February/March 2007 Volume 16 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:
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@ontario.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, Jerry Smith, Shane Edwards, Debbie MacLean, Martha Murphy, Michael Ng, Beth Tate, R.B. (Bruce) Hall, Brian Walsh, Doug Goodings, Duncan Rydall and Gary Belle.
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.
Bev Gilbert
OFM Manager, Public Education & Media Relations
We’ve all experienced nuisance alarms. It happened to me in my home just a little while ago. While we prepared food in the oven for a dinner party, the smoke alarm activated. Immediately, I went over and pressed the ‘hush’ feature to silence the alarm. I also took the opportunity to inform my guests about the how the ‘hush’ feature was one solution to a nuisance alarm.
This experience made me realize, how little, people understand about nuisance alarm solutions. Here, I am responsible for fire and life safety across Ontario but my friends are unaware of important fire safety information.
In January, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) launched Make it Stop!, a provincial campaign designed to provide advice to Ontarians to deal with nuisance alarms. The seed for the campaign was borne from provincial fire loss data and the many nuisance alarm stories people told us about. The crux of the campaign is to provide practical solutions to nuisance alarms.
Although the OFM will continue to work to address this issue, it is up to fire departments to pick up the ball and run with it.
Working in the fire service, the public looks to you as the experts in fire prevention and protection. Whether you are a firefighter or fire prevention officer, they expect you to have all the answers about fire safety. Please share your experiences and provide the public with nuisance alarm solutions from www.makeitstop.ca. Review the website yourself and direct people you speak with to it for more information.
To further reduce fire losses, we need to demonstrate to the public that we are serious about reducing nuisance alarms, regardless of your position in the Ontario fire service. Since the Fire Code amendment in March 2006, public awareness about the importance of smoke alarms is higher than ever before. Let’s keep the momentum going by sharing knowledge about smoke alarms with friends, family and the community every chance we get. Smoke alarms are not a nuisance, they are critical life saving devices. Pass it on.
On March 1, 2007, the Office of the Fire Marshal distributed a provincial news release to remind the public it was time to change the batteries in the smoke alarms that were installed last year.
“The batteries in smoke alarms need to be replaced once a year, or if the low-battery warning chirps,” said Patrick Burke, Fire Marshal for Ontario. “With the clocks changing on March 11, this is the perfect time to also change the batteries in all your smoke alarms.”
A recent review of provincial fire loss data indicate that 79 per cent of homes that experienced a fire had a smoke alarm installed. However, these smoke alarms activated in less than half (47%) of these fires. One of the primary reasons why smoke alarms do not activate is because their batteries have been removed, often as a result of frequent nuisance alarms due to cooking activities or steam from a shower.
It is against the law for homeowners to tamper with, or remove the batteries from their smoke alarms. The Office of the Fire Marshal encourages anyone experiencing nuisance alarms to visit the website www.makeitstop.ca for nuisance alarm solutions.
A smoke alarm
On March 9, 2007, St. Catharines Fire Service launched Make it Stop!, a public education campaign to reduce nuisance alarms and increase the importance of working smoke alarms.
Ontario Fire Marshal Pat Burke attended the launch and presented Allison Toews-Peplinski, a Grade 4 teacher and her class, at Prince of Wales school, with awards for participating in the ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe’ campaign. The launch wrapped up with a media demonstration of a typical nuisance alarm at a nearby home.
Turn to page 7 and 17 to see more ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe’ winners.
In mid-February, a 75-year-old man awoke to the sound of a smoke alarm. It was 1:00 a.m. and he immediately went down the stairs of his home to wake his 77-year-old wife, who was asleep in front of the TV in the living room.
He woke his wife and called 9-1-1. However, after the phone call, there was too much smoke to make it out the front door. The couple retreated up the stairs.
“We stood on the balcony upstairs and I jumped off. I didn’t think - I just jumped,” said the man of his 12-foot leap to the snowy ground below in his bare feet.
Once on the ground, the man pulled a ladder over to his wife and helped her down the rungs to safety.
Seaforth District Fire Chief Tom Phillips said firefighters arrived at the scene with flames shooting out of the side porch.
“We knew there were at least two occupants. We went around to the back and there they were coming down the ladder. He was in bare feet and she was in slippers,” said Phillips.
Huron East Fire Chief Marty Bedard said “This is one of the success stories for [smoke alarms]. The [smoke alarm] saved their lives for sure and we were able to stop the fire before it spread.”
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Excerpted from February 28, 2007 issue of The Huron Expositor.
Two Milton firefighters have been nominated for the newly launched MSA 2006 Fireslayer of the Year Award.
Firefighters Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis were nominated by Milton Fire Chief Larry Brassard after they heroically rescued a young man from his blazing home. With only seconds to find their victim, their story thoroughly demonstrates the depth of their training and experience to save lives. Chief Brassard also nominated the men for the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery, which they received in November 2006 during a ceremony at Queen’s Park.
In total, there are five nominees up for the award that will be announced in April. The Milton firefighters are the only nominees from Canada. To vote for the nominees, read their stories and learn more about the award, visit http://webapps.msanet.com/FSOTY-Ballot/default.aspx.
Firefighters Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis sit on a Milton fire truck.
BY STEPHANIE GILES
DIVISIONAL COORDINATOR, NORFOLK COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES
In January, Norfolk County Fire & Rescue Services welcomed a new arrival to the community: it was a fire safety trailer designed to provide a practical life saving ‘hands-on’ approach to fire safety and prevention.
The new addition was established through strong partnerships in the community.
The idea to obtain a fire safety trailer was initiated in December 2004 by Norfolk County Fire & Rescue Services’ Fire Prevention Bureau, who also launched a campaign to purchase a ‘fire safety house.’ This incredible tool would be a trailer designed to appear like a house with common household rooms and could be used to simulate different fire safety situations for children.
A financial goal of $70,000 was developed to purchase the house and to purchase a retired ambulance to be converted to tow the trailer. The ambulance would also serve as a resource centre for fire safety education materials.
Within 14 months, the trailer was ordered. Norfolk County thanks the Norfolk County Council for approving this expenditure for the community and area, the marketing committee (firefighter Bryan Thompson and firefighter Dave Vandermeersh) who met with community stakeholders and the specification committee (firefighter Tom Myerscough, Acting Captain Dan Price, former Captain and Fire Safety Educator Jason Poole) who met and agreed on a design. Special thanks goes to all the firefighters’ associations and Norfolk Mutual Insurance who gave generous monetary donations.
Norfolk county operates from 11 fire stations and employs 240 volunteer fire fighters and full-time personnel. The county is home to approximately 64,000 residents.
Norfolk County’s converted ambulance and fire safety trailer. Photo submitted by Stephanie Giles.
A defibrillator was installed at the Perth East Recreation Complex, thanks to money raised by the Milverton Firefighter’s Association’s fundraising calendar. The two-year calendar features a group photo of Milverton Station firefighters, individual firefighters and firefighters with their families.
The calendar was developed for Milverton’s 125th anniversary in July 2006. To date, more than 400 of the 500 calendars produced have been sold.
Initially, the project started out with the idea of producing a calendar to feature photos of the department’s 22 firefighters.
“They decided it was a good idea and a good opportunity to get some family shots done as well,” said Sherri Scott, wife of firefighter Jamie Scott, who helped co-ordinate the project, along with Sheila Newbigging, wife of Deputy Chief Kim Newbigging.
Photos in the calendar were taken by Country-Tyme Portraits, and depict firefighters in various action poses. It was an expensive undertaking and the department is grateful for the support from its donors.
The 2007-2008 calendars sell for $25 each and are available from any Milverton Station firefighter. Remaining funds will be donated to the burn unit of Sick Children’s Hospital in London, Ontario.
From left are firefighter Jeff Leblanc, firefighter and Milverton Fireman’s Association President Jerry Smith, Sherri Scott, wife of firefighter Jamie Scott and Captain Kevin Reis with the defibrillator. Photo submitted by Jerry Smith, Perth East Fire Department.
A morning fire on January 12 could have been worse if not for a smoke [alarm], says a local fire prevention officer.
“It could have been bad. This is another good lesson for smoke [alarms] and how they work,” said Joe Gardiner, of the North Bay Fire Department. “It was a townhouse complex and could have set the whole row of housing on fire. There was a lot of potential there.
“A neighbour heard (the smoke [alarm]), listened for about four minutes and went over, took a quick peek inside but could not see anything and called 911,” Gardiner said.
A shopping bag hanging from a pantry doorknob caught on fire and burned a hole through the door.
“We caught it just before it spread,” Gardiner said.
The owners believed a cigarette may have fallen into the bag. There was minimal
damage to the residence.
Excerpted from the January 13, 2007 issue of the North Bay Nugget.
On February 15, 2007, Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal presented a trip for two to Florida to a Thornhill Catholic school teacher for participating in the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe’ campaign.
Rosanna Iannetta won the trip, which includes airfare and accommodation for a March Break stay after she taught an injury prevention lesson to her junior/senior Kindergarten class at Holy Family School.
“The principal talked about the lesson plans on the Council’s website,” said Iannetta. “I went online and downloaded the safety lesson called Electrical Safety: Be Safe to a Fault!”
The class of 13 also received a pizza party.
Prior to that presentation, the Fire Marshal was in Midland on January 31 presenting two other pizza parties to students at Monsignor Castex and students at Huron Park public schools whose teachers also participated in the campaign.
In Midland, the ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe’ campaign is part of a larger initiative in Simcoe County called ‘Partners in Prevention.’ The initiative is in operation in five municipalities and includes a smoke alarm program for newborns. A smoke alarm is given to the newborn’s family to be installed in the baby’s bedroom. Numerous sponsors work with fire departments to ensure the continuation of this program and other activities throughout the year.
Teacher-in-charge Sal DiGiacomo stands with Vaughan Fire Department Chief Fire Prevention Officer John Caruso, Vaughan Fire Chief Greg Senay, Fire Marshal Pat Burke, Rosanna Iannetta, Ward 5 councillor Allan Shefman and Art Pullan, Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and the class of students.
Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal provides Rosanna Iannetta with the details of her trip for two to Florida.
In Midland, Sparky and Fire Marshal Pat Burke were invited to present a class of students at Huron Park public school with a pizza party.
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@ontario.ca
BY SHANE EDWARDS
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER, BARRIE FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICE
On February 19, 2007, a private, Canadian, restaurant chain company pleaded guilty for violating the Ontario Fire Code and received a fine of $5,000.
During the month of November 2006, Barrie Fire & Emergency Service responded to a call at one of the chain restaurants in Barrie. When fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke but no fire. The problem was a malfunction of a fan in the ventilation above the cooking grill. The malfunction of the fan caused the smoke from the grill to start accumulating in the dining room area. A female patron within the restaurant announced to the other patrons that the smoke was dangerous and that everyone needed to get out. After her announcement she pulled the fire alarm pull station to activate the fire alarm. The fire alarm was monitored by an outside agency that contacts the Barrie Fire & Emergency Service. When the fire crews arrived, there were over 100 people still sitting in the restaurant breathing the thick smoke. Instead of leaving, the patrons chose to remain and finish their meals.
The fire service tries to educate the public when it comes to fire and life safety. One of the principles of fire safety is that people must be responsible for their own safety. This is a classic case of people not identifying a dangerous situation and not knowing when to leave. Later, it was interesting to learn that the only person who acted responsibly, was criticized by representatives of the restaurant. The female patron who activated the fire alarm and told everyone to leave did everything right, but the representatives of the restaurant felt she over-reacted. In the end, one person was transported to hospital for smoke inhalation. It could have been a lot worse.
Shortly after, Barrie Fire & Emergency Service commenced with charges against the restaurant for not having a fire safety plan. Part of the problem during this incident was the lack of emergency procedures for supervisory staff. In fact, the manager thought it was alright to disconnect the fire alarm since the noise of the bells were disturbing the customers.
At a recent Ontario Fire College FPO-401 course on fire safety planning, it was
learned that fire safety plans from this particular chain restaurant were being
submitted to fire departments all over the province. Laying the charges against
this Canadian company influenced it to address the issue of fire safety planning
throughout their organization.
For more information about this article, contact Shane Edwards at sedwards@barrie.ca or (705) 739-4220 ext. 3235.
BY ERICA BAIER
CHATHAM DAILY NEWS
Working smoke alarms are being credited with possibly saving the lives of a Wheatley mother and son.
A smoke alarm alerted the mother to a fire that caused $200,000 damage to her home, said Barb Dawson, a public educator with the Chatham-Kent Fire Department.
“They were actually asleep when the fire broke out,” she said. “The smoke alarm woke her up.”
Dawson said because of the smoke alarm, the mother and son got out of the home before it went up in flames. Dawson said they likely would have “perished” if it hadn’t sounded.
Fire Chief Bob Crawford said “Without working smoke alarms, it’s not unlikely that these people would have been harmed or worse.”
Dawson said the cause of the fire, which broke out around 5 a.m., has been deemed accidental. It started when a rolled extension cord became overheated, she said.
Working smoke alarms were also found at an early morning house fire.
While the resident noticed the attic fire before the smoke alarm sounded, the
devices were in working order. Damage in that fire is pegged at $20,000 and no one
was injured.
Excerpted from the January 11, 2007 issue of the Chatham Daily News.
On January 11, 2007, a Richmond Hill kitchen cabinet and window shutter manufacturing business was fined $9,200 for 23 violations of the Ontario Fire Code.
Each of the 23 violations carried a fine of $400. There were a variety of offences involving provisions regulated under Fire Code Subsections, 2.4, 2.7, 3.4, 6.2, 6.5, 5.10 and 5.12.
Fire Prevention Officer Vince Ferrari reported, “The owner of the business had no regard for fire and life safety.”
A Hamilton building owner and business have been hit with fines totalling $8,000 for failing to have a working sprinkler system.
Hamilton Emergency Services reported that they took the action after the owner and the business ignored repeated notices. The business operated out of an industrial complex area.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer Jim Winn said in a news release the building was occupied as an auto repair and auto-body shop.
The owner pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000 personally while the business was
penalized $6,000.
Excerpted from the February 2, 2007 issue of the Hamilton Spectator.
The owner/operator of a restaurant in Stoney Creek has pled guilty in Provincial Offences Court to a violation of the Ontario Fire Code.
This charge stems from a Multi-Agency Task Force inspection conducted on the evening of October 6, 2006, during which the rear exit door of this restaurant was found locked; making the exit inaccessible to any of the patrons of the restaurant in the event of an emergency. At the time of the inspection, the owner/operator of the restaurant was advised to immediately unlock the door and take steps to permanently remove the key lock from this door.
On December 21, 2006, the owner/operator of the restaurant, attended Provincial Offences Court and pleaded guilty to this violation of the Ontario Fire Code and was subsequently fined $2,500.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer Jim Winn with Hamilton Emergency Services said, “At the time of inspection the business was open to the public and this contravention is a serious violation of a regulation that is in place to protect all citizens. A locked exit door from any building can result in serious consequences in the event of a fire emergency.”
Business owners are responsible for ensuring their buildings are kept safe and in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code at all times.
The Ontario Fire Service Messenger would like to inform all readers about recent convictions and other successful enforcement initiatives in Ontario.
Visit www.ofm.gov.on.ca, then click on the Prosecutions & Convictions Form link in the Legislation box. Please send information to Carol.Gravelle@ontario.ca.
BY DEBBIE MACLEAN
FIRE INFORMATION OFFICER, NORTHWEST REGION FIRE MANAGEMENT CENTRE
At times an organized municipality or unincorporated area experiences smoky conditions coming from grass, brush or forest fires. The smoke may be from a nearby fire, but there have been occasions when smoke in communities originates from large forest fires burning hundreds of kilometres away.
It all depends on the wind. The smoke is driven by wind speed, wind direction and wind currents that can carry it great distances. The duration of the smoky conditions depend on a number of factors including how many fires are burning in the area, fire behaviour, weather and topography.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) Forest Fire Management Program has guidelines in place to work in partnership with local and regional health and emergency services to advise the public about ways to reduce the impact of smoke from forest fires.
When heavier smoke conditions prevail, a first level evacuation may occur where those most vulnerable to smoke are moved to another community.
In 2006, a number of northern communities experienced evacuations as did some in the southern portions of northwestern Ontario due to smoke impacts from forest fires. The OMNR Emergency Management Program was involved in providing support to Emergency Management Ontario and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
District emergency response teams, coordinated by a District Emergency Response Coordinator, were activated and community liaison officers were dispatched to the affected communities to work closely with them to provide current information on smoke conditions and transport of residents.
At the peak of the 2006 smoke activity a total of nine First Nations communities had declared emergencies and over 1,550 residents had been evacuated to host communities in Greenstone, Thunder Bay, Cochrane, Kapuskasing and Sudbury. In the end, all evacuees returned home safely thanks to the efforts of OMNR staff working at the district, regional and provincial levels.
Municipal fire departments in Ontario are often involved in mutual response with the OMNR fire program in locations where rural landscapes occur within a municipality or border on unorganized areas with wildland/urban components. These municipal fire departments respond to grass fires, brush fires, and even forest fires in standing timber and as such, wildfire response and smoke issues are part of their firefighting duties. Working in partnership with the OMNR, municipal fire departments are involved with training, consultation and mutual services response. Depending on the type of required response, the OMNR fire management program can provide firefighting support to municipalities, or a municipal fire department will provide firefighting support to the OMNR. In the majority of Northern Ontario municipalities, similar municipal agreements are already in place and are one of the best ways to protect public safety and reduce property loss when grass, brush or forest fires occur.
In cases where less severe smoke conditions occur, the OMNR Fire Management Program works with local and regional health units to advise people in the affected communities about smoke, its potential health risks, and what people can do to help reduce the impact of smoke on their health. Some of the ways the public can cope with smoke include:
A firefighter with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources puts water on a ‘hot spot’ in a forest.
Wildfire Prevention Week occurs every year in the third week of April. This year it falls on the week of April 15 to 21. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) would like to remind everyone that forest fires and fires that occur in the ever-increasing wildland-urban interface are not just the concern of Smokey Bear. Fire departments, particularly those in communities that could be affected by wildfires, are encouraged to organize and participate in wildfire prevention activities during Wildfire Prevention Week and throughout the summer.
Educational materials can be obtained by following the Wildfire Prevention Week link through the OFM website. With all fire service agencies working together, safety messages can be disseminated to as many people as possible during Wildfire Prevention Week and throughout the wildfire season.
Richmond Hill fire department promotes www.makeitstop.ca
on their outdoor sign. A great way to get people learning about fire safety. Photo
was taken by the OFM’s Heather Wadden.
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!
New Books
Emergency Response Team Handbook by Joseph A. Cocciardi, Joseph. National Fire Protection Association, 2004.
Fire and Life Safety in Health Care Facilities by Marvin Fischer and Thomas Gardner. National Fire Protection Association, 2006.
Fire Officer: Principles and Practices by National Fire Protection Association and International Association of Fire Chiefs, 2005.
Fire Protection Handbook: Business & Industry Edition National Fire Protection Association, 2003.
Protocol for the Ontario Fire Service. Ontario. Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Office of the Fire Marshal, 2006.
Protocol for the Ontario Fire Service
Fire Officer: Principles and Practices
Fire Protection Handbook: Business & Industry Edition.
New Videos and DVDs
American Heat Series: Emergency Procedures for Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Vehicles (2006)
Identifies the challenges and dispels common myths about the dangers of hybrid vehicles to rescuers in a crash situation.
American Heat Series: The Art of Reading Smoke (2006)
Defines smoke, its toxic hazards, chemical makeup and behaviour.
American Heat Series: Fires that Caused Change (2006)
The Cocoanut Grove, MGM Grand Hotel and Beverly Hills Supper Club fires were significant fire events that impacted codes and standards, fire prevention and firefighter safety.
American Heat Series: Reducing Deaths in the Fire Service (2007)
Examines some of the most common causes of apparatus deaths and identifies methods that fire agencies can implement to reduce firefighter fatalities.
American Heat Series: Incident and Disaster Preparation (2007)
Identifies problems, concerns, issues and lessons learned from the 2005 hurricane season and other disasters.
Web Resources
International Association of Arson Investigators (www.cfitrainer.net) has a web based training site, CFITrainer.net, which allows users to register for programs, track their progress as they complete educational modules and take online evaluation tests. Modules currently offered are Analysis of the Station Nightclub Fire, Fire Investigator Scene Safety, Insurance and the Fire Investigation and Motor Vehicle Fires.
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 MICHAEL NG, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION, ENGINEER
In an effort to reduce electricity demand and consumption, there have been a number of recent campaigns introduced to promote energy conservation in Ontario. Encouraging homeowners to operate high electrical demand appliances during off-peak periods has been identified as one means of achieving this objective. The implementation of the Smart Meter program beginning in 2007, which provides electricity price reductions during off-peak hours for customers with this meter installed, will further encourage this practice. Related to this, the OFM has received a number of inquiries from the fire service regarding the safe operation of clothes dryers when residents are asleep at night.
In response to these concerns, a 1995-2003 review of residential fire loss statistics relating to clothes dryers was conducted. This analysis revealed the following facts:
The vast majority of dryer related fire losses are attributed to maintenance/ installation issues and electrical/mechanical failure. Dryer fires caused by maintenance/installation issues (i.e. lint accumulation in ducts, improper venting, use of plastic ducting, etc.) are generally preventable and perhaps best addressed through improved public education relating to the subject areas covered in Communiqué 96-031, “Fire Hazards Associated with Household Clothes Dryers”, www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/Publications/Communiques/1996/96-031.asp. However, fires caused by electrical/mechanical failure (i.e. thermostat problem) due to age, design, or manufacturing defect may not be reasonably preventable by the homeowner.
Based on our records, dryer fires occur more frequently during the day. This reflects the fact that homeowners generally operate their dryers in the daytime rather than during sleeping hours. With the upcoming implementation of the ‘smart meter’ program, it is expected that more people will be shifting their laundry practices into the late evenings to take advantage of lower price incentives.
The main concern with dryer fires occurring at night is that sleeping occupants may be more vulnerable as they are unable to detect and react to the situation as quickly as they would if awake. This may account for the significantly higher injury rate during sleeping hours. For this reason, homeowners are encouraged to install working smoke alarms within the laundry room as well as on all storeys of their home. Homeowners using natural gas dryers should also be encouraged to install carbon monoxide alarms or a combination unit (smoke and carbon monoxide alarm) in the laundry room. As laundry areas are often located on a different floor than the sleeping level, interconnection of these alarms may be necessary to address audibility issues.
While OFM statistics suggest dryer fires have not been a significant problem in Ontario, the move towards energy conservation may potentially result in more of these fires occurring at night. The occurrence and impact of these incidents can be mitigated with increased public awareness on the importance of proper dryer maintenance/installation and the installation of smoke alarms on every storey, including outside sleeping areas, and carbon monoxide alarms in laundry areas.
Did you know?
Normal clothing is dried at an air temperature of about 60°C while permanent press clothing is dried at about 50°C.
This information was excerpted from Communiqué 96-031 and can be found by clicking on Communiqués from www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
A photograph of a clothes dryer.
A Cornwall woman was sent to hospital in January after an unattended lit candle started an apartment fire.
Mike Bickerstaffe, the Cornwall fire department’s Fire Prevention Officer, said the fire began shortly after 4:00 p.m. in an apartment building. The woman was taken to hospital, treated and released.
Bickerstaffe said there was extensive fire damage to the apartment itself, plus
major smoke damage elsewhere in the apartment building.
Excerpted from the January 15, 2007 edition of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder.
There is a new fire truck in Espanola.
Retired high school teacher and volunteer firefighter Henry Girard came up with the idea as a way to promote fire safety in the community. He took the idea to high school students who designed and constructed the truck as a school project. Girard also worked with Home Hardware to sponsor all of the materials.
The versatile truck has appeared in parades and has been occupied most often in the library by grandparents and their grandchildren.
From left are head librarian, Charles Grayson, retired Espanola high school shop teacher and volunteer firefighter Henry Girard, Home Hardware representative, Andy McKechnie, Espanola Fire Chief Mike Pichor, Clair Rouse, OFM and educational assistant Chrystal Belisle. In front row on the truck are the students who built the truck, Tawnie Bell, Chantee Clement and Amber Van Duijnhoven. Photo submitted by Clair Rouse, OFM Fire Protection Adviser.
BY BETH TATE, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION, ENGINEER
Both fire service personnel and private citizens have expressed concerns to the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) about high pressure sales tactics used by a company to encourage homeowners to spend hundreds of dollars on home fire safety products.
Company sales staff promote the firm’s products using incomplete or biased information including fire statistics that may be out of context for photoelectric smoke alarms, heat detectors, fire extinguishers and videos that deal with home fire escape training and fire safe practices.
Some fire departments have been solicited to view presentation materials that showcase products. Then, sales staff tell homeowners that they have the endorsement of the local fire department.
Although the OFM is supportive of activities that result in homes being outfitted with products that will enhance fire protection for the safety of occupants, consumers need to remember that these devices (e.g., smoke alarms) must be installed to satisfy Fire Code requirements. Additional devices, products and practices may, of course, be considered.
Working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas can provide an early warning that can make the difference between life and death. They form part of an overall home fire safety strategy that includes preventing fires by adopting fire safe behaviour, and developing and practising a home fire escape plan.
When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for a product that has been manufactured and tested to an acceptable standard, with a marking by the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), or Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated (cUL). There is every reason to believe that alarms listed by a certification agency accredited by the Standards Council of Canada will function as intended.
Homeowners should consider installing more than one device, to take advantage of both ionization and photoelectric sensing means, or use a combination/dual sensing alarm. Neither sensor type is universally better at detecting all types of fire. Although the sensing technologies differ, both alarms must be tested to the same standard and meet the same requirements to achieve ULC listing. If an owner is concerned about nuisance alarms, a change of sensor technology may be an option.
Nuisance alarms have been attributed to conditions such as inappropriate device placement (being too close to smoke generated by cooking activities, steam or moisture), lack of maintenance (which may increase sensitivity), and lack of occupant understanding (low battery warning ‘chirp’ is often misunderstood as a nuisance alarm).
A common reaction to nuisance alarms is to remove the source of power, often a battery, or otherwise disable the smoke alarm, and not restore its operation after the initiating incident. Then, should a fire occur at some future date, the device is not able to function.
If nuisance alarms occur, owners can also relocate the existing alarm a short distance away, replace the alarm with a newer model, or replace it with an alarm that has a ‘hush’ feature. Other features are also available, such as hardwiring with battery backup, long-life batteries, and alarms that incorporate strobe lights, vibrations or lights, which may be particularly suited to specific needs. For more solutions to nuisance alarms, homeowners can visit www.makeitstop.ca.
‘Caveat Emptor' (let the buyer beware)
Homeowners should test, clean and maintain smoke alarms as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and again if returning after an absence of more than a week.
Homeowners should only purchase listed products from reputable merchants.
Whether in the fire service or in the sales industry, there is a mutual interest in promoting fire safety, and a common goal of ensuring that people are safe from fire. On a topic as important as fire safety, the OFM believes that the public deserves to be informed and protected without pressure or fear.
BY R. B. (BRUCE) HALL
PAST PRESIDENT, ONTARIO INDUSTRIAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
There are many benefits to municipal Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) programs.
When the CAER was launched initially, its intent was to involve local governments, emergency services, industry and the general public in order to establish guidelines and response strategies to effectively handle an emergency situation inside their jurisdictions. To create these guidelines and response strategies, an inventory of potentially hazardous industrial incidents, followed closely by a community equipment availability list, had to be developed. If a major event were to occur, the pre-planning could eliminate guesswork for the incident commander. The pre-planning would also ensure an informed response would be implemented by using equipment and resources that were available within the community.
Today, CAER programs operate in a similar fashion. The twist is the partnerships with local industries that can significantly help emergency services in pre-planning for a major emergency event.
An example of a CAER program with a twist can be found in Sarnia, Ontario; it is referred to as the Chemical Valley Emergency Co-operative (CVECO). CVECO is dependant on large industry and emergency services pre-planned response. However, it still relies on smaller local industry and government involvement to make it a success.
Due to the many specialized materials and processes in Sarnia’s ‘chemical valley,’ the depth of CAER programs generally depend on specific industries to ‘lead the way.’ Large industrial facilities will have the required response equipment and materials onsite, in case an incident occurs. In this instance, and when CVECO is activated, local responders will take a back up or support role when they are called to an industrial incident. Although industry will have the required response materials, they are not always well stocked with available peoplepower (off shifts, holidays, etc) and ancillary devices (usually equipped for one event at a time). Local emergency services are always well equipped in these two areas, thus the need for mutual aid agreements and co-operative awareness training. Hopefully this can all happen prior to an event!
A more recent example can be found in Oakville, Ontario. There, the Petro Canada Refinery participated in local CAER group meetings, provided internal refinery tours and hazardous area training, sponsored members of the Oakville fire department to attend petroleum hydrocarbon fire training at Lambton College in Sarnia and spearheaded a second mutual aid agreement with the Petro Canada Mississauga lubricants facility. The Oakville refinery also maintained firefighting equipment including three foam pumpers, one foam storage tender, one rapid assault or Twin Agent vehicle, a large inventory of firefighting foam, dedicated hydrant system and 24-hour staff trained to facilitate a response. Any time an internal refinery emergency alarm was initiated, the Oakville fire department was called immediately and would report to the refinery with a pre-planned response, standing by for further instructions. In all responses the chief responding officer would be escorted to the scene and informed in detail about the incident.
In late 2005, the refinery operations ceased and all the associated refining equipment is currently in various stages of being dismantled and removed. All that would remain at the site was the operation of the tank farm storage area, trans shipment capabilities and rail car unloading rack. What about the equipment? Most of the pieces were sold, scrapped or relocated to other refineries: except the newest foam pumper, a 2004 custom built Smeal, rated at 2,000 gpm with a 75’ aerial ladder, Servo Command foam proportioning system and a 1,000 gallon on board foam tank. A decision was made. The truck could not stay at the terminal. Instead, ownership of the pumper was transferred to the Oakville fire department. The department was instilled as the primary responder for terminal emergencies, the response protocol was amended and a revision was made to the Mutual Aid Agreements between Petro Canada’s Oakville terminal, the Oakville fire department and the Mississauga lubricants facility.
The official hand over ceremony occurred in January 2007. According to the agreement it was deemed critical for foam application equipment to remain in the area. Therefore the truck must be maintained and be available if, and when, the terminal has a need. Training on the new truck will again demonstrate the cooperation between Petro Canada and the Oakville fire department. All of the training on the truck operation will be provided by Petro Canada to the fire crews of Oakville. The training is scheduled to take place in February.
These examples indicate how partnerships with local industry can be effective
in pre-planning for major incidents. It is likely many more partnerships, at the
local level, will be developed in the near future as industry continues to search
for ways to reduce costs.
Note: The examples in this article were not intended to infer any sort of deficiency with local response networks, rather for this article it is required to be understood that the local emergency services were in a support role.
A view of the entire truck. Photo submitted by Petro Canada.
From left, members of the Petro Canada fire crew stand beside Ken Dymock, Manager of Distribution for Petro Canada. Dymock shakes hands with Oakville Mayor Rob Burton while handing over the keys to the truck to Fire Chief Richard Boyes. Oakville town councillors look on. Photo submitted by Oakville Fire Department.
BY BRIAN P. WALSH CET, CBCO
CHIEF FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER, MISSISSAUGA FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services were on hand in February to congratulate the Grade 6 class at Ray Underhill School in Streetsville. Teacher Holly Smart was the lucky winner of a pizza party lunch courtesy of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council in recognition of her safety lesson aimed at ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe.’ The real winners were the kids who will benefit from the safety lessons learned.
On hand with Smart and her students, were school principal Bill MacGregor, captain Roger Clement and public education officer Michele Allen.
Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services was also pleased to be able to present a pizza party prize package to second time winning teacher Cindy Mohareb and her Grade 4 class at St. Hilary School who learned the ‘Great Escapes’ lesson.
A picture of Teacher Holly Smart and her class.
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 DOUG GOODINGS
EXECUTIVE COODINATOR, OFM ACADEMIC STANDARDS & EVALUATION (AS&E)
Recently the Certification Council streamlined the application process for those firefighters seeking certification. With a more efficient application process, applicants will no longer have to submit copies of supporting certificates along with their applications. Members seeking certification will only have to submit the letter from their Fire Chief, the application form and the job performance skills sign-off sheet. It will now be the responsibility of the individuals requesting certification to maintain a record of all supporting documentation. This information will be updated on the certification section of the OFM website in the near future.
Other great news from AS&E includes discussions by the OFM with the Justice Institute of British Columbia to obtain recognition of the OFC Company Officer diploma program for transfer credits with the Institute’s Bachelor of Fire and Safety Studies program. This agreement would allow graduates of the OFC Company Officer program to receive advanced standing credits. As soon as the details have been worked out it will be posted to the OFM website. If you wish to find out more information about the JIBC degree program, visit www.jibc.bc.ca/fire.
If you require further information, please consult the OFM website at www.ofm.gov.on.ca, call the OFM Certification Office at (416) 325-3142 or contact Doug Goodings, Executive Coordinator by e-mail at doug.goodings@ontario.ca or by phone at (416) 325-3136.
Fire service certification update
Firefighter Certification Program Departments enrolled-191 -Firefighters enrolled-15,773 Total certified career firefighters-1,840 -Total certified firefighters-642
Fire Prevention Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-86 -Fire Prevention Officers enrolled-487 Total certified Fire Prevention Officers-171
Company Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-78 -Company Officers enrolled-1,188 Total certified Company Officers-49
Training Officer Certification Program Departments enrolled-54 -Training Officers enrolled-175 Total certified Training Officers-14
Public Fire & Life Safety Educator’s Certification Total certified Public Fire & Life Safety Educators-247 Statistics as of February 2007.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council are pleased to announce that the 2007 Fire Safety Awards will be presented at a luncheon ceremony at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on June 28, 2007. This is your chance to nominate those dedicated individuals and organizations in your community that deserve to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to fire safety.
The nomination forms have been mailed out to all fire departments and are available at www.ofm.gov.on.ca and www.firesafetycouncil.com. You now have until April 27, 2007 to nominate individuals or organizations for the following awards:
Fire Safety Action Award
Eligible nominees are children aged 16 and under who have demonstrated fire safety knowledge by taking appropriate action to prevent or mitigate a potentially hostile fire situation.
Fire Safety Partner
Eligible nominees are organizations (such as corporations, service clubs or media) that have partnered with emergency services by providing time, expertise and resources in support of fire safety in the community.
Fire Safety Advocate
Eligible nominees are individuals that have provided time, expertise or resources to promote fire safety in the community.
Please note that fire services personnel are not eligible for an award.
If you have any further questions, please contact Gina Pontikas at 416-325-3155.
A picture of a previous winner.
In September 2006, a fire occurred in a home situated in a Burlington sub-division. Its dollar loss was estimated to be $1 million.
“The circumstances around the fire that occurred in Burlington turned into a life safety issue for the province of Ontario,” said Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal. “Through calculated strategies and actions, the potential for more property damage and loss of life was reduced through the cooperative efforts of the Office of the Marshal, Burlington Fire Department and the Ontario Electrical Safety Authority.”
Heat recovery ventilators are part of many newer homes’ heating, cooling and ventilating systems. These systems, like furnaces and air conditioning systems, require periodic maintenance.
After the fire, a letter was distributed to homeowners in the area by an independent investigation firm. The firm was investigating the origin and cause of the fire, subsequent to the OFM being on the scene to investigate the HRV that had been in the home.
After the letters were distributed, several homeowners began to express concerns to the Burlington Fire Department. They had encountered problems with identical HRVs in their homes. In fact, five HRVs, in the neighbourhood surrounding the fire scene, had already had their motors replaced due to malfunctions. All the systems had been listed through ULC and there had been no recalls issued on the particular models. Burlington Fire immediately contacted the OFM.
James Bennett, a Fire Protection Engineer with the OFM visited one home where the homeowner had expressed concerns. The homeowner told Bennett that a few days prior to the visit, he had smelled burning in the two bathrooms that were serviced by the HRV. The homeowner had investigated the ventilator and found it to be overheating. It had also been too hot to touch. The homeowner explained to Bennett how he cleaned the HRV every three months, but continued to notice large accumulations of dust; most likely due to the construction of several new homes in the area over the last 10 years.
Bennett examined the motor of the system. During its operation, Bennett found the rotor locked and the exterior increased in temperature. When Bennett attempted to manually turn the rotor, he found it “unusually” resistive to rotation indicating a possible bearing failure.
The investigation continued when representatives from the independent investigating firm told Bennett about two other homeowners in the area who had submitted motors that had failed with their homes’ HRVs. Both motors were restrictive to rotation by hand. After these motors were examined, it was evident all the motors had come from HRV systems that had been operation in for seven to eight years or more.
Bennett said “It is my opinion, based on my examination of the four HRV motors all within the same neighbourhood, that there is a problem with the bearings failing in the motors resulting in overheating of the motor exterior. The dust exposure in the area, and restriction of the ventilation openings may be contributing to the problem. It is my opinion that there is a problem with these units, and the public should be warned of a potential failure.”
Burlington Fire Department continued to receive calls from the public. Public officials feared it could only be a matter of time before another HRV might overheat and someone could be injured or killed. Communication with the public was essential.
“It was important to gather as much information about the affected HRVs as possible,” said Ed Gulbinas, Manager, Applied Research. “Only then, could the OFM and Burlington Fire communicate with the public.”
Within the same day of being notified of this potential for the HRVs to overheat, OFM staff from Applied Research, Public Education & Media Relations and Fire Investigation Services began to collect and evaluate relevant information.
“Representatives from the manufacturer, Venmar Ventilation Inc. were contacted immediately after the OFM had been made aware of the potential fire concerns,” said Doug Crawford, Deputy Fire Marshal. “Based on the information we collected, it was determined that a public safety notice would be developed to make the public aware of the potential fire concerns with the HRVs. Burlington Fire would take the lead to immediately distribute these notices within selected targeted areas of Burlington.”
The OFM faxed a letter from the Fire Marshal to Venmar outlining the OFM’s obligation under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997: to notify the public regarding this potential fire safety hazard. At that time, Venmar was asked to comment on the scope and content of the public safety notice.
“We had a moral and legal obligation to advise our residents that there was a potentially serious fire risk associated with any HRVs installed in their homes,” said Mark Mehlenbacher, Deputy Fire Chief of the Burlington Fire Department. “It was imperative that we treated this issue with the highest priority and did everything that we could to prevent another fire. We released the public safety notice to the area media and to the public. In fact, a major television network was literally waiting on our doorstep and did broadcast the notice and related story live that very evening.”
Two days later, Venmar issued a news release to announce a safety upgrade program. It stated “It has come to Venmar’s attention that an unlikely series of circumstances could lead to a motor overheating in certain HRV models, that may result in a potential fire hazard. These units fully comply with all applicable CSA, UL, and other standards…Only certain models between 1991 and 2001 are affected.” Through the new safety upgrade program, consumers were asked to relay their concerns to Venmar. Based on their concerns, the manufacturer of the HRVs would send them an adapter to be installed at the end of the HRV power cord.
Through a telephone discussion shortly after, the OFM learned there were 253,753 affected units in Canada and 74,933 affected units in the United States. The OFM continued to work to get more information about the brand names and model numbers.
To speed up the process, the OFM asked the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), which is responsible for public electrical safety in Ontario as designated under the Electricity Act 1998, to assist.
“ESA got involved because it was an electrical safety issue for Ontario,” said Tatjana Dinic, Code Engineer at the Electrical Safety Authority. “Together with the OFM, we were able to put more credibility in our corner and publicly communicate the information we had obtained. Working as partners was the best way to eliminate confusion for the public.”
Working in partnership with ESA, two news releases were distributed. Each release communicated more information about affected brands and their model numbers than the last, gave manufacturer contact information for consumers and described potential problem signs.
When the news releases were being developed, the OFM distributed Communiqué 2006-33 to the Ontario fire service. The Communiqué noted the importance of consumers reading and following the manufacturer’s instructions on maintenance and repair. It was attached to a CSA International news release.
During the development and distribution of the communication materials, Venmar distributed power-plug adapters through their safety upgrade program. Following this distribution, ESA sent a letter to Venmar stating:
“Since the power-plug adapter is not approved as the acceptable retrofit action, ESA can no longer support Venmar’s Safety Upgrade Program.
ESA has determined that the affected models present a substantial risk of injury to the public and requests the following action [from Venmar Ventilation Inc]:
The fire in Burlington that destroyed a home late last year yielded much more than what met the eye initially. Unfortunately, two firefighters were injured as the result of this fire. It could have been much worse given the severity and rapid, fire progression at the time of the response.
Through good working relationships with the Ontario fire service and industry stakeholders, the OFM was able to ‘draw a line the sand’ and implement informed decisions to reduce the potential for fire. As a partner in fire safety, all fire departments should make a concerted effort to become familiar with HRVs and firefighters, in particular, should be aware that in circumstances where an HRV is suspected as the fire cause, the structure could already be compromised at the time of initial response.
ESA and the OFM continue to work on this issue and your assistance is requested. If your fire department is aware of any issues (i.e., overheating, fires) involving heat recovery ventilation systems in your municipality, contact the OFM at (416) 325-3100. For more information about these systems visit www.ofm.gov.on.ca and click on Communiqués.
Photos of affected heat recovery ventiliation systems reprinted from a CSA International news release (www.csa-international.org).
Copies of the public safety notice and news releases that were distributed by Burlington Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal and Electrical Safety Authority.
SummerSmart is just around the corner, ready to be read by countless safety-minded cottagers, campers and homebodies across the province. What is SummerSmart, you ask? Well, it’s an annual public safety awareness campaign, brought to you by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. The information booklet is designed to give Ontarians the information they need to reduce risk and prevent incidents associated with summertime activities such as barbecuing, camping, cottaging, boating and amusement rides.
However, changing behaviour doesn’t happen overnight. It takes the ongoing commitment of both the public and private sectors working together to ensure safety information is being delivered effectively to the greatest number of people possible.
With that in mind, TSSA and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council would like to thank all of our safety partners for participating in this year’s program.
Let’s make it the safest season ever and be — SummerSmart.
A copy of SummerSmart 2007.
Over the winter months, a few poems were written by members of the Ontario fire service. They communicate the challenges of their roles and of getting fire safety messages to members of their community. They are also poignant reminders of the hard work and dedication fire service members perform every day.
The Fire Prevention Officer
BY DUNCAN RYDALL
PUBLIC FIRE SAFETY TECHNICIAN, ST. CATHARINES FIRE SERVICES
The Prevention Officer’s most fearful plight;
Is did our message get through alright?
Stop Drop and Roll!
Get Out, Stay Out
Put a Lid on it!
No battery No Chance!
Our message is clear and well defined
However people continue to leave it behind.
“It won’t happen to me” or “Just a short cut you’ll see”
“The battery was out during cooking for 3”
“I only left the stove for a second you see“
Our job is to educate, to keep everyone safe
To prevent tragedy and keep fire in its place
We strive to learn more; We seek the keys
To convince the public of what our eyes see.
The hurt and the anguish from preventable tragedy
No home to go to, a funeral to plan
Reporting a loss to a Mother or Dad
Please make our job easier
Take heed in our Plan
To make our City the most Fire Safe in the Land
Smoke alarms
BY GARY BELLE
CAPTAIN, EAST GORHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sound asleep in bed with my wife
The pager goes off, I jump to life
Kiss my wife and tell her I’m going
The message says smoke is showing and tells us where we’re going
We arrive at our destination
To see a mother’s devastation
Her cries could be heard through the windows of the truck
“My two children are stuck!”
Fire is shooting out the main floor door
We immediately ladder the second floor
The firefighters start the search and find a boy, next to his favorite toy to their joy, he opens an eye
Down the ladder he goes as a firefighter says goodbye
Back to the search, time is short in the second room they give a report
Second child found exiting out the alfa bravo side
Even with all their efforts, that child had died
The sad thing is, for that battery cost
An innocent child’s life was lost
Working smoke alarms on every floor
Could have got everyone out the first floor door
Their Last Alarm: Honouring Ontario’s Firefighters was written by Captain Robert Kirkpatrick and was reprinted in 2004. Divided into eight chapters, the book is a historical overview of Ontario and the changing face of firefighting. Largely driven by industrial advancement, these chapters summarize numerous firefighting challenges and portray gradual public realization that often, firefighters will make the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ trying to save the life of a citizen. It is clear firefighting is not for everyone.
Chronicling deaths of Ontario firefighters since the mid-1800s to the present, the book takes readers from a strictly male profession to the entrance of women. With interesting news bites of such events as the dangerous trains of St. Thomas that killed the world’s largest elephant, the book illuminates the unpredictability of firefighting. To the Enarco ship explosion of 1934, the devastation of Hurricane Hazel in 1954, to the lasting effects of chemical fires.
The only book of its kind, it is a credit to Ontario’s fallen firefighters. It is recommended to anyone who is hoping to get a better understanding of Ontario firefighting challenges, advancements and a mere look into the lives of the brave firefighters that fought fires big and small to protect their communities and homes.
A copy of Their Last Alarm: Honouring Ontario’s Firefighters.
BY BRIAN P. WALSH CET, CBCO
CHIEF FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER, MISSISSAUGA FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES
On February 21, 2007 Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services hosted hotel/accommodation industry stakeholders, consultants and other departmental fire prevention staff for a one day technical training seminar on the provisions of the Ontario Fire Code’s new Section 9.9 Hotel Retrofit.
The seminar was well attended with representatives from more than 15 hotel groups, provincial consultants and fire inspection staff from 12 nearby municipal fire departments coming together for a joint presentation provided by Susan Clarke and Kevin Kelly of the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office Fire Safety Standards section.
Mississauga Fire Chief Garry Morden also attended and talked about the value of these joint training sessions that bring the enforcement side of the fire service together with the affected industry members. These sessions are opportunities directed at information sharing, dialogue and understanding.
As of January 1, 2007, the Ontario Fire Code now consolidates all existing hotel fire safety regulations and is applicable to all hotel establishments. The retrofit provisions of Section 9.9 provide for scheduled compliance over a five-year time frame. Joint fire service and hotel industry stakeholder training sessions continue to be scheduled across the province.
For a list of locations and contacts related to future training sessions, as well as up-to-date information and resource tools related to the new Hotel Retrofit provisions please visit the OFM website www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/Legislation/Hotel/Default.asp.
Susan Clarke, Engineer with the OFM’s Fire Safety Standards section presents a PowerPoint presentation at the seminar in Mississauga in February. Photo submitted by Brian Walsh, Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services.
Kevin Kelly, Engineer with the OFM’s Fire Safety Standards answers a question at the seminar. Photo submitted by Brian Walsh, Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services.
Fatal Fire Summary
December 2006: 8 fatal fires resulting in 8 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 1, Female - 0, Total - 1
Age Group 16-64: Male - 3, Female - 0, Total - 3
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 2, Female - 2, Total - 4
Total: Male - 5, Female - 3, Total - 8
Fire Cause - Accidental 3, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 5, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 3, 0801-1600 - 0, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 5
Locations of fatal fires: Cochrane Town (1), Hearst Town (1), Laurentian Hills (1), London (1), New Tecumseth (1), Toronto (1) and Windsor (2).
January 2007: 4 fatal fires resulting in 4 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 0, Female - 1, Total - 1
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 1, Female - 2, Total - 3
Total: Male - 1, Female - 3, Total - 4
Fire Cause - Accidental 0, Undetermined 2, Under Investigation 2, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 1, 0801-1600 - 2, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 1
Locations of fatal fires: Central Elgin (1), Ottawa (1), Toronto (1) and Windsor (1).
Anne-Marie Hawke joined the OFM on January 29 as the administrative assistant for the southwest region in the Fire Protection Services section.
Dawn Heath began a six-month secondment on February 1 as an administrative assistant working with the Deputy Fire Marshal.
Paul Leslie left the OFM on March 23 to begin as Deputy Chief with Central York Fire and Emergency Services. Paul worked with the OFM for 17 years.
Bob Lock retired from the OFM in January after 20 years. Bob was an operations manager in Fire Investigation Services for nine years in the northern region.
Kelly Serson began in February on a six-month secondment as the training officer in the Fire Protection Services section.
Orit Biran left the OFM’s Academic Standards & Evaluation section to join the Ministry of Environment.
Elaine Wallwin retired from her role as Food Services Supervisor at the Ontario Fire College on March 23.
May 5 - 9 - Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs 55th Annual Conference & Trade Show-Toronto, ON
May 10 - Durham, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Investiture Awards-Oshawa, ON
April 15-21 - Wildfire Prevention Week-Ontario
June 4 -7 - OMFPOA Training & Educational Symposium-Richmond Hill, ON
June 25 - Cochrane, Timiskaming Investiture Awards-Timmins, ON
June 28 - Fire Safety Awards-Toronto, ON
July 26 - Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe Investiture Awards-Orillia, ON
August 30 - Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton Investiture Awards-Parry Sound, ON
Sept. 13 - Algoma, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Sudbury (Incl. Greater Sudbury & Sudbury District) Investiture Awards-North Bay, ON
Sept. 13-16 - Northwestern Ontario Fire Training and Education Conference ‘Fire Con’-Thunder Bay, ON
Sept. 23-26 - Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Conference-Niagara Falls, ON
Oct. 11 - York, Halton, Peel Investiture Awards-Mississauga, ON
Oct. 29 - Hamilton, Haldimand, Norfolk, Niagara Investiture Awards-Hamilton, ON
Nov. 14 - 16 - 15th annual Fire & Life Safety Educators’ Conference-Midland, ON
Nov. 20 & 21 - Toronto (North, South, East & West Commands) Investiture Awards-Toronto, ON
In January, Ontario’s Fire Marshal Pat Burke, launched Make it Stop!, a unique provincial campaign to provide life-saving solutions to nuisance alarms in Ontario homes.
A nuisance alarm is when smoke from a toaster, an open oven door or even steam from a shower causes a smoke alarm to activate. Frustration due to nuisance alarms is a primary reason why batteries are removed from smoke alarms, leaving occupants vulnerable to fire.
“Disabling a smoke alarm is not only risky, it’s against the law,” said Burke. “If nuisance alarms are a problem, never remove or disconnect the batteries. Instead, visit the new website www.makeitstop.ca or call your local fire department for practical solutions such as relocating smoke alarms or using smoke alarms with a ‘hush’ feature. These solutions could save your life.”
Make it Stop! was developed by the Office of the Fire Marshal following a review of provincial fire loss data from 1995 to 2004. Fire department reports during that period indicated a smoke alarm was present in 79 per cent of homes that had a fire. However, these smoke alarms activated in less than half (47%) of these fires. In many cases the batteries had been removed or disconnected.
Launched at Toronto Fire Services McRae station, Toronto Fire Services Fire Chief Bill Stewart applauded the new campaign saying, “Every year, people die in fires without working smoke alarms. This campaign will educate Toronto residents about the importance of working smoke alarms in their homes and make the city a safer place from fire.”
A number of major Ontario news outlets attended the launch including, CTV News, The Toronto Sun, CHUM News, CITY-TV, CFRB (AM1010), CBC-TV, A-Channel, Canadian Press, Fairchild Television and Ming Pao. Before the news conference, Ontario Fire Marshal Burke appeared on Global TV and was heard on CFRB.
Working with the fire service, (i>Make it Stop! is designed to educate people about nuisance alarm solutions, smoke alarm technologies, home fire escape plans and the importance of working smoke alarms. New public service announcements direct Ontarians to visit www.makeitstop.ca.
It is the law in Ontario for every home to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. Failure to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $50,000.
Toronto Fire Service Fire Chief Bill Stewart stands beside Ontario Fire Marshal Pat Burke.
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