PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR MAY – AUGUST 2018

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL

Protective Services & Community Services Report

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services DATE: September 11, 2018 MEETING: September 18, 2018

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT FOR MAY – AUGUST 2018

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 11, 2018 from the Director of Protective Services titled “Public Safety Report for May – August 2018” 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 98.61%;
• the department is currently reviewing plans and attending meetings with municipal staff and developers on two projects;
• The division delivered the following public education sessions:
  • six presentations to preschool/kindergarten groups totaling 107 children and twenty-two adults; and
• during this period no fire investigations were conducted.

Public Education Activities during this period:

• during the month of May the department delivered two education sessions with the P.A.R.T.Y. Program at Victoria General Hospital. Members staffed the “car crash” station to inform the Grade 10 students of the dangers they face if driving while intoxicated as well as the dangers emergency responders face at motor vehicle incidents. Members also discussed incidents with the students and how they have affected our members; and
• on June 9th the Department had its Annual Open House. This year the Department added a Platoon Combat Challenge where members of the individual platoons teamed up to compete against each other. Members also provided several demonstrations like “grease flash over” as well as a demonstration with our new car fire simulator. All in all it was estimated that over 1,000 residents attended the event.

Robert G. Marshall, Fire Prevention Officer

Training Division:

• five members completed Live Fire 1 at Otter Point through VIERA (Vancouver Island Emergency Response Academy);
• five additional members attended a Live Fire 1 refresher;
• twelve members assisted with EP Fair;
• two members completed Red Cross First Responder, licensed with EMA (Emergency Medical Assistant Licensing Board B.C.);
• three members completed Canadian Pleasure Craft Operators Licence;
• nine members completed Fire Officer 1, Company Inspections;
• six members completed 1001, Module 2;
• 1001 Training continues on Monday evenings; and
• Saturday drills are continuing with good attendance.

Heath Bevan, Training Officer

Emergency Management Division:

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

• EM Officer attended following meetings:
  • REMP Concept of Ops workshop;
  • REMP Public Education WG Meeting (VR hosted);
  • Westshore Emergency Management meeting (Colwood, Langford, Highlands. Metchosin, VR, RCMP);
  • Emergency Preparedness Fair Planning Committee (final meeting);
  • View Royal Elementary Fun Fair – distribute EP information;
  • ERMS meeting with CRD; and
  • two ESS meetings.
• 11th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair - over forty organizations participated with nearly 1,000 attendees from the public;
• VRFD Open House - Emergency Preparedness display focusing on tsunamis;
• tsunami mapping for View Royal drafted with more neighbourhood specific mapping to come;
• tsunami information brochure draft complete;
• ERMS Mass Notification System - near finalization with CRD to set up a contract;
• three Emergency Preparedness workshops were scheduled but due to low registration the workshops were cancelled;
• hosted JIBC Regional EM training; and
• ESS phones upgraded to smartphones.

Emergency Management Training:

• EOC refresher – five staff;
• ICS 100 – one ESS;
• Intro to ESS – one Radio;
• Planning for Community Disaster Recovery – one staff, one ESS;
• Designing Discussion Based Emergency Exercises – one FF; and
• Vancouver Island EP Conference – six ESS.

Emergency Support Services:

The ESS team had two callouts this reporting period - one in View Royal (HAZMAT Incident) and one to assist with evacuees from Fort St James. Two monthly meetings were held and well attended. Additional activities are as follows:

• ESSD regional meeting;
• Participated in EP fair with fifteen volunteers;
• work party to organize public education materials, new storage room and ESS office;
• EP/ESS display booths at:
  • JDF Library (three);
  • Colwood Public Works yard
  • Canada Day Celebration Craigflower Manor;
  • VRFD Open House;
  • Colwood Fire Open House; and
  • Eats and Beats – Esquimalt Lagoon.
• ESS Annual BBQ held in Colwood; and
• one new volunteer recruited.

Emergency Communications Team:

The team had the following activity during this reporting period:

• net controller, inter-municipal net;
• attendance at the CRECC meeting;
• weekly nets on View Royal frequencies;
• weekly check in with inter-municipal net;
• participated in EP fair with five volunteers;
• participated in VRFD Open House with three volunteers; and
• one Volunteer recruited.

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

Building Department:

The summer months were typical for inspections, plan checks and reminder letters sent out to assist in completing aging files.

The Building Department continues to work with the applicants of 94 Talcott Road to ensure the project is successful in providing a safe environment for future tenants.

Enforcement on three properties that are in contravention of the Property Maintenance Bylaw were also initiated. All three property owners have been receptive to staff and compliance is expected.

The new 2018 BC Building Code has been recently released; future code courses are being planned as part of the continuing education requirements of the BOABC. The step code seemed to take a break for the summer as people were on holidays, future meetings are also in the planning process.

The Building Department continues to be a proactive member of the building community and a good source of reference and guidance for those in need. Our activity numbers show we are steady and strong.