Public Safety Report for July- August 2019

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services DATE: September 3, 2019 MEETING: September 10, 2019

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR JULY- AUGUST 2019

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 3, 2019 from the Director of Protective Services titled “Public Safety Report for July – August 2019” be received 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:

• regular fire inspections are being conducted as per our frequency of inspection guideline with a compliance rating of 98.32%;
• plans are currently being reviewed and attendance at meetings with municipal staff and developers on two projects;
• due to the summer break the division did not deliver any public education sessions; and
• during this period one fire investigation was concluded as follows:
  • August 8 – Craigflower Road Crews responded for the report of a structure fire on Craigflower Road. Upon arrival crews found smoke and flame coming from the second storey balcony. Crews were able to extinguish the fire from the exterior and prevent it from entering the structure. Upon investigation it was determined that the fire started in a planter and spread to the rest of the balcony. It was determined that the cause of the fire was from smokers’ materials.

Sometime in August the Fire Department website was unfortunately hacked. In conjunction with our server provider the Department has started the process of rebuilding our site. The Department continues to work with Surrey dispatch, as well as our training division to implement the new mobile data terminals (MDT’s) in the trucks.

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• five members completed NFPA 1001;
• five members recertified First Responder Certificate;
• six members completed second portion of SOFA (Safe Operation of a Fire Apparatus);
• new recruits completed Module 2 practical and module written;
• one member completed Class 3 drivers license;
• two members attended Fire Smart training hosted by BC Wildfire;
• six members attended MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) training;
• the Monday evening 1001 training continues;
• Saturday training continues; and
• low attendance by members due to summer vacations.

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Management Division:

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

• EM Officer attended following meetings:
  • REMP - Capital Regional Exercise Strategy Workshop
  • LGEPAC meeting – “After ESS Ends”
  • ESSD
• planning has commenced for the Shakeout exercise in October; and
• 150 blankets were donated to the Emergency Program from VIHA.

Emergency Management Training:

• Information Officer – one radio
• ICS 200: one FF
• EOC training – three ESS, two Town staff

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS team had one callout this reporting period in View Royal: four displaced residents from Craigflower Road due to structure fire (smoke).

No monthly meetings were held due to summer holidays. Additional activities were as follows:

• ESSD meeting;
• work parties;
• booth at Canada Day celebration at Craigflower Manor;
• booth at Eats and Beats in Colwood; and
• two new volunteers recruited.

The current Deputy ESS Director stepped down and David Mollison has been appointed as his replacement.

Emergency Communications Team:

The team has been inactive for the summer holidays. However, some work was done to configure radios.

Troy Mollin, Emergency Management Officer Ruth Reynolds, Emergency Support Services Director Ed McCarthy, Emergency Radio Coordinator

Building Department:

Gary Faykes, Building Inspector

July and August have been catch-up months for old permits, a time for some educational improvement especially within the parameters of energy efficiency in the building code and saw some bigger projects begin the review process.

Staff are currently reviewing for the new Thetis Lake development as well as “The Glen”.

July Permit Summary

August Permit Summary

Bylaw Division:

The Bylaw Department has been fielding a fair number of calls regarding unsightly premises, some of which were deemed unfounded, while many others are well on their way to being resolved under direction of the Bylaw Officer.

Mark Groulx, Bylaw Enforcement Officer

Chiefs Comments:

The summer months have been relatively quiet for calls. With summer holidays, the volunteers are taking much needed family vacations, as such the number of drill hours and attendance declines slightly during these months.

With the shift in BC Ambulance call types and reallocation of resources, the Department has reduced significantly the number of medical aid calls. This reduction falls in line with their program to engage fire department resources more effectively and for actual medical emergencies.