August/September 2006 Volume 15 Issue 3
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:
Carol Gravelle, Editor, Office of the Fire Marshal, 5775 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, ON M2M 4J1, Tel: 416-325-3138, Fax: 416-325-3162, Carol.Gravelle@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, Ryan Betts, Chris Slosser, Gina Pontikas, Tony Pacheco, Fire Chief Tawnya Roberts, Dan Fraser, Rose Barg, Susan Clarke, Robert Harpur, Joshy Kallungal, Andy Glynn, Dianne Kyle and Deanna Pacheco.
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.
Deanna Pacheco
Principal, Wabigoon Public School
As a mother and an educator, I know that the safety of children is of the utmost importance in everything that we do. We all know that there are risks in everything that our children are involved in, so it is very important to teach children of all ages how to manage risk so that they will be safe and still be able to participate in all the fun activities that all children enjoy. Risk Watch has been used in a growing number of schools over the last few years and has been a successful tool for teachers and community educators to use to ensure our children are well educated about safety. Although the original Risk Watch program was a valuable tool, it had some limitations with its’ American perspective. The Canadian version of these safety materials was adapted to reflect Canadian law and customs for children from Pre-Kindergarten through to Grade 8. Overall, there was very little change in the messages or the types of activities. Critical thinking and making smart decisions are still at the core of the Canadian Risk Watch program and its age appropriate activities for children. Educators will find it also contains Canadian language and statistics and most importantly, messaging that is consistent and appropriate for all ages. The new program was written and designed by teachers with input from all different community members and organizations. The program is teacher friendly and designed for easy implementation and integration with the many different curriculum expectations across the country.
During the last couple of years, our small Northern Ontario community suffered a number of serious and fatal unintentional injuries to children. In many cases the injuries were caused due to children riding ATVs and snow machines. Our new Risk Watch now includes these machines as well as risk areas such as ice and farm safety that can be taught as part of the program. This is a wonderful addition to the program as it allows for rural and urban centres to make this program relevant to their own needs.
Now more than ever it is essential that all community educators band together and teach all our students to manage risk and be safe! We can now do this with the arrival of the new Canadian version of Risk Watch. I encourage everyone to promote this wonderful new program and together we can all make a difference in our children’s safety.
In August, the Ontario Safety League partnered with the Office of the Fire Marshal, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, Electrical Safety Authority and Toronto Fire Services to heighten public awareness about potential safety hazards in apartments and other accommodations. At a news conference in Toronto, they launched Operation Home Safe.
The campaign highlighted the importance of safety in the home and specifically targeted post-secondary students living away from home for the first time. At the news conference, Joan Nicholas, whose daughter Rae Nicholas, lost her life as a result of unsafe electrical equipment, spoke briefly as did Doug Crawford, Deputy Fire Marshal. Crawford spoke about fire prevention, detection and escape in students’ new homes away from home.
“To prevent fires, students need to be aware of fire safe behaviours,” said Crawford. “To detect fires, working smoke alarms must be installed in accommodations. And to safely escape a fire, the accommodations must have appropriate exits and students must be familiar with a fire escape plan. Together all these elements can provide students with the basic knowledge they need to be safe at school this year.”
Throughout his speech, Crawford focused on the importance of working smoke alarms, electrical wiring, home fire escape plans and carbon monoxide alarms. A fact sheet and article were also distributed to Ontario post-secondary institutions across Ontario. The fact sheet is available to download at www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
“If, for any reason, a student or parent is concerned about the safety of their rental accommodation, they should contact the local fire service,” continued Crawford at the news conference.
“Together we can make Ontario a safer placer to live, learn and grow.”
Joan Nicholas speaks about the loss of her daughter Rae, seen here in the background. Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford talks to the media about Operation Home Safe and how the campaign will help to protect post-secondary students living in their new homes away from home. Picture courtesy of Chris Slosser.
Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford talks to the media about Operation Home Safe and how the campaign will help to protect post-secondary students living in their new homes away from home. Picture courtesy of Chris Slosser.">
Twelve volunteer firefighters at Jocko Point Fire Department, their children and a 72-year-old community resident shaved their heads as a fundraising initiative to raise money to purchase a defibrillator. Together, they raised $3,000.
The head shaving took place at the community’s Jamboree on Canada Day weekend. The Jamboree also included music, bands and talent performances from community members.
Having purchased the defibrillator and oxygen mask in May, the fire department established payments to coincide with the Jamboree event. The lifesaving tool will be used by the fire department on emergency calls in the community.
“We have an extremely supportive community,” said Barry MacNeil, Fire Chief, Jocko Point Fire Department. “And as everyone knows that is the mainstay of all volunteer fire departments.”
Jocko Point Fire Department was formed in 1987 as a portable pump team. Located off Highway 17 between North Bay and Sturgeon Falls, the fire department covers approximately 40 square kilometers with a full pumping unit and a 1,500 gallon pumper/tanker combination truck. The fire department has 15 volunteers, with 6 years average service each.
The group of 12 volunteer firefighters from Jocko Point Fire, their children and a 72-year-old community resident after shaving their heads. The initiative was part of fundraising efforts to purchase a defibrillator.
The first Training Officers to achieve provincial certification were presented with their Certificates at the Ontario Fire College on September 12, 2006. Training Officers were in attendance at the OFC Training Officers Seminar during the Fire Marshal’s Annual Address. These Training Officers have successfully completed the on-the-job and academic components required for certification.
From left are Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle; Alan Brody, Mnjikining Fire Department; Doug Ede, Kingston Fire Department; Jim Allen, Central York Fire Department; Mike Nemeth, Toronto Fire Services; Clint Long, Kingston Fire Department; Larry Jones, St. Catharines Fire Department; Darryl Hicks, Hamilton Fire Department; Garry Hobson, Central York Fire Department and Fred McLennan, Principal, Ontario Fire College. Photo courtesy of Ed Godden.
The artistic talents of the Junior Kindergarten class at Jean Vanier Catholic School paid off on June 28. As winners of the spring/summer safety lesson, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council provided the class with a $75 cheque for their bicycle safety poster. Jason Poole from London Fire Department attended the school with colouring books and Fire Chief hats for the children. The class had two feasts with their winnings: a pizza party and a hot dog party.
A barn fire is a farmer’s worst nightmare. These types of fires bring significant emotional and economic damage to a farming community, including livestock loss and fire exposure to other buildings and houses. Fortunately these fires are largely preventable and there are many steps that can be taken to establish a good fire prevention plan to reduce the risk of fire on farm properties.
In partnership with Perth East Fire Department, the Office of the Fire Marshal developed a fact sheet and checklist for farmers to prevent farm fires from occurring. These materials can also be used to assist in emergency planning. Some of the information includes practicing good housekeeping in the barn, enforcing a no smoking policy in the barn, providing adequate ventilation in the barn, installing and maintaining lightning rods and grounding cables and keeping yard areas free of brush and debris.
The checklist, entitled Farm Fire Safety and You, is a tool for farmers and others involved in agri-business to make farms safer places to live and work, while ensuring everyone knows what do in case of fire.
Farmers can complete the checklist by checking boxes on steps taken to inspect yard areas, provide access for firefighting, control hazardous products and activities, and develop a fire safety plan, among others.
OFM data indicate that dollar losses on farm properties affected by fire ranged from $20 million in 2002 to $29 million in 2004. These losses reflect farmers’ equity in their properties and the loss of family livelihoods.
These materials will be available on the OFM website shortly.
BY TAWNYA ROBERTS
DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF, LANARK HIGHLANDS FIRE SERVICE
Saturday, June 10, 2006 marked this year’s Lanark County Mutual Aid Association annual training day hosted in Perth, Ontario.
More than 40 fire service personnel from eight different fire departments in the area participated in four special training centres that included search and rescue, farm safety/rescue, auto extrication, and a mock multiple victim school bus disaster, complete with 15 student actors from Perth Collegiate High School.
Each training centre was staffed with two to three trainer facilitators and one safety officer. Each rotation was approximately one hour in length and allowed fire service personnel to participate in a variety of different emergency rescue scenarios throughout the day.
“These special events are an important part of our ongoing commitment to our existing emergency training programs and provide for a unique format in which we can enhance our skills. Being able to incorporate real people simulating actual victims allowed us to capture the human and emotional factors that are such a critical component of real life emergency rescue situations,” said District Fire Chief Bruce Toshack, Mississippi Mills Fire Department.
Each year a committee selects the various training centre themes based on feedback forms filled out by the members of the Lanark County Mutual Aid Association. This allows the membership to contribute directly to the training they believe is needed, as it relates to their duties. Recognizing Lanark County is mainly a large, rural area with small urban cores located throughout, the ideas formatted by the committee members always reflect emergency situations that could be encountered in the area.
With hundreds of people injured every year as they operate farm equipment, and hundreds of children riding buses to school every day, the centres revolving around farm safety/rescue, along with the multiple victim school bus disaster were noted as critical components of the rotations. In addition to the training centres, many others helped to make this annual day a success and their efforts were greatly appreciated, namely Seagrave Fire Apparatus Company who sponsored lunch.
“This kind of event provides exceptional learning opportunities as well as bringing firefighters together to socialize and share their different experiences with each other,” said Dan Koroscil, Office of the Fire Marshal Adviser.
One training simulation taught firefighters about the steps they should take to rescue someone caught inside a grain wagon.
On April 19, 2006 Garry Bryant died while fighting a grass fire in the Municipality of Frontenac Island on Wolfe Island, despite all efforts by firefighters to revive him. Prior to his death, Bryant had lived on Wolfe Island and had supported his community as a Wolfe Island volunteer firefighter. He was known for always making an effort to assist with any departmental project.
After his death, a ground swell of support and assistance occurred. This support was coordinated through a number of meetings with Wolfe Island Fire Chief James White, firefighters, Deputy coordinator Garry Bullock, OFM Fire Protection Adviser Bob Branscombe, neighbouring fire departments, KPFFA Local 498, IAFF of Kingston Fire Rescue, President Hunter and Chairman of the funeral committee, Paul Chevalier.
When everything was coordinated, Bryant’s funeral was a day when everyone came together to pay tribute to and mourn the loss of a dedicated firefighter. The funeral ceremony was conducted by Parade Marshal Claude Duval and coverage for those of the Wolfe Island fire station attending the funeral was arranged through mutual aid. It included representatives from neighbouring mutual aid association fire departments. The large funeral ceremony was attended by fire department members from across Ontario and lunch was provided and served by the community.
In the aftermath, Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle was invited to attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the Lennox Addington and Frontenac Counties Mutual Aid Association, Kingston Local 498. It was an opportunity to discuss the outpouring of support by the association, the local community and the OFM at the time of the death of Bryant. Regular business was also conducted and included Chief Babcock reading a letter noting the accomplishments of the Frontenac Lennox and Addington Fire Prevention committee’s smoke alarm program partnership with the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Health Unit. The committee recently received a Fire Safety Award for their work in the area. See page 8 to read the letter.
The meeting was held on the Frontenac Islands at Howe Island fire station. In lieu of a guest speaker Fire Chief Michael Quinn presented a slide show presentation on the municipality’s support during the recent events in the area. The focus of the Chief’s presentation was “whatever it takes.” It was a phrase frequently used by those providing assistance and support during Bryant’s death. It is also a phrase that describes mutual aid.
After Fire Chief Quinn’s slide show presentation, Coordinator Chief Harold Tulk introduced Mr. Moyle. He presented Wolfe Island Fire Chief James White with a commemorative plaque in memory of Bryant. The plaque read:
Fire Marshal of Ontario, Bernard Moyle stands beside Wolfe Island Fire Chief James White, who is holding the commemorative plaque. Others from mutual aid, the community and the OFM look on. Photo courtesy of Tony Pacheco.
“In Memory of Gary William Bryant, A newcomer to the island, Gary proudly chose to serve his community by becoming a member of the fire department. He achieved his dream of becoming a firefighter, but sadly his firefighting career ended abruptly. On April 19, 2006, he succumbed to a heart attack while assisting in extinguishing a grass fire. Gary was helpful, enthusiastic and dedicated. He will be missed by all.”
Presented to the Township of Frontenac Islands Wolfe Island Fire Department by May 18th 2006 B.A. MOYLE FIRE MARSHAL
After his presentation, Mr. Moyle spoke on the importance of volunteer and career firefighters in Ontario and the work being done by mutual aid associations. He also answered questions from attendees.
After the meeting was adjourned, the group was treated to a fresh, fried fish dinner by the Howe Island fire department. The dinner provided a time for reflection about the recent events in the area and an opportunity to forge stronger bonds among community partners, ensuring the mentality of doing whatever it takes in the future, remains vibrant.
BY TREVOR PRITCHARD
CORNWALL STANDARD FREEHOLDER
Lily Gould has lived through a lot in her 86 years, but never a house fire. And the Cornwall chapter of Meals on Wheels would like to keep it that way.
That’s why they’ve recruited the Cornwall Fire Department to pay visits to the 120 or so Cornwall residents who take advantage of the Meals on Wheels program, making sure their smoke alarms are in working order.
“There’s a lot of fires here (in Cornwall),” said Gould, who has four alarms installed in her Queen Street home. “Better safe than sorry.”
Since the program began in May, local firefighters have replaced at least 40 smoke alarms and changed countless batteries around Cornwall, said Andrée-Anne Morin, volunteer co-ordinator for Meals on Wheels.
The program, in its second year, is necessary because many Meals on Wheels users are in wheelchairs or otherwise incapacitated, said Morin. “A lot of our clients don’t have family in town, so it’s been very difficult (for them to inspect their own alarms),” she said. Gould, who gets around with the help of a walker, agrees. “I have a small ladder, but I don’t dare go up there.”
Earlier this year, the provincial government amended the Ontario Fire Code, requiring all homes to have smoke alarms installed on each storey by March 1. Previously, alarms were only required outside bedrooms. Homeowners who ignore the new amendment could face a fine of $235.
“Surprisingly, there are some people out there that are not (yet) aware of the legislation,” says Cornwall Deputy Fire Chief Rob Hickley. “It’s good to get out in the public and keep driving away at that, “ he added.
Excerpted from the July 13, 2006 issue of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder.
On July 12, 2006, a City of Barrie landlord was found guilty in Provincial Offences Court on two separate violations of the Ontario Fire Code. The landlord was found guilty of failing to maintain smoke alarms in operating condition and failing to provide a smoke alarm in a Barrie residence.
The $3,000 judgment stemmed from a fire that occurred in a residence which did not have working smoke alarms in March 2005. After the fire occurred, an investigation by the fire department revealed that the two-unit dwelling did not have properly maintained or installed smoke alarms in the upstairs unit. The basement tenant at this time was also issued a Certificate of Offence for intentionally disabling a smoke alarm so as to make it inoperable.
Barrie Fire and Emergency Service has adopted a zero tolerance approach to smoke alarm infractions.
“Zero tolerance can only be achieved if we pursue a fair and consistent policy across the board. Our goal is to avoid preventable fire deaths in our community by making both tenants and landlords understand their responsibility with respect to smoke alarms and the importance of early warning as legislated in the Ontario Fire Code,” said Barrie Fire Prevention Officer Monique Barrett.
On June 13, 2006, the principal operating company and the operating business of an Ajax children’s group home were prosecuted for violating the Fire Code by failing to maintain two smoke alarms in operating condition.
“Both the principal company and operating business were fined $7,500 for each of the two smoke alarms violations for a total of $30,000,” said Nicole Hannan, Fire Prevention Inspector, Ajax Fire & Emergency Services. “Victim surcharges brought the total to $37,500.”
On March 23, 2006, a residential school in Ajax was prosecuted and convicted on 19 Fire Code offences. The school is a two-storey building with basement. At the time of the conviction, there were 100 beds and 140 students attending the school. The violations included failure to keep and provide written records for various Fire Code requirements, damaged fire separations and closures, inappropriate housekeeping practices, failure to provide and maintain portable fire extinguishers and water supplies for firefighting.
The conviction commanded fines of $200 per offence. The total fine including victim surcharges was $4,750.
If you have an item you would like to see published in Update Ontario, please send it to: The Editor, The Ontario Fire Service Messenger, Office of the Fire Marshal, Place Nouveau Building, 5775 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M2M 4J1. Tel: 416-325-3138, fax: 416-325-3162 or email Carol.Gravelle@jus.gov.on.ca.
BY GINA PONTIKAS
OFM PROGRAM COORDINATOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION & MEDIA RELATIONS
Cooking equipment is ranked as the number one cause of preventable home fires in Ontario. The average number of cooking related fires per year between 2000 and 2004 was 1,492. This number is 31% less than the average number of cooking related fires per year between 1995 and 1999.
Cooking fires rank first in the number of injuries and second in the number of fire fatalities. Many fires that occur in the kitchen result in major property damage. Some are less destructive and are never reported to the fire service. The frequent occurrence of cooking fires supports the need and importance of emphasizing safe cooking practices.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is Prevent Cooking Fires - Watch What You Heat. This theme is timely and ties in nicely with several activities and programs the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council have been working on during the past two years.
In 2004, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council established the Stovetop Fires Working Group. This multi-stakeholder working group continues to research and exchange information on current and developing technology that may help to mitigate and even prevent altogether serious stovetop fires. The committee assisted in the development of the Stovetop Fire Survey, which was conducted for a one-year period, from August 2005 to July 2006.
A subcommittee was created to find public education opportunities and to develop effective public education resources. The subcommittee will review the results of the survey to determine which educational messages and tools need to be developed for the fire service and the public to promote safe cooking practices.
Public Service Announcements
The Council and the OFM have developed public service announcements (PSAs) to remind people of some important fire safety precautions. They include:
Never leave cooking unattended Up in Smoke (television PSA)
Watch What You Heat
Watch What You Heat
PSAs available for distribution to community newspapers can be downloaded at www.firesafetycouncil.com. Cacophony (television PSA) Stand by your Pan (print PSA and radio script) Dinner’s Ready (print PSA)
Do not cook when under the influence of alcohol A Dangerous Mix (print PSA) Up in Smoke (television PSA)
Run cool water over a burn Cool a Burn (print PSA, in English only)
Wear tight fitting sleeves when cooking Don’t Reach for Danger (print PSA)
These PSAs, available in English and in French, can be downloaded from the Council’s website, www.firesafetycouncil.com. Order forms for Fire Prevention Week one-stop shopping kits can also be found on this website or requested by calling 1-866-379-6667.
Please note: Up in Smoke and Cacophony are also available on the videocassette compilation that was sent to all fire departments in June 2006.
Once again this year, the World’s Largest School Fire Drill will be taking place on October 11, 2006, between 10:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m. across Ontario.
The Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council is encouraging all fire departments to challenge every principal, custodian, volunteer, teacher and student in their communities to get out of school safely on this day.
For more details, visit www.firesafetycouncil.com.
The objective of Climbing the Ladder is to keep you informed and up to date on issues related to education and training within the Ontario fire service, and to adequately address your questions and concerns. If there is a particular issue you want covered, send the topic to the Editor of The Messenger and it will be passed on to the appropriate person in the OFM Academic Standards and Evaluation section.
BY ROSE BARG, EdD
ACADEMIC MANAGER OFM ACADEMIC STANDARDS & EVALUATION (AS&E)
NFPA 1001 The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) Academic Standards and Evaluation Section (AS&E) is currently reviewing the proposed 2007 NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. A preliminary review indicates that this revision includes Chapter 5 of the newly proposed NFPA 472: Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents for all firefighters. This chapter requires training in Hazardous Materials Operations at a primarily theoretical level. If implemented, the impact of this change for Ontario is that this chapter would have to be included in the Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training Program and the Ontario Firefighter Curriculum, in order to maintain current accreditation status. The OFM encourages fire service personnel to get involved in reviewing the proposed changes. The proposed Standard can be viewed at www.nfpa.org.
NFPA 1006
In the next revision, the NFPA 1006: Standard for Rescue Technical Professional Qualifications is to be combined with NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. The proposed Standard, which is to include Awareness, Operations and Technician levels will be posted on the NFPA website in December 2006. Comments are invited and must be received by NFPA by February 3, 2007.
Ontario Firefighter Standard
The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) in consultation with the OFM and Ontario fire service, is in the process of revising the Ontario Firefighter Standard. The revised Standard is to be released in 2007.
Ontario Company Officer Standard
The OAFC is in the final stages of revising the Ontario Company Office Standard. This revised standard is also to be released in 2007.
Fire service certification update
Firefighter Certification Program Departments enrolled-190 -Firefighters enrolled-15,657 Total certified career firefighters-1,795 -Total certified firefighters-627
Fire Prevention Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-85 -Fire Prevention Officers enrolled-484 Total certified Fire Prevention Officers-163
Company Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-75 -Company Officers enrolled-1,184 Total certified Company Officers-37
Training Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-46 -Training Officers enrolled-151 Total certified Training Officers-12
Public Fire & Life Safety Educator’s Certification Total certified Public Fire & Life Safety Educators-140 Statistics as of July 2006.
BY SUSAN CLARKE, P. ENG., MBA
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER, FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS
On May 3, 2006 a regulation made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA) was filed amending the Ontario Fire Code to consolidate comprehensive fire safety requirements for hotels. O.Reg. 144/06 comes into force on January 1, 2007.
The Regulation includes the new Retrofit Section 9.9 Hotels, as well as companion changes throughout Parts 1 to 8 and Section 9.1 of the Ontario Fire Code (OFC). These changes include revoking Article 1.1.6.2. which was an interim arrangement for integrating portions of the original Hotel Fire Safety Act (HFSA) and the related Regulation 640 into the Ontario Fire Code. The result of this change is that OFC requirements now apply to hotels. Other changes include amendments intended to clarify the application of the Fire Code, new definitions and some changes to accommodate transferring provisions from Regulation 640 made under the Hotel Fire Safety Act.
Section 9.9 Hotel Retrofit
Retrofit Section 9.9 applies to every hotel establishment that includes at least one building that contains four or more suites (providing sleeping accommodation for the traveling public or for recreational purposes) and exceeds either one storey or 300 m² in building area. These retrofit requirements, however, do not apply to hotels constructed in compliance with the Ontario Building Code (OBC) on or after July 1, 1993 as those requirements would meet or exceed Section 9.9 requirements. Section 9.9 may not apply to facilities known as “bed and breakfast” or “apartment hotels”, as other Part 9 retrofit sections may already regulate them. Small hotels to which Section 9.9 does not apply, may be regulated by Section 9.3.
The regulation maintains the status quo for most requirements, and as a result these have a January 1, 2007 compliance date. However a few new requirements, which include certain features previously exempted for hotels constructed prior to September 1971, are also included. Compliance times for these new requirements range from one to five years.
The first new requirement that will have to be complied with is the completion and retention of a building fire safety audit to assess the level of compliance with Section 9.9. This will have to be done by January 1, 2008. The second new requirement is the installation of hard-wired or battery operated smoke alarms in guest suites by July 1, 2008. It should be noted that the smoke alarm requirement applies to all hotels with four or more guest suites, whether Section 9.9 regulates them or not.
Stakeholder Committees
A joint hotel industry, fire service and OFM hotel implementation committee has been established and will continue to provide input on training and communications, as well as advice respecting issues identified during the implementation period.
Information
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) website now provides a link to a Hotel sub-website: www.ofm.gov.on.ca. This website currently contains links to the hotel regulation on e-laws and Communiqué 2006-17. The information provided on this website will continue to expand to include an audit guideline (as described above), a self-education package, explanatory notes and other relevant information for the hotel industry and fire service. The site will be updated regularly to provide information on OFM delivered seminars (dates, locations), questions and answers, and contact information.
The new regulation, as filed, can be found on the Government of Ontario e-laws website at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca. The consolidated version of the Ontario Fire Code, incorporating changes from the new regulation, is available at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca. A loose-leaf consolidation of Regulation and other changes to the Ontario Fire Code is also being prepared for distribution through the Ontario government bookstore (contact 1-800-668-9938, or www.publications.gov.on.ca). This consolidation is intended to be used as an interim copy of the Fire Code to show relevant portions of Parts 1 to 9, including Section 9.9, to be replaced with the next issue of the Ontario Fire Code.
Training
Training is being prepared in three formats. First, a self-education Microsoft PowerPoint package will be provided on the OFM website, available to everyone. Secondly, information sessions conducted by the OFM will be available on request by associations willing to host a session. Information on these will be provided on the OFM website (www.ofm.gov.on.ca). As well, the website will provide explanatory notes to the regulation, a Question & Answer section and an inquiry section.
BY JOSHY KALLUNGAL, P. ENG
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER, APPLIED RESEARCH
The Office of the Fire Marshal has received inquiries with respect to the conditions under which the Fire Code would permit dispensing of flammable liquids in warehouses where large quantities of flammable and combustible liquids are stored. Article 4.2.7.4. deals with the issue.
Question:
Is it permissible to dispense Class I or Class II liquids in a large liquid warehouse that exceeds 100 m2 in a storage area provided the dispensing operation is carried out in an area within this warehouse that does not exceed 100 m2?
Answer:
No. The options available for dispensing flammable or combustible liquids in an industrial occupancy are:
1. In rooms conforming to Subsection 4.2.9.
2. In conformance with Subsection 4.2.8.
3. In a storage area (warehouse) conforming to Article 4.2.7.5. provided that the entire storage area (warehouse) does not exceed 100 m2 and the storage area conforms to all provisions of Subsection 4.2.9 except for the maximum storage quantities. The maximum storage quantities permitted should conform to Article 4.2.7.5.
Rationale:
The difference between options 1 and 3 above is that the maximum quantity of liquid stored under option 3 can be greater than that permitted under option 1. However, the maximum size of such storage area (100 m2) in conjunction with the provisions of Table 4.2.7. would limit the maximum quantity that would be permitted to be stored in such a warehouse. It was never the intent to permit a dispensing operation in a large liquid warehouse without the dispensing operation being properly separated in conformance with Subsection 4.2.9. The relaxation provided in Sentence 4.2.7.4.(2) was to permit a slightly larger quantity of storage than would be permitted in a room conforming to Subsection 4.2.9. However, the maximum storage exposed to a potential fire from a dispensing operation would still be significantly limited by the size of the storage area.
BY ROBERT HARPUR, P. ENG
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER, APPLIED RESEARCH
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) has learned of what could be a serious life safety issue involving the installation of pre-paid metering devices. These are devices that are installed on the incoming power line to individual customers and control the flow of electricity to that customer. Customers purchase “power cards” similar to the “pay as you go” cell phone cards. These are swiped through the meter, which then adds the amount to their account. Money is automatically deducted from the account as electricity is used. If the account balance reaches zero the device automatically and immediately turns the power off.
Although at least three companies make this equipment, the OFM is only aware of PowerStat equipment being installed in Ontario. The serious life safety issue occurs when the power is turned ‘off’ and all hard-wired smoke alarms lose their power. During this time period, occupants are left with no early warning if a fire should occur and they may begin using alternative forms of lighting and heating: including candles and kerosene heaters.
Owners (including landlords of rental accommodations) are still responsible for ensuring that smoke alarms are in operating condition. If the power is shut off by PowerStat or similar equipment, owners having hardwired smoke alarms should install battery operated smoke alarms to ensure that an acceptable level of life safety is maintained until normal electrical power is restored.
Fire departments may want to discuss with their local power utility if these devices are being used in their area. If they are, arrangements should be made with the utility to ensure that when the power metering device is installed, owners are made aware of their obligation to maintain their smoke alarms in operating condition.
The OFM provides clarifications and opinions on Ontario Fire Code matters to assist users in understanding the requirements and their intended use. The chief fire official of the municipality is not obligated to abide by these opinions. The chief fire official has the authority to enforce the Fire Code within the jurisdiction and should be contacted prior to implementing the provisions of these opinions.
Q1. Does the word “existing” limit the application of Part 9 to buildings constructed prior to the dates specified in each Section? Why is the word “existing” used differently in Section 9.8?
A1. The use of the word “existing” in Sentence 9.1.1.1.(1) is not as a defined term, and as such the ordinary meaning of the word applies. In other words, Sentence 9.1.1.1.(1) simply means that Part 9 applies to the upgrading of buildings that are in existence. Sentence 9.1.1.1.(2) is a signpost and indicates that each Section of Part 9 defines the word “existing” specifically. The word “existing” therefore takes on a specific meaning where it is used elsewhere in Part 9. In Sections 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6, “existing” is not used in conjunction with the building or occupancy in the application statement. The application of these Sections is therefore not limited to a building or occupancy based on the date they came into existence. In these Sections, the word “existing” appears only in conjunction with building elements, systems or equipment. Where used, the word refers to building elements, systems or equipment installed on or before the specified dates. For example, Sentence 9.2.2.4.(3) refers to “existing interior finishes” and therefore applies to interior finishes that were in existence on or before February 11, 1987.
Section 9.9 Hotels is similar to Sections 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6, in that “existing” applies only to applicable building elements, systems or equipment. “Existing” for Section 9.9 applies to those components installed on or before January 1, 2007.
In Section 9.8, the word “existing” means in existence on July 14, 1994 and first appears in the application statement for the section.. Sentence 9.8.1.1.(1) states that Section 9.8 “applies to a detached house, semidetached house or row house containing two existing dwelling units”. As such, Section 9.8 applies to buildings where two dwelling units were in existence on or before July 14, 1998. Section 9.8 does not apply to buildings that had a second dwelling unit created after July 14, 1994. Where this condition is found, the Building Code should be applied. Where used elsewhere in Section 9.8, the word “existing” also applies to building elements, systems or equipment as applicable.
Q.1 How can spontaneous combustion occur in a hay mow?
A.1 Chemical reactions, found in baled, wet hay, can be a source of heat for barn fires. Mows of tightly packed bales do not allow this build-up of heat to dissipate and can allow smoldering fires to go unnoticed for some time. Spontaneous combustion can occur when the smoldering fire has reached a high temperature and is exposed to oxygen, resulting in a full-blown fire.
Q.2 What are three good ways to prevent fire on the farm?
A.2 Three good ways to prevent fire on the farm include sweeping out cobwebs from barns, strictly enforcing a ‘NO SMOKING’ policy in and around all farm buildings and removing combustible material (general storage/new or salvaged building materials) from within 4.5 metres around buildings.
Q.3 How can farmers and others involved in agri-business protect themselves against lightning?
A.3 Some ways to protect against the damaging effects of lightning include ensuring lightning rods, grounding cables and system components are approved, certified and installed in accordance with regulations; checking grounding cables frequently and repairing if worn or damaged and ensuring that work is performed by properly licensed installers whenever work is required on lightning rods or grounding cables as a result of changes to the building or re-roofing.
Check out our latest books and videos from the Fire Sciences Library & Audio-Visual Resource Centre. We provide current fire resources to support the Office of the Fire Marshal as well as fire departments, emergency services and fire related industries. The collection consists of 9,000+ books, standards, statue law, reports, 80+ journals, and over 1,300 audio-visual resources. A full listing of new resources is available on our website!
Did you know?
We offer a monthly current awareness service. “New Library Resources” consists of the latest table of contents from popular fire and emergency journals as well as a listing of our new videos and books.
On the OFM website you can view the complete listing of new books and videos by clicking on Resources.
We offer reference services by providing clients with print and electronic resources on specific fire and emergency topics.
We have created bibliographies called “Hot Topics” on a variety of subjects. Each of the bibliographies list books, videos, journals and reports available at the OFM. Sample topics include Building Evacuation & Emergency Planning, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Vehicle Extrication, Fire Prevention and Public Education.
We are receiving requests to reserve popular videos and books for Fire Prevention Week. Call early to reserve your selection of resources. We will courier items to you in time for your Fire Prevention Week activities.
New Books
CE Code Handbook: An Explanation of Rules of The Canadian Electrical Code, Part I by Canadian Standards Association. (2006)
Comparative Performance Measurement: FY 2004 Data Report by International City/Country Management Association (ICMA). (2005)
First Responders Handbook of Humor by John Hicks and Dan Jordan. (2006)
Fundamentals of Fire Protection for the Safety Professional by Lon Ferguson. (2005)
Life Safety Code Handbook: With The Complete Text of The 2006 Edition of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code by National Fire Protection Association. (2006)
New Videos and DVDs
Fire Officer I Series. (2006)
This series has been designed and referenced to meet NFPA 1021 Standard for Fire Officer I Professional Qualifications, 2003.
American Heat: The Blackstock Fire. (2006)
On September 9, 1989 in Seattle, Washington, one firefighter was killed and a second nearly lost his life trying to save his partner while battling the now infamous Blackstock Lumber Company fire.
You are invited to our Open House!
When: October 11th, 8:30 a.m. -4:15 p.m.
Where: OFM Library at Head Office
Why: To celebrate Fire Prevention Week
Use this opportunity to get a tour of the OFM Library and check out new resources. Database demos, fire videos and more. Cookies and refreshments while supplies last!
The Fire Sciences Library & Audio-Visual Resource Centre are located in the Office of the Fire Marshal serving staff and residents of Ontario. We welcome visitors to come to the library and borrow from our collection. We will also courier material directly to clients. Hours are Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:15pm. Visit our website by clicking on Resource Centre at www.ofm.gov.on.ca Phone: (Library) 416-325-3235/3236, (Audio-Visual) 416-325-3121, Email: firesciences.information@ofm.ca.
BY ANDY GLYNN, GIFireE
OFM PROGRAM SPECIALIST, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & RESPONSE
The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) is now a national organization. The recent formation of the IFE – Canada Branch now exists to promote, encourage, and improve the science and practice of fire engineering, fire prevention, and fire suppression across Canada.
The IFE – Canada Branch recently changed its constitution to include all the provinces and territories in Canada. President William Stewart, MIFireE, Fire Chief of Toronto Fire Services, has worked diligently to bring the values of the IFE across Canada. “We now have a forum to share best practices across Canada,” said Stewart.
An international body, comprised of the IFE board of directors, elected President Stewart to sit as a director on the international IFE Board. This first in Canada “brings a unified voice from a Canadian perspective, to the international forum,” added Stewart.
The IFE – Ontario Branch, was officially incorporated in 1994. Andrew Wong, CFIFireE, Fire Prevention Captain of the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service worked with a team to develop his vision of bringing the values of the IFE from Hong Kong to Ontario. This encouraged “a professional organization with a common focus on fire protection to start here in Ontario,” said Wong, noting that “the IFE has a strong voice in fire protection involving branches across the world.”
Both the IFE – Ontario Branch and the B.C. group have now become subsidiary groups of the parent IFE – Canada Branch.
Focused on life-long learning, the IFE is dedicated to fire protection, prevention and suppression. What was once only a forum for fire engineers, is now an organization for every facet of fire prevention, protection and suppression in both the private and public sectors. Currently, there are more than 250 IFE members across Canada.
“A majority of our members are members of fire departments, including an increasing number from the fire suppression division,” said Adam Burns, secretary of the IFE – Canada Branch. “There is something for everyone.”
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a primary focus of the Canada branch. Everyone who attends a CPD seminar obtains a credit. The CPD seminars are frequent and provide members with an opportunity to learn about new technology, best practices and interesting concepts, all the while enhancing their overall knowledge of fire protection.
“The provincial groups will continue to offer CPD seminars and examinations, while the IFE – Canada Branch focuses on strategic planning,” explained Stewart. “The most popular CPD is the Toronto Fire Service William Lyon McKenzie fire boat tour and annual BBQ,” continued Burns.
The IFE continues to expand into several provinces and has recently delivered CPD seminars in Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.
“We are seeing an increase in membership in these provinces,” said Stewart. “Ontario remains the most active of all provinces in terms of delivering CPD seminars and offering classification examinations; however, there is also a strong interest in an enhanced IFE presence in all other provinces and territories. The future looks very promising,” said Stewart.
The Future
The vision of the organization is firmly entrenched in the IFE – Canada Branch.
“It is through our collective commitment to ongoing education, professional growth, and a belief in the value of the work that we do, that the science and practice of fire engineering continues to evolve in such amazing ways. Countless lives are saved in so many ways solely due to the efforts of everyone, from the firefighter responding to the scene, to the engineer building safe structures,” said Stewart.
For further information about the IFE – Canada Branch or membership inquires, visit www.ife.ca, or telephone 1-866-798-7131.
Andy Glynn, GIFireE, is a graduate of the IFE, has been a member since 2000 and is past President of the IFE – Ontario Branch.
As the season turns to autumn, fire department smoke alarm programs are now focusing on achieving greater compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. Each program is comprised of different elements to make Ontario communities safer from fire. It is unlikely that any two are alike. The following three stories highlight how three differently-sized fire departments are enforcing the requirement of working smoke alarms on every storey, including outside all sleeping areas, in every Ontario home.
The ‘grace period’ for having working smoke alarms on every storey in Uxbridge Township homes is now up, as of July 1, 2006. Now, after educating Uxbridge residents about the requirement of smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas, Uxbridge Fire Department will be using its discretion to enforce this latest requirement.
“The population of Uxbridge Township is about 20,000 and it is predominately rural,” says Simon Almond, Fire Chief, Uxbridge Fire Department. “We have smoke alarm kits in all of our trucks. Every time we go out, it’s an educational opportunity to tell another person or group of people about the importance of working smoke alarms.”
The program works whereby if a home is found without the adequate number of working smoke alarms, a loaner smoke alarm is left with the occupants for a 24-hour period. After 24 hours, Ken Maynard, Uxbridge Fire Prevention Officer, will return to the residence. If the occupants have not yet purchased a replacement smoke alarm, the loaner smoke alarm is left at the home. The department will either issue a warning or a ticket. This process takes into account the reality of lower income families, while placing the responsibility on homeowners to ensure their home has working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas. To this point, no tickets have been issued.
For this small department staffed predominantly by volunteers, delivering a smoke alarm program over a large, rural area has its challenges. However, Uxbridge Fire finds many opportunities to visit residences and check for smoke alarm compliance. In July alone, the department responded to more than 70 calls.
An important part of the smoke alarm program in Uxbridge is partnerships. As a partner in fire safety, the local Canadian Tire donates smoke alarms and batteries so Uxbridge Fire may keep them in their trucks. They never leave a house without first ensuring it complies with the latest Ontario Fire Code standards.
Throughout the year, the fire department works with the Uxbridge Times Journal Tribune to print fire safety information on the Township page, initiates a “Spring into Summer” fire safety event at Canadian Tire, takes advantage of the Annual Fall Fair to speak with the community residents and visits the schools in Uxbridge Township to speak with students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8.
“Our visits with the children are about 30 to 45 minutes and focus on fire safety and fire prevention,” says Maynard. “We have found that speaking with the children is one of the best ways to deliver important messages because they will go home and talk to their parents about home fire escape plans and if their home has enough smoke alarms.”
In the last year, Maynard estimates the department has not handed out more than six smoke alarms and 10 batteries. Considering the large number of residences they visit each year and the initiatives they undertake, these numbers highlight that it doesn’t take a lot of resources and people power to obtain a high level of smoke alarm compliance in a small community. Rather, it takes commitment to achieving results and a willingness to enforce Fire Code requirements.
The beginning of January 2006 brought with it Orillia Fire Department advising community residents about the requirement of working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas in all community homes. As of March 31, 2006, Orillia Fire was obliged to issue tickets for non-compliance of this Fire Code regulation.
When the smoke alarm amendment to the Fire Code was announced last year, Orillia Fire “tweaked” their education program to comply with the amendment and has been moving toward a zero tolerance approach ever since.
“In March 2000 the first ticket was issued,” said Paul Barritt, Fire Prevention Officer with Orillia Fire. “It was nothing unusual. It’s like getting a speeding ticket. People know when they are doing something wrong.”
Orillia Fire’s smoke alarm program is primarily conducted between May to September. It is during this time that fire crews visit various streets in the community, around the dinner hour when people are home. If no one answers the door, a door hanger is left outlining homeowners’ responsibilities under the law. If someone answers, the person is asked if he/she has working smoke alarms in the house. This visit is an opportunity to promote fire safety in the home by leaving a brief, but comprehensive fire safety package. The package has a smoke alarm theme and includes information about the different types of alarms and what residents can do about nuisance alarms. It also includes information about fire extinguishers, the importance of carbon monoxide alarms and a “Safe at Home” report card for young children.
Prior to the law’s implementation in March, Orillia Fire commonly issued warnings to those whose houses were under-equipped. Now, tickets for $235 are issued. Although Orillia Fire is moving toward a zero tolerance approach, there are some circumstances where they will install smoke alarms in homes found without. When the fire department installs smoke alarms, homeowners are expected to provide the department with a replacement unit. Failure to do so will result in a ticket.
“We are sensitive to particular groups because in many cases children are involved, and they are the most vulnerable if there are no smoke alarms in place,” said Barritt.
In partnership with the local Home Depot, Orillia Fire has a 50/50 arrangement to purchase and obtain free smoke alarms. After a smoke alarm is installed, an “Alarmed for Life” waiver form is completed to ensure there is evidence of a working smoke alarm in the home.
Each of the visiting crews maintains a record for all their program activities, including specifics on homes where they were denied entry, the addresses where they installed smoke alarms and which residents made special requests for inspections. Each year, they visit approximately 250 to 500 homes in the area, not including rental properties.
“In Orillia, the fire department is taking a more aggressive approach with landlords,” continued Barritt. “It’s in these occupancies where people take down smoke alarms because of nuisance alarms. By impressing upon landlords the need to monitor smoke alarm status and maintain records, landlords themselves serve as a means in educating and raising tenant awareness of the responsibility they take when tampering with smoke alarms. This in turn opens the door for the issuance of a ticket when the tenant signs or endorses the installation of a smoke alarm yet knowingly renders it inoperable. Continued education and zero tolerance are the keys here.”
The requirement in the Fire Code of working smoke alarms on every storey, including outside all sleeping areas in Ontario homes, has provided Orillia Fire with more muscle to pump fire safety measures into the community of Orillia. With their continued efforts, it is likely their messages will have an effect on many generations to come.
A Hamilton woman was able to escape her home thanks to a working smoke alarm. She had fallen asleep on the main floor and left a candle burning on the second storey.
At 10:43 a.m., the Hamilton Fire Department received a call from the homeowner who had woken thanks to an alarm on the second storey of the home that was activated after bedding material was ignited by the candle.
A subsequent search of the home found operational smoke alarms on all storeys and outside all sleeping areas in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.
Fire damage to the home was estimated at $45,000 and the homeowner suffered no injuries due to the early detection of the fire by the working smoke alarm.
WAKE UP! has a double meaning in most languages. This is the reason why Ottawa Fire Services chose the phrase for its smoke alarm campaign: a campaign designed to educate the city’s residents and curb fire fatalities.
“After careful analysis of fire statistics gathered in Ottawa, data indicated a rise in fire-related fatalities from 2002 to 2005,” said Ivan Tanner, Public Education Officer, Ottawa Fire Services.
“The data spoke volumes: in the majority of these preventable fires the smoke alarms in these homes possessed either no power, a dead battery, no battery or the smoke alarm was older than 10 years and did not function properly.”
Using the data, the WAKE UP! program was developed with the following goals in mind:
Ottawa Fire Services continues its educational program with key fire safety messages about smoke alarms and fire escape planning in a number of languages beyond English and French. These languages include Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, Arabic, Italian and Greek.
“Speaking to residents in words they understand is an effective way to get the message out,” continued Tanner.
Overcoming cultural barriers is just as big a challenge as dealing with linguistic issues. Ottawa Fire is finding presentations and workshops at multicultural community association meetings are helping to remove or reduce these barriers. Fire safety workshops have also been held for residents with physical and mental handicaps. In addition, an extra effort has been made to present fire safety information to schools in “targeted” areas and fire safety is now a regular part of many local ESL (English as a Second Language) classes.
The main component of the WAKE UP! program is Ottawa Fire Services going door-to-door into the most vulnerable areas of Ottawa and verifying smoke alarm operation. When no working smoke alarm is present, batteries or smoke alarms will be distributed and the owner will be notified and warned. If there are further violations at the same residence, the owner will be charged under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.
Since the program’s inception, approximately 30 smoke alarm charges have been laid. The goal is to visit every single home in Ottawa over the next few years. So far, more than 21,000 homes have been visited during the fall 2005 and spring 2006 campaigns.
All of this work could not be possible without partnerships. Partners include Ottawa Public Health Nurses, Property Standards Inspectors, CTV Ottawa, Duracell, Ottawa Senators, Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. Together these partners help to disseminate important educational messages in various languages through a number of mediums.
For more information, contact Ottawa Fire Prevention Officer Ivan Tanner at 613-580-2424 ext. 44118 or Ivan.Tanner@ottawa.ca.
BY JEFF MITCHELL
OSHAWA-WHITBY CLARINGTON THIS WEEK
Careless smoking has been identified as the cause of a fire that killed a man and left dozens of downtown Oshawa residents homeless.
It’s believed the fire began in one unit and quickly spread to several other units in the row house complex. One fatality was found in the unit where the fire was believed to have begun.
Damage has been estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million. It has yet to be determined if the more heavily damaged units can be salvaged, Oshawa Deputy Chief Bob Warrington said. Firefighters were called out in the early morning of July 28 and arrived to find a furious fire in progress. The fire presented a hazard that kept firefighters at bay until it could be subdued, the deputy chief said.
“The intensity of the fire was already to a point that entry wasn’t going to be easy, and in the end it was not made because of the safety of our people,” he said.
It is known that some of the safety features, which are part of the Fire Code and Building Code now, were not common when the row houses were built in the early twentieth century.
Excerpted from the August 1, 2006 edition of Oshawa-Whitby-Clarington This Week.
In November 2005, one Hawk Junction family learned a lesson for life. While sterilizing baby bottles, the grandmother of 6- week-old Hailey laid the baby on the couch to comfort her. Shortly after, she fell asleep with the baby while leaving the pot unattended. Time passed and the two were awakened by the smoke alarm on the main floor. Discovering the smoky environment and no fire, both were able to safely escape. The grandmother was shaken but relieved that the alarm gave the family the early notification to safely react saying, “They (smoke alarms) really do work! I had just replaced the batteries during the time change.”
A woman in West Lincoln Township had left for work and forgotten about the boiling pot of water on the stove. Eventually the pot boiled dry and caused the condo to begin to fill with smoke and activated the smoke alarms.
When the woman’s granddaughter and baby arrived at the condo, the neighbours advised her of the smoke alarms sounding inside. When she opened the door, she was immediately engulfed in smoke. Two male friends immediately entered the condo and rescued a dog and cat. Although there was only minimal damage to the stove and pot, the events of this story could have been much more alarming. Coincidentally, this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat.
Seventeen people were able to safely escape from their block of eight apartment units in March 2006, thanks to working smoke alarms in West Nipissing.
When a fire ignited in a bedroom closet in one of the apartments at 8:52 a.m., an activated smoke alarm on the wall in the unit’s living room, above the bedroom door, awoke the female occupant and prompted her to flee and call 9-1-1 from a neighbouring apartment unit. Shortly after, the smoke alarm in the hallway of the block also sounded. After returning to her apartment unit to save her cat and parrot, she and the other tenants began exiting the building.
When the West Nipissing Fire Service arrived, the smoke alarm in the hallway was still sounding, but the alarm in the apartment had melted. Fortunately, the fire was confined to one apartment.
In August, Markham Fire & Emergency Services responded to a fire that had originated in the basement of a home with seven occupants. Two smoke alarms had been disabled in the basement. Fortunately, there was a third alarm located in a bedroom. It activated and awoke the occupant. The occupant discovered the fire in an adjoining room in the basement and awoke another occupant, who attempted to extinguish the fire without success. They both alerted the other occupants of the house and all safely escaped. The fire was contained to the room of origin. Damages to the home were estimated at $80,000.
BY CHRIS SLOSSER
OFM A/PROGRAM SPECIALIST, PUBLIC EDUCATION & MEDIA RELATIONS
The finishing touches are in place and the new Canadian Risk Watch is now available on CD. Five sets of the new CDs have been sent to each Risk Watch Champion coalition across the province. Additional CDs can be purchased from the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council distribution centre for a cost of $20/CD or $100/set.
Canadian Risk Watch binders currently are being printed and are expected to be available in November. Binders will be available from the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council’s distribution centre for $50 each (or $250 per set).
The new Risk Watch is distinctly Canadian. A primary goal of revising Risk Watch was to ensure it better complements the provincial school curriculum and the current teaching methods used in Ontario. Changes to the program were designed with the teacher in mind. Based on consultations with educators across the province, the new program provides teachers with:
Being able to make smart choices is an important part of injury prevention. A central addition to the Canadian Risk Watch is the “Look First, Think Twice, Choose Smart” choice-making process. All lesson activities seek to instill in students this choice-making process so they learn to make smart choices when facing risks. Activities are designed to encourage a thought process in which students assess the risk in situations and apply their knowledge to make educated, smart choices.
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 could cause choking, suffocation or strangulation, by creating and playing a concentration game. Students discuss strategies to prevent injuries caused by the items identified. Then, students analyze a modified version of Jack and the Beanstalk for risks and write a newspaper report. The last step for students is to analyze their own choice of fairy tale and write a report for a class newspaper. They share their stories with other students and reflect on new learning.
Further changes to Risk Watch include:
For more information, please contact Chris Slosser, Office of the Fire Marshal, at 416-325-3120 or Chris.Slosser@jus.gov.on.ca.
BY LAURA LEE
FIRE CHIEF, HAWK JUNCTION
I had a little over one month before my final assignment was due for my Public Fire and Life Safety Educator Certificate Program and I hadn’t the foggiest idea what to address. I thought I’d covered all my fire concerns in my community in previous assignments, but then I thought about our older adults. They make up 25 per cent of the population of Hawk Junction and would benefit from a fire safety program.
I did some research and came across a program of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. The concept of the Buddy System is to create a mentoring program that has older adults teach fire and life safety to children within a school setting, thus targeting two high-risk groups. A master kit, which has two components – the Remembering When program and the Buddy System program – is given to older adult program managers and during training, the mentors receive fire and life safety and fall prevention information.
Each mentor is provided with lesson plan workbooks, as well as an evaluation packet. The evaluation booklet is essential for charting progress. I did face some challenges, as there weren’t any local agencies, older adult facilities, or resources available. Plus, the students were bussed to the neighbouring community for school. I wondered if I could make it work for my community.
Taking into consideration the makeup of my community – a close-knit, multi-generation family- oriented hamlet – I decided to use the family network as my base for the program. The children had received oodles of formal fire and life safety education throughout various school programs and community events over the years. The older adults, on the other hand, the ones who watch the kids before and after school and during the summer, had very little. My goal was to change attitudes and behaviors, increase safety knowledge, and strengthen personal life safety skills in the grandparents.
My program, “Bridging the Gap,” was held over four days; two Saturdays with just the grandmas, and two Saturdays with grandmas and their grandkids. Days 1 and 2 with the high-risk group included watching a fire safety video and the Remembering When lesson plan number 3, “Name That Hazard.” Most of the discussions were worked around scenarios that I complemented with appropriate props – smoke alarms, oven mitts, bath mats, no-slip rugs. We worked on Stop, Drop and Roll and modified it based on physical limitations. The group also had to complete a home safety checklist and return it for Day 2.
During days 3 and 4, I showed “Sparky’s ABCs” and another fire safety video. I also provided age-appropriate material for each group from the Buddy System workbooks, as well as from a Risk Watch Champion information package. I had gym mats placed around the community centre for each grandma to provide instruction on Stop, Drop and Roll. It was a hoot! The main assignment for each group was to develop for each house a home escape plan noting the location of smoke alarms. At the end of the final day, a local restaurant donated pizza for our graduation celebration.
Everyone had a blast. I can tell you that my instructors liked my program as I received an “A.”
To find out more about the Buddy System, log onto the Virginia Department of Fire Programs web site at www.vafire.com.
In addition to her role as Fire Chief, Chief Lee is also the Coordinator for the Northern Public Fire Safety Network.
Excerpted from the Summer 2006 issue of Our Times, A newsletter of Remembering When: A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults.
On July 27, 2006, Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario presented Michael Lacey of London Fire Department with his 40 year service bar at an investiture ceremony in London. Seen here are Mr. Moyle, Lacey, his wife Diann and Ted Wieclawek, OFM Operations Manager. Photo courtesy of Reinhold Scherer of Spectrum Studios.
BY BRENDA STONEHOUSE
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, CITY OF KAWARTHA LAKES
The Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service Defibrillator Project got a final boost as Aaron Young and Kris Reynolds from Bell World in Lindsay handed over a cheque for $10,000 to Assistant Fire Chief Ron Raymer.
The goal of the project was to have each one of the city’s 21 fire halls outfitted with a defibrillator unit, and have all fire personnel trained on their use. Firefighters have been busy fundraising for over a year and as a result over $100,000 was raised for the defibrillators.
“I am proud of the dedication and commitment the volunteers have shown for this project and the support from the community has been amazing,” says Raymer.
The equipment cost was covered entirely by community support with the fire service only providing training from their budget.
Ten firefighters were trained as defibrillator trainers and together they have trained over 400 firefighters since mid-April. After each firefighter completes the four-hour training course, they must receive a letter from the base hospital for the area recognizing their training before they can use it on the job.
“We are lucky to have the Peterborough Regional Health Centre as our base hospital,” says Raymer. “They’ve been incredibly supportive of this initiative.”
The defibrillator units were out to the fire halls and ready for use by mid-June. Adapters were also ordered so that the units will be compatible with the ones used by paramedics even though they are from different companies.
Now that the fire halls are outfitted, the next step is the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) program that will have very simple units installed in public places such as community centres, banquet halls, casinos and sports facilities.
“They are simplified units that are hooked up to the phone system,” says Raymer. “If someone pulls the defibrillator off the wall,9-1-1 will automatically be called and paramedics dispatched.”
Many local organizations and businesses have expressed interest in being a part of the PAD program. Devil’s Elbow ski resort in Bethany has already purchased a unit for use by the ski patrol and has partnered with the fire service to provide them with training. The unit will be available for use this winter.
Raymer summed up the project by saying, “It has been proven that defibrillators save lives and that’s what we’re all about.”
From left, Assistant Fire Chief Ron Raymer, Aaron Young of Bell World, Kris Reynolds of Bell World, Retired Volunteer Firefighter Dan Lepine and Captain Don James. Bell World Lindsay donated $10,000 to the defibrillator project.
This year’s ALSTAR Charity Ride, “Ride With Us Tour...2” for The War Amps has raised $15,000. This is the second time the ride has taken place in two years.
This grand total was made possible through the support and assistance of many different people and organizations.
“There are so many people, groups, organizations and supporters to thank. ‘A tip of my cap’ has to go to Joe and Sue Chisholm, owners of Steelback Sauble Speedway who not only donated their facilities for this event, but who also assisted behind the scenes tremendously and financially,” said Keith Hepburn ALSTAR Charity Ride Event Co-ordinator. “Others include the Southern Cruisers Motorcycle Club, Bruce Peninsula Chapter # 370, who not only supported this event through their club website but who physically showed up to show us their support and to take leadership of a group through the day’s event. Thanks also to the Red Knights Firefighter Motorcycle Club, Ontario Chapter # 3, for their leadership in the day’s ride and for being our ‘Guardian Angels’ for this event.”
Many people, groups and organizations support this every year. It is this support that makes the event a success and helps to make a difference in people’s lives every day.
BY DIANNE KYLE
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER, SEVERN FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
On May 27, 2006, Severn Fire & Emergency Services held their 1st annual Open House, at Severn Station #3 in Coldwater, in partnership with the Coldwater Conservation Club’s Annual Duck Race. The theme for the day was “Safety In Our Community.”
The day-long Open House was a way to provide safety information to the entire community. Throughout the day, the fire station provided many activities for families to enjoy. These activities included an auto extrication demonstration, car child/infant seat safety, bike safety displays and Fire Safety House tours. In addition to the activities, information booths were set up inside the fire station to provide an opportunity for the community to meet with and learn about safety from the people who they see responding to emergencies.
The booths were sponsored by the Severn Firefighters, Simcoe County Paramedics, Ontario Provincial Police, North Simcoe Victim Crises Unit, Simcoe County District Health Unit and Ministry of Natural Resources.
One of the highlights for the children was a ‘Fire Safety Poster Contest,’ which was conducted and judged in time for this event. The poster contest was available to all students in Grades 4 and 5, who participated in the junior group contest, and Grades 6 and 7 for the senior group contest.
Prizes awarded during the Open House consisted of a bicycle, bicycle accessory package and a water safety package for both junior and senior groups. The prizes and financial resources were donated by a number of local community businesses, including the Coldwater Conservation Club and Severn Fire Stations 1, 2, and 3 Associations.
The event was a success and plans are already underway to organize an even bigger event on May 26, 2007. Special thanks goes to all Severn firefighters who participated in the Open House committee, preparation of the hall and apparatus, planning, judging and the day events as well as to all the agencies who participated with their information booths.
From left Bruce Stanton, MP Simcoe North, Garfield Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North, Dianne Kyle, Fire Prevention Officer, Severn Fire, Sparky, the four winners of the poster contest and Phil Sled, Mayor Township of Severn smile for the camera. Photo courtesy of Ryan Kyle.
Just after the Canada Day festivities and parade, a special presentation took place on Manitoulin Island. The Southshore Volunteer Firefighters’ Association presented a cheque for $5,000 to the Council of Tehkummah Township to help purchase a fire truck for the Tehkummah Fire Department.
Reeve Jim Anstice accepted the cheque on behalf of Tehkummah Township from South Shore Chair, Michael Brown (centre). Pictured from left to right are Ed Sagle, Esther Anstice, Lori Oswald, Jeff Wahl, Gary Brown, Darren Brown, John McNaughton and Lyle Gordon. Missing from the photo are David Brown, Ed Glasby and Natalie Brown. Photo supplied by Glen Grabe.
In March 2006, at approximately 11 p.m., a fire started in the sunroom addition of a mobile home. The home’s smoke alarm activated and awoke the female occupant.
After trying to investigate the smoke origin, she was driven out of the home by smoke and heat.
Although the woman safely escaped, her cat perished in the fire. Kawartha Lakes Fire and Rescue arrived and put out fire engulfing the home.
November 15, 16 and 17, 2006
Holiday Inn, Cambridge, Ontario
Two Pre-conference seminar options this year - participants can choose from:
Workshop A: Saving young lives with the new Canadian Risk Watch as well as tips to teach children or Workshop B: A bus trip to the Waterloo Region Children’s Safety Village to view a real educational session with Grade 2 students. Conference Highlights Include:
Conference registration costs $200.00 prior to October 23, 2006; $250 after October 23, 2006. This includes all seminars and workshops, as well as breakfast, lunch, banquet dinner on November 16 and breakfast on November 17. Accommodation is available at the Holiday Inn, 200 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge at a cost of $99.99 per night plus applicable taxes. For reservations, call 1-866-375-8241 and mention the Fire Education Conference.
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
On November 15, from approximately 13:00-16:30 hrs there will be two free workshops to choose from. Please check off the appropriate box below if you plan to attend one of the workshops.
New Canadian Risk Watch - Saving Young Lives
Waterloo Region Children’s Safety Village
Make cheques payable to:
Cambridge Fire Department, 1625 Bishop Street North, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 7J4
For more information, contact Lynda Koch at 519-621-6001
Fax registration form to 519-621-4521.
Children in Pontypool and its surrounding area brushed up on their safety knowledge in late July through a firefighting camp that was held at the local fire department.
“It provides kids with the opportunity to learn how to help others and help themselves in the case of an emergency,” station coordinator Captain Scott Stephens stated in a news release.
To prepare for the camp, twenty-five sets of child-sized firefighter suits were recently acquired by Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service for use in the first annual Junior Firefighter Day Camp. The camp was for children aged 10 to 12.
Assistant Fire Chief Pat Twohey said Stephens brought the camp idea to administration.
“We said, ‘Wow, this is great,’” he said, noting it fits right in with the service’s public education program aimed at fire prevention. “This is the perfect age group to retain that information,” Twohey said.
During the one day session groups of children learned about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, what to do in case of an emergency, what information they need if babysitting and what to say if they have to dial 9-1-1.
Children also got a hands-on tour of the fire station and its equipment with a session taught by the station’s fire prevention staff. In addition, they learned how to put out a fire with an extinguisher.
The camp was free with lunch provided and approximately 122 children participated.
With files from the July 21, 2006 issue of the Lindsay Daily Post.
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.
Fatal Fire Summary
June 2006: 8 fatal fires resulting in 8 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 4, Female - 3, Total - 7
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 1, Female - 0, Total - 1
Total: Male - 5, Female - 3, Total - 8
Fire Cause - Accidental 3, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 5, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 4, 0801-1600 - 3, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 1
Locations of fatal fires: Brockville (1); Burlington (1); Centre Wellington (1); Kitchener (1); London (1); Mississauga (1); St.Thomas (1) and Zorra (1).
July 2006: 10 fatal fires resulting in 12 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 3, Female - 0, Total - 3
Age Group 16-64: Male - 5, Female - 1, Total - 6
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 2, Female - 1, Total - 3
Total: Male - 10, Female - 2, Total - 12
Fire Cause - Accidental 4, Undetermined 2, Under Investigation 2, Incendiary 2
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 1, 0801-1600 - 3, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 6
Locations of fatal fires: Bradford West Gwillimbury (1); Cambridge (1); Hamilton (2); Otonabee-South Monaghan (1); Ottawa(1); Plymton-Wyoming (1); Toronto (1); Woodstock (1) and Zorra (1).
Gina Pontikas was the successful candidate for the Program Coordinator position with the Public Education & Media Relations section in Toronto.
Heather Wadden was the successful candidate for the Awards Program Coordinator position with the Public Education & Media Relations section in Toronto.
Get the scoop at the 2006 Fire Prevention Officer’s seminar. The Ontario Fire College, in cooperation with the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers’ Association (OMFPOA), will be hosting the event from November 27 to December 1, 2006.
The seminar will be chock full of timely information that FPOs will be able to use in their community fire departments. Some of the informational topics for the week will include smoke alarm strategies and successes across Ontario, prosecution of marijuana grow operations, student accommodation concerns, and FPO certification renewal.
To register, contact Jana Gillis, FPO, at the Ontario Fire College at 705-687-2294.
Bernard Moyle, Ontario Fire Marshal, is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Goodings, OFM Executive Coordinator, Chair Certification Accreditation, to the NFPA Technical Committee on Incident Management Professional Qualifications. This committee is responsible for the development of the Professional Qualification Standard. (NFPA 1026: Standard for Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications)
This standard identifies the minimum job performance requirements for personnel performing roles within an all hazard incident management system.
Goodings has over 27 years of experience in the fire service. He has held the positions of Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Chief with the Department of National Defence.
Come one, come all! Everyone is invited to attend the retirement party for Bernard. A Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario. The dinner will be held on November 23, 2006 at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill. Tickets are $100 each and should be purchased before November 10th by calling Marjorie Wright at the OFM at (416) 325-3191. The dress code for the evening is dress uniform or business attire.
October 1-Firefighters’ Memorial Day-Queen's Park & Gravenhurst, ON
October 8-14-Fire Prevention Week-Ontario
October 14-Fire Service Recognition Day
October 19-Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand-Norfolk, Niagara Investiture Awards-Niagara Falls, ON
November 15-17-Public Educators’ Conference-Cambridge, ON
November 22-Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York, Scarborough & York Investiture Awards-East York, ON
The objective of Climbing the Ladder is to keep you informed and up to date on issues related to education and training within the Ontario fire service, and to adequately address your questions and concerns. If there is a particular issue you want covered, send the topic to the Editor of The Messenger and it will be passed on to the appropriate person in the OFM Academic Standards and Evaluation section.
In February 2006, the Sault Ste. Marie Snowarama Easter Seals Fundraiser was held. It is difficult to forget for one young participant who nearly was seriously injured.
After a morning of snowmobiling with her family and friends, a 16-year-old teenager and her party stopped at a scheduled rest stop. They took advantage of the refreshments and time to warm up at a bonfire provided by the event organizers.
As the teenager stood by the fire with a friend warming up, one of her friends suddenly screamed and alerted the teenager to her snowsuit being on fire. Seeing the flames beginning to consume her suit, the teenager’s first instinct was to Stop, Drop and Roll, a lesson she had been taught in elementary school.
“I remembered what the fire service taught us when your clothes catch on fire,” said the teenager. “I immediately stopped, dropped to the ground, rolled in the snow as some of the other participants patted me with snow. I didn’t feel the heat through my clothes until after the fact.”
At the time, the teenager’s parents were not aware of what was happening and were too far away to have provided immediate assistance. The teenager’s instincts paid off and without a doubt prevented a serious injury. Amazingly, she was not at all hurt and was able to enjoy the rest of her snowmobile ride.
It’s encouraging to hear of an occurrence where, after years of educating children about fire safety, efforts have paid off and the information is used. Fire prevention results are difficult to measure because often when a tragedy is avoided due to education in prevention it is not reported.
Every year, Snowarama for Easter Seals takes place and is a 100-kilometre snowmobile ride throughout the beautiful Northern Ontario wilderness. Its purpose is to raise money for children with disabilities.
A TAPP-C graphic demonstrates how to Stop, Drop and Roll.
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