February/March 2008 Volume 17 Issue 1
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:
Gina Pontikas, Acting Editor, Office of the Fire Marshal, 5775 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, ON M2M 4J1, Tel: 416-325-3138, Fax: 416-325-3162, Gina.Pontikas@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, Marie Ainey, Tony Pacheco, Penny Goddard, Robert Harpur, Martha Murphy, Rose Barg, Bruce Weaver, Bob Thorpe, Rick Kerster, Dr. Sherri MacKay, Meara Sullivan-Thomas, Leslie Swan, Bruce Dunning, Beth Tate, Jay C. Hope, Wendy Hartwick, Dan Oldridge, Wendy Krebsz, Randy Burke, Greg Kerr, Mark Wallace, John Verbeek, Dave Potts and Brian Walsh.
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.
Jay C. Hope
Deputy Minister of Emergency Planning and Management
As we enter a new year, I would like to restate my deep appreciation for firefighters across Ontario and my commitment to work with you, through the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), to make our communities safer.
It seems only a short time ago that I shared with you my thoughts about becoming Ontario’s Commissioner of Community Safety. As of January 7, 2008, I began serving as Deputy Minister of Emergency Planning and Management in the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The creation of this new portfolio reflects not only the importance of emergency preparedness for the government, but for all Ontarians.
While the new position brings with it many new responsibilities and challenges, most of my former areas of responsibility will remain, including my legislated role as "Commissioner of Emergency Management." I will continue to maintain responsibility for the Office of the Fire Marshal and Office of the Chief Coroner. Some of my new duties include an expanded role in ensuring the continuity of government services during a crisis, as well as an expanded profile for emergency management within government.
What does this change mean for the Ontario fire service? As Deputy Minister, I will have increased access and opportunity to bring forward issues of importance to you, to both the Minister and other government officials in a timely way. This will ultimately contribute to our common goal of keeping Ontario’s communities safe.
This portfolio allows me to better coordinate the resources and assets available to the province in responding to emergencies. The Incident Management System and radio interoperability are priorities in 2008 and I look forward to continued discussions with Ontario’s fire services and our other emergency management partners on these important issues in the near future.
In conclusion, I fully support Fire Marshal Patrick Burke’s efforts to build on the OFM’s legacy of dedication to community safety and fire protection improvements. Across Ontario, we are seeing a growing focus on fire prevention. In the last decade we have seen positive results and a significant reduction in the number of lives lost to fires.
Premier Dalton McGuinty has recently announced that the government will explore new fire safety options that may include requiring sprinkler systems in new buildings higher than three storeys. This was an important announcement for the fire services in Ontario.
We owe it to all firefighters to do whatever we can to make your daily jobs safer.
On a final note, I salute your courage and I thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism in the work that you perform. May the year ahead be rewarding and safe for all of you.
On January 17, 2008, Toronto Fire Chief William Stewart, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs President Richard Boyes and Fire Marshal of Ontario Pat Burke convened at a news conference at the Toronto Fire Academy to speak to the importance of residential sprinkler systems.
The conference was held only a day after an unexpected but welcome announcement by the Premier of Ontario that Ontario would begin looking at options for the installation of sprinkler systems in new buildings higher than three storeys.
Over the past 10 years, there were 819 fatal structure fires in Ontario. Approximately 95% of these fires occurred in residential properties resulting in the deaths of 920 people.
"Sprinkler systems limit smoke development and spread during a fire," explained Burke. "This provides occupants with more time to evacuate and significantly reduces the likelihood of injury and death due to smoke inhalation."
The Fire Marshal also reminded those in attendance, that while sprinklers are beneficial, working smoke alarms are vital to providing an early warning of fire.
Fire Chief Richard Boyes reinforced that many of the deaths in residential fires could have been prevented with residential sprinkler systems.
"Residential sprinklers can contain or even extinguish the fire in the critical minutes before the fire department is able to arrive," said Boyes.
A recent study in Scottsdale, Arizona, where sprinklers have been required since 1985, found that the average fire loss in residences with sprinklers was just $2,100 compared to $45,000 in residences without sprinklers.
"We know these systems are highly effective," said Chief Stewart. "Since these regulations have been in effect in Scottsdale Arizona and Vancouver, there have been no fire deaths in sprinklered homes in either of these cities."
Fire officials and media in attendance were invited after the speeches to a live demonstration of a simultaneous burn of two residential units, one equipped with sprinklers, the other without. The burn cell without a sprinkler experienced extensive smoke and damage to the contents of the cell and interior walls. Firefighters were able to suppress the fire after waiting for a few minutes to simulate an approximate response time from the fire service.
The fire in the burn cell with a sprinkler was confined to a couch and was quickly put out by the one sprinkler head. There was very little smoke and only minimal damage to the couch and interior of the cell.
Burn cell equipped with sprinklers at the OAFC and TFS news conference at the Toronto Fire Academy.
Toronto firefighters suppress fire confined to couch in sprinklered burn cell.
Firefighters assess minimal damage to couch after fire in sprinklered cell.
Toronto firefighters extinguishes fire in unsprinklered burn cell at Toronto Fire Academy.
Charred couch taken out of unsprinklered burn cell.
Extensively damaged furniture is removed from smoke-filled unsprinklered burn cell.
TORONTO – The McGuinty government will hold a public consultation and information sessions on proposed changes to the Building Code that would require fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed, multiple-unit residential buildings higher than three storeys.
"Ontario has one of the lowest rates of residential fire deaths in Canada," said Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Nonetheless, we believe we can make our buildings even safer, and we will consider the comments, ideas and concerns received through the consultations when finalizing any amendments to the Building Code."
"Over a ten-year period between 1997 and 2006, 103 people have
died in these types of multi-unit residential building fires," said Rick
Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. "My ministry
looks forward to partnering with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
to develop ways to reduce these tragedies and increase the safety of families
and individuals across the province."
A public consultation paper is available on the Building Code website of the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at
http://www.ontario.ca/buildingcode.
Interested parties will have until May 1, 2008 to submit comments.
Public information sessions will be held in late March and early April 2008. The locations and dates of the information sessions are available on the Building Code website and on the Office of the Fire Marshal website at www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
"These consultations are a chance to build consensus and increase awareness about fire safety across the province," said Ontario Fire Marshal Patrick Burke. "Everyone must understand that fire safety begins with prevention, and that smoke alarms and sprinklers can save lives and limit property loss."
The Office of the Fire Marshal will use the information sessions to highlight fire safety challenges and home fire safety practices, and to discuss common misconceptions regarding residential sprinkler systems.
"Sprinklers can make a difference," said Linda Jeffrey, MPP for Brampton-Springdale. "The proposed regulations would help protect what we value most, including those most at risk — seniors, the young and the disabled."
Jeffrey previously introduced private members bills calling for sprinklers in new residential buildings.
Excerpted from Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing news release February 13, 2008.
A Mississauga lumber company found the cost of doing business to be pretty steep following the testimony of a District Chief called out of retirement to give evidence during a trial and subsequent sentencing.
The conviction resulted in an assessed fine of $30,000 to the company.
The charge involved a repeated failure of the lumber company to comply with the provisions of 3.2.2.27 of the 1997 Ontario Fire Code, whereby private hydrant coverage was required to be extended into the lumber yard to provide access to a water supply for firefighting operations using not more than 60 M of hose.
The company had been charged and convicted previously on two separate occasions for the same deficiency, resulting in $500 and $700 fines.
It wasn’t until charges brought after an actual fire incident at the lumber yard, in which the hydrant deficiency proved to be a factor in the firefighting operations, that the courts and the owner finally got the message.
Testimony from the responding District Chief in charge of the firefighting operations that day, identifying how the lack of an on-site water supply hindered the suppression operations, brought the message home.
Failure to maintain the fire protection systems in two adjacent buildings resulted in $9,500 in fines for a Mississauga building owner/developer.
Six charges related to the annual testing and maintenance of both buildings’ fire department connections, sprinkler systems and on-site private fire hydrant yielded fines of $9,000, with a $500 fine assessed for failing to properly display/maintain the designated fire route signs.
A Mississauga warehouse owner was convicted and fined $3,000 under the FPPA for failing to comply with an Inspection Order regarding the storage of butane aerosols.
On January 2, 2008, a corporation, president and treasurer involved in the operation of a two storey banquet and conference centre in the Municipality of Caledon were convicted of four Fire Code violations. The corporation was fined $33,000 while the president and treasurer were each fined $13,500.
All three parties were charged with failure to ensure the fire access route remained free of obstructions, failure to maintain commercial cooking equipment exhaust and fire protection systems in conformance with NFPA 96, failure to post the occupant load sign in conspicuous location and failure to implement an approved Fire Safety Plan.
J
anuary 22, 2008 – A holding company, the registered owner of a three storey 35 unit residential apartment building located in Hamilton and an officer of the holding company, were each found guilty in Provincial Offences court of three violations of the Ontario Fire Code. Each was fined $15,000. This was the third conviction against the holding company and the second against the individual.Prior to the trial, on January 10, 2008, Hamilton firefighters responded to an apartment fire on the basement level of the same building. Firefighters discovered numerous infractions of the Ontario Fire Code, some of which included the lack of smoke alarms, which is a repeat violation of the same infraction involved in a previous court case. The violations noted on January 10, 2008 have since been corrected. However, due to this continuous disregard for compliance with fire safety legislation, Hamilton Emergency Services are proceeding to charge both the holding company and the officer again. "The owner of this building continues to show a complete disregard for his legal obligation to maintain his building to the minimum standards of the Ontario Fire Code. He is well aware of the possible legal consequences associated with not taking appropriate corrective action for Fire Code deficiencies and he continues to allow these fire safety hazards to negatively impact upon the life safety of the building occupants," said Chief Fire Prevention Officer Jim Winn in a news release.
S
arnia - A complaint from an alarm company regarding a deficient fire alarm system prompted Fire Prevention Officer Dave Potts of Sarnia to inspect a 3,716 m2, two storey building occupied by ten commercial businesses and an assembly occupancy.As a result of his findings, Fire Prevention Officer Potts exercised authority under Section 15 of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, (FPPA) to reduce the threat to life safety and took measures to prosecute the corporation for various Fire Code violations.
The corporation plead guilty to four charges, which included failure to maintain access to exits free of obstructions, failure to maintain lighting for illumination of exits, failure to maintain the fire alarm system in operating condition, and failure to make available to the chief fire official or his designate an approved record of inspections of the sprinkler system. The fines imposed totaled $12,500 plus an additional $2500 in victim surcharges.
The owner also reimbursed the municipality for the expenses incurred that were outlined in an Order to Pay Costs that was issued relating to the work done under Section 15 of FPPA.
New Tecumseth - In the Municipality of New Tecumseth, Fire Prevention Officer Simon Worely reported that enforcement was initiated promptly after an inspection was conducted on a building resulting from a complaint. During the inspection, two of the nine violations encountered were rectified by the fire official under the authority of Section 15 of the FPPA. Actions taken by the fire official included restoring the electrical power supply to a system of electrically interconnected smoke alarms and removing screws from one of two exit doors that was inappropriately secured shut in this manner. The building was a three storey multi-unit residential structure with a commercial occupancy on the main floor.
At trial in late December of 2007, an individual plead guilty to all nine counts. The court imposed penalties totaling $7,000.
BY ROBERT HARPUR, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
Security fog systems are becoming more common in Ontario, particularly in stores such as jewelry stores, drug stores and stores selling high-end consumer electronics. On June 3, 1996 the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) issued Communiqué 96-017 regarding the SmokeCloak Security System. Since that time at least three more companies have started to sell security fog systems in Canada.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the fire service in general have expressed some concerns about security fog systems including:
·The fog that is produced could set off smoke detectors or could be reported as a smoke by people passing by the building.
·Occupants of the building could be trapped by the fog.
·The intruder could be trapped by the fog and be injured in trying to exit the building.
·If the operation of a security fog system is reported as a fire the firefighters could arrive at the building while the intruder is still present which could result in harm to the firefighters.
·
The fire department does not inspect or monitor burglar alarm systems so they would have no way of knowing if a security fog system had been installed.·The system would be activated if the fire department had to use forcible entry when responding to a real fire or other emergency.
·The system could activate during a fire thus complicating or interfering with fire fighting activities.
·The HVAC system could spread the fog throughout the whole building.
The Canadian Security Association (CANASA) has developed an installation guideline for security systems that includes a section on smoke/fog security machines. A variety of interlocks are required to ensure that the device does not fire when the premises are occupied. The equipment is required to be designed to fail-safe i.e. if there are any trouble signals the device cannot be armed until the problem is corrected.
The guideline specifically prohibits installing the equipment to trap people. There is a requirement to inform the police, fire and central monitoring agency before an installation takes place.
Monitoring companies are instructed to inform police and fire departments if a security fog system is activated. Although this will not prevent passers-by from reporting the fog as smoke, the fire department will at least be aware of what it really is.
The systems can be interlocked with the fire alarm system so that, if the fire alarm system activates first, the security fog system will not activate. Some models will also sense real smoke and prevent the machine from producing smoke if a significant quantity of real smoke is present.
Some models have verification features so that the control panel must receive two signals before it activates. One signal is from the security system and the second signal is usually from an independent motion detector. This further reduces the probability of false activations.
There are reportedly over 100,000 of these devices installed throughout Europe with no reports of significant problems. There are several dozen installations in Ontario with only one reported minor problem caused by a central monitoring station that did not follow the proper procedures.
It is possible to install these systems and to develop operational procedures so that these systems do not present any threat to the safety of the public or firefighters and do not violate the Ontario Fire Code, including article 2.7.1.8.
Given that the equipment can be legally installed if the proper procedures are followed, fire departments are encouraged to work with the installers to ensure that the installation is done in an appropriate manner. If the equipment has not been installed according to the CANASA guidelines it may be appropriate to issue an Inspection Order requiring whatever modifications are necessary to comply with the guidelines.
If you have an inquiry regarding security fog systems, please contact the OFM’s Applied Research Section at (416) 325-3100.
Guidelines on the installation of smoke/fog security machines are provided below:
The following guidelines for the installation of Smoke/Fog Security Machines is taken from the 2004 edition of the CANASA Installation Guidelines for security systems with their permission.
By Definition: "A smoke security device is a smoke generator that has been designed and constructed specifically to be triggered or activated by an intruder or surveillance detection systems, such that, when activated, it produces a dense smoke, fog, cloud or mist from a harmless non-toxic liquid to reduce visibility in the protected area to less than arm’s length."
Installations should only be undertaken by organizations and individuals who have manufacturer trained technicians.
Only smoke/fog machines specifically designed for security application should be used. Smoke devices from other industries i.e. theatrical, chemical foggers should not be used for a security application.
Systems will not be installed or configured to form a "man trap" (i.e. activates after a person has passed so as to prevent his/her exit/escape.)
Systems should be configured so that they can only be activated automatically when the alarm panel is set.
All installation will comply with statutory requirements and in accordance to manufacturer’s requirements.
All installations should comply with local requirements, health and safety, Fire Marshal or AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction).
Systems should be configured so that the smoke device only activates when the system is in a fully armed (away mode, non-occupied) state.
In multi-occupancy buildings the system should contain the smoke within the protected area, and shall have minimum impact onto public or open areas, and a voice audible warning system shall be activated to alert building occupants.
The Fire Marshal, police, and central monitoring station should all be informed prior to the installation of a smoke system being commissioned. It is a necessary requirement to ensure that the notification takes place and to maintain appropriate records of the notification.
Any dispatches to a premise containing a smoke/fog security machine, monitoring station personnel shall advise both authorities and key holder respondents of such equipment installed.
Detailed records of where machines have been installed should be maintained by the installation or servicing company.
Full test activation by an alarm condition should be undertaken as part of the installation and commission procedure. The end users site security representative should be present for the test.
All smoke/ fog security machines shall be CSA or other applicable standard approved for use in Canada.
All machines should be triggered by a positive activation signal, and not a break in the circuit to protect against false activations. HT (High Tension) and signal filtering shall be included as part of the control electronics.
The smoke/fog machine shall be monitored for catastrophic faults (major trouble conditions) and shall generate a trouble signal prompting immediate service, with the inability to arm the security system until such time as the trouble condition has been cleared by a qualified technician.
Warning stickers shall be clearly displayed on perimeter doors/windows stating the installation of a smoke/fog system.
All end users shall be properly trained and provided with an end user manual and training outline for all occupants of the site.
Formulations for all fluid or propellants should be maintained.
All formulas should be identifiable by type (formula) and batch of production. All formulas should be submitted to an independent testing authority for Health and Safety. Material Data sheets should be provided.
The machine should be properly maintained as recommended by the manufacture.
Surviving the holidays
On December 4, 2007, Ontario Fire Marshal Pat Burke joined Toronto Fire Chief
Bill Stewart to host a news conference in Toronto to urge Ontarians to make fire
safety their top priority during the holiday season.
The Fire Marshal was concerned that this past holiday season could have been
“one of the worst yet for fire fatalities.”
Historically, the holiday season is one of the deadliest times of the year for home fires. The most common causes of fire during the holidays are candles and careless cooking. Alcohol is often a contributing factor.
“With the hustle and bustle of the season, people too easily become distracted,“
said Stewart to an audience of Toronto media.
At the news conference, members of the Office of the Fire Marshal and Toronto
Fire Services provided demonstrations on safe cooking practices and safe candle
use, as well as information on the proper installation and maintenance of smoke
alarms.
Key holiday fire safety tips include:
Always stay in the kitchen when something is cooking on the stove. Keep a lid by the stove so that if a fire does start, you can slide the lid over the pot to extinguish the fire;
Place lit candles away from anything that can burn and out of the reach of children and pets where they can’t be knocked over. Remember to snuff out candles before leaving the room or going to bed;
Drink responsibly. Cooking or smoking while under the influence of alcohol is
too often a contributing factor in fatal fires;
Develop and practise a home fire escape plan so that everyone in your home knows
what to do if the smoke alarm sounds.
Pictured from left at the “Survive the Holidays” news conference are OMFPOA President Chris McDonough, Oakville Fire Chief and President of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Richard Boyes, Ontario Fire Marshal Pat Burke, and Brian Stewart of Toronto Fire Services.
Brock Munroe of Toronto Fire Services demonstrates putting a lid on it.
Denise Hynes of Toronto Fire Services provides examples of safer choices for candles.
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) was proud to co-host the 15th Annual Public Fire and Life Safety Educators’ Conference in Midland, Ontario with the Partners in Prevention.
The Partners in Prevention is a group that was organized 9 years ago. It is comprised of the Township of Georgian Bay, Midland, Tiny, Tay and Penetaguishine fire departments.
This group has had great success collectively contributing to fire safety programs and events in their communities. They have been able to fund a Fire Safety House through money secured by their local city councils and local service clubs. Over 60,000 people have visited the house.
The Partners in Prevention organized a Safe Baby Program, which provides smoke alarms for every family of a newborn baby. When the family leaves the hospital, they take home a brand new smoke alarm with them.
Just like many of their other local initiatives, the Partners in Prevention helped in making this year’s public fire and life safety educators’ conference a success.
The Office of the Fire Marshal worked closely with Georgian Bay Township Fire Chief Jim Boswell, Lindsay Matthews of Georgian Bay Township Fire Department and Penetaguishine Fire Chief Paul Ryan in lining up a number of exciting speakers for the conference.
Jim Jessop, Fire Prevention Officer of the Niagara Falls Fire Department discussed the marihuana grow operations situation in the Niagara area and how the fire department is working with local prosecutors to lay charges against persons involved in these illegal operations.
Bruce Paterson of the OFM provided a presentation entitled “Busting the myths on smoke alarms.”
Chris Williams, OFM Fire Investigations Manager provided a presentation on an actual fatal fire investigation involving a mother and two children in a home where the power had been disconnected.
Dr. Bonita Porter, Chief Coroner of Ontario shared information on the role and responsibilities of the Coroner’s office and identified the types of deaths that their office would investigate, for example, the deaths of all pregnant women and children, accidents and homicides. She also spoke about the purpose of inquests and explained how the fire service assists in their duty to report, cooperate and provide information and documentation.
Another highlight of the conference included a presentation by Dave Heron of the Electrical Safety Authority who discussed their partnership with the OFM in investigating fires of electrical origin. The Electrical Safety Authority is a private, not-for-profit organization that operates at arm’s length of the government.
The final speaker, Dr. Wayne Hammond presented on building resiliency and the
importance of not labelling people but engaging them to bring about change. He
addressed how scaring or shocking people does not prove to be an effective
education technique.
The Point Edward Fire & Rescue will host the 2008 Public Fire & Life Safety
Educators’ Conference from November 26- 28, 2008. Registration forms and
additional details are forthcoming.
Protection Advisor Bruce Dunning of the Ministry of Natural Resources speaks with conference participants.
Public Fire & Life Safety Educators’ Course graduates receive their certificates.
2007 conference attendees.
Check out our sample of new books and audio-visual materials. We provide current resources to support the Office of the Fire Marshal as well as fire departments, emergency services and fire related industries. A full listing of new resources are available on our website!
New Books
2007 FIRE CODE COMPENDIUM. Office of the Fire Marshal. Queen’s Printer
2007.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER AND STANDPIPE SYSTEMS by John Bryan. NFPA, 2006
CANADIAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE MANUAL: a guide to law and practice
by Norman Keith. Thomson Carswell, 2007.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BECOMING A FIREFIGHTER by Kory Peam. 2006
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION : management and leadership practices
by Charles Smeby. Jones & Bartlett, 2006.
ONTARIO FIREFIGHTER STANDARDS 2007-2012. OAFC, 2007.
New Videos and DVDs
AMERICAN HEAT: detox: lessons learned from 9/11. (2007)
Program describes the damaging health effects that rescue workers experienced
after responding to the World Trade Center attacks. It also discusses the detox
regimen that was implemented to detoxify rescue workers in New York after the
9/11 attacks.
AMERICAN HEAT: safety and tactics: house fires. (2007)
Program identifies frequently encountered hazards of lightweight wood frame
construction residential fires and offers tactical considerations that will
enhance firefighter safety and increase the effectiveness of fire attack.
SPARKY SAYS: GET TO KNOW EDITH. NFPA. (2007)
Program is aimed at Grades 2-3 and depicts a group of friends who witness a fire
on their way home from school. They decide to work with Sparky to make their own
video showing how a typical family can protect themselves by making and
practicing EDITH (exit drills in the home).
USING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK. (2007)
Program explains the basic steps to using the 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook.
Covers: how to identify materials, how to look up the 3-digit guide number in
the yellow or blue sections, how to find the 3-digit number in the orange
section, explains how to use the table of placards and how to check the
isolation tables in the green section.
Web Resources
New report, The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Fire Fighters and EMS Responders. “Report and a computer-based educational program, provides background information on normal sleep physiology and the health and performance effects of sleep deprivation. Project sponsored by IAFC & USFA.” www.iafc.org/sleep.
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 WENDY KREBSZ
PUBLIC FIRE & LIFE
SAFETY EDUCATOR
MARKDALE FIRE DEPT
On Saturday October 13th, 2007 the Markdale Area Fire Department hosted an Open House to wrap up Fire Prevention Week activities. Earlier in the week presentations on the theme “Practice Your Home Escape Plan” were delivered to each of the 13 classes at Beavercrest Elementary School and all students and teachers were entered in prize draws to win one of six fire safety prizes.
Many Beavercrest students and their families attended the Open House along with other members of the community. The public was invited to visit and tour the fire hall, meet the firefighters and paramedics, enjoy refreshments and learn about fire safety in the home.
Kids of all ages were entertained by Klash the Clown who provided hours of entertainment with magic tricks and balloon animals. Various activity stations were set up and included opportunities for children to decorate smoke alarm cookies, have their face painted, try their hand at hitting a target with a charged hose line and practice “Stop, Drop and Roll”.
The event was well attended by approximately 150 people from
the community and Mayor Brian Mullin and OFM Adviser Jamie Zimmerman also
participated in the activities. The Open House provided an excellent opportunity
for the public to get to know their fire department and to educate all ages on
fire safety and prevention.
Pictured from left to right is Markdale Fire Chief Ken MacArthur, OFM Adviser Jamie Zimmerman, Public Fire & Life Safety Educator Wendy Krebsz and Mayor of Grey Highlands, Brian Mullin. Photo courtesy of Wendy Krebsz.
BY RANDY BURKE
CHIEF FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER
BROCKVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
A new fire safety-teaching tool that may help children recognize the sound of a smoke alarm has been placed in all elementary school classrooms in the City of Brockville.
The teaching tool is an actual smoke alarm mounted on a plaque that allows students to push the test button to hear the sound of the smoke alarm. The plaque reminds people to install smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas.
“Each plaque is placed on the wall of the classroom but it is not permanently attached so it can be removed by the teacher and used as a teaching tool when giving instructions in fire safety”, explained Brockville Chief Fire Prevention Officer Randy Burke. “The fire department will change the batteries on an annual basis and at the same time will emphasize fire safety to the students.”
Funding for the plaques was provided by Simplex Grinnell, a company that designs and installs fire detection and alarm systems, fire suppression systems and fire extinguishers. The local Risk Watch coalition and the Brockville Fire Department also supported this initiative. It is hoped that with additional funding, a similar plaque will be provided for every elementary school classroom in Leeds Grenville County and across the school board district.
Smoke alarm mounted on a plaque that
allows students to push the test button to hear the sound of the smoke alarm.
BY BETH TATE, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
There are many smoke alarm makes, models and
prices available in the marketplace, and some are intended to serve particular
needs within the home. Several issues associated with smoke alarms are discussed
in this article, based on recent queries handled by the OFM.
Smoke alarms and the hearing impaired
Both the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and the Fire Code (FC) identify the need to
install smoke alarms in residential occupancies. By definition, such a device
must sound an alarm. Unfortunately, an audible alarm may not alert an individual
who has hearing loss.
In general, there are numerous smoke alarms available that address the needs of the hearing impaired. Some devices are designed to produce low and/or high frequency alarms for the benefit of individuals who are hard of hearing (for instance, older persons may have high frequency or pitch hearing loss). There are also devices that have visual alert features, such as strobe lights, to identify an emergency condition for those who have complete hearing loss. Smoke alarms may also incorporate a tactile alert in the form of vibration, much like a vibrating pager.
In some instances, these smoke alarm features have energy requirements that prevent the use of batteries. As opposed to a hard-wired connection to the home electrical panel, some smoke alarms are designed to plug into a standard house receptacle. The standard for smoke alarms identifies that the primary power supply for a smoke alarm must be either a utility supply or an integral battery/batteries. A utility supply may take the form of a power-supply cord connected to a home electrical outlet.
Distinct from this, the OBC requires hard-wired smoke alarms for new construction, to ensure a permanent, non-removable connection. An exception to allow a battery operated smoke alarm exists for small buildings that are not provided with access to a hard-wired circuit. The FC also specifies that a smoke alarm needs to be powered by a permanent connection to an electrical circuit. As the FC applies to existing dwelling units, it also permits the use of battery operated smoke alarms. This ensures that occupants can readily install smoke alarms, without having to provide new electrical wiring.
While the OBC and FC provide
a minimum level of life safety, a person may provide additional smoke alarms to
supplement and enhance their own fire safety. Such installations are meant to be
in addition to, not in lieu of smoke alarms installed to satisfy Code
requirements.
There are concerns about the availability and costs of smoke alarms that
incorporate special features. In general, it costs more to manufacture devices
that incorporate additional features that may only be of interest to a limited
segment of consumers. And, retail outlets want to stock products that will sell.
The consumer needs to be aware that not all devices are listed or are
universally compatible with other units.
We understand that the Assistive
Devices Program at the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care does not provide
funding for smoke alarms. There are several other potential sources of funding,
however most have eligibility restrictions. For instance, funding is available
to:
recipients of benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP),
in some cases, seniors under Local Health Integration Networks (LHINS), and
eligible persons as determined through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance
Program for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP-D), that functions at a federal
level through Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
People may also contact non-profit organizations in the community such as the Salvation Army, Lion’s Club or the Rotary Club to see if they can help in defraying some of their expenses.
Wireless Smoke Alarms
Wireless battery powered interconnected smoke alarms have recently appeared in
the marketplace. “Wireless technology” uses radio frequency waves to both send
and receive messages, and when one alarm sounds, they all sound. For retrofit
applications, these smoke alarms can be installed reasonably quickly, without
needing to run electrical wiring throughout the building. This saves time and
can be cosmetically more appealing.
In the context of requiring interconnected smoke alarms for buildings to which Division B, Part 9 of the FC applies, the Code states that interconnected smoke alarms need to be connected to an electrical circuit with no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the smoke alarms (per Clauses 9.3.4.1.(1)(b), 9.5.4.4.(1)(c) and 9.8.4.1.(2)(c) Division B of the Code).
The Chief Fire Official has the authority to permit an installation that provides protection for life safety similar to the protection provided by compliance with the requirement, as stated in Article 9.1.2.4., Division B of the Code. Wireless battery operated smoke alarms are cUL listed and are required to meet the same standard as any other smoke alarms (CAN/ULC - S531). They differ from other smoke alarms in that they use technology that was not envisioned by the current Code wording, and have only been listed since around October 2007. It is worth noting that the cUL listing relates only to battery operated systems. Systems that have wireless smoke alarms off a hard wired main unit are not listed to Canadian standards, and any installations are subject to the terms of the listing and installation instructions.
Vocal Smoke Alarms
Another product that has been recently publicized is a smoke alarm that
incorporates a vocal command.
The premise of this product is that it is an improvement over a traditional smoke alarm, particularly where sleeping children are concerned. The manufacturer contends that “conventional smoke alarms have two serious limitations. First, although extremely loud, these alarms do not reliably awaken children…second these meaningless sounds give no instruction about what to do…”
Manufacturers claim that while a child may sleep through the traditional alarm sound, they will wake to a taped message from a parent/guardian.
The alarm lets parents record a message in their own voices to be played back in an alarm situation – for instance, telling the child to go out the door to the family meeting place. The recording alternates with a more conventional alarm sound. Presently, this product is UL listed for U.S. application only.
The OFM has found no substantive scientific evidence to support the claim
that a voice recorded message is more likely to awaken sleeping children than
the conventional alarm.
As well, another smoke alarm manufacturer has a voice-enhanced combined
smoke/carbon monoxide alarm that is cUL listed, however it uses a generic voice,
and has no taping capability.
Smoke Alarm Sensing Technologies
There are numerous websites that raise concerns about the effectiveness of
ionization smoke alarms. Through videos, discussions and field testing reports,
these sites basically say that ionization smoke alarms work terribly for
smouldering fires, or have a high failure rate.
Like anything on the internet, the reader has to decide on the credibility of the information they read. In this case, our research does not support these claims.
Researchers, manufacturers and regulators generally agree that photoelectric smoke alarms may respond slightly faster to smouldering fires, while ionization alarms may respond slightly faster to flaming fires, based on laboratory and field testing. Notwithstanding this difference, to achieve ULC listing both alarms must meet the same standard requirements. Both alarms will detect all types of fire that commonly occur in the home.
The Ontario statistics and anecdotal evidence do not support the notion that ionization smoke alarms have an alarming failure rate. A series of full-scale home smoke alarm experiments conducted in Kemano B.C. in 2001 verified our understanding and did not provide any concrete reason to change the smoke alarm standard. These burns used real life material in real homes, and the results came very close to those run in laboratory conditions.
We work hard to stay current with new trends and technologies, play an active role in the development of standards, and have every reason to believe that both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, listed by a certification agency accredited by Standards Council of Canada, will function as intended.
Since you cannot be sure what type of fire might occur in your home, you should consider installing both types of alarms, to take advantage of both sensing means, or use combination/dual sensing alarms.
Dysfunctional Smoke Alarms
Aside from the obvious need to replace the device, what else can be done?
Do not tamper with the unit. In many cases, the quickest way to exchange your
smoke alarm is to return it to the point of purchase. Or, you may want to return
the device for servicing by the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s instructions
usually include contact information.
As well, the listing agency can be contacted to register your concerns.
Finally, you may want to peruse the “Safety Issues, Product Recalls and
Warnings” listings at the OFM website to see if the product is part of a recall.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
The OFM firmly believes in the use of smoke alarms in homes, and supports
innovative products that enhance fire safety, as long as they also meet the Code
and associated smoke alarm Standard requirements.
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. For added protection the OFM recommends a smoke alarm in every bedroom. Smoke alarms form part of an overall home fire safety strategy that also includes preventing fires by adopting fire safe behaviour, and developing and practicing a home fire escape plan.
It is the consumer’s responsibility to assess the circumstances of their household to select the most appropriate alarm. There are many features available in the marketplace, such as a hush/silencing feature, hard-wiring with battery backup, long life and tamper proof batteries, dual sensing, not to mention alarms that incorporate strobe lights, vibrations or lights, which may be particularly suited to specific needs.
When purchasing an alarm, look for a product that has been manufactured and
tested to an acceptable Canadian standard, with a marking by the Underwriters
Laboratories of Canada (ULC), or Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated (cUL).
BY BRUCE DUNNING
FIRE ADVISOR
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
On April 22 and 24, 2007, firefighters from the Southwold and Malahide Volunteer Fire Departments participated in two Low Complexity Prescribed Burns in Elgin County (Fingal and Aylmer Wildlife Areas).
A number of volunteer firefighters from the Southwold, Malahide and Dutton/Dunwich Fire Departments had recently received their Low Complexity Prescribed Burn Worker training and participated in the prescribed burns.
The Low Complexity Prescribed Burn Worker training is based on the SP 100 Basic Forest Fire Fighter Course. The municipal firefighters completed both classroom and field training, including Wildland Firefighter Safety, Power Pumps and Ignition Operations.
Prescribed or controlled burning is an important tool for wildlife managers and has been used for many years in Ontario. Habitats like tall grass prairie are fire dependent ecosystems and need this event periodically to be healthy and sustainable. The Low Complexity Prescribed Burning Program was developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources Forest Fire Program. Low complexity prescribed burns are limited intensity burns with low risk of escape, limited size and limited resource requirements. In the spring of 2007 there were approximately 25 Low Complexity Prescribed Burns completed.
“These prescribed burns showed our firefighters how grassland fires behave,” said Luc Van Overberghe, Acting Captain for the Township of Southwold.
Southwold and Malahide Volunteer Fire Departments participate
in two Low Complexity Prescribed Burns in Elgin County . (Fingal and Alymer
Wildfire Areas). Photo courtesy of Bruce Dunning.
BY ROBERT HARPUR, P. ENG.
OFM FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
The Small Vessels Regulations require that vessels over a specified size carry distress signals. These may take the form of pyrotechnic devices such as parachute flares, multi-star flares or hand-held flares. All of these devices are classed as explosives under the Explosives Act.
These flares are valid only for four years from the date of manufacture, which is stamped on each flare, after which time they must be replaced. Out-of-date flares may not be disposed of in a landfill. It is illegal to discharge a distress signal except in an emergency situation. This raises the question of how to dispose of the flares in an acceptable manner.
The OFM has been in contact with CIL/Orion, one of the largest manufacturers of emergency flares. They have a program to dispose of any flares returned to them. They will not charge for the disposal of flares returned to them by distributors of CIL/Orion products. If the person or company returning the flares is not a distributor of CIL/Orion, they will still dispose of the flares but there will be a small charge. The person returning the flares must pay for the shipping. Note that flares are classed as dangerous goods and can only be shipped by a carrier that is licenced for carrying Class 7.2.4. and 7.2.5. explosives.
Any person wishing to return out-of-date flares should
contact Andre Gagnon at CIL/Orion to obtain a return authorization number.
Andre Gagnon
C-I-L/ORION
533 Argeneuil,
Lachute, QC J8H 3Y2
Tel: 450-566-0655
Fax: 450-566-0677
Email: a.Gagnon@cilorion.com
BY MARIE AINEY
OFM PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Eight courageous individuals, four heroic rescues and one medal to honour
them.
On January 18, 2008, these firefighters were brought together at Queen’s Park in
a ceremony to receive the province’s top honour for police officers and
firefighters to mark their courageous actions.
The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery, which was created in 1976, is awarded annually to firefighters who demonstrate outstanding courage and bravery in the line of duty. Any firefighter, including volunteer firefighters in Ontario, can receive the honour. A total of 175 Ontario Medals for Firefighter Bravery have been awarded in the past 32 years.
This year’s eight honourees were recognized in a ceremony presided over by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, for their strength and leadership under pressure, demonstrated both on the job and off-duty.
Their tales of courage reflect the many hazards and challenges that firefighters can be faced with, from fatal car crashes to house fires and poisonous gas leaks. But each has a common thread; the recipients acted swiftly and bravely, assisting those in the great need and providing first response and assistance to safety.
Captain James Hart, Acting Captain Terry Stewart and Firefighters Derrick Cherun and Mark Thornhill of the Toronto Fire Services were honoured for their swift actions and quick thinking that saved the lives of Toronto Transit Commission workers after a carbon monoxide leak two years ago.
On February 7, 2006, a 911 caller reported that fumes in the Eglinton subway
tunnel had overcome TTC workers. Captain James Hart was first on the scene and
ensured that power had been cut to the third rail. Firefighters Terry Stewart
and Derrick Cherun followed and tended to the workers who had lost
consciousness. Firefighter Mark Thornhill, who had remained on the platform,
decided to enter the subway tunnel with two extra one-hour self-contained
breathing apparatus air tanks. He reached the workers and immediately began
sharing his oxygen with them. Thanks to the quick intervention of four Toronto
firefighters, everyone survived a gas leak in the Toronto subway system.
Firefighter Michel Roland Proulx of Greater Sudbury Fire Services who, while off-duty, answered a call for help in his own neighbourhood.
On March 29, 2007, he was awakened by the sound of his dog barking. He looked outside and saw flames exiting the front doors of the residence across the street. Donning the bunker gear he kept at his residence, he ran to the burning house.
Three bystanders outside indicated that someone was still inside. Before Firefighter Proulx could do anything, one of the bystanders entered the house to help the person left inside, but he collapsed because of the intense smoke and flames. Without the aid of a breathing apparatus, Firefighter Proulx entered the building and retrieved him. Firefighter Proulx had to repeat this rescue twice as the other two bystanders had also entered the building to reach the man still inside. Additional firefighters arrived on the scene a few moments later. Firefighter Proulx donned a breathing apparatus and joined the rescue operations. Sadly, the man they were trying to rescue succumbed to his injuries.
Firefighter Robert Walker of Hamilton Emergency Services offered help to a driver in need.
On the afternoon of December 14, 2006, Hamilton Emergency Services Firefighter Robert Walker was off-duty when he drove by the aftermath of a head-on collision on Osler Drive in Dundas. A woman was trapped behind the wheel in her vehicle that had just caught fire. The interior was rapidly filling with smoke and flames and she was unconscious. Firefighter Walker immediately got inside the car to remove her seatbelt and free her legs. With the help of another man, he removed the driver through the rear door and initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived. Despite his heroic efforts, the driver unfortunately died of her injuries.
Captain Pat Elliott and Firefighter Kevin Martin Harold Fillier, Municipality of Trent Hills Fire Department, with the help of police, helped save a young boy’s life from Campbellford’s worst fire of the year.
In the early hours of October 27, 2006, Ontario Provincial Police Constables were alerted to a silent alarm at an apartment building nearby. The Parish Apartment Building was on fire and smoke was clearly visible in the night sky. The officers heard cries for help from a boy but the smoke and fire proved to be too much for the brave constables and they could not recover him from the fire. That’s when Captain Elliot and Firefighter Fillier took over rescue operations.
Captain Patrick Elliott climbed a ladder to access a bedroom window. He found the boy under a bed and rescued him. Firefighter Kevin Fillier found a young girl in an adjacent bedroom. He battled extreme heat and smoke to lift her to the window and get her out. A second girl’s body was later found and carried out. The boy survived but sadly, his two sisters died from their injuries.
If you know of a member of a firefighting force who is deserving of such recognition, visit www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/honours/firefighter/ for more information on the nomination process.
2008 Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery recipients, their respective Fire
Chiefs, the Honourable Rick Bartulocci, Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services and the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of
Ontario at the Queen’s Park ceremony. Photo courtesy of Tessa Buchan.
By Dr. Sherri
Mackay, Director of Tapp-C &
Meara Sullivan-Thomas
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Recent advertisements aimed at young people vividly illustrate young males becoming irresistible to attractive women with one spray of a cologne-deodorant product. This marketing strategy has been highly effective and more and more teen boys are buying and using cologne/deodorant products. Of note, these products are often highly flammable aerosols that contain alcohol and butane. Some of these products, (for example, Axe Deodorant) are gaining notoriety for being used in reckless and dangerous ways.
Popular video sharing websites like YouTube, where video shorts are uploaded onto the internet and made accessible to millions of internet users, show numerous instances of teenagers using body spray to create human torches. For example, a quick YouTube key word search of “Axe” and “fire” reveals over one thousand clips of youth igniting Axe Deodorant. Under the headings of “comedy”, “entertainment” and “how to”, videos show young men spraying clothing, skin, and objects with Axe and igniting them. Viewer comments/feedback posted about these videos, for example “Wow, sweet,” frequently affirm these dangerous behaviours.
Further evidence of a teen culture that promotes and reinforces the reckless use of aerosol body sprays can be found on Facebook, the popular internet social networking tool. Believe it or not, Facebook has countless groups specifically dedicated to the pursuit of igniting Axe spray.
What steps can be taken to prevent youth from engaging in such dangerous behavior?
Education of youth, parents, and the community at large is key. Community fire safety education efforts should include information about the prevalence and dangers of this type of behaviour. Youth need to know that this behaviour is unacceptable (and will have consequences) because of the risk it poses to them. Parents need to know that some youth use aerosol body sprays and other seemingly benign products in very dangerous ways and that they should be vigilant for signs that their child may be involved in such behaviour. All adults should model the appropriate use of such products and the appropriate concern about the misuse of such products.
Finally, unresolved concerns about a youth’s fire-related behaviours, including the misuse of accelerants, should be referred to the local TAPP-C program. Misuse of accelerants can be part of a broader-based behavioural problem and may benefit from the assistance of a child, youth, or family counselor.
By Wendy Hartwick
Fire Inspector
Kingston Fire &
Rescue
A local high school teacher contacted the Kingston Fire and Rescue services to express her concerns about teens using popular and highly flammable body and hair sprays to not only start fires but start themselves or their friends on fire. The teacher had learned of young people dousing each other with body spray before setting each other on fire (this would produce a flash type fire that is very exciting for young people). The teacher was interested in the fire service presenting to a group of Grade 9 and Grade 10 students.
Kingston Fire and Rescue contacted Pathways for Children and Youth, a mental health agency in the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington counties, to see if they would be willing to participate in a presentation to the students. The Youth Diversion Program was also invited. The Youth Diversion Program works in partnership with the community to deliver programs to assist youth in making positive changes in their lives and at the same time to take responsibility for their actions.
The City of Kingston police services and ambulance services were contacted and agreed to take part. All five agencies came together and presented to an audience of 300 students.
“When Kingston Fire and Rescue were first approached by the high school to present a one hour lecture to 300 students about this new phenomena we weren’t sure how to respond. But after contacting Bev Gilbert of the OFM we realized that this was not new. It was just another form of fire play,” explained Wendy Hartwick, Kingston Fire & Rescue.
“We had the appropriate team response already in place for this. Contact was made to our TAPP-C partners and we prepared a community response to this concern. The presentation included each agency’s roles in TAPP-C and included consequences of fire play. The teenagers respected that the community as a whole were concerned about their well being.”
The students were asked how many had seen other young people trying to start fires with a spray and/or had tried it themselves. The majority of students raised their hands.
BY CHRIS THOMPSON
CANWEST NEWS SERVICES
Editor’s note: Here is an example of a situation involving a teenager who was
badly burned after being sprayed with Axe body spray and set alight.
WINDSOR, Ont. -- An incident in which a 14-year-old boy was badly burned at an
Ontario high school after being doused with Axe body spray and set alight, has
uncovered a disturbing practice that police say is happening across the province
and beyond.
The boy suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns to his torso Tuesday afternoon when another male student doused him with the spray and set him on fire. He was treated and released from hospital.
“This is a fairly common thing around the province,” said Middlesex Ontario Provincial Police Const. Doug Graham.
Graham said police were aware that kids were taking body sprays, in particular Axe and Tag, spraying them on objects and lighting them on fire, but since Tuesday’s incident at a London-area school they have learned that lighting people ablaze usually for a split second -- is a popular pastime among some teens.
“Now we have asked around the school
about this and they said ‘Yeah, we do this,”’ said Graham.
Police believe they have identified the youth who used the lighter but the
victim may actually have consented to the stunt.
“It certainly wasn’t a case of bullying,” said Graham. “But under the law it doesn’t matter if you agree to it or not. You can’t just say to somebody ‘Hurt me real bad.’”
Police have also learned that the website YouTube has several videos of young boys lighting themselves on fire with the body spray for sport. Some light their pants on fire while others bare their stomachs before squirting the spray and flicking a lighter.
The young people assume the spray ignites for a split second and there is no damage and little pain inflicted, but something went wrong with the trick on Tuesday.
Graham said authorities will be stepping up fire awareness efforts in high schools and parents will be encouraged to monitor their children’s activities.
“It’s
certainly an issue we have to notify parents about,” said Graham. “We know
parents are aware their children are taking the deodorant to school but
they’re not aware that they are setting each other on fire.”
Excerpted from the September 27, 2007 edition of the Windsor Star.
Climbing the Ladder: Education & Training
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 LESLIE SWAN
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
ACADEMIC STANDARDS & EVALUATIONS
In May 2007, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) provided Dr. Sang-Tae Chung, a visiting associate professor from Inje University, South Korea, with information on how multi-agency emergency preparedness functions in Ontario. Dr. Chung operates the Chemical Emergency Information Center (CEIC) in Kinhae, South Korea. He was impressed with the OFM’s internationally recognized multi-agency education and training system. Dr. Chung returned to Korea with many new ideas and impressions gleaned from dialogue with OFM representatives.
Dr. Chung’s interest in the OFM had peaked after reading an OFM publication entitled Breaking down Barriers: Collaborative Education Drives Collective Change, written by Dr. Rose Barg. This article highlighted the ongoing multi-agency education and training that was developed by the OFM, which is integrated with multi-agency response. Rose, who is the Manager of the Academic Unit, Academic Standards and Evaluation Section, familiarized Dr. Chung with the OFM’s Emergency Preparedness Program. Subsequently, Dr. Chung arranged for Rose to speak at the International Seminar on Chemical Accident Prevention: Preparedness and Response held on the 29th of November 2007, in Seoul, Korea. The Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), host of the seminar and part of South Korea’s Ministry of the Environment, graciously absorbed all associated costs.
Rose, one of the keynote speakers, joined with representatives from Korea, Japan and the Netherlands, who spoke about differing aspects of emergency preparedness and response to chemical incidents within their jurisdictions. Rose’s presentation was entitled Emergency Preparedness and Response in Ontario, Canada: A Model of Collaborative Planning, Education and Response. She began her session with a brief description of Ontario, in the context of Canada and emphasized the scope, demographics and trends in emergencies to underscore the magnitude of the Provincial Emergency Response Strategy.
Rose explained that given the complexity of an emergency strategy for Ontario, the OFM developed a comprehensive system for the province in collaboration with other agencies and ministries. She further discussed the duties and responsibilities of stakeholders in emergency response scenarios beginning with local response by Level I teams, as well how Level II and III response teams are activated within the province, when more complex emergencies occur.
The OFM’s multi-disciplinary approach and comprehensive emergency response strategy is a contrast to Korea’s discrete agency responsibility. For example, in Korea, while the Ministry of Environment is responsible for chemical incidents, the Ministry of Health is responsible for biological incidents. At this point, there is no coordinated approach or centralized emergency operations centre that integrates these agencies during complex emergencies. Accordingly there was considerable interest in Ontario’s "all hazards approach". To this end, the Ministry of Environment is developing educational programs for HazMat response at both the Operation and Technician levels, borrowing substantially from the OFM’s curriculum with appropriate adjustments for local contingencies.
The conference was considered a noteworthy success, with considerable prospect for further collaboration.
While in Korea, Rose also delivered a lecture to Dr. Chung’s first year university students in Occupational Health and Safety. Rose focused on first responder safety as a priority for all educational programs developed by the OFM.
Staff from NIER, special guests and speakers at the International Seminar on Chemical Accident Prevention: Preparedness and Response, Seoul, South Korea.
Dr. Chung, Rose Barg and Ms. Yoon (Program Development for HazMat courses, NIER)
at the International Seminar on Chemical Accident Prevention: Preparedness and
Response, Seoul, South Korea.
While Dr. Rose Barg of the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) was presenting in Korea, the Beijing Fire Bureau and Beijing Fire Protection Association were in the early stages of organizing a visit to Canada.
The fire officials from Beijing met with the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal and mangers from several sections of the OFM in November 2007. The OFM presented on various programs and training intiatives. The Beijing Fire Bureau and Beijing Fire Protection Association delegates were especially interested in learning and identifying safety standards and practices; sound emergency management to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks; and training and education programs on fire security. While in Canada, the delegation planned to meet with as many fire and emergency organizations as possible in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Members of the Beijing delegation included Zhao Zixin, the Director General
of the Beijing Fire Bureau and Executive Vice President of the Beijing Fire
Protection Association; Yin Tielin, Secretary General of the China Fire
Protecion Associaiton; Li Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing Fire Protection
and Association Senior Engineer of the Beijing Fire Bureau; and Gao Zhenlin,
Director of the Beijing Fire Bureau Logistics Department and Excutive Director
of the Beijing Fire Protection Association.
Fire Marshal Pat Burke, Deputy Fire Marshal Doug Crawford and OFM managers meet with a delegation of members of the Beijing Fire Bureau and China Fire Protection Association.
Fatal Fire Summary
The OFM compiles statistics on all fatal fires that occur in Ontario. These statistics can assist the fire service to determine fire trends, plan fire prevention initiatives and target public education activities. Due to the methods and criteria used in reporting fire deaths, statistics are subject to change.
December 2007: 9 fatal fires resulting in 12 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 1, Female - 1, Total - 2
Age Group 16-64: Male - 5, Female - 2, Total - 7
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 1, Female - 2, Total - 3
Total: Male - 7, Female - 5, Total - 12
Fire Cause - Accidental 5, Undetermined 0, Under Investigation 4, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 5, 0801-1600 - 0, 1601-1800 - 0, 1801-0000 - 4
Locations of fatal fires: Toronto (2), Thunder Bay (1), Ottawa (1) Lambton Shores (1)
Greater Napanee (1), Brooke-Alvinston (1), Barrie (1), and Windsor (1)
January 2008: 11 fatal fires resulting in 12 fire deaths
Age Group 0-15: Male - 0, Female - 0, Total - 0
Age Group 16-64: Male - 1, Female - 4, Total - 5
Age Group 65 and over: Male - 6, Female - 1, Total - 7
Total: Male - 7, Female - 5, Total - 12
Fire Cause - Accidental 4, Undetermined 1, Under Investigation 6, Incendiary 0
Time of Day - 0001-0800 - 7, 0801-1600 - 1, 1601-1800 - 2, 1801-0000 - 1
Locations of fatal fires: Toronto (1), East Zorra-Tavistock (1), Hamilton (1), Huron East (1), McNab/Braeside (1), North Bay (2), South Huron (1), Cornwall (1), Timmins City (1), and St. Catharines (1).
*Sassafraz is a popular restaurant located in the Yorkville district of Toronto.
BY ben shingler
National post
A year after a five-alarm fire nearly destroyed Yorkville’s Sassafraz restaurant, firefighters will reunite today with an artist grateful her paintings were rescued from the flames.
"It was amazing. I’m really lucky," said Sabine Liva Berzina, whose series of paintings emerged from the rubble virtually undamaged.
"It was a strange situation, something I’ve never seen in my 23 years of service," said Toronto firefighter Captain Mike Strapko, who battled the fire a year ago today.
"When the fire marshal went in to do the initial investigation, taking photos and all that, he found the paintings on the wall. The building was hollowed out but the paintings were unscathed," he said. "Maybe because they were up against the wall, I don’t know."
Toronto Fire Chief Bill Stewart will meet Ms. Berzina at a ceremony at Sassafraz, which reopened last month.
Damages to the 94-year-old building were originally estimated at $2.5-million. Its owners say they have since put $5-million into repairs.
Ms. Berzina remembers watching from the street a year ago after firefighters put out the blaze.
"I was talking to them [the firefighters] and asking if they would know if they were there," she said. "Then I saw some of the paintings were already piled up by the firemen and put in a safe place."
But Ms. Berzina’s paintings displayed on the second floor of the restaurant were still missing. "I had to describe where they would have been on the second floor, and then the marshal went in with his flashlight," she said. "They were really surprised because the roof had caved in and the paintings were still on the wall."
By way of thanks, Ms. Berzina is putting a painting rescued from the fire up for auction, and donating proceeds to charity.
A painting recovered from the fire and other work by Ms. Berzina are on display at the restaurant. "She wanted to donate a painting to the firefighters to thank us, but of course we can’t accept gifts for putting out fires and saving things and that," Capt. Strapko said. "So we suggested she donate her work to a charity on our behalf."
The firefighters are donating proceeds from the sale to the Ross Tilley Burn Centre, a Toronto-based trauma centre that serves burn victims from across Ontario.
Excerpted from the December 13, 2007 edition of the National Post.
BY BOB THORPE, OFM FIRE PROTECTION ADVISER
& FIRE CHIEF RICK KERSTER,
MARATHON EMERGENCY SERVICES
On December 23, 2007, at approximately 11:36 a.m. the Marathon Emergency Services received an alarm to respond to a motor vehicle collision involving a transport truck, 30 km east of Marathon, on Hwy # 17, along the north shore of Lake Superior. Rescue #2 responded first, with Pump #1 to follow shortly after. Pump #1 is a 2005 Pierce custom cab and chassis with the capacity to carry six firefighters, including a driver and an officer.
The crew of four on board Pump #1 were on route to the emergency, when the dispatcher advised that the location of the crash was west of Marathon, not east of Marathon, as originally stated. Rescue #2 immediately turned around and proceeded westbound on Hwy # 17 towards the emergency. Pump #1 approached the Hwy # 17 turn off and then proceeded westbound to the scene.
The road conditions west of the Marathon turn off were dismal. The road was slushy and the blowing snow made visibility nearly impossible. The driver of Pump #1 was driving at a speed of 65km, in a posted 90km zone, with lights on and siren blaring.
Approximately 20 km into the response, Pump #1 was approaching a left, downhill curve, when suddenly the front wheels started to slide. The driver attempted to regain control, pumping the brakes gently, turning the steering wheel to a hard left, to bring it back onto the roadway.
Pump #1 hit the wooden guardrail posts, snapping them like toothpicks. It then began to roll through and over the shoulder of the roadway. It continued to rollover and down off a cliff. The pumper rolled at least four times, before it came to rest on its wheels in a swamp, some 20 metres below the road.
Deputy Fire Chief, Dennis Guignard, who was in the rear passenger compartment, quickly assessed the condition of the other passengers. All passengers were injured. Many had lacerations to their heads and faces, and all reported chest or rib pain.
The deputy crawled his way up to the road, a distance over 76 metres to seek assistance. Deputy Chief Guignard found a working portable radio that was thrown clear from the truck. He messaged Rescue #2 for assistance. Dispatcher Jan Latham contacted another area department and requested that they attend the original call so that Rescue #2 could turn around to assist the crew of Pump # 1.
Fortunately, the entire crew on board Pump #1 were wearing their seat belts. If they had not, it is very likely that there may have been a more tragic outcome. The use of seat belts, combined with a roll cage built into the custom cab ultimately contributed to the safety of the passengers on Pump #1.
The pumper after it rolled down and rested iin a swamp, some 20 metres below the road.
BY JANICE JOHNSTONE
OFM PROGRAM SPECIALIST
R
esidential smoke alarms have been on the market in Ontario for 35 years. They’re inexpensive, easy to install―and required by law. So why are people still dying in fires with no working smoke alarms?On March 1, five people – a woman, her three daughters and a 19-year-old male – died in a house fire in Hamilton. Investigators found no evidence of working smoke alarms in the residence. The loss of five lives in a single fire is a rare occurrence, but unfortunately the lack of working smoke alarms is not.
Ontario fire loss statistics indicate that smoke alarms were determined to have operated in about half of fatal residential fires.* This is an exasperatingly consistent statistic that continues to haunt the fire service and foil efforts to ensure all residents of Ontario are protected by working smoke alarms. It seems that despite the efforts of fire departments throughout the province, there are still far too many people who are not installing and/or maintaining smoke alarms. Given the numbers, these are not just marginalized members of society, but ordinary, otherwise-responsible citizens who for some reason are not getting the message.
Changing behaviour is a difficult undertaking and it takes time. There is no one-size-fits-all method that will guarantee success. The greatest number of people will be reached by using as many different approaches as possible. For some, the haunting image of that single white coffin bearing the bodies of the young Hamilton mom and her three tiny daughters will be all the motivation they need. Others may require a visit from the fire department or the possibility of a ticket. Everyone will benefit from consistent reminders to test their alarms and change the batteries. The OFM has resources available (see box) to assist fire departments with their smoke alarm programs and activities.
There is evidence to support that people are actually more likely to change their behaviour if it results in a positive outcome, so publicizing good news stories can be extremely effective. For example, the St. Andrews Fire Department in eastern Ontario recently reported that a family of five were awakened to the sound of their smoke alarms near midnight. The family immediately evacuated their home and called the fire department from a neighbour’s house. By the time fire crews arrived 7-8 minutes later, approximately 80% of the house was involved. The family however, were safe and unhurt, thanks to their working smoke alarms.
It should be noted that people also die in fires where smoke alarms operated, however in many of these instances the smoke alarm was remote from the area of origin and did not give the occupants early enough warning to escape. Although the law requires a smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas, the Office of the Fire Marshal recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom as well.
The Hamilton tragedy generated a lot of media coverage, with much of it related to smoke alarms. Will it influence how people view the importance of having working smoke alarms? Perhaps. But at a terrible cost.
*in fires where smoke alarm operation was reported.
The three children who perished in fatal fire in Hamilton on March 1, 2008.
The OFM offers the following resources to assist fire departments with their community smoke alarm programs.
Alarmed for Life! community smoke alarm resource kit
Public Service Announcements for print, radio and television can be downloaded from the OFM website.
Information cards: Smoke Alarm Pointers and Make it Stop! can be ordered free-of-charge
Visit the Make it Stop! website (www.makeitstop.ca) for
information about nuisance alarms
BY GREG KERR
Communications Advisor
TSSA Public Relations & Communications
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), the province’s regulatory safety service provider in several industry sectors, including fuels safety, is proud to partner with the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) and Ontario’s fire services in a collective pursuit of greater public safety.
With that in mind, TSSA would like to further achieve positive safety outcomes with the assistance of Ontario firefighters. As many know, incident reporting is critical to investigations, getting down to root-cause analysis — working proactively to prevent such incidents overall. Partnering with the fuel industry, TSSA recently developed an effective incident reporting guideline to assist professionals, such as firefighters and the general public, in reporting fuel incidents, including aspects of: carbon monoxide poisoning, pipeline strikes, explosions, spills, leaks, discovery of petroleum products and fires.
For example, did you know that if you attend a call where exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) occurs, related to heating equipment, firefighters can contact the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Spills Action Centre (SAC) with respective incident details and ask for a TSSA Fuels expert? If a firefighter suspects equipment failure or cannot determine direct CO cause, they can ask SAC to contact TSSA, who will in turn get a local TSSA Fuels Safety Inspector to contact the firfighter in order to promptly investigate the incident.
This is of particular importance as the scene of an occurrence can be compromised, making root-cause impossible to determine. If there is an immediate need to disturb any article at the site and you wish to speak to a TSSA representative, simply tell the SAC operator that you want a TSSA Fuels Safety Program on-call person to contact you. TSSA commits to a maximum half-hour phone call response within a round-the-clock environment.
It is also important to note that fire departments are not responsible for any costs associated with requests for TSSA assistance.
"TSSA works with fire personnel as partners in public safety," says John Marshall, TSSA Director of the Fuels Safety Program. "In circumstances where we attribute cause to a specific issue, we may invoice our investigation time to the owner of the equipment, the owner of the home, or the person who caused the fire. However, in no case would we ever invoice fire personnel for contacting us in an investigation, regardless of whether fire personnel are involved or not."
"Some fire personnel are unaware of TSSA’s (free) round-the-clock response," adds Marshall, "and we can assist each other whenever required in achieving greater public safety."
In addition to round-the-clock service, TSSA’s Fuels Technical Services Desk can answer any general question regarding fuels safety and TSSA regulations — with the ability to dispatch an inspector, or arrange for one to contact you to discuss a particular situation. Contacting TSSA’s Tech Desk ensures you gain a prompt response to your public safety needs.
TSSA Fuels Safety Inspectors are Provincial Offences Officers who have extensive fuel industry backgrounds. Their technical know-how, combined with the expertise of fire personnel, make for a solid team in determining root cause.
TSSA can be reached for incidents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by contacting SAC at 1-800-268-6060. Technical inquiries can be made to the Fuels Technical Services Desk via email at Fuels_Technical_Services@tssa.org or toll free at 1-877-682-8772.
About TSSA
TSSA is an innovative, self-funded, non-government organization focused on delivering public safety services. It provides not-for-profit regulatory safety services in industry sectors such as fuels, amusement devices, elevating devices, ski lifts, boilers and pressure vessels, operating engineers, and upholstered and stuffed articles. The organization’s vision is to be the world leader in public safety services.
For more information on the Technical Standards and Safety Authority and quick reference to the Guideline for Incident Reporting Criteria, please visit our website under ‘Document Search’ (Page 16) within the Fuels Safety Program page at www.tssa.org.
See TSSA Incident Reporting for Hydrocarben Fuels Quick Reference Sheet on Page 27.
TSSA Incident Reporting for Hydrocarben Fuels Quick Reference Sheet
Mar 27-30 Northeastern Fire Education Conference North Bay, ON
April 6-10 Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association Spring Labour Niagara
Falls, ON
Education Seminar
April 18 Canadian Fire Safety Association Annual Education Forum Markham, ON
April 20 -26 Wildfire Prevention Week 2008 Province-wide
April 24 Elgin, Huron, Middlesex, Oxford & Perth Woodstock, ON
Long Service Medal Investiture
April 26 - 30 Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs 56th Annual Conference Toronto,
ON
June 5 Waterloo, Wellington, Brant Long Service Guelph, ON
Medal Investiture
June 9 Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association Richmond Hill, ON
52nd Annual Training & Education Symposium
June 25 Fire Safety Awards Toronto, ON
BY DAN OLDRIDGE
dEPUTY FIRE CHIEF
LONDON FIRE DEPARTMENT
When Fire Chief John Kobarda and Deputy Chief Dan Oldridge of the London Fire Department brainstormed about ways of delivering the fire safety message in London a few years ago, the idea of using mass marketing vehicles commonly seen in the private sector seemed a little far fetched.
In 2006, with the assistance of the Corporate Communications Department at city hall, they hired a professional designer to produce three messages based on a common design. From this, the first mass marketing campaign was launched and promptly dubbed the “Lose Your Life” campaign by the media because of the in-your- face messages and bold graphics. The campaign focused on three key modifiable behaviours identified in LFD’s comprehensive risk assessment; unattended candles, overloaded electrical outlets and unattended cooking.
In 2007, what started as an idea to save some money by having the graphics arts students at Fanshawe College design some artwork for the department blossomed into at least two more full-fledged mass marketing campaigns for fire safety. Early last year, Kobarda and Oldridge met with Rob Chilvers, a Graphics Arts professor at the college. Together they ironed out the details of a competition to design a full campaign for 2008.
The competition, held in September and October of 2007, involved
all of the third year graphic arts students. The winner of the competition
received $1000 for the best design and ten runners up received $100 each for
LFD’s right to use their designs in whole or in part over the next few years.
The competition was judged using ten criteria by Oldridge and Shannon Byron,
Communications Specialist with the City of London, using feedback from about 20
LFD Fire Prevention and Public Education staff. The winning design will be used
almost in its entirety to deliver the safety message to the City of London
throughout the late summer and fall of 2008.
LFD was looking for creativity, mass appeal, effectiveness and the ability to
deliver the message through several media vehicles over long or repeated time
frames.
While Deputy Chief Oldridge was focusing on the 2008 campaign, Fire Chief Kobarda began looking at ways to utilize the skills of his daughter Kelly, also a graphic artist, to produce a smoke alarm campaign using artwork that would be usable for several years. Kelly agreed to donate her time to the cause and began to design unique artwork. The concept and message had to address the challenge of people disabling smoke alarms as well as make people without smoke alarms think seriously about getting them ASAP. The bright flames, charred alarm and burned paper seem to evoke the desired response from most people who view it.
The graphics were rolled out in a comprehensive campaign in the
fall of 2007 and run throughout the winter at strategic locations on billboards
and bus shelters throughout the city to reach homeowners and students.
Additionally, posters, flyers and bookmarks featuring Kelly’s original design
convey the smoke alarm message throughout the City of London.
For more information go to
http://fanshawec.on.ca/newsletter/2008/01/13.asp on
the web.
London Fire Department Smoke Alarm PSA on bus
shelter.
London Fire Department Public Service Announcements.
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