August 13, 2002
2002-13
(External Distribution)
The Municipal Fire Protection Information Survey is a key component of the
Office of the Fire Marshal’s (OFM) monitoring activities. The survey was
developed as a means to gather information on municipal fire protection services
as they relate to the requirements of the Fire Protection
and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA). The minimum requirements include Section
2.(1) (a) of the FPPA which states that every municipality shall “establish
a program in the municipality which must include public education with respect
to fire safety and certain components of fire prevention.”
The purpose of the survey is two-fold: to assist municipalities to comply with
the requirements for fire protection services, and to enable the OFM to fulfill
its responsibility to monitor the levels of fire protection services in Ontario,
as prescribed by the FPPA. Responses to the survey provide OFM field staff with
timely and relevant information necessary to provide advice and assistance to
municipalities in meeting the requirements.
In time, the data collected will form the basis for the development of a
comprehensive information management system. It may also be used to support
performance measurement, benchmarking and best practices activities. The survey
also examines administrative issues such as by-laws, policies and agreements
governing the provision of fire protection services.
The survey is being implemented in a phased manner. Nineteen fire departments
were chosen to participate in the survey initially. Only these fire departments
were provided with a copy. Based on the positive feedback from those that have
participated, other fire departments have expressed an interest in beginning to
fill out the survey even though they have not yet been scheduled to participate.
To accommodate these fire departments, the OFM announced, at the Ontario
Association of Fire Chiefs’ 2002 annual meeting and educational seminar, that it
would be making the survey available on its Web site. The OFM will also make
available the accompanying publication Municipal Fire
Protection Information Survey – Explanatory Guide. The guide, originally
developed as a resource for OFM fire protection advisers, contains general
information about the survey and the rationale behind the various components of
the survey.
By having immediate access to both the survey and the explanatory guide, fire
departments can, without delay, begin the process of gathering information on
their fire protection services and determine the optimum level of fire
protection for the municipality based on needs and circumstances. Fire
departments will no longer have to wait until their scheduled survey review to
complete the survey. Fire departments who complete the survey and feel they are
in a position to have it reviewed by their fire protection adviser should
contact the OFM to schedule a meeting, which will be arranged as quickly as OFM
resources permit.
Comments and reaction of fire departments that have participated in the survey
indicate that it is proving to be a beneficial tool in assisting municipalities
to improve their fire protection services.
The survey and the explanatory guide can be found on the OFM Web site at
www.ofm.gov.on.ca. Please refer to Communiqué
2001-04 for additional details about the survey.
Disponible en français
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