Protective Services & Community Services Report - PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services DATE: March 7, 2018 MEETING: March 13, 2018

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receive 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:

• Regular fire inspections are being conducted as per our frequency of inspection guideline with a compliance rating of 92.69%.
• The department is currently reviewing plans and attending meetings with municipal staff and developers on three projects.
• The division delivered the following Public Education sessions:
  • two presentations to preschool/Kindergarten groups totaling 29 children and 12 adults.
• During this period one fire investigation was concluded:
  • Glenairlie Drive, Feb. 19th Crews responded to a property on Glenairlie Drive for the report of structure fire. On arrival, crews found smoke inside the structure. Crews completed an internal search and found that the TV had been resting against the gas fire place. Crew extinguished the TV and removed it from the house. They then vacated the smoke using fans. The cause of this fire was determined as accidental from human failing.

The main focus for the division has been on a complete rework of the Department’s website. The division has worked very closely with the Emergency Program division in particular in ensuring the most current information is available. The division continues to work with our website and social media feeds to keep the public informed and up to date on department activities and programs.

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• 1001 Training continues on Monday evenings; new recruits are also training Monday evenings
• 6 Members completed Red Cross AED/CPR First Responder Training
• 6 Members completed naloxone endorsement on First Responder License
• 36 Members completed BC Hydro Electrical Safety for Fire Fighters
• 6 Members completed Emergency Traffic Control
• 3 Members have been enrolled in the JIBC’s Fire Officer program
• 4 Members completed Air Brakes endorsement, instructed by Road Masters Safety Group
• 9 Members have started Fire Officer 1, Front-Line Leadership
• 2 Members have been signed off to drive Rescue 36
• 1 Member has been signed off to drive L35
• 4 Members attended “Climb the Wall” at the Wall Centre in Vancouver as a fundraiser for lung cancer. Members completed the 48 story climb from 8 to 10 minutes.
• Saturday drills are still being well attended
• Colwood Fire used View Royal’s training tower twice in February for Thursday night training.

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Program:

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

• Emergency Program Officer attended following meetings:
  • LGEPAC
  • REMP Public Ed Working Group
  • CRD regional post tsunami warning event review/debrief
  • Westshore EOC roundtable discussion
• Tsunami Warning Jan 23rd prompted EOC level 1 activation and evacuation/notification of approximately 70 homes. More were planned, however, warning was rescinded before we could get to other waterfront residents.
• In conjunction with City of Colwood, exploring acquisition of mass notification systems for future emergencies. ERMS seems to be the most viable with an option to piggy back onto CRD’s contract at a lower rate.
• UBCM ESS Funding Grant application for $25,000 for our Colwood/View Royal ESS team was approved.
• Inventory and restocking of all yellow disaster bins located at schools and municipal buildings.
• $25,000 EOC grant application submitted to UBCM for approval.
• 3 Tsunami Information Sessions delivered to approximately 100 residents.
• ESS 5 year agreement signed with City of Colwood.

Emergency Program Training:

• Tsunami Response debrief/overview – 6 Town Staff
• EOC Applied Training – 1 ESS
• Disasters and Trauma – 2 Town Staff

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS team had one callout this reporting period. The first call was in Colwood for a fire at Mountview but ESS was stood down. Two monthly meetings were held and well attended. Additional activities are as follows:

• ESSD regional meeting
• Reception Centre activation due to Jan 23rd Tsunami warning. 70 residents from Colwood and View Royal were received.
• Assisted with tsunami information sessions in View Royal
• Work party to organize Public Ed materials

Emergency Communications Team:

The Team had the following activity during this period:

• Supported the 2018 Pacific Cup Hockey tournament with radio communications
• Net controller, Inter-municipal net
• Attended CRECC meeting
• Weekly nets on View Royal frequencies
• Weekly check in with inter-municipal net
• Two new commercial grade UHF/VHF antennas received for installation in 2018 on new CREST monopole. Ed McCarthy is liaising with contractors to ensure correct design for our radio system.

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

Building Department:

The months of January and February began the New Year as busy months with plan checks, inspections and working with the Bylaw Department both covering and helping integrate our new Bylaw Officer. Further workshops and other activity involving the Energy Step Code were again attended for information gathering and to ensure the Town has a voice in achieving a regional decision. The Chief Building Officials of the Greater Victoria area continue to meet to discuss the alignment of important issues such as the Step Code.

Phase 7 in the Lund Road area permits have begun to roll in for review and construction. The Building Department looks forward to a good year in the construction industry and the development of View Royal.

January Permit Summary

February Permit Summary

Permit Revenue Comparison Chart

Gary Faykes, Building Inspector

Chief’s Comments:

After concluding a record year in 2017, the start of 2018 shows no sign of slowing down.

The Department hosted the RCMP at the Public Safety Building for a 3 day integrated Drug Operations course. The facility proved beneficial as Police members utilized the training rooms, the apparatus bays and the rear training yard. A total of 28 RCMP and Municipal Police Officers attended.

The Town’s new Bylaw Enforcement Officer is working well as he navigates existing files and deals with new issues. A new quarterly reporting format will be ready for the next report. Several files are on-going and the work load is such that the new part-time clerk position will be a welcome addition to the department.

As noted above, our Firefighters’ Association participated in the annual stair climb at the Wall Centre in Vancouver. Firefighters are also attending the Seattle stair climb on March 10, 2018. All funds raised by the Association are donated to cancer and leukemia charities.

Renewals of Fire Protection Agreements continue with our two Nations with an anticipated conclusion in March 2018. As well, the Fire Chiefs of Colwood, Esquimalt and View Royal signed a new mutual aid schedule for service, under the existing six party Fire Services Agreement.

Extensive meetings have occurred with Langford Fire and Colwood Fire to address current and anticipated growth in the three Westshore communities. The Chiefs have concluded that a collaborative and unified approach to providing fire protection is required to ensure all our needs are met today and in future years. Discussions have included equipment deployment strategies, joint purchasing, shared training and staffing initiatives and response to complex buildings and fires. The end goal is to look at fire protection from a high level and without municipal boundaries in an effort to maintain current models as well as anticipated expansions in service and staff. It’s encouraging that the neighbouring Chiefs and my office have similar views to providing high levels of service under our current budgets and philosophies.

2018 marks 70 years of un-interrupted fire protection in the View Royal community. To date, 279 community members have served as volunteer firefighters. Although the department was actually formed in 1939 as an Air Raid Patrol, our letters patent were not signed until May 1948. I am working with the Firefighters’ Association to recognize the 70 year anniversary and ensure the community is involved in celebrations and recognition.

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

REVIEWED BY: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer