PERIOD REPORT
DATE: September 6, 2016 Report No. FIRE-16-005
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Chris Jancowski, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:TITLE Fire Department - 2016 Period ReportBody
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Fire Department from May 1, 2016 to August 31, 2016.
I. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Operations
|
Call Type and Volume |
|
Routine Activities |
|
|
Alarm calls |
41 |
Assist other agencies |
0 |
|
Assist public |
30 |
Bylaw inquiries |
10 |
|
Burning complaints |
13 |
General inquiries |
1 |
|
Hazardous materials |
3 |
Oil tank inspections |
9 |
|
Structure fires |
3 |
Placed on standby (C.S.R., Fire |
3 |
|
Other fires |
29 |
Plan review |
2 |
|
Other responses |
0 |
Public education / hall tour |
12 |
|
Medical aid |
358 |
Fire investigations |
1 |
|
MVI |
18 |
Business licenses |
18 |
|
Rescue |
3 |
Car seat inspection |
2 |
|
Electrical emergency |
7 |
|
|
|
Total Period |
505 |
Total Period |
58 |
|
Responses YTD |
1016 |
Activities YTD |
138 |
• Noteworthy Emergency Responses
August 8, 2016
Esquimalt Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 800 block of Lampson Street. Upon initial dispatch, members received reports of an occupant trapped with confirmed fire. Upon arrival, crews quickly assessed the situation and confirmed no occupants were trapped. Crews then quickly actioned the fire and were able to contain it to the second floor as a room and contents fire
• Membership Activities
On August 31, 2016 Captain Ian Fraser retired. Ian started with Esquimalt Fire Rescue in January of 2003. He had previously served with CFB Esquimalt and the Langford Volunteer Fire Department. We wish Ian well in his retirement.
The department will begin discussions on hosting a recruitment process in the fall. This process will create an eligibility list for current and future staffing needs.
2. Community Services
With the assistance of the Townships Corporate Services Department, the department is continuing the steady progress in file management re-organization. These files are being reorganized to meet the common practice currently used by Corporate Services in accordance to the Local Government Management Association.
The department has identified the need to formalize succession planning for new Acting Captains. As part of this commitment, the department has been drafting an Acting Captains Program that includes a handbook containing key documents and resources for new officers. This voluntary program will be supported by formal guidelines to ensure consistency.
Prevention Activities
The department is continuing steady progress in the development of pre-incident plans. Each platoon is now responsible for the creation of two pre-incident plans per month. These pre-incident plans will be available for quick access by crews when responding to multi-residential and complex buildings.
|
|
|
2016 Company Inspections |
|
|
Platoon |
Total Premises |
Inspections Completed |
Inspections Ongoing |
|
A |
143 |
107 |
36 |
|
B |
130 |
88 |
42 |
|
C |
133 |
88 |
45 |
|
D |
138 |
126 |
12 |
3. Department Services
Members of the department have been very active this spring with training. Several senior firefighters have participated in online and external fire officer courses. One of these courses, Emergency Scene Management 1, is a fundamental building block to managing emergencies ranging from single company responses to residential structure fires.
Members of the department also have completed an orientation course in basic urban search and rescue. This course capitalizes on previous technical rescue skills while learning new structural skills to work near compromised buildings. This orientation will set the stage for future skill levels as the department moves forward.
As part of the 2016 capital projects, the Department Services is implementing new fire nozzles and testing alternative hose loads for small to mid-size fire hoses. The intent is to seek the most efficient way to stretch and deploy fire hose with a single firefighter. The results of these tests will be known near the end of 2016.
4. Administrative Services
In May, the department placed an order for new mobile and portable radios. These radios will provide a modern digital platform that will enable the use of the 700 mhz system. In June, the mobile radios were installed into all apparatus. The department expects the portables to be delivered in early October with an implementation in November.
In June, the department successfully negotiated a new Fire Service Agreement. This agreement includes; Central Saanich, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay and View Royal Fire Departments. The Fire Services Agreement includes options for mutual, automatic and closest apparatus responses. This agreement is new to the region and will take time to fully operationalize.
In July, the department completed the removal of asbestos within the stairwells. The removal of the asbestos has allowed the installation of new flooring as approved within the 2016 capital budget.
In August, the department completed the design and award of the Public Safety Apparatus Bay Extension project. This extension will enable the department to house all front line fire apparatus within one location. Construction is scheduled to start in early September. Once details of the construction schedule are confirmed, the department will be posting updates on the Township website.
II. COMMITTEES
Esquimalt Fire Department members are actively involved with numerous local and regional initiatives, including:
• Greater Victoria Fire Chief’s Association
• British Columbia Fire Chiefs’ Association
• CRD Regional Hazardous Materials Response Planning Committee
• Greater Victoria Fire Training Officers Association
• Fire Training Officers Association of BC
• Fire Prevention Officers Association of BC
• Greater Victoria Fire Prevention Officer's Association
• Esquimalt's Integrated Bylaw Enforcement Team
• Local Government Emergency Program Advisory Commission
• Department Safety Committee
• BC Burn Fund
In addition to the various committees above, the department has also been participating in ongoing regional discussions regarding fire service agreements. These discussions revolve around the need to update existing agreements such as the Core Mutual Aid Agreement and to establish other agreements to increase service delivery.