HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD-4-93 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File#'v
Date: JUNE T, 1993 . Res.
Report#:__Y_D_-A_-_9_3_ File#: _111-12-6- By-Law
Subject:
ONTARIO FIRE MARSHAL'S SURVEY
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. ) THAT Report FD-4-93 be received;
2 . ) THAT the recommendations that can be implemented be approved;
3 . ) THAT the remaining issues be referred to a Master Planning
Committee to develop a plan for the approval of Council; and
4 . ) THAT the Office of the Fire Marshal be thanked for the
preparation and submission of their survey.
1. BACKGROUND
1. 1 The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office was requested by Council to
conduct a survey of the Town of Newcastle's fire protection
capabilities . This survey was conducted in the spring and
early summer of 1992 .
1.2 On December 7, 1992 the Ontario Fire Marshal's representative
made a presentation to the General Purpose and Administration
Committee. After their presentation the survey was referred
to the Chief Administrative Officer and Fire Chief to prepare
a report to Committee and Council recommending possible
implementation of the survey's recommendations .
1. 3 Prior to thepreparation of this report, a meeting was held
with Councillor Hooper,
Fire Department Chairman, to discuss
the recommendations and how best to implement those that can
be immediately put in place and those that will be referred to
a later date, based on need and funding restrictions .
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FD-4-93, cont'd. - 2 -
1.4 The Ontario Fire Marshal's recommendations, found in the
survey will be addressed individually.
2. COMMENTS
2 . 1 Update the Establishing and Regulating By-law:-
Updating was recommended due to the fact that the existing by-
law is vague in the area of rescue. Given the liability on
the Town, that could occur should circumstances such as those
in Port Colborne arise, it is recommended that one of two
options be looked at. These options are:
a. ) Department personnel be trained in both off shore water
and ice rescue as well as high level rescue, including
the purchase of appropriate equipment.
b. ) The by-law wording remain as is, since the Town's
solicitor advises that under the present wording we are
not required to provide this service.
Recommendation:
Given the estimated costs of training and equipment
(approximately $60,000 initial cost) , it is recommended that
the by-law remain as is restricting the types of rescue we can
provide.
2 .2 Rules and Regulations be reviewed and ensure conformity with
Standard Operating Procedures:-
This is an ongoing issue in the department and rules and
regulations are reviewed annually. As well, a Standard
Operating Procedures Committee exists, which review and
prepare procedures, as required.
Recommendation:
The existing practice of review continue. (Copies can be
provided if requested. )
2 . 3 Provide opportunities to attend conferences and seminars:-
This allows for the information exchange with others in your
field to compare issues and solutions .
Recommendation:
That staff continue to attend such conferences and seminars as j
budget restrictions allow.
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FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 3 -
2 .4 Establish a replacement policy for vehicles:-
-The need for a policy which will allow for a systematic
replacement and permit monies to be set aside annually towards
the replacement of vehicles is obvious. This would prevent
the need to find a large sum of money from taxes in one year
by allocating monies each year to cover the depreciation of
such vehicles .
Recommendation:
The best way to handle this issue would be to establish a
reserve account for future vehicle replacement with all funds
received from the Ministry of Transportation for highway calls
being credited to this account. The account will be
established at the beginning of 1994 .
2 .5 Dispatch procedures modified to ensure a sufficient number of
firefighters dispatched to every incident:-
The present practice ensures a sufficient initial response.
Additional personnel are requested by the first arriving
officer. Our system complies with the O.F.M. Study Paper on-
Site Staffing previously addressed by staff in report to
Council FD-1-93 .
Recommendation:
Present practices continue and ongoing reviews be conducted to
ensure that any modifications to these procedures are made, as
required. (More information can be provided to Council should
it be requested. )
2 . 6 Install traffic light controls on primary routes in
Bowmanville:-
These controls are activators on the vehicles that allow for
traffic lights to be changed in the direction of travel of
responding vehicles .
Recommendations:
These controls are installed on the traffic signals by the
Region and the Department of Public Works . The activators on
the vehicles are provided, at the Town's expense, at a cost of
approximately $3,000 per vehicle. At this time, it is staff's
opinion that the activators are premature. As traffic volume
and the number of signalized intersections increase, the need
should be re-evaluated.
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FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 4
2 . 7 Develop a more comprehensive preplan program:
This would allow for the pref ire planning of initially, major
occupancies, and later all commercial, industrial and assembly
occupancies within the Town.
Recommendation:
This pre-planning is underway and should continue providing an
up-to-date and accurate pre-plan program. (More detailed
information can be provided if requested. )
2 .8 Ensure that all Fire Department Officers attend the Fire
Protection Technology Program at the Ontario Fire College:-
This program is a comprehensive program that addresses all
aspects of the modern fire department including Incident
Command and Management.
Recommendation:
All officers attend this program as openings at the Ontario
Fire College allow at no cost to the Municipality.
2 . 9 Information as to the nature ofthe emergency be provided to
responding volunteers:-
This information is required not only by the volunteers but by
all department members responding to an emergency. This
includes full time staff and senior officers. Existing
practices cover this and are reviewed on a regular basis. Any
shortcomings are addressed once they are brought to light.
Recommendation:
The existing practice of addressing any concerns immediately
continue. (Additional information can be provided if
requested. )
2 . 10 All alarms monitored at the Newcastle Village Fire Station #2
be transferred to headquarters station in Bowmanville:-
These alarms are what is referred to as Edwards Alarms and are
the responsibility of Sage Electric . The fire department
monitors these alarms through an agreement between Sage
Electric and the Town for the protection of occupancies within
the Town. We have been advised by an official of Sage
Electric, Mr. Doug Taylor, that this transfer would not be
financially viable.
FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 5 -
Recommendation:
The existing practice continue.
2 . 11 A comprehensive in-service fire prevention program be
implemented:-
This would involve using full time firefighters to do
inspections, as manpower allows . It would also, in future,
involve using volunteers to do these inspections . the use of
full time firefighters is presently underway. As for the use
of the volunteers, it would involve significant specialized
training. It is not being considered at this time, but can be
considered once the present changes to the inspection program
are running smoothly and training time is available for the
volunteers .
Recommendation:
The present changes and improvements to the inspection program
continue and that the use of volunteers be considered ata
later date.
2 . 12 Implement a water shuttle system:-
A water shuttle would involve the dispatching of all five
stations to a structure fire in a rural area. The existing
policy is to dispatch two stations immediately and the
responding officers, or first arriving officer, can request
additional tankers if he believes that they are or may be
required. This has been found to be a successful policy in
the past.
Recommendation:
The existing policy continue and that a platoon system be
considered for tanker operations, as required. This will be
addressed through recommendation 2 . 16 later in this report.
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FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 6 -
2 . 13 Develop a master fire plan:-
It would be necessary to form a Master Plan Committee made up
of Fire Department Chairman, an additional member of Council,
Fire Chief, the Chief Administrative Officer as well as staff
from various departments as required. The responsibility of
this committee would be to formulate a ten year plan to
address the needs of fire protection for the municipality and
would include need based on growth and revenue and make
recommendations to Council.
Recommendation:
Council appoint a Master Plan Committee with the intent of
providing a plan for growth. This plan should be targeted for
completion in early 1994.
2 . 14 Provide a sub-station for the Kendal Area:-
This would involve the building of a small station in Kendal
and the purchase of a combination Pumper/Tanker truck and
placing 10 - 12 volunteers in the station. It is estimated
that the vehicle would cost in the area of $350,000 to
$400,000 equipped. Land would have to be purchased at an
estimated cost of $25,000 and the station would cost
approximately $250,000 to $300,000 as well as an additional
$10,000 to $12,000 to equip the volunteers.
Review of the emergencies responded to in the Kendal Area
during 1992 was undertaken. There was a total of nine calls,
which included 3 medical assist calls, 1 chimney fire, 1
structure fire, 1 hydro pole on fire, 2 check calls and 1
vehicle fire.
Recommendation:
After reviewing the statistics for 1992, the expenditure of
between $650,000 to $750,000 for such a station is not
feasible at this time. Growth in the area should be monitored
and once the population and response needs warrant, Council
should consider a sub-station for the Kendal area. This
recommendation could be addressed by the Master Plan
Committee, if Council so directs.
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FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 7
2 . 15 1. ) Relocate Headquarters Station,
2 . ) Add around the clock staff to Headquarters,
3. ) Provide primary response to Darlington Nuclear Generating
Station:-
Recommendation:
- These issues will be further discussed and be the subject of
a further Report to Council at a later date.
2 . 16 Implementation of a Platoon System:-
This would involve the response of only a portion of the
volunteers at each station based on the nature of the
emergency. Calls in their area for structure fires or other
major emergencies would involve the response of all available
firefighters . Minor calls such as a tanker support call,
check call or medical emergency would involve the response of
a platoon of 5 - 8 men.
It should be noted that the implementation of a Platoon System
could have a cost implication as it may be necessary to pay
the platoons for standby, similar to the system now used for
weekend standby during the summer, to ensure an adequate
response. The cost will depend on the size of platoons and
the amount of payment agreed upon. These details can be
included in a subsequent report, should Council decide that
this system be considered. Cost will be the key issue in
implementing a Platoon System as the standby honorarium could
greatly affect any savings realized.
Recommendation:
That a detailed report be prepared outlining the costs related
to implementing a platoon system for the Newcastle Fire
Department.
2 . 17 It is believed that the implementation of those
recommendations that do not have a cost factor can, at
Council's direction, be implemented over the next three to six
months . The remaining recommendations involving substantial
financial commitment should be addressed by a Master Plan
Committee through a plan approved by Council.
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FD-4-93, Cont'd. - 8 -
3. RECOMMENDATION
3 . 1 It is respectfully recommended that Report FD-4-93 be
received;
That the recommendations of staff be approved as described;
and
That a Master Plan Committee be appointed to recommend future
growth and major expenditures of the department to Council.
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
to Committee
Michael G. C ig ton, AMCT(A) , CMMl Lawrence E. Kots1B.
,
Fire Chief. Chief Administrati Officer.
MC/sr
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