Protective Services Report - PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

Protective Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services DATE: November 8, 2023 MEETING: November 14, 2023

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receive this report for information.

ACTING CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To update the Committee on the operations of the Public Safety Department.

DISCUSSION:

Fire Prevention Inspection & Public Education:

• September and October 100% completion of fire inspections
• Extinguisher training and safety preparedness session for Songhees Retirement Park, 18 adults
• October 19 Victory Hill Daycare fire hall tour, 19 children and 4 adults
• Hallowe’en 2023 - busiest community event to date
• Westshore Fireworks Permit online exam and permit process was another successful year (4 View Royal permits)
• Movember kick-off with busiest pumpkin smash to date
• No reportable fires for September and October

Geoff Pitre, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• Two Members completed Pleasure Craft License
• Two Members completed Class 3 Drivers License
• One Member attended CRD HazMat Training
• One Member completed Air Brakes Endorsement
• Six Members completed 1002 Training Emergency Vehicle Operations
• Six Members attend Nozzle Forward Fire Attack Training
• Two Members attended BCLEM Training
• One Member has started Fire Officer 1 Training
• One Member completed ICBC Child Car Seat Educator
• Twenty-one Members attended Hallowe’en

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Program:

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

• ESS Directors Meetings
• Two Extreme Heat Project workshops with Logic League (Staff and Community)
• Heat Risk Mapping with Fraser Basin Council
• Public Education Coordination Meeting
• Earthquake Preparedness Workshop – 10 community members
• Shakeout Drill – led by Director of Corporate Administration
• EMBC Seasonal Readiness meeting
• Province still working on update of Emergency Program Act Modernization. Current progress and intent can be found here: Modernized emergency management legislation - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
• 2022 UBCM CEPF Extreme Heat Grant project (Community Heat Resilience) has been drafted and is being reviewed. Final report due November.
• 2023 UBCM CIRP Grant for Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan and FireSmart Coordinator submitted.

Emergency Management Training:

• EOC Logistics: 1 Volunteer
• 2 X VR EM Orientation sessions: 1 Volunteer
• Nuclear response exercise w/ CFB Esquimalt – EM Officer

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS Team had one callout this reporting period (see below). Two ESS Team meetings were held and were well attended. Additional activities were as follows:

Current number of volunteers on active list: 35 There are approximately 12-14 volunteers that show up regularly. 3 ESS volunteers continue to work at EMCR in the Provincial ESS Call Centre. They have been answering calls from evacuees, ESS Responders, and Suppliers throughout the province.

Level 1 CALL OUTS and Mutual Aid Assistance:

Emergency Radio Communications Team:

The View Royal Radio team stood down for summer break but was still operationally available for emergencies.

The following are activities this reporting period:

• Exercise ETREX 2023 with EMCR.
• Update and amend SOP documents for each Radio Station.
• Team training and cross training in house.
• Test equipment weekly.
• Pick up new radio (Yaesu FTM300D) for testing.
• VRCC Decals and Crests are now available.
• Software implementation and updates.
• New 2024 Weekly Net schedule drafted to ensure more staffing and training for all radio volunteers

Volunteer hours for the VRCC Team:

• Combined Team hours for year to date, 546 hours.
• Volunteer Hours for Sept./Oct. to date, 98 hours.

Troy Mollin, Emergency Program Assistant Pam Rivers, Emergency Social Services Director Ed McCarthy, Emergency Radio Coordinator

Bylaw Division:

Bylaw is working together with the Development Services Department on a few larger files that are expected to be closed before the end of the year. There has been success with the collaborated effort between departments and that success is anticipated to carry on with these files.

*not included in total file count

Brad Cameron, Bylaw Enforcement Officer

SUBMITTED BY: Paul Hurst, Fire Chief/Director of Protective Services

REVIEWED BY: Sarah Jones, Acting Chief Administrative Officer