Public Safety Report for July - August 2021

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: September 8, 2021 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING: September 14, 2021

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR JULY - AUGUST 2021

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:

• Inspections have resumed for July and August.
• Surrey Dispatch is finalizing mobile inspections for in the field application, in field trials have begun.
• During this reporting period the BC Wildfire rating system achieved the extreme rating.
• During this reporting period there was one fire investigation concluded as follows:

August 27th – Ned Williams Road Fire discovered by a resident in the home. Fire was caused by a loose neutral wire at an electrical outlet in a spare bedroom. Heavy smoke damage in the room of origin and one closet affected by fire damage. Damage estimated at $5,000. Fire determined to be accidental and electrical in nature.

Geoff Pitre, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• four members completed 1001 written exams for chapter 12 and 13
• four members completed Fire Leadership II
• one member attended Positive Pressure Fire Attack
• Attended Training Officers zoom meeting
• Low training numbers due to summer break and vacations

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Program:

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

• The EM Officer attended the following meetings:
  • REMP coordination conference calls
  • CRD Medical Health Officer conference calls
  • weekly/biweekly VIR Coordination conference calls with HEMBC/PREOC (COVID-19)
• Commercial Radio Frequency application for View Royal approved by Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Canada. Our new commercial radios have now been programmed with new frequencies and are ready for use by the Town. They will be issued out in September.
• Westshore Alert Promotion
• Heat Event - monitored and opened cooling centre in Colwood

Emergency Management Training:

• ESS Director Course

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS Team had one callout this reporting period on Ned Williams Road for a structure fire with eight displaced residents. No ESS Team meetings were held during summer. Additional activities were as follows:

• Cooling Centre activated at Colwood Church 13 August (6 hrs)

Emergency Radio Communications Team:

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers have met via radio (at home) weekly to keep up skills but have not held training sessions or meetings in municipal facilities. However, some maintenance and check-ins have been taking place from the View Royal Public Safety Building and Town Hall radio rooms to ensure municipal radio equipment is up to date and functional. The following are activities this reporting period:

• radio maintenance
• no other activities for summer

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

Building Department:

July Permit Summary

Aug Permit Summary

Revenue Summary

Bylaw Division:

The hot, dry summer conditions have resulted in an increase of dust and therefore an increase in soil bylaw files for a few different construction sites in town.

With the increased population of people experiencing homelessness within the municipality and the ever changing shelter and resource information, the Bylaw Department decided to move from the shelter list handout to a BC211 card, which has an up-to-date shelter and resource list to better help those affected. This format of handout will be easier for the Bylaw Officer to hand out as well.

Calls for service within the department are higher (10%) than this time last year.

July August Activity

Mark Groulx, Bylaw Enforcement Officer