Frequently Asked Questions Station 302 Bolton

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1 March 2015 UPDATE: ZAS Architects Inc. are currently working on the schematic design phase of the project, developing preliminary site layouts and floor plans Direct access to Regional Road 50 has been conditionally granted by the Region Current estimated timelines: Tender for Construction Summer 2015, Occupancy Late 2016 / Early Why is a new fire/paramedic station needed in Bolton? Caledon Fire and Emergency Services protect the Town of Caledon through nine fire stations within the Town boundaries. The largest station is Station 302 located at 28 Ann Street in Bolton. Station 302 was constructed in 1989, and over the twenty-plus years of operation, it has become overcrowded and cannot accommodate all of the required fire apparatus, ambulances and staff. Currently, the station is home to 20 career firefighters, 40 volunteers as well as 16 paramedics; it was originally built for just 20 volunteers. Station 302 is also in an area where the roads are narrow and have become busier with traffic over time. The location for the new station is planned for the north west corner of the intersection of Cross Country Boulevard and Queen Street North (Regional Road 50). Moving the station out of the Ann Street location also moves it out of the Special Policy Area (SPA) for Bolton. The SPA policies provide detailed guidelines addressing the health and safety concerns of flood prone areas along various provincial water courses. Provincial policy normally does not recommend development on flood plains, and this applies to Emergency Service facilities. Moving the Bolton Fire/Paramedic station out of the Ann Street location removes it from the SPA altogether. How did the Town determine the new location for Station 302? The Town and the Region of Peel conducted an initial investigation for the relocation of the Bolton Fire Station. A consultant was hired to perform a detailed review of potential sites to help determine the preferred site location. The subject study involved a review of the potential sites taking into consideration the following: current operating practices, response times, current/future resource complement (including volunteer firefighter assemble times), departmental goals, trends and challenges,

2 population growth, service needs, transportation access (and access to Highway 50), and alignment with the Master Fire Plan for the Town. Isn t this land in an Environmental Protection Area (EPA)? No, it is not. The land that the station will be built on is in an Open Space Zone. A variety of uses are permitted in an Open Space Zone. Environmental Protection Area does exist surrounding the Open Space Zone. This EPA land is currently owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). EPA lands in this area will remain in the ownership of the TRCA and will not be developed for the purpose of the fire hall.

3 What can I expect when a fire apparatus and/or ambulance responds to an emergency? When an alarm sounds at the station, firefighters and paramedics have approximately 60 seconds to leave the station. Once moving, the warning lights will start flashing to alert oncoming traffic and allow the fire apparatus and/or ambulance to proceed. The location and type of emergency will be used to determine whether the emergency vehicles will travel with the regular flow of traffic or use their lights and sirens. When fire apparatus returns from an emergency, the firefighters on duty immediately prepare the apparatus to respond to another emergency (i.e. used hoses are washed and hung to dry and the apparatus is restocked). How often are sirens used? Discretion is used in the deployment of sirens and air horns, and they are never used unnecessarily. This is particularly applicable during late evening and early morning hours. Although the actual number of emergencies is unpredictable, when fire apparatus and ambulances are required to have their lights and sirens active when responding to emergencies to clear traffic it is done so with discretion. How many Firefighters/Paramedics will work at this Station? Fire Station 302 will have one fire apparatus which will be manned by five career firefighters each shift to provide 24/7, 365 days per year coverage. Any additional fire apparatus will be manned by volunteer firefighters who respond to the fire station from their homes or place of work. There will also be four Peel Paramedics (two ambulances) providing 24-hours coverage all year. Employee parking spots will be available adjacent to the building. What can I expect when I have a fire station as a neighbour? Fire Stations make good neighbours. Fire Stations and grounds are always well-maintained and clean. Our Ann Street location in Bolton, plus our Valleywood, Inglewood, and Cheltenham stations are all in dense residential locations right now. Firefighters love being a part of the community they serve and Caledon Fire prides itself on being good community members and values its reputation of volunteerism. The new Caledon Fire station at this location will be across from the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness, adding to the Town campus in Bolton.

4 How will you ensure that Emergency apparatus does not endanger the lives of those in the vicinity? Warning lights are placed at station exits to alert residents and drivers when emergency apparatus will be leaving. Even when responding to an emergency, operators are required to drive carefully, stop at all traffic lights and only proceed when it is safe to do so. Safety is our business and both Caledon Fire and Emergency Services and Peel Regional Paramedic Services procedures ensure that another emergency is not created by our response to the first one. Fire/paramedic stations are strategically located to provide a high level of response to both fire and medical emergencies while supporting other fire stations and neighbouring fire departments. This site will allow emergency responders to meet the rapid response times necessary to effectively save lives and protect property. How would the architecture of the building fit into the surrounding neighbourhood? The Town of Caledon takes pride in the appearance of its facilities as civic assets. In addition, the Caledon Fire and Emergency Services are sensitive to the need for the fire/paramedic station building design to mesh with its surroundings. To that end, the Town will give thoughtful consideration to the proposed architecture of the building through the design process, and take steps to ensure that the final design is compatible, to the extent possible, with its neighbouring residential structures. Will a fire station in my neighbourhood negatively impact my property value? Many residents, realtors, and contractors believe that having a fire station in a neighbourhood actually increases the value of nearby homes, and there is no evidence to support a homeowner s concern that the presence of a fire/paramedic station in the neighbourhood will reduce property values. What value is there in having a fire station in your neighbourhood? Building a station on the proposed site will meet the capital needs of Caledon Fire and Emergency Services, but there are advantages to the neighbourhood as well. The presence of a fire station adds security to the neighbourhood. A fire station is a public safety building with 24-hour staffing available to respond 365 days a year which adds to the security and quick response should something happen. When fire breaks out or a medical emergency occurs, time is of the essence. Having a fire/paramedic station in your neighbourhood means firefighters and paramedics are closer to

5 you or your family in your time of need. The process of building a fire/paramedic station includes creating a building that is functional, yet complimentary to the surrounding neighbourhood. Are fire/paramedic stations noisy? Fire/paramedic stations are not inherently noisy, and personnel are sensitive to their location and their surroundings. Consider the following: At this site, it may not be required to sound the vehicle s siren on an emergency call when leaving the station and exiting onto Regional Road 50. Not all calls are lights and sirens emergency responses. Although safely exiting the station is a priority, the staff recognizes that the siren can be a disturbance to neighbours, and they use it with discretion. This is especially true at night when there are fewer vehicles on the road and no need to clear traffic with the siren or air horn when emergency lights are much more effective. Drive-thru apparatus bays as planned for Station 302 eliminate the need for backing trucks into the station, therefore eliminating the need to use rear back-up warning systems.