Shaping Fire-Safe Communities

Shaping Fire-safe communities. A public fire safety leadership program developed for the Ontario Fire Service

SHAPING FIRE SAFE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM - INTRODUCTION

Laying Solid Foundations: Provincial/Municipal Relationship

Welcome to "Shaping Fire-Safe Communities," a leadership program for the Ontario Fire Service that introduces a new approach to risk management. This program offers to fire service managers, risk management strategies and tactics to improve upon fire safety in the various occupancies throughout their communities.

The purpose of the program is multifold:

To provide a comprehensive training program to enhance understanding and skills related to risk management.
To encourage informed and objective decision-making on the provision of municipal fire protection services according to local needs and circumstances.
To provide a systematic, community-based process to promote the optimization of fire protection services in Ontario, namely through master fire planning.
To link OFM and other relevant resources in a cohesive manner in order to support municipalities in taking a systematic approach to managing community fire risks.
To assist Ontario municipal officials, fire chiefs, other fire officials, and the OFM in understanding and fulfilling the requirements of the FPPA.

This high profile and important initiative for the fire service in Ontario is being developed in two Phases:

Phase One:

A CD-ROM was made available to municipal fire services in 2002. The CD-ROM is designed to provide education about risk management through a computer based training (CBT) course. The CD-ROM utilizes multimedia technology, combining narration, animation, risk scenarios, audio, video elements and interactive self-assessment testing with feedback to users before and after each lesson. The use of animation, interactivity (electronic forms, questions), and video provides the user with not only an engaging learning experience but also a reusable resource of information and guidance. To obtain a copy of this CD Rom, please email sfsc@jus.gov.on.ca .

Phase Two:

The second phase of the program, currently under development, involves the development of a web-based tool that applies the knowledge from the CD-ROM. The key focus of this tool is to help departments and municipalities apply the risk management model to their communities in order to develop a master fire plan.

In January 2005, the OFM engaged a project working group made up of experts from municipal fire services, OAFC, OMFPOA, and representatives of other related disciplines to provide guidance on the development of this web-based application.

As of April 2005, a preliminary pilot web site has been developed, on which the remaining components of this program will be built. The goal in developing this web site has been to provide fire service leaders with tools and information to help plan thoroughly before embarking on Master Fire Planning, using a ten-step process. For further information about this project please refer to the Project Charter below or email sfsc@jus.gov.on.ca .

Link to Project Charter

PROJECT WORKING GROUP

Project Sponsors: Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal, Tony Mintoff, Assistant Deputy Fire Marshal, FFPS, OFM
Project Manager: Carol-Lynn Chambers – Operations Manager, FFPS, OFM
Project Coordinator: Meredith Crawshaw – Fire Protection Specialist, FFPS, OFM

Content Working Group:

Ted Wieclawek – Operations Manager, FFPS, OFM
Tim Lee – Program Specialist, FFPS, OFM
Herb Clements – Fire Protection Adviser, FFPS, OFM
Mike Ng – Fire Protection Engineer, Applied Research, OFM
Mike Vilneff – Deputy Fire Chief, Cobourg Fire Department
Albert Flootman - Senior Planner, City of Cambridge
Thom Evered – Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Ajax
Lee Grant – Fire Chief, Peterborough
John DeHooge – Fire Chief, Waterloo
Donald Donaldson – Fire Chief, Greater Sudbury
Malcolm McIntosh – CAO/Clerk, West Grey
Lorne Turner – Sr. Financial Advisor, Chief Administrators Office, City of Toronto
Randy Wilson – Fire Chief, Ajax
Richard Boyes – OAFC (Fire Chief, Sarnia)
Craig Cunningham – OMFPOA (Fire Prevention, Toronto Fire Services)
Tony Lippers – Assistant Fire Chief, Chatham-Kent Fire Department
Russ Chalmers – Platoon Chief, Fire and Emergency Services, Mississauga
Stan Otok – OFM DATS