufficient exits be put in place to meet the needs of occupants to evacuate safely in the event of an emergency and to provide a safe place for fire fighters to conduct fire fighting operations (and occupant rescue) while protecting both occupants and firefighters from the undue risk that comes with single exits. This recommendation is supported by clear evidence of the effectiveness of having two stairwells, one for egress and one for fire operations.

Yours Truly,

Todd Schierling
President

Cc Hon. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia
Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Fire Commissioner Brian Godlonton, Office of the Fire Commissioner

Page 457–464
Extracted from: 2025 01 14 Committee of the Whole Agenda - Agenda - Pdf