Public Fire Safety Guidelines |
Subject Coding PFSG 04-40A-03 |
| Section Fire Prevention and Public Fire Safety Education |
Date January 2006 |
| Subject Simplified Risk Assessment |
Page |
Purpose: |
Municipalities have a legislated responsibility
under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA) to provide public education
with respect to fire safety and certain components of fire prevention. Conducting
a simplified risk assessment is the first step towards compliance with these
requirements and is intended to identify information required by a municipality
to make informed decisions about the programs and activities necessary to
effectively manage the community fire risk based upon local needs and circumstances.
In general terms, needs and circumstances relate to a municipality's economic situation, geography, population, building profiles and service delivery system, e.g., volunteer fire department. |
Simplified Risk Assessment: |
Conducting a simplified risk assessment is
a practical information gathering and analyzing exercise intended to create
a community fire profile that will aid in identifying appropriate programs
or activities that can be implemented to effectively address the community's
fire safety needs.
The simplified risk assessment is designed to serve the needs of smaller municipalities and should also be used as a first step (basic foundation) for larger municipalities that face more complex fire safety challenges within their communities. It is recommended that larger municipalities then apply the OFM Fire Prevention Effectiveness Model to develop a more comprehensive fire profile and to identify and address their public education and fire prevention needs. Reference can be made to Public Fire Safety Guideline 04-39-12 for further details. As a minimum requirement, a community fire safety program must include:
(Refer to PFSG 04-40-12 in respect of public education and fire prevention services.) As each community is different, the simplified risk assessment and ensuing fire concern profile will assist in identifying the degree to which these activities are required in accordance with local needs and circumstances. The simplified risk assessment is made up of the following components:
Reference can be made to the Sample Simplified Risk Assessment located on the OFM website www.ofm.gov.on.ca, under the Fire Service heading. The following information, sample templates and worksheets may be used to help compile and analyse the data gathered for the simplified risk assessment. |
DATA COLLECTION COMPONENT
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
It is important to examine local demographic data to determine the following:
You may be able to obtain data about your population from your local planning office or town clerk. Other excellent sources of information include: Statistics Canada www.statcan.ca (800) 263-1136; Municipal Financial Information Return http://www.oraweb.mah.gov.on.ca/fir/welcome.htm; and Financial Demographic Information www.fin.gov.on.ca.
It may be helpful to obtain provincial demographic data at the same time so you can compare your local data with provincial data.
| Ages of population | Number | % of Total Population |
|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | ||
| 15-64 | ||
| 65 and over | ||
| Total Population |
| Vulnerable groups / individuals
(e.g., non-ambulatory) List of applicable occupancies: Total number of individuals: _____ |
Population fluctuation (e.g., tourism,
student)
Provide descriptions: Identify occupancy types: |
| Barriers to Public Education Do cultural / language barriers to public education exist in your community? Provide details: |
|
Information Analysis and Evaluation
The data collected must be examined, evaluated and analyzed for the purpose of identifying potential fire risks (community fire profile) within the community. The development of a community profile and the identification of priorities serve as the basis for selecting activities in the areas of public education and fire prevention, based upon local needs and circumstances.
| Demographic Profile Commentary In narrative form, provide brief synopsis of profile on data gathered. |
| Demographic Profile Concerns In point form, list your community's potential fire concerns relating to demographics. |
| e.g., high seniors population
large percentage of population not using English as their first language non-ambulatory or otherwise vulnerable occupants large number of seasonal cottagers |
This profile should identify the various types and numbers of buildings and occupancies in the community. It is important to identify high-risk occupancies and those that, if damaged or destroyed in a fire, would have a devastating impact on the community. This type of information is intended to provide a detailed inventory of the overall potential structure and property related fire risks within the community. It is best to collect building stock data that can be closely categorised in accordance with the Standard Incident Report property classification system. (The Standard Incident Report property classification system corresponds closely with the Ontario Building Code classification system.)
| Occupancy Classification | # of Occupancies | |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Assembly | |
| Group B | Institutional | |
| Group C | Single family | |
| Multi-unit residential | ||
| Hotel / Motel | ||
| Mobile Homes & Trailers | ||
| Other | ||
| Groups D & E | Commercial | |
| Group F | Industrial | |
| Other occupancies not classified in OBC such as farm buildings. | ||
| Totals | ||
| Total # of mixed occupancy buildings |
The data collected must be examined, evaluated and analyzed for the purpose of identifying potential fire risks (community fire profile) within the community. The development of a community profile and the identification of priorities serve as the basis for selecting activities in the areas of public education and fire prevention, based upon local needs and circumstances.
|
Building Stock Profile Commentary |
|
Building Stock Profile Concerns |
| e.g., potential for large
economic or job loss unsprinklered institutional or care facilities old downtown core poor spatial separation of buildings large quantity of mixed use buildings, i.e., residential above mercantile |
When conducting a simplified risk assessment of the community, it is important to recognise the value in reviewing the community’s past fire experience and its relationship with provincial averages. Information about the type of occupancies most susceptible to fire and, in some cases, the public’s attitude toward fire can be identified from a review of this data.
Fire deaths and injuries are important components of a simplified risk assessment. However, most municipalities do not experience fire fatalities on a regular basis, so local records do not always permit an effective analysis. In these cases, provincial statistics can assist in determining the types of occupancies that fire deaths most commonly occur in, the most vulnerable age groups affected, and the status of smoke alarms in these occurrences. The provincial profile is provided in the Provincial Fire Loss Profile section.
|
Occupancy Classification |
2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
Total Deaths + Injuries (2002-2004) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | |||
| Group A | Assembly | |||||||
| Group B | Institutional | |||||||
| Group C | Residential | |||||||
| Groups D & E | Commercial | |||||||
| Group F | Industrial | |||||||
| Mobile Homes & Trailers | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total Deaths / Injuries | ||||||||
| Occupancy Classification |
2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
% of Total Dollar Loss (2002-2004) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Fires | $ | # of Fires | $ | # of Fires | $ | |||
| Group A | Assembly | |||||||
| Group B | Institutional | |||||||
| Group C | Residential | |||||||
| Groups D & E | Commercial | |||||||
| Group F | Industrial | |||||||
| Mobile Homes & Trailers | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
|
Total Dollar Loss |
||||||||
The data collected must be examined, evaluated and analyzed for the purpose of identifying potential fire risks (community fire profile) within the community. The development of a community profile and the identification of priorities serve as the basis for selecting activities in the areas of public education and fire prevention, based upon local needs and circumstances.
| Municipal Fire Loss Profile Commentary In narrative form, provide brief synopsis of profile on data gathered. |
| Municipal Fire Loss Profile Concerns In point form, list your community's potential fire concerns relating to municipal fire loss experience. |
| e.g., history of large dollar
loss fires in commercial areas emerging trend towards increasing fire losses and injuries in residential occupancies death and injury experience that is disproportionately higher than the provincial average |
The OFM undertook a 10-year review of fire losses in Ontario, spanning the years 1985 to 1994. The aim of the review was to define the fire problem in Ontario, thereby assisting the fire service to focus its efforts in areas that should have the greatest impact on fire losses.
The review analyzed over 150,000 structure fires and 1,400 fire deaths and indicated that over 92% of all fire deaths occurred in residential occupancies. Further analysis created the following four profiles as the most likely fire fatality scenarios.
| Results in the greatest number of deaths, involves the ignition of upholstered furniture by smoking articles. The fire begins in the living area at night while the victims are either asleep or impaired. These fires also claim the lives of young children living with adults. | Property Type: | Residential |
| Area of Fire Origin: | Living area | |
| Ignition Source: | Lit smoking articles, matches or lighters | |
| Object First Ignited: | Upholstered furniture, other objects | |
| Time of Occurrence: | Night | |
| Victims: | Asleep or impaired adults, children living with adults |
| Also takes place while victims are either asleep or impaired. In this scenario, however, bedding in the sleeping areas is initially ignited. Children living with adults are also victims of these fires. | Property Type: | Residential |
| Area of Fire Origin: | Sleeping area | |
| Ignition Source: | Smoking articles, lighters, matches | |
| Object First Ignited: | Bedding, other objects | |
| Time of Occurrence: | Night | |
| Victims: | Adults asleep or impaired, children living with adults |
| The fire starts in the kitchen, where cooking equipment ignites cooking oil. Unlike the average non-fatal cooking fire, this fire occurs at night while an adult victim either falls asleep or is impaired. Children living with adults depicted in this scenario also become victims of these fires. | Property Type: | Residential |
| Area of Fire Origin: | Kitchen | |
| Ignition Source: | Cooking equipment | |
| Object First Ignited: | Flammable liquid, other objects | |
| Time of Occurrence: | Night | |
| Victims: | Asleep or impaired adults, children living with adults |
| This scenario is specific to adults aged 65 and over. An older adult, who may be disabled, ignites personal clothing with either cooking equipment or smoking articles. This victim is unable to extinguish the flames and normally dies as a result of burn complications. | Property Type: | Residential |
| Victims: | Ages 65+ | |
| Object Ignited: | Clothing, fabric | |
| Ignition Source: | Cooking equipment/smoking articles, lighters or matches |
The following pie charts, created from a more recent 4-year study, provide significant evidence of fire risk and occurrence patterns.
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Municipalities are encouraged to compare these provincial statistics with their local fire loss statistics and profile. In the event that the municipal statistics do not provide sufficient information to determine public education and fire prevention needs and priorities, it is recommended that the provincial data form the basis for the selection and implementation of local programming and fire safety activities.
Reviewing information from your demographic, building stock and municipal fire loss profiles, list in order of priority your fire safety concerns. As local needs and circumstances will vary, no community will have the same profile. Thus it is possible that your priorities may focus more on one or two of the three profiles. For instance, you may find that your top priorities relate to building stock and not demographics.
| Priority | Status | Effectiveness, Goals/Objectives | |||
| Fire Safety
Priority List in order |
Current fire prevention / public education programs that address the fire safety priority | Existing programs adequately address the fire safety priority & ensure compliance with minimum FPPA requirements? | |||
| If No, how would you reallocate resources and/or implement additional fire prevention or public education program / activities? | |||||
| Fire Prevention (inspection) Activities |
Public Education Activities | Y/N | Fire Prevention (Inspection) Activities |
Public Education Activities |
|
| 1) | |||||
| 2) | |||||
| 3) | |||||
| 4) | |||||
| 5) | |||||
| 6) | |||||
| 7) | |||||
After carefully considering all data and associated factors, identify the target fire risk, select the program, priority, resources needed to appropriately address the needs. Develop an implementation strategy that will address the community fire risk(s) based on local needs and circumstances.
During the analysis process, it will also be necessary to assess the suitability of current programs and to ensure that minimum services required under the FPPA are provided. As a minimum, every municipality must ensure that there is:
A general rule in the decision making process may involve identifying programs that must be done, programs that should be done and programs that could be done. The resources section of your information will play a major role in the "should" and "could" portions of your program planning.
Once the community risk(s) have been identified and prioritized, while at the same time taking into consideration resources and other factors, an implementation strategy would be developed. The strategy would involve:
Codes, Standards, and Best Practices |
Codes, Standards, and Best Practices resources
available to assist in establishing local policy on this assessment are
listed below. All are available at
http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
Please feel free to copy and distribute this document. We ask that the document
not be altered in any way, that the Office of the Fire Marshal be credited
and that the documents be used for non-commercial purposes only. See also PFSG |
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