October/November 2007 Volume 16 Issue 5
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
Bev Gilbert, Janice Johnstone, Ryan Betts, Chris Slosser, Gina Pontikas, Tony Pacheco, Jana Gillis, Bruce Weaver, Dave Horne, Geoff Hayman, Mark Foster, Karin Marks, Gary Robinson, Ileana Ciurea, Jackie Dyson, Shane Edwards, Dan Fraser, Doug Goodings and Bill Hammond.
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.
Pat Burke
Fire Marshal of Ontario
It is understandable that everyone is busy in this day and age. In particular, everyone has obligations to family demands that we must we aware of. However, it is very important that we remember the people who have made significant sacrifices in their fire service careers.
Due to the disappointing turnout at the Queen’s Park Memorial service, I want to ask you: What were you doing on September 30 at 2:00 p.m. that was more important than showing up for a short time to show honour and respect to firefighters whose lives were taken in the line of duty?
It is a question for those who did not attend to seriously consider. A concerted effort by a lot of people has gone into getting a suitable memorial site established at Queen’s Park to outwardly express appreciation for those in the fire service who have made sacrifices. The site was established as a place where all Ontarians could pay their respects. As a fire service, the responsibility to display that remembrance rests on us. If firefighters will not remember the sacrifices made by their predecessors, friends and colleagues, how can we expect the residents of Ontario to remember?
Today, we are seeing a departure from the kinds of tragic deaths we have seen in the past. Cancer is the new enemy and that was a theme in many of the speeches given this year at the memorial service. And really, there is no difference between cancer-related deaths and tragic circumstances related to responding to a fire scene.
In each case, firefighters have lost their lives as a direct result of activities being performed as part of their firefighting duties. When a firefighter is killed in the tragic circumstances of a building collapse or having been trapped in a raging inferno, we are quick and rightly so, to proclaim that firefighter a ‘hero.’ No less heroic are the firefighters who, in the course of their firefighting duties have contracted debilitating diseases because of exposure to toxic environments. In particular, I can think of the brave firefighters who fought the Plasimet fire in Hamilton.
In 2008, the memorial service will be held on October 5 at 2:00 p.m. Mark it on your calendars now and plan to attend. I look forward to seeing you there to commemorate the significant sacrifices of all the fire service personnel who left this world too soon.
Fire Marshal Pat Burke at the Memorial Service at
the Ontario Fire College in October.
Picture courtesy of Bill Hammond.
On October 7, the Ontario Fire College hosted the 20th annual Firefighters’ Memorial Day service. The service honoured all Ontario firefighters, including those who have died in the line of duty.
The day’s activities included a parade of firefighters in their dress uniforms, a memorial service and a wreath laying ceremony.The Ontario Fire College has hosted the annual service since 1988. This year, attendees included Monte Kwinter, former Minister of Community Safety & Correctional Services, Jay Hope, Commissioner of Community Safety, Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal, Dr. Fred McLennan, Principal, Ontario Fire College, Reverend Dr. Jim Sitler, Chaplain, Ontario Fire College, fire service personnel and their families from across Ontario.
BY MAGGIE RIOPELLE
WELLAND TRIBUNE
In mid September, Niagara area children were putting out fires, tending to wounds and evacuating a school bus. Luckily, it was just a drill.
It was part of Niagara Region Children’s Safety Village annual School Patroller Safety Day and saw more than 160 students, from 13 schools, in Grade 6, 7, and 8 participate in learning important emergency procedures.
"Essentially we are training for bus patrollers and school patrollers. It’s a province-wide initiative, this is just how we train here," said Const. Tim Whittle, event co-ordinator.
Students had five learning stations including first aid, fire safety, bus etiquette, school patroller duties, and emergency evacuation. The event was sponsored by CAA Niagara. In addition, the Niagara Regional Police, in conjunction with its partners, CAA Niagara, Laidlaw Transportation Services, St. John Ambulance and Welland fire department, provided a wealth of information to area youth.
For more information about the Village or on programs provided by the centre, call 905-714-9333.
This article was excerpted from the September 19, 2007 issue of the Welland Tribune.
In September, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) distributed a news release to all Ontario media about the importance of fire safety during hunting seasons. The news release was developed after three people died tragically at a hunting and fishing camp in the County of Haliburton in August. Their cabin did not have a working smoke alarm.
“To prevent further fire injuries and fatalities, anglers and hunters who plan to participate in hunting seasons should remember to pack a new smoke alarm and some extra smoke alarm batteries for their cabins and seasonal hunt camps,” urges Pat Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario. “Fire safety is not just for homes, it’s for cottages, cabins and seasonal hunt camps too. It’s the law in Ontario to have working smoke alarms in every residence.In addition to working smoke alarms, anglers and hunters are encouraged to thoroughly check and clean all heating appliances (i.e., woodstoves, propane heaters, kerosene heaters, naphtha stoves and lanterns) and chimneys at their cabins and hunt camps before using them. Often small animals can build nests in chimneys that can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide inside the cabin. Other important seasonal tips for anglers and hunters include bringing a flashlight with extra batteries and a carbon monoxide alarm and ensuring combustibles are kept well away from heating appliances, stoves and lanterns.
In addition to distributing the news release, the OFM also worked with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) to include fire safety tips into an insert that was distributed in the October/November issue of their magazine, Ontario OUT OF DOORS.The publication has a circulation of about 82,000. In a subsequent news release from the OFAH, the fire safety tips and an OFM public service announcement were used to reinforce the importance of fire safety at hunt camps for the annual moose and deer-hunting seasons.
In February, firefighters from West Lincoln Fire Department made quite an impression on a Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas.
With their training and knowledge, firefighters Chris Kroes, Brian Copeland and Kevin McIntyre were able to turn a potentially life-threatening situation into a happy ending During the first leg of the flight to Chicago a female passenger lapsed into unconscious. The firefighters were summoned by the flight crew to attend to the patient. Once they arrived at the passenger’s side and performed the initial assessment, (known as the ABC’s - Airway, Breathing and Circulation) it was apparent that the passenger was without vital signs.
Putting their skills and training to work, these men acted quickly to begin the process of CPR and then used an Automatic External Defibrillator to restart normal rhythm to the heart. Fortunately, the passenger responded to the efforts of the firefighters and regained consciousness.
Although she was extremely appreciative of the rescue, she was totally unaware of what had just happened to her. The flight crew and other passengers gave the firefighters a round of applause and expressed their regard to the professionalism exhibited by the firefighters in their handling of the emergency.
A new workshop delivered by the Ontario Fire College (OFC) has been designed to assist members of the Ontario municipal fire service who confront instances of non-compliance with legislation, codes or standards, and are responsible to commence enforcement procedures. Entitled Walk your Talk to Zero Tolerance, the workshop combines both lecture and hands-on components and leads participants through the basics of how to enforce the Ontario Fire Code in their communities.
For many Ontario municipal fire services, enforcement procedures represent a new activity. Municipal fire services cannot continue to allow non-compliance and need a “balanced approach” towards zero tolerance and accountability. The workshop, developed by OFC Instructor Jana Gillis with the input of Niagara Regional Prosecutor Nancy MacDonald, focuses on practical aspects of enforcement. For instance, participants learn how to complete Part III informations under the Provincial Offences Act (POA).
As one participant stated, “This workshop has prepared me to take legal action [with] respect to Fire Code violations.” Another participant appreciated learning “how to prepare the case with a prosecutor." To properly prepare people for the enforcement role, the workshop describes the legislative authority of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA) and the POA. As it demonstrates the commencement of proceedings by Certificate of Offence, Part I, POA and the commencement of proceedings by Information, Part III, POA, it illustrates "what the prosecutor is looking for," as another student noted. It also helps participants to describe the process and steps required to collect relevant and accurate information in order to prepare a written summary for the Crown.
This workshop will describe primary considerations with respect to sentencing and identify ways to educate community prosecutors so that they will be ready and equipped to work with municipal fire services in enforcement.
Feedback from participants from the first few workshops has been very positive: "an eye opener to enforcement and what approach to take" in one case and reassurance "that our department is moving in the right direction" in another case. The Fire College will continue to schedule offerings across the province to meet the heavy demand from the fire service. Additional information and direction on how to apply for this workshop can be found in OFM Communique 2007-22.
OFC instructor Jana Gillis shares a laugh with participants in one of the Walk your Talk to Zero Tolerance workshops.
ITo determine if a residential occupancy is regulated by the Fire Code, Retrofit Section 9.3 (in Division B of the 2007 Fire Code) as outlined in Sentence 9.3.1.1.(1), it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive inspection and document your findings. An assistant to the Fire Marshal’s authority for conducting an inspection is outlined in Section 19 of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA).
Initially determine the ‘building height’ and ‘building area’. Document your
findings. Once you have determined that the building is three storeys or less in
building height and is not more than 600m² in building area, then further
analysis is necessary to determine that:
• Lodging is provided for more than four persons; (NOTE - under O. Reg. 213/07,
the number of lodgers has changed from three to four lodgers. This change is
effective November 21, 2007.)
• Residents do not require care or treatment because of age, mental or physical
limitations;
• Lodging is provided in return for remuneration or for the provisions of
services or both; and,
• Lodging rooms do not have both bathrooms and kitchen facilities for the
exclusive use of individual occupants.
To obtain facts relevant to the factors above, the assistant to the Fire Marshal
has certain powers under Subsection 19(6) of the FPPA. For example, he/she may
question a person, demand the production for inspection of a document or thing,
and remove any document or things that are relevant to the inspection.
Fire officials must evaluate each case on its own merits to determine whether Section 9.3 applies. In some instances owners take the position that their property is occupied as a ‘dwelling unit’ as opposed to a boarding, lodging or rooming house occupancy regulated by Retrofit. The Fire Code defines a ‘dwelling unit’ as meaning a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used as a domicile by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.
Considerations for helping one come to a determination of occupancy could
include but not be limited to:
• Is the occupancy operated as a dwelling unit?
• What is the tenancy duration of individuals who are residing there or are
expected to reside there?
• How is the rent paid?
• Do the occupants exercise ollective decision-making and live communally in the
sense substantiating the property is operated as a dwelling unit?
• How many people reside in the structure and are going to be residing in the
structure?
• Does the landlord or the tenant(s) provide the furnishings?
• How are the utilities paid?
• Does the landlord assign the rooms, or do the occupants allocate the rooms?
• Are the bedrooms locked? Who provides the locks?
• Are other areas of the building locked and not accessible to the occupants?
• How is the housekeeping done, or not done?
A recent court decision in Ottawa speaks to this subject in detail. The court decision can be viewed at the Canadian Legal Information Institute website at www.canlii.org/en/index.html. Search for the ‘City of Ottawa v. Bentolila’, (See page 7.) The fire official (informant/witness) at a trial is responsible for providing evidence supporting that the property in question is a boarding, lodging or rooming house falling within the scope of the application outlined in Sentence 9.3.1.1.(1). Refer also to Article 2.1.2.1 in Division B for authority to establish the occupancy classification. Where the fire official has investigated factors such as those listed above during the inspection and documented his/her findings, this evidence is presented at trial to offset a potential defence that the structure is not occupied as a boarding, lodging or rooming house.
While conducting an inspection, where an assistant to the Fire Marshal encounters a person who is uncooperative in answering questions or fails to release documentation relevant to the inspection, the fire official may obtain a warrant under Section 20 of the FPPA for the purpose of obtaining the relevant facts. Uncooperative individuals should be cautioned that it is an offence for persons to hinder, obstruct, interfere with or mislead an assistant to the Fire Marshal in one or more of the manners outlined under Subsection 28 (1) (a) or (b) of the FPPA.
Fire officials are also reminded that Retrofit Section 9.3 also applies to homes for special care within the meaning of the Homes for Special Care Act, where the building height does not exceed three storeys and the building area does not exceed 600 m² in building area, sleeping accommodation is provided for more than three but not more than 10 residents, and residents do not require nursing care [see Sentence 9.3.1.1.(2)]. However, Retrofit Section 9.3 does not apply to residential occupancies that are regulated by or under the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act [see Article 9.3.1.2.]
Retrofit Section 9.5 may also apply to boarding, lodging or rooming house accommodation in buildings not regulated by 9.3. Refer to Clauses 9.5.1.1.(1)(c) and (d).
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please contact Bruce Weaver at (416) 325-3175 or bruce.weaver@ontario.ca.
Madam Justice J. Beaman’s decision of December 13, 2006 upheld 18 convictions involving violations under Parts 2, 6 and 9 of the Fire Code.
The decision of December 13, 2006 provides information for Ontario fire officials and building officials on factors to consider when determining whether a house is occupied as a boarding, lodging or rooming house, thereby regulated under Section 9.3 of the Fire Code.
The appellants argued that the house was a dwelling unit and under the Building Code for that purpose. The City of Ottawa argued that, at the time the building permit was sought for the alterations to the subject property, the owners failed to inform the City of the true purpose for which the property was going to be occupied. Speaking to this matter the decision states that, "Adherence to the requirements of the Building Code will not necessarily create automatic compliance with the Fire Code, as well".
To review the court decision in its entirety, it is available at the Canadian Legal Information Institute web site at www.canlii.org/en/index.html. Search the ‘City of Ottawa v. Bentolila’.
At an annual program exercise in late September, representatives from the provincial CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives) teams demonstrated their level of preparedness, capabilities, and inter-agency cooperation to respond effectively to a large-scale emergency. The Town of Gananoque hosted the exercise and was able to benefit by testing its own local emergency response network, including the mutual aid system. This exercise has traditionally been held at the Ontario Fire College in conjunction with technical workshops for team responders. This year, moving to a municipal setting offered unique benefits for all involved - from the mutual aid system, to the deployment and cooperative work efforts of the Peterborough Level 2 (Operations) and Ottawa Level 3 (Technician) teams – in a realistic scenario supporting local emergency responders in Gananoque.
"It is beyond the capability of most communities in Ontario to individually purchase and maintain equipment, then fund the ongoing training necessary to respond to CBRNE incidents," said Doug Crawford, Deputy Fire Marshal. "This is why after 9/11, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) helped to establish a comprehensive response system for the province of Ontario in which provincial and municipal resources could be deployed to support these communities."
In the early morning hours of September 27, CBRNE teams from Peterborough and Ottawa were successfully notified and deployed to assist Gananoque emergency responders to mitigate a jack-knifed tractor-trailer and its overturned cargo of three chlorine cylinders at a busy town intersection. As the teams and local responders worked together to contain the chlorine, approximately 50 local high school students filtered into the fire department with dramatized breathing problems and mobility issues. It was all part of the important training with realistic scenarios that CBRNE teams have come to expect and be evaluated on. Representatives from the OFM’s Emergency Planning and Strategic Development unit, other provincial teams from across the province, and the OPP PERT team served as exercise controllers and evaluators.
"The exercise was an excellent learning opportunity for all involved and for assessing the level of provincial emergency preparedness as it pertains to hazardous materials," said Carol-Lynn Chambers, OFM Operations Manager/Chief of the EPSD unit. "Through partnerships with municipalities, the fire service mutual aid system, multiple emergency response organizations, and our provincial teams, it’s exercises like this one that help us to make changes, solve problems, collaborate on issues and adequately anticipate future provincial and municipal needs."
In addition to the team training, there was also a media component to the exercise. Local media, as well as provincial media, were invited to attend the training event where the Town of Gananoque was presented with a special recognition plaque by Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford in appreciation for hosting the exercise. All Ontario fire departments received template news releases to distribute to their local media. The focus of these releases was about the importance of being prepared for natural and human-caused emergencies and the province’s capabilities to respond and assist.
In addition to overseeing the provincial CBRNE/Hazmat/HUSAR program, the OFM also coordinates the deployment of the nine provincial CBRNE and one Toronto HUSAR teams that are strategically located throughout the province. Mutual aid Fire Coordinators can access this support, where local capacity has been exceeded in the event of a large-scale emergency, on a 24/7 basis through the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
Representatives from the OFM, Ottawa and Peterborough CBRNE teams, OPP PERT, exercise evaluators from other provincial teams, and Gananoque emergency services discuss a response strategy.
Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford presents a plaque of appreciation to Gananoque mayor Jim Garrah.
A member of the Ottawa CBRNE team takes an air sample.
BY LISSA TALLYN
GEORGETOWN INDEPENDENT
When off-duty recruit firefighter Scott Smith of Georgetown saw newborn Lilly May Simpkin, who was blue and not breathing, he knew exactly what to do.
Lilly’s mom had rushed over to her neighbour Smith’s apartment hoping he could help her baby who had stopped breathing after choking.
Smith, a part-time Halton Hills firefighter nine months into his recruit training, told her to call 9-1-1.
Putting his recent CPR training to use, Smith checked the baby’s airway, then held her facing downwards and performed two series of blows to her back.
After the second set of back blows the obstruction of mucus cleared and Lilly began to cry and breathe on her own.
"Like a training exercise, where everything just fell into place, I was just at the right place at the right time."
He credits the fire department’s Emergency Patient Care Unit with providing him with the training required.
Both Lilly’s parents plan to take an infant CPR course, and the fire department urges everyone to learn CPR.
This article appeared in the July 25, 2007 issue of the Georgetown Independent.
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 Gina.Pontikas@ontario.ca
Girl Guides of Canada delivered their Sparks Ablaze program across Ontario this November. Sparks Ablaze is a three-week program designed to educate Girl Guides in the Sparks age group about fire safety.
Over a three-week period, Sparks had the opportunity to visit their local fire stations for tours, fire safety demonstrations and lessons. At the end of the program, lessons learned were summarized and reviewed.
Please share any stories and photos of ‘Sparks Ablaze’ events in your area.
Firefighter Colin Braney, Sudbury Fire Services demonstrates firefighters’ protective clothing to the Sparks.
Members of the Val Caron 1st Sparks Unit anxiously get ready for their visit
to the Sudbury Fire Station.
Firefighter Eric Webster of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service was presented with the Commissioner’s Commendation for Exemplary Performance of Duty by OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at an Awards ceremony in Orillia.
Firefighter Webster was recognized for his efforts in rescuing a young man who was threatening to commit suicide. On February 2, 2006, a 20 year old man climbed to the top of his neighbour’s silo.
The subject, who was not properly dressed for the pouring rain and near freezing weather, threatened to jump if anyone attempted to come near him.
As negotiations continued over several hours, the weather deteriorated and freezing rain developed. At the same time
the man’s physical condition declined to the point he needed to be rescued.
The Barrie Fire Department was contacted and responded with its aerial ladder.
Using the ladder, Firefighter Webster was deployed with two members of the Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT), to rescue the subject.
The man was seen shaking uncontrollably and was unresponsive to police as the ladder neared him. When the ladder suddenly lost power less than a metre from the roofline, one police officer jumped across the gap to reach the roof. After grabbing a hold of the subject, a struggle ensued and Firefighter Webster and the other officer reached out from the ladder’s bucket to assist.
Once the man was restrained, he was lowered into the bucket. The rescuers recognized that the man was in an extreme state of hypothermia and that he could possibly go into shock, so they kept him calm until relieved by paramedics.
He was subsequently transported to the hospital.
Barrie Fire & Emergency Firefighter Eric Webster is presented by Julian Fantino, OPP Commissioner.
BY DAVE HORNE, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
Tundra™ fire extinguishing spray is packaged in a 414 ml (14 fluid ounce) aerosol-like container (www.firstalert.com). It is marketed in Canada by Dicon Global (www.diconglobal.com). The product is neither listed by a recognized testing authority nor rated to the tests of ULC S-508 as prescribed by the Ontario Fire Code. Consequently, the product cannot be used to meet installation requirements for portable extinguishers found in the Ontario Fire Code.
However, the Ontario Fire Code does not have installation requirements for fire extinguishers in dwelling units. Also, the Ontario Fire Code does not restrict the extinguishing products that an occupant may choose to bring into his dwelling unit.
The Tundra™ product has been marketed for home use, and primarily for kitchen cooking fires. Product demonstrations have been observed where it was capable of extinguishing a fire in a 12-inch diameter skillet containing vegetable oil that was raised to its autoignition temperature. The burner was left on during the discharge of the fire extinguishing spray.
While this was a relatively small fire, it was intense. Because the extinguisher is water based, there was an initial unexpected flare up. As with any extinguishing products, people must be trained in its use. The demonstrations reinforced that in the event of a fire, unless you are trained to use the product, it is advised to seek safety for you and your family members and to call 911 for fire department action.
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) recommends the purchase of appropriately listed and rated extinguishers for all occupancies including the home. This will assure that the product will perform as rated through the standardized testing performed by the recognized testing authority.
The OFM does not endorse products nor do we test products. Our involvement with the Tundra™ fire extinguishing spray has been to gain information in the event that the fire service or public might seek information on the product.
A can of Tundra™ fire extinguishing spray.
BY GEOFF HAYMAN, CFPO
COUNTY OF BRANT FIRE DEPARTMENT
On October 29, at about 2:30 a.m., a homeowner near Burford, Ontario was
awakened by the smoke alarms in the hallway.
On October 29, at about 2:30 a.m., a homeowner near Burford, Ontario was awakened by the smoke alarms in the hallway.
On further discovery, the homeowner found a small fire in a pantry room off the home’s kitchen and used a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire. The fire had consumed a newly purchased Black & Decker Infrared toaster. Fortunately, most of the damage was sustained by the toaster itself although soot and smoke damage is estimated at $2,500.
How the fire started is yet to be determined.
As this incident demonstrates, working smoke alarms can provide an early warning to occupants.
For more information about this fire, please contact Geoff Hayman at the County of Brant Fire Department.
A picture of the damaged counter which the toaster and coffeemaker were sitting on. Picture courtesy of Geoff Hayman.
BY MARK FOSTER, CO-CHAIR NORFOLK COUNTY RISK WATCH COALITION &
KARIN MARKS, CHAIR, HALDIMAND COUNTY RISK WATCH COALITION
The Risk Watch Safety Days held on March 6 and Sept 27 in Dunnville Ontario were a huge success. Over the course of these two days, our committee of fire educators and representatives from the OPP, EMS, Norfolk County Farm Safety Coalition, Health Unit and teachers from the Grand Erie District School Board, provided seven different workshops to 278 students. The Safety Days were the kick off to the Risk Watch resources being used in local schools. During the Safety Days, the committee provided the Canadian Risk Watch resource to the teachers so that they could begin implementing it in their classrooms. The injury prevention messages can be beneficial for everyone. Coincidentally, the day after Haldimand County EMS paramedic Michelle Mombourquette taught a Grade 6 class about the Heimlich manoeuvre, a student choked on a grape. She was able to get help to dislodge the grape from someone who had just been taught this manoeuvre.
The committee of dedicated professionals has worked together for the past 11 years and are continually assessing how effective the Risk Watch program is in making such a positive impact in the lives of children across Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. Currently, the committee is undergoing a revitalization in Norfolk County. To kick the year off, a dinner was held in Port Dover on September 25, with 25 members attending. The guest speaker was Chris Slosser from the Office of the Fire Marshal and he spoke about the importance of the Canadian Risk Watch program within Ontario communities.
In addition to using the Risk Watch program in local schools, two of our best tools when we visit schools in our municipality are the fire department Hazard House and Fire Trailer. Using these tools, fire educators can demonstrate the dangers in a child’s home using hands-on-safety strategies. In addition, "props" that have been retrieved from fires are used to show children the intensity of heat that fires can produce and what it can do to everyday items such as toasters, telephones, and smoke alarms to name a few. In addition to the Hazard House and Fire Trailer, we also host demonstrations for bicycle helmet fittings, bicycle rodeos and participate in the Caledonia Fall Fair from September 27-30 and the Norfolk County Fair from October 2-8.
With all of the activities and initiatives our committee has organized, there is still work left to do. There are 10 schools (out of 31) in Norfolk County and four schools (out of 23) in Haldimand County yet to implement the Risk Watch program. This year, we will continue to get this important injury prevention program into the classrooms of more schools so that the entire municipality can be a safer place to live for everyone.
A picture of the members of the Haldimand County Risk Watch Coalition. Picture courtesy of Karin Marks.
On October 24, Dr. Robert Conn, President and CEO of SMARTRISK spoke at the Ontario Fire College as part of the Office of the Fire Marshal’s Fire Protection Services training week. The focus of his presentation was how injuries can be prevented in Canada.
To begin, Dr. Conn spoke about how language shapes how society thinks about injuries. It also influences how people behave. For instance, when people say someone they know got into a car ‘accident,’ it carries a connotation that it could not have been avoided. Conn argued that these incidents should be called car ‘crashes,’ because they are completely avoidable.
"In the dictionary, the word accident is defined as an unavoidable act of fate," said Conn. "When we are dealing with fate, people go into denial, meaning they think this will not happen to me."
Conn emphasized the goal of SMARTRISK: to change the way people think about injuries. Essentially, to prevent injuries, there needs to be a shift away from this kind of societal thinking and to begin thinking about injuries as completely preventable because they are predictable.
When the report ‘The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Canada’ was first released in Canada 1995, it had one goal: to speak the language of economics to government readers. In fact, this subject has enjoyed increased interest over the years as Burden reports have been published for most provinces and for the Aboriginal population. Today, it remains the single leading research cache of injury prevention costing information. (In Canada, there is no single recording system for injuries in hospitals.) Some of the information that has been collected and further voices the need to change the way people think about injury includes:
· Injury ranks fourth in Canada’s healthcare burden. However, there is no strategy to combat this burden and the government-spending priority for injury prevention ranks just higher than spending for skin diseases.
· Canada’s population is 31 million and the country’s birthrate is well below replacement levels. In fact, the Canadian birthrate has hit a new low.
· Immigration is being used to augment population levels. However, 73% of immigrants are now living in three major Canadian cities.
· Canada’s labour pool is shrinking, leaving a reduction in the population that is economically available to fund increasing healthcare costs.
· According to a recent study, someone visits an emergency room in an Ontario hospital every 30 seconds because they have gotten hurt.
The Burden reports also provide injury prevention strategies to help reduce provincial injury burdens. And so, the underlying theme of these reports is that the number of injuries across Canada is clogging the medical field and that the federal government must develop a meaningful injury prevention strategy to deal with this burden.
For the last part of his presentation, Conn focused on the five-year strategic plan SMARTRISK had developed for the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. Working to develop the Council’s vision to "create a world where no one is hurt by fire," SMARTRISK outlined the following strategic building blocks:
Societal – The need to change the fire mindset in communities (most
people just believe that fires happen and the fire trucks will show up at them)
Individual – The need to create a fire prevention generation (fires and their prevention are the responsibility of individuals)
Total fire service – Firefighters will use their experience and knowledge to advocate fire safety within their communities (fire departments will move to a greater focus on fire prevention)
Technological – The need to use technology to prevent fires (residential home fire sprinklers, fire safe cigarettes; safer stove design)
Highest risk groups – The need to address specific high-risk groups.
While some of these strategic building blocks have already been implemented by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Ontario fire departments, there is still more work to be done. Overall, the theme of the building blocks comes back to changing the way people think about injury. And this is where public education comes in to effectively change behaviours.
Through continued public education programs, the fire service can teach Ontarians how to manage and see risks better. Let’s continue to build on our successes to make fire safety an individual responsibility. It will go a long way in helping to create a world where no one is hurt by fire now and into the future.
Dr. Robert Conn, President and CEO of SMARTRISK.
BY GARY ROBINSON
TRANS-NORTHERN PIPELINES INC.
Canada is blessed with abundant quantities of natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Most of these resources reside in western Canada or off the east coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The safest and most efficient manner in which to convey these natural resources to residents and industries in Ontario is via pipelines.
Bearing this in mind, the National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations dictates that federally regulated pipeline systems across Canada are obligated to provide training and awareness to emergency responder organizations. This training must encompass appropriate precautions and procedures to ensure a safe and effective response to pipeline incidents or emergencies. The following article informs emergency responders about some of the important recommendations covered in Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc (TNPI) Pipeline Safety seminars.
Pipelines have an enviable safety record, particularly when compared to accident statistics of one mode of transport against another, such as road, rail, marine or air cargo. However, any incident, involving any of these modes of transportation has the potential for causing serious damage to the environment and harm to the public and emergency responders. And this is clearly understood by pipeline operators. Therefore enormous sums of money are expended to prevent such incidents. Similarly, considerable energy is directed towards staff training and emergency response capabilities in the event that things do go wrong.
Computer systems aid pipeline operators in monitoring pipeline performance on a regular basis. Some performance indicators include flow rate and pressure. Leaks, punctures or ruptures readily upset pipeline performance causing alarms to sound and pipeline operators respond quickly and decisively to shut down equipment safely. Pumps are stopped, valves are closed and pipeline segments are isolated to minimize the loss of contents. However, a pipeline shutdown does not necessarily arrest the escape of gas or liquid product. For gas pipelines, it takes time for contained pressure to equalize with atmospheric pressure. For liquid pipelines, pressure is equalized quite rapidly, but elevation differences can result in prolonged escape of materials.
If notified of a possible pipeline leak, the fire service should investigate and report to the pipeline operator immediately if there is:
• A distinctive odour of petroleum product (gasoline or oil)
• An odour of natural gas (rotten egg/sour cabbage)
• A hissing sound
• Dead vegetation (red/orange/amber rusty colour)
• A pool of petroleum products
An investigation must commence immediately and the cause or source of these signs must be determined conclusively.
Catastrophic failures are another matter. Sudden releases of natural gas or liquids can be quite destructive to the landscape. With a natural gas line, soil eruption can result in significant craters to be created instantly. Debris can be spread over a wide area. Liquid lines, tend to result in less collateral damage, but a greater mess overall. Natural gas is lighter than air, thus it readily rises into the atmosphere. If natural gas is not ignited within the first 20 seconds of release, it is unlikely to ignite because the fuel/air ratios are too rich to sustain ignition near the source. However emergency responders must still be wary when approaching the site and in establishing a safe perimeter. Accordingly, emergency responders must determine early into the life cycle of any liquid spill, the presence and direction of underground sewer structures.
When responding to a pipeline incident, it is important for emergency responders to know their pipeline neighbour as the type of incident they are responding will dictate the style of response. Emergency responders should not assume the pipeline operator is aware of the event. Instead, responders should confirm that they have been advised and determine what actions they are taking.
Until the pipeline company has shutdown the pipeline, vacated pressure and closed upstream and downstream isolation valves, there is not much emergency responders can do about controlling the leak or fighting a fuel fed fire. Contain the flow of material away from the site as much as possible. Dykes, berms or trenches are the most effective means of blocking flow along ditch lines, gutters and through culverts. Plastic sheeting with soil piled on top are effective means to block entry into catch basins or sewers. Hazardous response efforts beyond this are the responsibility of the pipeline operator.
For more information about the free Pipeline Safety seminars, fire departments should contact TNPI at 905-770-3353, extension 272 or grobinson@tnpi.ca.
Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc (TNPI) operates a refined petroleum pipeline system in southern Ontario and Quebec. TNPI offers Pipeline Safety Seminars to municipal emergency responders in municipalities in which TNPI is situated. For other locations across Canada, information on other pipeline systems is available through the National Energy Board at 1-800-899-1265.
BY ILEANA CIUREA MD
CHIEF OFFICER, MEDICAL AFFAIRS
CANADIAN MEDICALERT FOUNDATION
The minutes and even seconds following an emergency can be the most critical ones in saving someone’s life. Probably no one understands this better than you.
MedicAlert wants to remind you that it can provide some additional help during those first critical moments, especially if the person in your care is alone or unconscious.
Mike Nemeth is a certified Training Officer and resuscitation specialist who works with Toronto Fire Services. With over 20 years of experience in his field, Nemeth has seen first-hand the impact of MedicAlert during assessment at the scene. "There have been numerous times when the information engraved on the bracelet has made my job easier," said Nemeth. "It contains vital information and gives first responders a heads-up as to what might be the problem. Benefits are big-time."
Over 600,000 Ontarians have registered with MedicAlert to date. They are individuals of all ages who have medical conditions, allergies, implanted devices, or have special needs that should be known by firefighters and other emergency responders.
In addition, some people wear MedicAlert identification because they are not able to communicate their condition: they may be too old or too young, they may be developmentally delayed, memory impaired or speech handicapped. They trust that emergency responders, being aware of MedicAlert, will check
the engraving on the back of their emblems and act accordingly.
Please make sure to check for MedicAlert identification (bracelet, necklace, watch) at the time of an emergency!
For more information on MedicAlert or training materials, including bracelet samples, visit www.medicalert.ca or contact the Education Department at 416-696-0142 ext. 1265.
The 2007 Fire Code replaced the 1997 Fire Code on November 21, 2007.
Some of the new features that users will notice include its objective-based format, in addition to technical and editorial changes.
The 2007 Fire Code is more comprehensive than the previous 1997 version. In particular, the new version addresses issues that have posed concerns in recent years, including Halloween farm mazes, improved requirements for fire safety plans, new requirements for supervisory staff to follow fire safety plans in residential care occupancies and obligations for central alarm station operators to maintain a specific level of monitoring service.
To assist the Ontario fire service in using the revised Fire Code, the OFM
Fire Safety Standards section is
providing information sessions. The information sessions range from an hour and
half to two days, depending on the needs of those planning to attend. If you are
interested in hosting an information session on the 2007 Fire Code, please
contact:
Ms. Susan Clarke, P. Eng.
Training Coordinator
416-325-3224
susan.clarke@ontario.ca
Krystyna Paterson, OFM Manager, Fire Safety Standards, talks about the 2007
Fire Code.
In late October the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) met for their fall meeting. Some of the key issues on the agenda were a Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition update by Sean Tracey and a presentation about the new features of the 2007 Fire Code by Krystyna Paterson, OFM Manager, Fire Safety Standards.
One of the major roadblocks that Tracey highlighted in his presentation was the result of a recent committee meeting for the National Building Code where mandatory sprinkler installation was rejected as a building priority for one and two family dwelling units. After looking at materials supporting sprinkler installations, committee members (consisting of home builders, architects, consultants, a member of the fire service and a few private citizens) decided the earliest that mandatory sprinklering could be adopted in the National Building Code would be 2015. As procedure goes, proposals for the Ontario Building Code face challenges if they have been rejected by the National Building Code.
As a result of this news, the Council decided to take action. They plan to send further information regarding the benefits of sprinklers to the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes. Other committee meetings were planned to take place in Vancouver during the last week of October. The focus of these meetings would be to address all other occupancies (multi-unit residences).
Tracey indicated he believed there was more support for mandatory sprinklering in these residences.
Sean Tracey provides an update to the Council about residential home fire sprinklers.
BY JACKIE DYSON
FIRE PREVENTION/PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICER
MARKHAM FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
On October 9, Markham Fire and Emergency Services and William Armstrong Public School recognized Michael Taylor for his calm and courageous actions that helped save a neighbour’s home and possibly the lives of the people within that home. Taylor’s actions were a direct result of the lessons learned at school through his teachers and Markham firefighters using the Learn Not to Burn program.
By educating children, the fire service is encouraging fire safe living throughout their entire lifetimes.
The Fire Call
On August 26th, a fire call came in from James Speight Road in Markham. According to Captain Mike Hallyburton, fire crews responded to a two-storey single family home. Upon arrival the fire had already been extinguished.
The fire at the home on James Speight Road was spotted by 10 year-old Michael Taylor. Taylor told his mother Joanne about the fire. She directed Taylor’s older brother Wesley, to call 9-1-1. Together, Taylor and his mother went to the porch where the fire had ignited and knocked on the door to alert the owners of the fire. No one immediately came to the door. Quickly, they pulled the garden hose out of the neighbour’s garage and extinguished the fire that had started on a nearby wicker chair.
The wicker chair that was on fire was located on the front porch in front of the bay window. The bay window broke when water was applied to extinguish the fire. No other porch damage was visible other than smoke staining. It was later determined the fire began because of careless smoking.
For more information about the fire, contact Jackie Dyson at jdyson@markham.ca or by telephone at 905 -477-7000 ext 4220.
Certificate of Commendation presented to Michael Taylor.
BY SHANE EDWARDS
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER
BARRIE FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICE
This year Barrie Fire & Emergency Service developed a new fire safety program which involved Barrie elementary schools. During the week of September 24 to 28, fire prevention officers visited all Public and Catholic Elementary
Schools to drop off enough fire safety packages for each student. The packages included a letter to the parents, a home escape plan worksheet and a home safety checklist. Students were required to take their package home where they completed the home escape plan and the fire safety checklist with their family. Once the homework assignment was completed, the students were required to hand in their Fire Safety Checklist, which required a parent’s signature. Barrie fire prevention officers returned to the schools on October 11 to collect thousands of fire safety checklist assignments.
After the completion of this program, Barrie Fire & Emergency Services received a very positive response from the schools, parents and students from all over the City of Barrie. This program has allowed the fire department to connect with 20,000 students, 700 teachers and school administrators. If there is a fire in Barrie which involves children, it can now be traced back to the child’s homework assignment to see if it had any influence over the family. The Barrie Fire & Emergency Service encourages families to test their smoke alarms through the media however it’s a huge success to actually have a program that confirms they did in fact test them.
Every year, structure fires take the lives of unsuspecting families throughout Ontario and across the country. Fire safety is a community effort and Barrie has taken a huge step in preventing these tragedies.
For more information on this program, contact Shane Edwards at sedwards@barrie.ca
sedwards@barrie.ca.
BY GINA PONTIKAS
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
OFM PUBLIC EDUCATION & MEDIA RELATIONS
Lanark Highlands Fire Service District Chief Tawnya Roberts travelled to two local elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week and engaged students for two days in fire safety and prevention activities.
Age appropriate activities and messages were presented to the students. In particular, younger students participated in games, colouring and learning fire safety message while older students practiced home escape planning and learned about safe cooking.
After the visits, District Chief Roberts received positive feedback from both teachers and students. She also had the opportunity to talk to parents who shared stories about the messages their children had learned at school and shared with them at home.
One parent approached District Chief Roberts and recounted how her three-year-old son came home after participating in the activities and immediately began to tell his family what to do if the smoke alarm activates. He also demonstrated Stop, Drop and Roll with his parents and younger brother.
The responses from parents were confirmation to District Chief Roberts that Fire Prevention Week activities and public education programs for children continue to be effective in getting important fire safety information home to everyone.
Lanark Highlands Fire Service District Chief Tawnya Roberts plays the “Sparky’s
Trails” game with a classroom of students at a local elementary school.
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 Gina.Pontikas@ontario.ca
BY DAN FRASER
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER
SAULT STE. MARIE FIRE SERVICES
This year Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services conducted a Fire Prevention Week campaign that was unconventional and did not focus on the theme of practicing a home fire escape plan. The reason for this was that Sault Ste. Marie has more concerns with residents who attempt to cook while under the influence of alcohol then they do with people who are unfamiliar with their home escape plan.
Research since 2000 indicated Sault Ste. Marie has had 10 fire fatalities, of which six were related to alcohol consumption in some form. This stark reality prompted Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services to work toward reducing these fatalities by educating the public with the facts.
For this year’s campaign, the target group selected was people who consume alcohol in Sault Ste. Marie. The first strategy to communicate with this group was to establish a partnership with our local Beer Stores to provide fire prevention information to the clientele in regard to the risks of cooking after consuming alcohol, especially late at night and in the early morning hours. With the help of the District Manager of the Beer Store, Gary Brown, we set up displays in the retail outlets during Fire Prevention Week to meet and greet the customers on a one-on-one face-to-face basis. Over the course of the week we offered fire safety information in pamphlet form as well as a free "Don’t Drink and Fry" fridge magnet as a reminder of our program. To kick the week off and make the public aware of the upcoming event, we developed some radio ads and a public announcement on our community cable station, Shaw T.V channel 10. It was the first time in the Sault that the fire service had partnered with Ontario Beer Stores.
The result was a very positive one. Over the course of the week, fire prevention officers made personal contact with over 1,000 people to inform them of the dangers of cooking when impaired and tired and change behaviours. Many comments were received from the public conveying the importance of what we were doing and some even shared their experiences of "close calls" and "near misses" they had personally experienced. The local paper ran several articles with reference to the Don’t Drink and Fry campaign including one letter to the editor.
Our hope is that through our efforts, some of those people we spoke to will think before they drink and not attempt to cook if impaired. Our word to the wise is, "Responsible drinking doesn’t end with a cab ride home".
Recently, the Office of the Fire Marshal obtained 5,000 English and French copies of the October 2007 issue of the Canadian version of Reader’s Digest. Currently, the copies are at the Thunder Bay OFM office and are available, free of charge, while supplies last, to Ontario fire departments for any upcoming public education activities. These magazines will be of interest to the fire service because of the lengthy article inside that addresses home fire escape planning and what Ontario families can do to protect themselves from fire.
In addition to the Reader’s Digest magazine, there is also a new information card that has been developed by the OFM to handle the issue the woodstove safety. It too is available free of charge. This informative card is an important resource for fire departments that may service residents who live in rural areas and use woodstoves as a source of heat during the winter months. Both resources can be obtained by filling out and faxing in the public education materials order form that is available online at www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
BY DOUG GOODINGS
EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR
OFM ACADEMIC STANDARDS
& EVALUATION (AS&E)
Agreement with Ryerson University
The OFM has been working on many new and interesting initiatives over the past couple of months. Recently, a formal agreement was signed with Ryerson University/OAFC/OFM in which graduates of the OFC Company Officer Diploma/Fire Prevention Officer and Training Officer will receive advanced standing credits toward the Ryerson University Public Administration Program for Fire Service Professionals degree program. This includes those members who have completed certification under the Window of Opportunity and who have received a certificate of equivalency.
For more information on the Ryerson program visit www.ryerson.ca/calendar/
ProBoard Accreditation
Recently an August 29, 2007 Communiqué was published that outlined the entitlement of all qualified firefighters to receive certification from National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (also called Pro Board) to NFPA 1001. The Communiqué stated: To read more from this Communiqué, visit www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
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, Certification/Accreditation Programs by e-mail at Doug.Goodings@jus.gov.on.ca or by phone at 416-325-3136.
NFPA Standards Update
It is now official; NFPA has approved and released the following new standards. These new standards are available on the NFPA web site at www.nfpa.org.
NFPA Standard 1001, 2008 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, NFPA 472, 2008 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.
IFSAC Board of Governors Appointment
Doug Goodings, Manager of Certification and Accreditation, was appointed to the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Certificate Assembly Board of Governors. Doug was appointed to the position at the annual meeting in April.
Of the 11 board members, Doug is one of three members from Canada. It is the first time an OFM staff member has been on this Board.
The Board’s mission is to plan and administer the accreditation for public and private fire and emergency services. The Board works with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Certificate Assembly.
With over 27 years of experience in many fire service roles including Fire Chief, Doug is well-positioned to represent Canada on the Board.
Remember when…
In the April/July issue of the Ontario Fire Service Messenger, an article appeared to recognize the passing and contributions of 55-year fire service veteran, Reg Krueger of Wiarton, Ontario. The article spurred interest from readers about others who had also made significant contributions toward building a foundation of fire safety in Ontario. Many of these men and women are the mothers, grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers of today’s strong fire service.
One of these men was James Mowat. Mowat was recognized in February 1955 for his contribution to 50 years of active service with the Whitby Volunteer Fire Brigade. Having worked in the days of steam fire engines, Mowat was presented with a wrist watch on behalf of the town of Whitby. At that time, he was the first firefighter to receive such an honour in Ontario and his record of service was only exceeded by two Fire Chiefs in the province.
Born in 1888, Mowat was a man of strength, but small in stature. He only joined the Whitby Volunteer Fire Brigade after being refused admission by the Toronto Fire Department. "The Fire Chief at the time did not think he measured up to the physical standards set in Toronto," noted an article about Mowat in the February 14, 1955 issue of The Daily Times-Gazette.
It is men and women such as Reg Krueger, James Mowat and the many others who have laid the foundation for today’s achievements in the Ontario fire service. Let’s celebrate and pay tribute their accomplishments by attending memorial services. Having laid the foundation for a safe place to live from fire, they deserve our deepest respect.
Fatal Fire Summary
August 2007: 2 fatal fires resulting in 5 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 1, Female - 0, Total - 1
Age Group 16-64: Male - 4, Female - 0, Total - 4
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 9
Total: Male - 5, Female - 9, Total - 5
Fire Cause - Accidental 0, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 3, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 2, 0801-1600 - 0, 1601-1800 - 1, 1801-0000 - 0
Locations of fatal fires: Minden Hills (1), Cobourg (1), Brampton (1)
September 2007: 1 fatal fire resulting in 1 fire death
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 0, Female - 1, Total - 1
Total: Male - 0, Female - 1, Total - 1
Fire Cause - Accidental 1, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 0, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 0, 0801-1600 - 0, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 1
Locations of fatal fires: Markham (1)
Since May 2005, I have worked with the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) as the Editor of the Ontario Fire Service Messenger. In that time, I have learned a great deal about the many programs and activities of the Ontario fire service and have had the opportunity to meet and get to know many fire service personnel.
In my term, I have introduced some new features including the Smoke Alarm Saves stories and Code Violations sections. I have also added more colour to the exterior of the magazine to make it more appealing. Now, I will be beginning a new adventure; I will be taking maternity leave as of November 16. This will be my first child and I am looking forward to becoming a mother, and everything it has to offer. In the interim, Gina Pontikas who has worked at the OFM as Program Coordinator since 2004, will be working on the Messenger. If you have any story ideas or information you would like to see included in the Messenger, contact her at 416-325-3155 or at Gina.Pontikas@ontario.ca.
Editor’s Note: Bryan William Gravelle was born on Friday, November 23, 2007. Congratulations to the Gravelle family!
Dec 6 - Parry Sound Long Service Medals Investiture Parry Sound, ON
Dec 6 Emergency Responders and Drug Operations Seminar Paris, ON
Dec 10 OPFFA Legislative Conference Toronto, ON
Dec 12 Toronto Long Service Medals Investiture Toronto, ON
Jan 18 Police/Firefighter Bravery Awards Toronto, ON
Mar 27 - 28 Northeastern Fire Education Conference North Bay, ON
April 18 Canadian Fire Safety Association Annual Education Forum Markham, ON
April 20 - 26 Wildfire Prevention Week 2008 Province-wide
April 26 - 30 Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs 56th Annual Conference & Trade Show Toronto, ON
Excerpted from an article that appeared in the Aylmer Express
by Gene Mooney
A two-storey house at 13894 Belmont Road was burned by Malahide volunteer firefighters from Lyons and Springfield stations as part of a training exercise for their department, forensic investigators from Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and students from the Georgian College firefighter school.
The house, a barn and an equipment shed were burned.
Detective Constable R. J. Mark Duvall, a forensic investigator with York Regional Police, placed two inoperable handguns and spent cartridges inside the house just before firefighters ignited a fire in the basement of the house. The weapons and spent shells were used to determine what could be found after a fire and also to investigate the effectiveness of a proposed new forensics investigator search method.
Greg Olson, an Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office investigator, said he proposed the use of archaeological search grids to recover evidence and human remains after a fire. It is his theory that small bones and fragments could be better recovered not only for evidence but also for the satisfaction of surviving family who want to ensure all the remains are buried together.
Firefighters were taught how to use fire hoses to cool their approach to a burning building before directing water at the base of the fire. Firefighters were also taught how to move away from a fire without turning their back to the flames.
Temperatures reached as high as 1122 degrees Fahrenheit (605.5 C) and smoke could be seen miles away.
The fire burned for more than three hours before the final segment of the north wall was pushed over by firefighters using pike poles.
Chief Barbour said 35 firefighters participated Saturday.
On Sunday, volunteers from Lyons station returned and assisted in the search of the ashes by a forensics archaeology team directed by Mr. Olson. Chief Barbour said they recovered "what they believed to be the two guns and the cartridge shells. "All in all, it was a good exercise for all participants."
Malahide volunteer firefighters use pike poles to push over the remnants
of a wall at a house fire south of Belmont, Ontario.
Photo courtesy of Gene Mooney, Alymer Express.
Detective Constable R. J. Mark Duvall, a forensic investigator with York
Regional Police, shows one of two handguns and spent cartridges he placed inside
the house.
Photo courtesy of Gene Mooney. Aylmer Express.
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