March/April 2005 Volume 14 Issue 2
Published in the interest of fire protection and fire prevention in Ontario.
Comments, suggestions, questions and articles are welcome. Please send them to the attention of:
Chris Slosser, Editor, Office of the Fire Marshal, 5775 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, ON M2M 4J1, Tel: 416-325-3155, Fax: 416-325-3162, chris.slosser@jus.gov.on.ca.
Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed in any material published herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy of the Office of the Fire Marshal.
The reproduction of original articles appearing in this publication is permitted and encouraged, however permission to reproduce material for commercial purposes must be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal. Permission to use articles reprinted from other sources must be obtained from the original source.
ISSN 1188-7524
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue, particularly Bev Gilbert, Janice Johnstone, Tony Pacheco, Penny Goddard, Heather Wadden, Gina Pontikas, Timothy Lee and Ted Wieclawek.
Sparky®, Learn Not to Burn® and Risk Watch® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269, U.S.A. Used with permission.
Glenn Murray,
Assistant Deputy Minister,
Policy and Public Safety Programs Division,
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
I am proud to accept the challenging role as the Assistant Deputy Minister of
the Policy and Public Safety Programs Division and pleased to take this
opportunity to introduce myself to you. Our division includes the Centre of
Forensic Sciences, the provincial coroners system and, of course, the Office of
the Fire Marshal (OFM). The vital public services that our division supports
help make Ontario's communities and businesses safe and secure. That is the
foundation of our overall quality of life in this province.
The OFM assists Ontario's fire services to provide Ontarians with a world class
level of fire safety, prevention and protection. The achievements and reputation
of Ontario's firefighters are unsurpassed and I am honoured at the chance to
help support your good and important work.
I am excited at the prospect of this task and I am committed to listening to
your input and communicating your views. The Fire Marshal has briefed me on the
issues facing fire services today, so I am aware that there are challenges
ahead. With your support and the continued efforts of the OFM, I am confident
that we can advance the cause of fire safety in our province.
I am impressed and humbled by the level of dedication and commitment of
Ontario's firefighters. While I do not have your particular professional
expertise, I bring to the table my extensive knowledge of how government works.
I am committed to placing my skills and abilities at the Fire Marshal's disposal
and to using my best efforts to help strategically promote the provincial fire
safety agenda.
I look forward to working with the Fire Marshal and his staff and meeting as
many of you as possible. I attended the opening of the new facilities at the
Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst on April 20. That event gave me the chance
to meet fire service representatives and further enhance my knowledge of the
provincial fire service system and the people who make it work. My promise to
you is that I will continually expand that knowledge and put it to good use on
your behalf.
Fire departments across the province have received a total of
$30 million in funding from the provincial government. The aim of the grant is
to support improvements in three areas: training; fire operations equipment and
firefighter safety; and fire prevention and public education.
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter announced
the Ontario Fire Service Grant on March 22 at the Toronto Fire Academy. The
grant is intended to allow local fire departments to spend the money in most
needed areas.
"This program responds to a real need among fire services across Ontario,"
Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle told fire chiefs and fire service
representatives from across the province assembled at the March 22 announcement.
"It provides fire services with the
flexibility to tailor the funding for local needs so that they may continue to
deliver outstanding service to the people of this province."
Small and rural municipalities have a greater funding need because of their
lower property and business tax base. Therefore, the per-capita average funding
formula for the grant favours smaller over larger communities while still
ensuring all communities receive funding. Municipalities of 50,000 people or
less have received 71% of the grant funding.
"We recognize that municipalities - particularly in rural areas - require
additional support to provide high-quality fire protection," said Minister
Kwinter. "That's why we are providing them with this unprecedented one-time
funding."
Fire Marshal Moyle recently sent a letter to fire chiefs and municipalities
encouraging fire departments to work with provincial fire coordinators and the
OFM to ensure the most effective use of grant funds.
In order to gauge the success of the grant, the OFM is asking that fire
departments report on how the funds are spent. In approximately six to eight
months a reporting template will be sent to all departments to assist them with
the collection of this information.
The collected information will then be presented to the provincial government to
indicate how successful this type of grant initiative can be in improving fire
protection services in Ontario.
Pictured above: Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte
Kwinter announced the Ontario Fire Services Grant at the Toronto Fire Academy on
March 22 as representatives of fire services across Ontario looked on.
A mother, her daughter and three sons perished in a fire in
Ottawa on April 5. The woman's husband, son-in-law and grandchild were taken to
hospital with serious injuries.
"Again we've had a fire with a large number of fatalities," said Fire Marshal
Bernard Moyle, referring to the West Lincoln fire last November in which eight
people died. "This is unacceptable. The fire service needs to do more to educate
the public about fire safety. We have to make sure that, at the very least,
people have working smoke alarms in their home." No smoke alarms were found in
the residence where the Ottawa fire occurred.
"We have to make fire safety a greater priority for the public if we're going to
prevent these kinds of tragedies," Moyle continued.
At the time of writing, the investigation into the cause and circumstances
surrounding the Ottawa fire continued.
By Brian Maltby,
Division Chief, Fire Prevention,
Chief Fire Official,
Brampton Fire and
Emergency Services
Two years ago, on February 18, 2003, 21 people were crushed to death while
attempting to escape from a Chicago nightclub. Two days later, 100 people
perished in a fire in a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
These two major incidents prompted Brampton Fire and Emergency Services to
initiate a program in which fire prevention officers attend similar type
occupancies in the evening hours, accompanied by members of Peel Regional Police
and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, to assess basic fire safety
provisions. Among other things, fire prevention staff check for a working fire
alarm system, over crowding and accessible exits.
On March 21, 2004, fire prevention staff attended a local assembly occupancy and
found that a required exit door was not operable. In taking a zero tolerance
position, the fire prevention officer initiated charges under the Ontario Fire
Code.
The ensuing trial ended with a conviction of the owner on February 9, 2005. In the penalty phase of the trial, the defendant's agent proposed that a fine of $500 be fitting, given that this was the first conviction of the defendant. The City of Brampton prosecutor countered that a fine of $12,500 was more appropriate, given the significance of the impact that the violation could have on the safety of the patrons and staff of the facility, and in light of the incidents in Chicago and West Warwick two years ago. The court imposed a fine of $9,500, with the intention that the penalty would serve as a punitive measure to the owner and a general deterrent to other owners of assembly occupancies, thereby sending the message that fire safety violations, including improperly maintained exits, will not be tolerated.
Stratford's Emergency Response Plan was put to the test March
7 after a city resident discovered pink foamy water coming from the water taps
in her home.
After visiting the home, a water foreman determined that a foreign chemical had
entered the water system. The city's Emergency Control Group met and issued a
water advisory. Media were contacted to spread the advisory through the
community and city staff delivered notices door to door with the assistance of
several service clubs.
Five potable water stations were established throughout the city, including two
fire stations. On March 8, the water advisory was downgraded to a boil water
advisory, and the boil water advisory was lifted on March 9.
The chemical was identified as 2-Butoxyethanol, which is commonly found in
industrial and household cleaners. Symptoms could range from skin irritation if
exposed to the skin to possible nausea if ingested.
At the time of writing, an investigation into how the chemical entered the water
system was ongoing.
Thanks to Stratford Fire Inspector Michael Gornyiczki for providing information
for this article.
Station 2 firefighters helped distribute bottled water to residents. By the end
of the water advisory, Stratford Fire Department members had distributed 8,000
cases of water from two stations. (Picture submitted by Michael Gornyiczki)
By Gail Martin,
Elmira Independent
A fire that consumed a trailer in Martin Grove Village, just
south of Elmira, Ontario, could have been much worse. Woolwich township
councilor Mark Bauman told council on January 25 that the fire could have
claimed the life of the owner had it not been for a township program to provide
smoke alarms to homes that do not have them.
Firefighters responded to the electrical fire at 6:25 am on January 24. The fire
destroyed the home. The owner of the home, a 60-year-old woman, got out safely.
Bill Cronin, chief fire prevention officer with the Township of Woolwich Fire
Department, reported that this home had been one of 1,161 that had been visited
by the fire department last fall.
Cronin said that the visit was part of a five-year plan that will see all
households in the township inspected by the fire department. Homes that do not
have working smoke alarms can have them installed by volunteer firefighters.
In last year's program, Cronin said that firefighters found 161 homes, or 13.8%
of all homes inspected, did not have working smoke alarms. The fire department
installed 97 new alarms in 8.4% of the homes inspected, and 83 new batteries in
7.1% of the homes. (This adds up to more than 13.8%, said Cronin, because some
homeowners wanted to install an additional smoke alarm in their home.)
Cronin said that township records show that the home ravaged by the fire on
January 24 was one of the homes that received a smoke alarm. The fire department
had visited Martin Grove Village because of concerns that trailers might not be
adequately equipped with smoke alarms.
"As far as I'm concerned, we've saved a life," Cronin said. "Smoke in a home
does not wake you up."
Woolwich firefighters will be visiting homes again this fall in hopes of
reaching more individuals that do not have working smoke alarms.
Excerpted from the January 28 issue of the Elmira Independent.
By Rachele Labrecque,
Standard-Freeholder
Clients of Meals on Wheels Cornwall will now have greater peace of mind while
they enjoy their lunches.
Thanks to a $500 donation by Kraft Foods Ingleside, the non-profit organization
has taken the opportunity to have all of its clients' smoke alarms serviced at
no cost. With help from the Cornwall Fire Department, all 162 clients of Meals
on Wheels Cornwall will have their smoke alarms checked, and batteries will be
replaced, or new alarms will be installed, if necessary.
Andree-Anne Morin, volunteer co-ordinator with Meals on Wheels, said the
generous donation will help their clients greatly. "Many of our clients cannot
check their smoke detectors regularly because of a disability, or they may be
very elderly and have a hard time caring for their home," Morin said. Ensuring
the clients have a working smoke alarms will help protect their safety.
"This is a fantastic win-win situation and we are very pleased the fire
department is helping us with this initiative," Morin said. Firefighter Morris
Lamer, who has been visiting homes to service alarms, said this is a great
opportunity to talk about fire prevention and safety with older people.
"We are pleased to be visiting homes with Meals on Wheels volunteers," Lamer
said. "We will take any opportunity to get the message out to educate the public
about fire prevention and it's key to check your alarms on a regular basis."
Reprinted from the March 4, 2005 issue of the Standard-Freeholder newspaper in
Cornwall.
Last year, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) became aware
of an issue that has a potentially serious impact on service delivery and
firefighter safety for firefighters responding to calls in personal vehicles on
closed roads.
Subsection 134 (3) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) prohibits any person from
driving or operating a vehicle on a road that has been closed by the police.
This subsection does not apply to road service vehicles, ambulances, fire
department vehicles, public utility emergency vehicles, and police vehicles.
However it does apply to fire-fighters who travel on closed roads in their
personally owned vehicles to respond to emergency incidents, regardless of
whether or not they have a flashing green light.
Last year, the Ontario Provincial Police advised all detachments that
firefighters responding to emergency incidents in personally owned vehicles are
not to be allowed on roads that have been closed under the authority of the HTA.
Firefighters in personal vehicles found travelling on these closed roads may be
charged with an offence.
In response to this issue, the OFM consulted fire service stakeholders and on
December 14, 2004, issued a communiqué encouraging fire departments to implement
the following recommendations:
municipal councils should be advised of how the road closure issue may affect
response times, response capabilities, firefighter morale and
recruitment/retention of firefighters;
fire officials should ensure that local emergency plans contain procedures for
the effective management of long-term road closures;
fire officials should meet with the local police service to establish a
protocol for early notification of impending road closures;
fire officials should meet with local and/or regional police, public works
officials, and Ministry of Transportation officials to develop formal agreements
and protocols to be followed in the event of road closures;
fire officials should keep in mind the local need for road closures in winter and consider implementing standby staffing of fire stations when notified road closures will occur. Road closures have a negative effect on response times and firefighter turnout, and increase the level of risk for firefighters.
The communiqué was intended to be an interim measure until a long-term solution
to the issue could be implemented.
In January 2005, the OFM invited representatives from various fire service and
municipal stakeholder groups to provide input in the development of a suitable
long-term strategy to address this issue. The OFM's invitation to serve as
members of the Closed Road Working Group was accepted by the following
organizations: Ministry of Transportation (MTO);
Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC);
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP); Fire Fighters
Association of Ontario (FFAO); Association
of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO);
Municipal Health and Safety Association of Ontario (MHSAO);
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC); and Northern
Bruce Peninsula Fire Department.
During its first meeting, the working group developed a strategy with a
five-pronged approach to address the problem:
a notification protocol for closed roads;
an OFM Public Fire Safety Guideline that would include contingency planning
considerations for responses on closed roads;
a sample standard operational guideline (SOG) for the fire service that would
deal with firefighter emergency response in personally owned vehicles;
personal automobile insurance rate protection for firefighters that use
personally owned vehicles in the performance of their duties as firefighters;
and
training for firefighters that use personally owned vehicles to respond to emergencies.
It was felt by the working group participants that it was important to attempt
to have notification protocols, standard operational guidelines and appropriate
training in place before any legislative change was affected to enable fire
departments to educate their firefighters appropriately and ensure open lines of
communication with local police services regarding responses on closed roads.
The majority of working group members agreed this strategy would be an effective
solution to remedy the service delivery and safety implications associated with
firefighter response in personally owned vehicles in general, and on closed
roads in particular, as long as legislative change remained part of the
solution. The legislative change that was deemed necessary by most of the
members, including the OFM, was a change to the HTA permitting firefighters to
respond on closed roads in personally owned vehicles if necessary for the
performance of their duties.
To work out the details involved in implementing several of the components to
the overall solution, the working group determined participation from the
Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP),
the Ministry of Finance, and the Ontario fire service Section 21 committee would
be beneficial to the discussions. Accordingly, representatives from these three
organizations were to participate in subsequent working group meetings. The
working group members continue to provide input and attend meetings for the
purpose of finalizing draft documents.
It is expected that drafts of the closed road notification
protocol, Public Fire Safety Guideline for firefighter response in personally
owned vehicles, sample SOG on firefighter response in personally owned vehicles,
training plans and insurance protection plans will be released in June 2005.
These documents will be placed at that time on the OAFC and OFM web sites for 30
days for comment. All comments received will be taken into consideration by the
OFM.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and the Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation to
have the Highway Traffic Act amended.
Enquires about the working group, its strategy and/or any reports of incidents
involving firefighter response in personally owned vehicles should be directed
to Timothy Lee at (705) 725-8740 or at
Timothy.G.Lee@jus.gov.on.ca.
Adapted from OFM communiqués no.
2004-29 and no.
2005-07.
Q. Are photoelectric smoke alarms better than ionization
smoke alarms for "adjacent to kitchen" installations, to minimize nuisance
alarms?
A. Within the fire protection and prevention industry, it is recognized that
neither sensor type, photoelectric nor ionization, is universally better at
detecting all types of fires. Why? Each sensor operates on a different principle
and therefore may respond differently to various conditions.
Ionization sensors may respond slightly faster to flaming fires, whereas
photoelectric sensors may respond slightly faster to smouldering fires.
Notwithstanding these differences, to achieve ULC
listing, both alarms must be tested to the same standard and meet the same
requirements. Since you can't predict the type of fire that will occur,
installing both types of alarms in your home can enhance fire safety.
Nuisance alarms in homes from typical cooking activities are affected by the
properties of the aerosol produced and its concentration, the location of an
alarm relative to the source, and the airflow that transports smoke to an alarm.
You need to know that there are a variety of options available.
The bottom line: It is not possible to say one sensor type is better than the
other for reducing nuisance alarms in kitchen installations. Installing a
photoelectric smoke alarm instead of an ionization smoke alarm may be one
approach to reducing nuisance alarms. Other approaches might be to relocate the
existing alarm a short distance away, replace the unit with a new one, or
replace it with a unit that has a hush feature.
Pictured above: Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte
Kwinter and Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle presented awards of appreciation to five
individuals and organizations at the semi-annual Fire Marshal's Public Fire
Safety Council meeting on April 8. Recipients (pictured) were awarded for their
outstanding contributions to the production and dissemination of television
public service announcements (PSAs) advocating fire safe cooking. Pictured (left
to right) are Minister Kwinter, Susan Hay and Terry Lewis from the Global
Television Network; Rebecca Pacheco; Fire Marshal Moyle; Caitlin McIntyre;
Debbie Fox of Debbie Fox Creative; and Julie Johnston from SMARTRISK. The PSAs,
called Up in Smoke and Cacophony, are available to download at
www.firesafetycouncil.com/english/pubsafet/videofiles.htm.
September 22, 2003 was a water-shed day for fire services in
the Township of Springwater, located in Simcoe County. That's the day council
passed the township's master fire plan. Since that time there has been a steady
improvement in the quality of fire prevention and protection services provided
in the region, says Springwater Fire and Emergency Services Fire Chief Tony Van
Dam.
A master fire plan is a strategic blueprint for fire protection that addresses
all local needs and circumstances based upon costs the community can afford.
Springwater developed its master fire plan to meet the following goals/purposes:
to develop a systematic, proactive strategy for community fire risk management;
to optimize fire protection services based on local needs and circumstances; to
develop a community-wide plan based on objective and informed decisions; to
develop a template that would ensure the appropriate application of models,
tools, guidelines; and to fulfill the requirements of the Fire Protection and
Prevention Act.
During an update to the Springwater Master Fire Plan Committee on Feb. 16, Van
Dam outlined a number of activities undertaken as part of the improvement in the
municipality. For example, the number of inspections increased from 57 in 2003
to 153 in 2004, and in 2005, one-third of all businesses in the region will be
inspected, with the remaining to be inspected in coming years.
Other achievements Van Dam noted included training firefighters received last
year and further training planned for 2005; the hiring of a fire prevention
officer in January 2004; increasing numbers of presentations to children in area
schools and day cares; and an increased presence at various community festivals
and functions at which smoke alarms and batteries are distributed and requests
for home inspections are taken.
"Our fire prevention activities have taken a positive step forward," said Van
Dam, "and we're seeing a positive effect on the number of emergency calls." Van
Dam said that the number of emergency calls declined from 534 in 2003 to 434 in
2004. "We're more diligently out there doing prevention," Van Dam said, "and
it's paying off."
Township of Springwater Mayor John Brown believes the improved fire prevention
activities are, in large part, thanks to the master fire plan. "Without it, we'd
still be sitting here wondering what the next step is," Brown said. "But the
master fire plan gives us the framework to set out what activities need to be
focused on and it sets goals to work toward."
Currently, the plan consists of 22 recommendations providing concrete measures
the fire department can take to address challenges it faces. Chief among the
recommendations are an annual review of the community's risk assessment and how
to respond to it; fire prevention activities that include inspections of
businesses every three years; public education programs that include a smoke
alarm program and an increased presence in area schools; and staff training.
"We've been able to achieve many of the plan's recommendations faster than we
originally thought," said Van Dam. "When we were developing the plan, we had a
committee made up of council and the public and together we developed the
recommendations. We felt it was important to get the community's input upfront
so that the plan could be realistic. I recommend that other municipalities doing
this have a similar committee. That's what's made this work for us."
Springwater's success hasn't come without some difficulties. "When we started
this process, it was a hard sell to council," Brown said. But he said the
committee convinced council that the plan would provide the structure needed to
set goals and justify fire prevention and protection activities.
In order to plan for the future, Van Dam said, the master fire plan will be
continuously updated to address issues that have been met and new challenges as
they arise.
Pictured above: Fire Chief Tony Van Dam (second from the right) provides an
update on the master fire plan to Springwater's Master Fire Plan Committee on
Feb. 16.
By Gina Pontikas,
OFM Information Coordinator
Over the past year the OFM's Public Education and Media Relations section
undertook a variety of public education initiatives and events, and developed
education resources and public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at raising
public awareness about the importance of fire safety and fire prevention. Below
is a summary of these initiatives. The fire service is encouraged to incorporate
them into public education strategies and programs across the province.
Wildfire Prevention Week
Last year, the Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources and the
Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle proclaimed the third week of April as
Wildfire Prevention Week in honour of Smokey Bear's 60 years of vigilance
promoting wildfire education and safety.
The OFM, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs again joined forces in 2005 to
develop an education package for the fire service to use in communities affected
by wildfires.
The theme for this year's Wildfire Prevention Week is "Have a safe campfire!"
and once again, these organizations have created new PSAs and educational tools
for use throughout the spring and summer. These materials are available on the
OFM web site at http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca
and on the MNR's web site at
http://affm.mnr.gov.on.ca.
Fire Safety Awards - Will the next winner be from your community?
The young people pictured below are the recipients of the 2004 Fire Safety
Action Awards. Each of them is an excellent example of the importance of
teaching fire safety to children. Their quick actions and fire safety knowledge
helped to prevent or minimize a potentially dangerous fire situation. They are a
credit to their communities and positive proof that fire safety education really
works.
The 2005 Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council Awards will be held on June
15, 2005 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
TAPP-C
The OFM and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
finalized, printed and disseminated the revised TAPP-C Fire Service Educational
manuals and materials to fire departments. These materials include new
educational vignettes and a CD, the Fire Service Educator's Manual, the
Clinician's Treatment Manual and the Community Implementation Manual.
All of the new TAPP-C materials are available in French.
Annual Fire & Life Safety Educator's Conferences
Public educators' conferences were held in Fort Frances and Pembroke in 2004.
Approximately 180 people participated at the 12th Annual Public Fire and Life
Safety Educator's Conference hosted by the Renfrew County Mutual Aid Fire
Service Association and the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council in
Pembroke. Highlights of the conference included workshops on the new TAPP-C
educational resources, Risk Watch, working with the media and effective
presentations. The 2005 public educators' conference will be held in Simcoe. For
more information on the upcoming conference, please contact Gina Pontikas at
416-325-3155.
Fire Prevention Week
Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle toured the cities of Ottawa, Hawkesbury, Stittsville,
Kingston and Toronto to launch local Fire Prevention Week campaigns with fire
chiefs. The theme of Fire Prevention Week was "Test Your Smoke Alarms!"
promoting two simple but life-saving lessons: install smoke alarms and test them
regularly; and develop and practice home escape drills.
This year, Fire Prevention Week will be held from October 9-15, 2005.
Holiday Fire Safety
To promote fire safety during the winter holidays, the OFM and SMARTRISK
developed two new television PSAs: Up in Smoke and Cacophony. Both PSAs aired
frequently over the holidays and continue to be aired nationally and locally.
The PSAs were unveiled at Holiday Fire Safety news conferences held in Toronto,
Barrie, Kitchener, Peterborough and North Bay during the week of December 7,
2004. Demonstrations were also provided at each news conference to disseminate
safe cooking practices through the media. In addition to the television PSAs,
new audio and camera-ready PSAs were distributed to media across the province.
PSAs can be found on the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council web site at
www.firesafetycouncil.com/english/pubsafe.htm.
Risk Watch
The SMARTRISK team has completed the English revision of Risk Watch and the
material has also been translated into French. The graphic design of the
materials is currently in progress. The last stage will be production and
distribution. The new Canadian version is expected to be available for use in
schools by September, 2005. Stay tuned for the exciting launch! (See the back
cover for more information on the Canadian version of Risk Watch.)
Looking ahead
The OFM is working on new public education resources, programs and materials for
this year. The Public Education and Media Relations section would like to thank
everyone who participated in the development of these resources. Your support is
greatly appreciated.
The OFM would like to continue to hear from you, find out what programs are
working in your communities and hear your recommendations or suggestions for
province-wide resources including programs and public service announcements.
Please forward any feedback to the Public Education and Media Relations section
by fax at 416-325-3162 or by email to
gina.pontikas@jus.gov.on.ca.
Clarington Emergency and Fire Services, Durham Regional Police and the Municipality of Clarington have joined forces to develop a year-long public education campaign aimed at increasing awareness about the importance of homes being equipped with working smoke alarms. The campaign is in response to a fire that injured two teenagers in Clarington on Jan. 6.
The campaign kicked off with a media conference on Feb. 21.
Campaign activities include sending information flyers to all Clarington school
boards; producing and displaying awareness posters (shown at the right) in
municipal buildings; corporate advertising; working with local media to raise
awareness; and special events including a family safety day.
For more information about the campaign, contact Jennifer Cooke, Municipality of
Clarington, at 905-623-3379, ext. 407.
Pictured above are two posters developed in Clarington following a fire that
injured two teenagers on Jan. 6.
The OFM compiles statistics on all fatal fires that occur in Ontario. These statistics can assist the fire service to determine fire trends, plan fire prevention initiatives and target public education activities. Due to the methods and criteria used in reporting fire deaths, statistics are subject to change.
January 2005: 10 fatal fires resulting in 12 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 6, Female - 4, Total - 10
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 1, Female - 1, Total - 2
Total: Male - 7, Female - 5, Total - 12
Fire Cause - Accidental 2, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 5, Incendiary 3
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 4, 0801-1600 - 3, 1601-1800 - 2, 1801-0000 - 1
Locations of fatal fires: Kawartha Lakes (1); Kingston (1); Mississauga (1); North Dundas (1); St. Charles (1); Toronto (4); Windsor City Essex (1).
February 2005: 8 fatal fires resulting in 11 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 5, Female - 5, Total - 10
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 1, Female - 0, Total - 1
Total: Male - 6, Female - 5, Total - 11
Fire Cause - Accidental 1, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 7, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 5, 0801-1600 - 1, 1601-1800 - 0, 1800-0000 - 2
Locations of fatal fires: Cornwall (1); Greater Sudbury (1); Kitchener (1); Mississauga (1); Sault Ste. Marie (1); Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield (1); Thunder Bay City (1); Tyendinaga, (1).
By Deb Bartlett
Kawartha Lakes This Week
Students at Pope John Paul II Catholic School in Lindsay heard a variety of
messages on March 4, but they all dealt with farm safety.
Karen Cook and Dr. Bob Watson of the Kawartha Lakes Risk Watch Advisory
Coalition brought their safety messages to the students as part of Farm Safety
Week. They gave four presentations to different age groups at the school.
The message they kept reiterating for the Grade 1/2 class was the ABCs of farm
safety - Always Be Careful.
Using an interactive magnetic board, Cook and Watson set up a farm with a
variety of hazards. Students were asked to point out the hazards and explain why
they were dangerous.
They were also shown a photo of a huge tractor and asked to show how tall they
would be compared to the tractor. That exercise showed how difficult it was for
the tractor driver to see in front of the tractor.
Some of the students were surprised to hear that 12 Canadian children under age
10 are killed every year in farm incidents. Boys are three to four times more
likely to be seriously injured than girls, and farm injuries to children peak in
the summer.
Watson, who has farmed for his whole life, told the students that tractor
implements can be over 7.5 metres (25 feet) wide. "Stay well away from farm
machinery," he told the class.
People get killed on farm equipment because they either get hit or fall off and
get run over by machinery. Cook and Watson stressed the importance of having a
one seat, one rider rule for machinery.
"The farm is a work site, but it's also a home," Cook said. "That's why it's
hard to maintain that safety standard."
Cook and Watson offered the following farm safety tips:
This is an excerpt of an article appearing in the March 8 edition of the Kawartha Lakes This Week. For more information on Risk Watch, see the back page.
Last summer, firefighters in Welland, Ontario credited their residential
smoke alarm inspection program for saving two lives. Two residents of a
townhouse escaped a fire on July 14, 2004 just a month after Welland
firefighters installed two smoke alarms in the unit as part of their annual
inspection program (for more information see the September/October 2004 issue of
the Messenger).
Similarly, the Township of Woolwich Fire Department credits their home
inspection program for a woman's safe escape from a house fire in January (for
more information see the article on page 4 of this issue). As in Welland,
Woolwich firefighters installed smoke alarms in the home as part of the
department's five-year plan that will see all homes in the township inspected.
These two examples highlight the importance of home inspection programs. "Home
fire safety checks should be a central part of all municipalities' fire
prevention strategies," said Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford. "They are a
great way to get into the community and talk to people about ways to prevent
home fires and to promote safety."
"Home fire safety checks are a unique opportunity to ensure first-hand that
homes and their occupants are as safe as possible from fire," Crawford
continued. "They also provide a chance to strengthen relationships between the
fire service and the community. In doing so, we can make fire and life safety a
greater priority for the public."
Recent surveys in Canada and the United States indicate that the public greatly
underestimates the risk of fire. The surveys found that households are not
proactive about fire safety; for example, people fail to replace smoke alarm
batteries and are not developing and practicing home fire escape plans (for more
information on these surveys, see the September/October 2004, November/December
2004 and January/February 2005 issues of the Messenger).
Following are some things to remember when preparing for and conducting a home
fire safety inspection:
Preparing for Inspections
Items to Bring With You
When You Arrive
When You Meet the Household Members
Touring the Home
After the Tour
Adapted from the TAPP-C Fire Service Educator's Manual.
The following is a sample of fire safety issues that can be discussed with
households during a home fire safety inspection.
Cooking Safety: Discuss the importance of: adults staying in the kitchen when
food is cooking on the stove; stove tops and counters kept clear of clutter; pot
handles turned inward on the stove so they can't be bumped; wearing
tight-fitting or short sleeves while cooking; keeping a pot lid within easy
reach of the stove; keeping curtains and other combustible items well away from
the stove.
Candles: Discuss the importance of: always extinguishing candles before leaving
the room; placing candles in sturdy, non-combustible holders; placing glass
chimneys over lit candles; keeping lit candles out of the reach of
children/pets.
Heating Safety: Discuss the importance of: turning off space heaters when adults
leave the room or go to sleep; placing space heaters at least one metre (three
feet) from anything that can burn; using a sturdy fireplace screen to catch
sparks; getting the chimney cleaned and inspected every year; having the furnace
serviced by a professional every year; storing propane and other fuel tanks
outside the home.
Electrical Safety: Discuss the importance of: not overloading outlets; having
additional electrical outlets installed to avoid using extension cords; keeping
the space around electrical equipment clear of combustibles and clutter; using
proper size fuses and circuit breakers in the fuse/circuit breaker box;
inspecting appliance cords for damage and replacing damaged cords.
Matches and Lighters: Ask if anyone in the home smokes. Review the reasons for a
safe place to store matches and lighters. Discuss safe ways to store matches and
lighters.
Smoke Alarms: Discuss the importance of working smoke alarms. Bring a smoke
alarm and batteries with you. Test the smoke alarm with household members. Ask
household members to show you where smoke alarms are located in the home. Ask
household members to test the smoke alarms. Review the best locations for smoke
alarms. Demonstrate changing the battery and ask household members to practice
changing it. Discuss ways to limit false alarms.
Home Fire Escape Planning: Explain the reasons for having a home fire escape
plan. Show the household how to develop a home fire escape plan.
Adapted from the NFPA's Home Fire Safety Checklist and the TAPP-C Fire
Service Educator's Manual.
By Leslie Kennedy,
OFM's Educational Consultant and Acting Executive Coordinator, Certification/Accreditation
Programs
The OFM is currently seeking to expand its Certification
Council. Currently, Council is comprised of three firefighters, one of which is
a captain and one a platoon chief, three fire prevention officers, two fire
chiefs, one training officer and one OFM representative.
The purpose of Council is to develop and provide role-specific certification
programs so that individual fire service personnel may achieve and be awarded
provincial certification.
The benefit to the OFM of individuals' participation on Council is obvious. We
get input from our stakeholders on the requirements of programs that will
directly impact them. It would be impossible for us to develop credible
certification programs in isolation. We also benefit from having stakeholders
who support the certification programs and are eager to implement them.
However, your participation on Council also benefits you and your department.
You have an opportunity to:
influence the decision-making process and help ensure that requirements for certification are achievable;
learn first-hand about the requirements for certification and the rationale for them, which is beneficial when you implement training and certification programs in your department; and
network with your peers and personnel in other roles from a number of departments across the province.
Certification Council members:
have a commitment to the goal of achieving individual certification in various fire service roles in a manner that is consistent with fair, ethical and equitable practices;
have knowledge of and experience in the Ontario Fire Service;
have knowledge of the Standards Process Model and Fire Service Standards;
have excellent communication skills, including effective listening, negotiating and clarifying;
are willing to be open and receptive to new ideas and concepts;
are willing to share expertise and knowledge with others;
have the ability to apply problem-solving skills within a team environment using knowledge and experience in the fire service;
have the ability to set priorities and further the goals of the Certification Council;
have analytical skills;
are able to function effectively as a team member to achieve the goals and promote the activities of the Certification Council;
will declare any conflict of interest issues prior to application and during Council proceedings; and
will keep all Council business confidential.
One-day meetings of Council are held about five times per year, with the work of
subcommittees being conducted in between Council meetings. Occasionally,
members are asked to participate in e-mail consultations.
If you are interested in being a member of the Certification Council, please
submit a letter and résumé outlining how and why your background and experience
fit the membership criteria. Your application should also include any past
experience in certification or accreditation, as well as special skills or
knowledge related to Council's purpose that you would bring to the table.
Please submit your application in confidence to:
Leslie Kennedy
(A) Chair, Certification Council
Office of the Fire Marshal
Place Nouveau Building
5775 Yonge Street, 7th Floor
North York, Ontario M2M 4J1
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me by e-mail at
Leslie.Kennedy@jus.gov.on.ca
or by phone at 416-325-0942.
We look forward to welcoming new members to Council, and enjoying the influx of
fresh ideas and renewed energy.
Pictured above: Leslie Kennedy (pictured at the far left), educational consultant and acting executive coordinator, certification/accreditation programs for the OFM, met with training officers from fire departments across the province on March 24. The meeting was aimed at getting feedback from them about the proposed requirements for training officer certification including an academic requirement in the `Window of Opportunity' and demonstration of essential competencies on-the-job. The feedback will be used to develop the Training Officer Certification Program that will be launched at the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs conference in May. Pictured with Leslie (from the left) are: Scott Dahmer, Waterloo Fire Department; Terry Foster, East Gwillimbury Emergency Services; Paul Reynolds, Toronto Fire Services; and Jeremy Parkin and Alan Brody, Mnjikaning Fire Rescue Service. Other training officers who attending the meeting included Sean Bradley and Shawn LePage, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services; Rocco Volpe, Richmond Hill Fire Department; and Paul Jackson, King Fire and Emergency Services.
By Robert Harpur,
OFM Fire Protection Engineer
No, it's not the latest rock group. UF6
is the chemical symbol for uranium hexafluoride, which is the form of uranium
used during the uranium enrichment process. Uranium hexafluoride is convenient
to use because it can be a solid, a liquid or a gas within a relatively small
range of temperature and pressure. This means it can be stored as a solid,
converted to a liquid for filling or emptying containers, or converted to a gas
for processing.
Because the uranium enrichment process takes place in several stages at
different locations, there are frequent shipments of UF6
both within Canada and to the USA. Containers may be identified by the name
uranium hexafluoride, the symbol UF6, the
CAS #7783-81-5 or the UN# 2978.
Physical Characteristics
Solid UF6 is a dense, white crystalline
material that resembles rock salt. At atmospheric pressure, UF6
will be a solid at temperatures below 57°C (134°F). Above 57°C (134°F) solid UF6
sublimates directly to a colourless gas. It will only be found in a liquid state
if the temperature is above 64°C (147°F) and the pressure is above 151.7 kPa (22
psia). In its liquid state it is clear and colourless. The liquid has low
viscosity and flows easily. When UF6 is
heated and changes from a solid to a liquid, it undergoes a very large volume
expansion, up to 40% if heated to 121oC
(250oF). This large increase in volume can
result in hydraulic rupture of the container.
Chemical Characteristics
Uranium hexafluoride is not flammable and does not react with oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, or dry air. It will react, sometimes violently, with
hydrocarbons, ethanol and water, including the water vapour in the air. Uranium
hexafluoride that has reacted with water (become hydrated) will form uranyl
fluoride (UO2F2)
and hydrogen fluoride (HF). The hydrogen fluoride in combination with the water
vapour in the air can form an HF-H2O fog
that appears as a white cloud. The uranyl fluoride will appear as finely divided
yellow particles that are water-soluble. These reactions can take place whether
the UF6 is in a solid or a gaseous state,
but will take place almost instantaneously when the UF6
is in a gaseous state.
Depending on the humidity, the plume resulting from a release of UF6
to the atmosphere can contain unhydrolysed UF6
several hundred metres from the release point. Particulate UO2F2
may be deposited anywhere along the path of the plume. UO2F2
that has been deposited may be resuspended in the air if it is disturbed.
Although gaseous HF will not deposit, the hydrofluoric acid it forms when
combined with water vapour can be deposited.
Shipping
All UF6 must be shipped in certified
containers that comply with ANSI N14.1 Nuclear Materials- Uranium
Hexafluoride-Packaging for Transport.
Most of the UF6 shipped in Ontario comes
from one company. The container they commonly use is a 30B cylinder with an
over-pack. The 30B cylinder is a steel cylinder with a nominal diameter of 76 cm
(30 in.) and a nominal length of 206 cm (81 in.) There is a 25 mm (1 in.) valve
at one end and a plug at the other end. These cylinders must maintain their
integrity after being subjected to a variety of stringent tests including a 9 m
(30 ft.) drop test onto an unyielding surface, a 1 m drop onto a steel bar
(puncture test), exposure to an 800oC (1472oF)
fire for 30 minutes and immersion in 15 m deep water for 8 hours.
The over-pack is also a steel cylinder that is divided into two halves
lengthwise. The 30B cylinder is cradled in the over-pack and surrounded with
fire resistant material. A gasket is used between the two halves to prevent
water from leaking into the container. Vent holes are provided to allow gases to
escape in the event of a fire. These vent holes are sealed with plastic plugs to
maintain the water resistance of the package.
UF6 containing less than 1% of the U235
isotope is classed as low specific activity (LSA) radioactive material and may
be shipped in industrial packages. The one most commonly used is US48Y. These
containers have a nominal diameter of 1220 mm (48 in.) and may contain up to
12500 kg (27, 557 lbs.) of UF6. Although
they must still meet specified standards they are not required to pass the drop
tests or thermal test that the 30B cylinders must pass.
The transportation of UF6 is regulated by
the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
under the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations made under
the Nuclear Safety And Control Act. Whenever UF6
is transported, complete transportation and security plans must be filed with
the Commission.
Hazards
Although UF6 is a radioactive material, the
main hazards it presents are chemical, not radiological. Unhydrolysed UF6
is toxic as are UO2F2
and HF. The HF may also combine with water to form highly corrosive
hydro-fluoric acid or react with many metals to form flammable hydrogen gas.
The particulate UO2F2
may be dispersed in air and inhaled. Because it is very soluble, it is readily
absorbed in the blood-stream. If large quantities are inhaled, kidney damage may
result. The highly corrosive HF may cause symptoms ranging from eye and
respiratory irritation to death, depending on the exposure.
Emergency Response
It should be noted that firefighter bunker gear does not provide protection
against the chemical hazards associated with UF6,
UO2F2
or HF. Cartridge respirators will not provide protection against UF6
and provide only limited protection against HF. Cartridge respirators will
provide adequate protection against UO2F2
and so may be used in the decontamination phase. When responding to an incident
involving UF6 or its by-products chemical
protective clothing suitable for UF6 and
full SCBA must be worn.
As mentioned earlier, the primary hazards associated with UF6
are chemical and, therefore, rescue, medical and firefighting concerns take
priority over measuring radiation levels.
UF6 is a specialized material that requires
a very knowledgeable response. The shipping papers that accompany UF6
shipments are required to have an emergency response telephone number on them.
This number should be called first. If the shipping papers are not available,
then CANUTEC should be called.
The driver should have an MSDS for UF6, a
set of emergency instructions and an emergency kit to deal with small leaks or
damage to the cylinders. According to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission,
solid UF6 reacts relatively slowly with the
moisture in air. Within the first 20 to 30 minutes after a container is
breached, it should be possible for firefighters to approach the cylinders
wearing bunker gear and SCBA. Small leaks can sometimes be sealed with equipment
as simple as duct tape or duct tape and plastic sheets.
If the container has been heated, applying a CO2
fire extinguisher directly to the hole or leaking area can cool the material
back into solid form long enough to facilitate applying the duct tape. The CO2
must be applied directly to the container, not to the over pack. It should be
noted that this procedure is only a short-term solution and is only intended to
buy enough time to permit victim extrication or to permit longer-term solutions
to be implemented.
The incident area should be immediately isolated and no personnel allowed into
the area unless they are wearing appropriate protective equipment. The 2000
Emergency Response Guidebook recommends isolating for 30 m (100 ft) in all
directions for small spills and 95 m (300 ft) in all directions for large
spills. For small spills the Guidebook recommends evacuating persons downwind
for 0.2 km (0.1 mi) during the day and 0.5 km (0.3 mi) at night. For large
spills it recommends evacuating persons downwind for 1.0 km (0.6 mi) during the
day and 3.1 km at night. These distances are for the areas most likely to be
affected during the first 30 minutes after a release and may need to be
increased with time. If there is a significant fire involved with the release of
the UF6 these distances should be
increased. Because it is water reactive, water or foam should never be applied
to UF6 material. Fires involving UF6
must be extinguished using dry chemical or CO2.
Water may be applied to undamaged UF6
containers to protect them from overheating due to exposure fires. Because of
the very large volume increase that occurs when UF6
changes from the solid phase to the liquid phase, it is critical that containers
not be heated above 64oC or rupture of the
container could occur.
Water fog may be applied downstream of the release to reduce the
concentration of UO2F2
and HF in the plume and limit the area that will eventually have to be
decontaminated. Water should not be used to prevent deposited UO2F2
from being resuspended because the solutions formed could penetrate the ground
and thus require that a much greater volume of soil be removed to effect
decontamination.
Dikes should be provided to contain all water used for fire-fighting or exposure
protection so that it may be decontaminated. All equipment and clothing used on
the scene will have to be decontaminated or disposed of in an appropriate
manner.
Responding medical personnel should be made aware of the hazards so that they
can take suitable precautions to protect themselves and so appropriate treatment
can be provided to any casualties. A record should be kept of all persons in the
area, both emergency responders and civilians, so that they may be monitored for
external and internal contamination after the emergency is over.
For additional information, see:
1. 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook
2. Planning and Preparing for Emergency Response to Transport Accidents
Involving Radioactive Material, Safety Guide No. TS-G-1.2 (ST-3), International
Atomic Energy Agency Vienna (available from OFM Library)
3. Uranium Hexafluoride: A Manual of Good Handling Practice, USEC-651, United
States Enrichment Corporation (Revision 7 January 1995 can be downloaded free
from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information at
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=205924. Revision 8,
1999, can be purchased from Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Customer Service
and Product Scheduling, Attn: Michael Buckner P.O. Box 1410, Paducah, KY 42002)
4. Nuclear Safety and Control Act, Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances
Regulations, SOR/2000-208
5. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 280 Slater Street, P.O. Box 1046, Ottawa,
Ontario, K1P 5S9, Tel: 1-800-668-5284 or (613) 995-5894, Fax: (613) 995-5086
Email: info@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
To report a nuclear incident ONLY, call the CNSC's 24-hour duty officer: (613)
995-0479
6. CANUTEC, 330 Sparks Street, Office 1415, Place de Ville, Tower C, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada, K1A 0N5; Emergency: (613) 996-6666 (call collect); Cellular: *
666 (Canada only); Information: (613) 992-4624 (call collect); Fax: (613)
954-5101; E-mail: canutec@tc.gc.ca
Decision No. 2004RA006-143
Date: October 27, 2004
SUBJECT MATTER
The issue before the tribunal was an application made by the fire department for
authorization to do work relating to an Inspection Order served on the owner of
a mixed use residential, commercial and assembly building. The Inspection Order
required that a second exit be provided from a second floor area by June 18,
2004. The previous second exit was compromised as a result of a fire.
Five residential units situated on the second floor of the premises are now
located within a deadend corridor and served by only one exit. Temporary
alternative accommodation was provided by the fire department for occupants of
the affected units until this second means of egress is provided.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES
This 2500m², two storey (plus basement) building was constructed in 1947 and is
of combustible construction. The exterior walls of the building are concrete
block, brick or stucco on wood frame. The roof and floor assemblies are boards
on joist.
The building is generally occupied as commercial on the first floor and
residential on the second floor. The second floor includes 13 apartments in the
north wing and five apartments in the south wing. The south end of the building
also has four apartments on the second floor that are vacant because of a recent
fire. The southeast portion of the building has both floors gutted and under
reconstruction due to this fire. The roof of this portion has been removed and
partially covered with tarps and plastic.
The north and south wings of the building have floor assemblies that are boards
on joist with gypsum wallboard sheathing on the underside. The corridors serving
the apartments and the exit stairs are separated from the remaining floor area
with gypsum wallboard on wood stud wall assemblies. The apartments are separated
from each other and other floor areas by wall assemblies constructed with gypsum
wallboard on wood studs. Suite doors are a solid-core wood type and are provided
with self-closing devices. Doors accessing exit stairs from the floor area are
labelled and provided with self-closers.
The second floor of the north wing is provided with two exits that include the
east exit stair and the central exit stair. The south wing is currently provided
with a single exit, which is the central exit stair. A previous second means of
egress from this wing is locked off as it leads through the fire-damaged area to
the south, which is under reconstruction.
Fire safety equipment, such as the fire alarm system and in-suite smoke alarms
are in place throughout the occupied portion of the building but not in the
portion of the building under reconstruction or the second floor vacant
apartments in the south end. The power supply and services have also been
shut-off in the vacated portion of the building. Sprinklers are provided and in
service on the ground floor and basement of the north wing and part of the south
wing.
This building falls within Section 9.5 of the Fire Code which requires that each
floor area to be served by a minimum of two exits.
APPLICANT'S POSITION
The fire department indicated that the owner is not likely to comply with the
Inspection Order since the timelines for an appeal have passed and there is no
sign of action being taken by the owner at the premises. Since the issuance of
the Inspection Order, the fire department has received no communication about
the owner's intent despite repeated attempts to contact him. The fire department
filed an application to the Commission on September 27, 2004 for authorization
to do work. The fire department believes that the application is consistent with
criteria set out in subsection 33.(4) of the FPPA, 1997, and failure to provide
the exit endangers the occupants of the residential portion of this property.
The fire department is therefore seeking the Commission's decision to grant the
authority to do the minimum acceptable measures as proposed therein at the
owner's expense.
RESPONDENT'S POSITION
The owner's business manager was at the hearing to collect information for the
owner, and stated that he did not have the authority to make decisions on
matters relating to financial commitments. He also provided additional
information about an ongoing dispute over claims for the fire damages, and that
it was the owner's intent to let the Inspection Order compliance date lapse
until sale of the property could be arranged. He also stated that the owner has
undertaken all safety measures to the property required by the fire department
as a result of the fire, except the provision of the required second exit.
COMMISSION RULING
The Commission ruled that the application for authorization to do work be
granted in accordance with the minimum acceptable measures as follows:
1. A structural engineer shall assess the area, specifically looking at the structural stability of the egress route and adjacent areas impacted by the fire. The engineer will also provide working drawings for any work to be performed.
2. Any work required by the engineer for the purposes of structural stabilization will be completed.
3. Separations or hoarding between the egress route and areas impacted by fire will be provided.
4. Emergency lighting and fire detection will be provided as required.
5. Exit signage will be provided as required.
6. Work undertaken will be in conformance with the Ontario Building Code or will match facilities in existence prior to the fire. Where this is not possible, proposals for alternative measures will be approved by the chief fire official, prior to implementation.
7. The egress facility should be designed to ensure a minimum impact on the
facility, if restorative work on the fire involved portion of the property were
to commence.
The fire department shall complete the work within one month.
REASONS
The Tribunal has heard the evidence to the effect that the owners had ample
opportunity to implement the inspection order. The work is necessary to ensure
life safety of the occupants and the visitors at the building. The reasons given
at the hearing by the respondent for not implementing the order are not
acceptable to the Commission in view of the life safety of the occupants of the
residential units on the second floor. The Tribunal believes that the work must
be completed to ensure the safety as mentioned above.
The Halton Hills Fire Protection and Prevention Services has developed a new
community safety guide. It is a compilation of educational, informative and
helpful safety tips aimed at appealing to all citizens of the community.
"The guide is yet another tool we can use to spread the word about being fire
safe," said Halton Hills' Fire Safety Specialist David Ford. "Along with other
public education materials, the guide will act as a collective source of
information."
Ford said that the guide supports the goals and objectives of the municipality's
Fire Service Master Plan: the focus on public education and prevention measures
as the primary and most effective means to protect the community.
"Public education is recognized as the most effective, pro-active means to
reduce personal injury, deaths and property loss," Ford said.
The guide includes information on a variety of fire safety topics. Halton Hills
had 10,000 copies printed before Christmas and Ford said the supply is steadily
declining. Guides are available at a variety of community businesses, at
seniors' centres, municipal offices and fire stations. Copies were also
distributed to 21 schools and parents of kids in 21 daycare centres in the area.
For more information about the guide, contact David Ford at 905-873-2601.
Adapted from a Town of Halton Hills media release dated Feb. 3.
Pictured above: the cover of the Halton Hills Community Safety Guide.
Brent Ellen joined the OFM as program specialist in the Field Fire
Protection Services unit on Feb. 28. Brent most recently served as training
officer for the Georgina Fire Department. Brent was also an active participant
in the York Region Hazmat Response Team and worked closely with other fire
departments in York region to deliver specialized technical rescue programs.
John Fox retired on October 31, 2004. Prior to joining the OFM as a fire
investigator in 1993, John was with Humber College, the Peel Regional Police
Force and the Ministry of Environment. Congratulations John!
Dyanne McCullough became program specialist in the OFM's Field Fire
Protection Services unit starting on Feb. 28.
James O'Donnell joined the OFM as a fire investigator on Jan. 24. James
was previously a detective constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Michael Ross began on Jan. 24 as a fire investigator with the OFM.
Michael has a Masters degree in Fire Sciences and a degree in Forensic
Identification from the University of New Haven.
Denis Seguin started on Feb. 28 as program specialist in the OFM's Field
Fire Protection Services unit.
Skye Lorimer started as a fire investigator with the OFM on Feb. 28. Skye
has 14 years experience with the Durham Regional Police, most recently as deputy
constable in the forensic identification unit.
Bruce Gougeon retired after 24 years in a variety of positions with the
OFM, including representing the Fire Marshal at various events in recent years.
Bruce spent a total of 40 years working in the fire service. Congratulations
Bruce!
Pictured above: Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle (left) and Bruce Gougeon.
Six year old Autumn Mearow, a grade one student at Sir James Dunn Public
School in Wawa traveled all the way to the North Bay Fire Education Conference
to meet with the Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle to find out how she could
help spread the word about fire safety.
Autumn Mearow was very concerned about fire safety after a family of eight died
in a West Lincoln house fire. The Office of the Fire Marshal had sent out a home
fire safety checklist to the directors of education to distribute to their
schools and Autumn wanted to help out.
The Fire Marshal and Autumn met in a boardroom at the conference to discuss
smoke alarms and home escape planning and how Autumn could help out. Autumn
wanted to take back some fire safety activity books and a home escape planning
activity she could share with her classmates.
Fire Marshal Moyle was extremely impressed with Autumn, her knowledge of fire
safety and the fact that she was determined to meet him to help further the fire
safety cause.
"It is very rewarding to meet such a delightful young girl, who already has a
desire to help out her classmates and her community. It was wonderful to meet
Autumn."
Autumn has learned a lot about fire from her grandmother, who is the fire chief
of Batchawana Bay.
Pictured above: Autumn Mearow met with Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle at the North
Bay Fire Education Conference in April to discuss ways she can promote fire
safety. Autumn traveled from Wawa to North Bay for the meeting. (Picture
courtesy of Bev Gilbert)
CBC News
Two firefighters died battling a fire in Yellowknife on March 17.
Police first noticed the fire at the Home Building Centre on Old Airport Road at
7:20 a.m. Fire crews arrived a short time later.
The roof of the building apparently collapsed while the firefighters were trying
to vent the building. Witnesses said the weight of men, equipment and snow on
the roof may have contributed to the collapse.
The death is believed to be the first death of a firefighter in the line of duty
in Yellowknife.
At the time of writing, an investigation to determine the cause of the fire was
ongoing.
May 1-5: Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Conference, Toronto, ON
May 9-13: OBC Fire Protection Course, Kingston, ON
May 27: CBRNE Conference, Ottawa, ON
May 31: Canadian Fire Alarm Association Annual Seminar, Toronto, ON
June 2-4: Eastern Ontario Vehicle Rescue Challenge, Port Hope, ON
June 5: Ontario Firefighters Memorial Dedication - Queen's Park, Toronto, ON
June 6-9: OPFFA Annual Convention, Niagara Falls, ON
June 15: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council Fire Safety Awards 2005,
Toronto, ON
July 10-13: 15th World Conference on Disaster Management Toronto, ON
July 29-Aug. 1: 104th Annual Fire Fighters Association of Ontario Conference,
St. Jacobs, ON
Sept. 11: Canadian Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, Ottawa, ON
Sept. 15-18: FireCon 2005, Thunder Bay, ON
First awarded in 1971, The Fire Services Long Service Medal is an expression
of public appreciation for the dedication and hard work of Ontario firefighters.
It is officially recognized by the province and is included in the Fire
Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. Both full-time and volunteer firefighters
can qualify for the medal.
Suspended from a red, white and green ribbon, the circular medal bears on the
obverse the Maltese Cross, with the coat of arms of Ontario superimposed, and
the inscription, "Fire Services Ontario". The inscription, "For Long Service the
Fire Protection and Prevention Act", appears on the reverse.
Besides the medal, each recipient is also presented with a citation, which
includes their name and the signature of the Fire Marshal of Ontario.
Below are the tentative dates of Long Service Medal Investitures coming up this
year. They are subject to change depending on attendance and facility
availability.
If your district does not have enough applicants to hold a ceremony (20-25), you
may attend a ceremony in a bordering district. To make arrangements, contact OFM
Awards Coordinator Marie Falk at 416-325-3106.
Please note that investitures are held in northern Ontario districts every two
years and are dependent on the number of applicants.
2005 Districts
May 24: Frontenac, Lennox-Addington, Hasting, Prince Edward, Leeds-Grenville
June 23: Elgin, Huron, Middlesex
July 14: Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe
Aug. 18: Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton
Sept. 22: Cochrane, Timiskaming
Oct. 20: Durham, Peterborough, Victoria- Kawartha, Northumberland
Nov. 15 and 22: Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York, Scarborough, York
The new Canadian version of Risk Watch® is expected to be available for use
in Canadian schools by this September. Risk Watch is a comprehensive injury
prevention program for students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. Developed
by the National Fire Protection Association in the United States, Risk Watch
covers eight injury prevention areas, including motor vehicle safety, bike and
pedestrian safety and poisoning prevention. It teaches children skills and
strategies to make positive choices about personal injury prevention behaviours.
In 2003, the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council contracted with
SMARTRISK to revise the curriculum to include Canadian statistics, legislation,
information, resources and education content, and to produce a French language
version.
Being able to make smart decisions is an important part of injury prevention.
Central to the Canadian version is the "Look First, Think Twice, Choose Smart"
decision-making process that promotes the use of critical thinking skills in all
grade levels to encourage students to make educated decisions about injury
prevention by assessing the risk in situations and using their knowledge to make
decisions.
For example, in grades 3-4, students act as reporters to examine choking,
suffocation and strangulation risks in familiar fairy tales. Students first
reflect on their prior knowledge about what it means to, and what items could
cause, choking, suffocation or strangulation, through creating and playing a
concentration game. Students discuss strategies to prevent injury from the items
identified. Students then work with their teacher and classmates to analyze a
modified version of Jack and the Beanstalk for risks and write a newspaper
report. Students then analyze their own choice of fairy tale and write a report
for a class newspaper. They share their stories with other stu-dents and classes
and reflect on new learning.
What is different about the Canadian version?:
For more information, please contact Bev Gilbert at the Ontario Fire Marshal's
Office, at Bev.Gilbert@jus.gov.on.ca or 416-325-3178.
Reprinted from SMARTRISK's newsletter "Heads Up!"
Pictured above: Karen Cook and Dr. Bob Watson of the Kawartha Lakes Risk Watch
Advisory Coalition brought farm safety messages to a Grade 1/2 class in Lindsay
recently. The new "Canadian-ized" version of Risk Watch includes a focus on
regional issues such as rural safety. (Picture courtesy of Deb Bartlett/Kawartha
Lakes This Week. See page 10 for more information on Risk Watch)
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