TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 13, 2025 Report No. FIRE-25-002
TO: Council
FROM: Matt Furlot, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to Bylaw 2783, Fire Protection and Control
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council give first, second, and third readings to Fire Protection and Control Bylaw, 2011, No. 2783, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 3151.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Amendments to the Fire Protection and Control Bylaw, 2011, No. 2783, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 3151 are proposed to bring the Fire Protection and Control Bylaw into alignment with the new provincial Fire Safety Act and current fee schedule.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire Safety Act, effective August 1, 2024, replaces the Fire Services Act, enhancing fire safety in British Columbia through clear property owner responsibilities, stricter enforcement and penalties, improved inspection and evacuation processes, expanded cost recovery powers for local governments, and a risk-based approach to monitoring high-risk buildings.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) administers and enforces British Columbia's fire safety legislation (the Fire Safety Act), oversees fire inspections and investigations, ensures the designation of qualified fire inspectors and investigators by local authorities, and establishes training standards to support compliance and public safety.
The proposed amendments to the Fire Protection and Control Bylaw, 2011, No. 2783, reflect the Office of the Fire Commissioner's guidance under the new Fire Safety Act. These updates modernize the bylaw by clarifying roles and responsibilities, aligning terminology with provincial standards, and implementing a risk-based compliance monitoring system for inspections. The inclusion of penalties further supports compliance with fire safety regulations. Collectively, these changes strengthen the municipality's fire safety framework, enhance public safety, and promote a proactive approach to fire prevention and ...
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