Communiqué #2003-13

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE:
FIRE PROTECTION OUTCOMES

(External Distribution)

Since its inception in February 2002, the Performance Measurement and Benchmarking Project has steadily moved toward project deliverables that will make it possible for Ontario’s fire departments to provide their communities with the best services possible. Project participants continue to be guided by the common vision they have established:

A community that is safe from fire related loss of life, injury and property damage with efficient and effective fire services that include public education, fire suppression, and appropriately applied and enforced standards

With this vision as a starting point, the project team grappled with the question of how to identify operational outcomes and determine their relationship with outputs (or fire service deliverables). The results of the project team’s reflection and discussions are illustrated below in figure 1, which provides a visual representation of how to distinguish between the various concepts that form the overall fire services delivery system.

Fire Service Delivery Model diagram

Based on the model in figure 1, the project team developed thirteen fire protection outcomes that support the vision for an effective fire service:

Fire Protection Outcomes (Figure 2)

Strategic Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment*
A thorough assessment of fire related risks is completed.

Evaluation and Learning*
Continuous improvement and learning is derived from effective investigation and evaluation.

Operational Risk Management

Prevention
(Reduce Risks and Impact)

Incident Management

Prevent Fires

Community is aware and takes action to prevent fires.

Community & FS Partnership

Community is aware and takes action to support and reinforce the efforts of local fire services providers to reduce the risk and consequences of fire.

Readiness: Training

Firefighters are effectively trained in the skills and knowledge needed to safely and effectively respond to fire emergencies.

Readiness: Planning

Fire response teams have appropriate plans and resources in place to respond to fire emergencies.

Construction of New Buildings

Reduce the risk of fire starting and minimize the damage resulting from fires by effectively administering the Building code Act and regulations during the new building construction process.

Property Operation & Maintenance

Reduce the risk of fire starting and minimize the damage resulting from fires by effectively administering the FPPA and regulations during the maintenance and operation of property and environment.

High-Risk Fire Hazards

High fire risk situations are identified and appropriate action is taken to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of fire starting and reduce the damage resulting from fire.

Reduce Injury & Loss of Life

Community is aware and takes action to reduce the loss of life and injury resulting from fires.

Reduce Property Damage

Community is aware and takes action to reduce the damage to property and the environment resulting from fires.

Response: Timeliness of Arrival

Timely and accurate receipt, dispatch and initial arrival of appropriate resources at the scene of a fire

Response: Fire Ground Effectiveness

Safe, efficient and effective use of fire ground resources to mitigate the effects of fire on life, property and the environment

Public education and prevention

Emergency Response

Fire safety standards and enforcement

Has impact on all 3 lines of defence

During this process, the project team recognized the importance of all three lines of defence: public education and prevention, emergency response, and fire safety standards and enforcement. The 3 lines of defence are represented in the fire protection outcomes, as illustrated in figure 2.

The 13 outcomes are equally relevant to all fire services, despite a wide range of community types and fire service delivery models.

The attached ‘Project Update’ sheet contains comments from project participants.

Attachment

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE: FIRE PROTECTION OUTCOMES

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE:
FIRE PROTECTION OUTCOMES