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Home My WebLink AboutESD-006-17Emergency Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: September 5, 2017 Report Number: ESD-006-17 Resolution: File Number: By-law Number: Report Subject: Emergency Services Activity Report - Q1 and Q2 2017 Recommendations: 1.That Report ESD-006-17 be received. Municipality of Clarington Report ESD-006-17 Page 2 Report Overview The Emergency and Fire Services Department is responsible for delivering fire suppression and emergency response, fire prevention and public education programs in accordance with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA). This Report provides Council with an overview of the activities associated with the Department’s Suppression and Fire Prevention Divisions for Q1 and Q2 of 2017. 1. Fire Suppression and Emergency Response 1.1 Fire Suppression and Emergency Response Core Services Fire suppression services are delivered in both an offensive and defensive mode, including search and rescue operations, forcible entry, ventilation, protecting exposures, salvage and overhaul as appropriate. Emergency pre-hospital care is provided through medical acts such as defibrillation, standard first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Fire Suppression staff responded to 880 calls in the 1st quarter and 938 calls in the 2nd quarter of 2017. Of the 1818 incidents, 37 were property fires with an estimated dollar loss of $493,599. The following is a summary of emergency incidents by response type. Incident Breakdown Response Type Q1 & Q2 2016 Q1 & Q2 2017 % Change % of Total 2017 Property Fires/Explosions 48 37 -22.92% 2.03% Outdoor - No Loss Fires & Burning - Controlled 121 62 -48.76% 3.41% CO False Calls 92 95 +3.26% 5.22% False Fire Calls 141 149 +5.67% 8.19% Medical/Resuscitator Calls 1063 988 -7.05% 54.35% Other Response 123 151 +22.76% 8.31% Overpressure Rupture/Explosion (No Fire) 1 1 0% 0.06% Pre Fire Conditions/No Fire 29 36 +24.14% 1.98% Public Hazard 62 86 +38.71% 4.73% Rescue 219 213 -2.74% 11.72% During the first 6 months of 2017, crews were dispatched to a total of 988 Medical/Resuscitator calls of which 33.30% were related to asphyxia, respiratory conditions. Of the 213 Rescue calls, 91.08% were for vehicle collisions. Municipality of Clarington Report ESD-006-17 Page 3 The number of Outdoor – No Loss Fires and Burning – Controlled incidents have decreased by 48.76% over Q1 and Q2 of 2016. Approximately half of the Outdoor - No Loss Fires and Burning - Controlled calls were for illegal burning. Staff were also busy this spring assisting Operations staff, volunteers and the residents of Cedar Crest Beach with building sandbag walls and pumping out basements due to flooding caused by high water levels in Lake Ontario. Unusual amounts of rain also caused flooding from the adjacent marsh. 1.2 Call Volume by Geographical Area (Generated by first vehicle dispatched according to geography) Geographical Area Call Volume Call Volume % Bowmanville and surrounding area 868 47.74% Newcastle and surrounding area 338 18.59% Orono and surrounding area 115 6.33% Courtice and surrounding area 447 24.59% Enniskillen and surrounding area 50 2.75% 1.3 Annual Totals for Comparison at a Glance – Final Figures Event Type 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Q1 & Q2 Call Volume 3,405 3,483 3,636 3,736 1818 Civilian Injuries 5 2 3 4 1 Firefighter Injuries 0 4 1 0 0 Fatalities 0 0 1 0 0 Dollar Loss $2,995,046 $5,661,800 $4,563,251 $6,148,757 $493,599 2. Fire Prevention Division Fire Prevention staff perform a variety of functions in accordance with the FPPA and policies of the Department with one goal in mind; creating a fire safe community. These functions are implemented through public education programs and fire inspections. 2.1 Fire Prevention, Inspection, Investigation and Public Education Activities Every year the Senior Fire Prevention Officer identifies a select area in Clarington for staff to conduct the Alarmed for Life Program during the months of May to October. Staff visited 272 homes across Clarington from May to June. During this visit residents received literature reminding them about cooking safety, requirements for smoke and co alarms, home escape plans, open-air fires and upcoming events. Municipality of Clarington Report ESD-006-17 Page 4 The following is a summary of inspection services performed during the 1st and 2nd quarter. Fire Prevention Activity – Q1 & Q2 Volume Complaint Inspections 65 Requested Inspections 178 Self-initiated Inspections 115 Retrofit Inspections 10 Burn Permits 128 Fire Safety Plans Reviews 57 General Plans Reviews 115 Site Visits 57 Fire Investigations 8 FPPA Part 3 Charges Laid 6 FPPA Part 1 Charges Laid 1 2.2 Distribution of Fire and Life Safety Information and Public Education Programs Staff participated in various events across the municipality. These public events include Winter Wonderlearn, Maple Fest, Summerfest, school fun fairs and fundraisers. Through our participation, we are able to provide fire safety education to large groups of people in the community. At this year’s How-To in 10 Festival held at the Bowmanville Library, staff provided instruction to resident on how to do a home fire safety check, identifying 10 components within 10 minutes. Fire Prevention staff attended multiple schools to provide junior and senior kindergarten, grade 1 and high school students important fire safety lectures. Kindergarten students listened to an educational story about fire safety and were provided the opportunity to tour a fire truck. Grade 1 students were visited by staff in 3 sessions. The topics discussed in each session were Smoke Alarms, Stop Drop and Roll and Community Helpers. During the Community Helpers session students learn about what firefighters do, their gear and a tour of the truck. High school co-op students received information about fire safety in the workplace. This instruction advised the students about alarm systems, fire safety planning and the responsibilities of the employer. There are currently 5 high schools in Clarington that participate in a co-op program who receive safety lectures during the months of February and September. Municipality of Clarington Report ESD-006-17 Page 5 The following is a summary of the various public education activities we attended in the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2017. Public Education Activity Q1 & Q2 2016 Q1 & Q2 2017 Station Tours 10 15 School Visit 20 8 Public Events 13 19 Safety Lectures 10 9 Extinguisher Training Events 4 1 TAPP-C Attendance 6 0 3. Concurrence Not Applicable 4. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that this Report be received for information. 5. Strategic Plan Application Not applicable. Submitted by: Reviewed by: Gord Weir, Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B Director of Emergency & Fire Services CAO Staff Contact: Gord Weir, Director of Emergency & Fire Services, 905-623-5126 ext. 2802 or gweir@clarington.net There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision. GW/pm