VERNON FIRE RESCUE SERVICES 2013 ANNUAL REPORT. Submitted March 10, 2014 Fire Chief Keith Green

Transcription

1 VERNON FIRE RESCUE SERVICES 03 ANNUAL REPORT Submitted March 0, 04 Fire Chief Keith Green

2 The Vernon Fire Department Mission Statement The Vernon Fire Department works in partnerships to provide and promote a safe environment, to preserve life and property through the provision of fire suppression, fire prevention/education, hazardous materials response, rescue services and emergency medical assistance to the citizens of, and visitors to, the City of Vernon and, if required, the surrounding areas. VFRS 03 Annual Report Report Sections: Administration and Management Financial Administration Overtime Analysis Operations and Emergency Response Training Fire Prevention and Public Education Emergency Management Highlights VFRS Community Fundraising and Community Relations Page of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

3 Administration and Management In 03 VFRS Administration completed the transition and deployment model changes for a unified composite firefighting force, under a single command structure responding from Station and. In addition, 03 was the first year of VFRS management of the Fire Training Centre. Both of these broad initiatives have proven successful in the first year. A number of large scale events provided opportunity to test the operational changes and deployment of resources. Financial Administration Vernon Fire Rescue finished the 03 fiscal year within the approved budget, which included absorption and reallocations to manage Station and the Fire Training Centre. Further, new revenue opportunities were undertaken per Council s authorization. Overtime Analysis VFRS Overtime 0-03 including Emergency Management 0 0 Recoverable Recoverable Overtime Notes NET 0 Overtime Costs Recoverable Recoverable Overtime Notes NET 03 Overtime Costs Firefighting Force Emergency Mngmt. 83,5 3, Road Rescue M. of Forests 73,935 55,606* ,9 Hazmat Road Rescue Ellison fire 34,35** 9,930 9,930 PEP 0 7,03 7,03 PEP 0 33,08 39,47 73,935 7,69 38,34 34,35** Table Reference Notes: * 03 gross overtime calculation for firefighting force includes Premium Time of Statutory Holidays at approximate annual cost of $3, 364 as reported in the Administrative Updates at Oct. 5, 03, Regular Council. ** The 03 net overtime could be reduced a further $9,80 upon receipt of the funds for the October 03 Landfill Fire invoice. General Notes: In a memo to Council dated May 8, 03, and titled Vernon Fire Rescue Overtime Reduction Strategies, Vernon Fire Rescue targeted a 0 versus 03 overtime reduction of $30,330. In the table above, the net over time reduction is $39,60. In the same memo, Vernon Fire Rescue targeted a 03 versus 04 further reduction of $6,300. The overtime analysis indicates the reduction strategies have been effective, to date, and Vernon Fire Rescue will work towards the targeted overall reduction of $56, 630 by the end of 04. Page 3 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

4 Operations and Emergency Response Significant emergency responses included: Recycling Plant Fire Ellison Park Interface Fire Landfill Fire 37 structure fires Kal Hotel HazMat Incident Multi Fatality MVI Hwy. 97 Capri Gardens Fires (x) Multi-unit Ambleside fire Emergency or Dispatch Response Statistics: Total Calls for Service PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT Total Incidents by Month, Page 4 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

5 03 Response Times Emergency Incident Types Only Inclusive Station and Station Responses to all 3 CAD Response Zones TOTAL CALLS CODE TOTAL CODE 3 CALLS WITH RESPONSE TIME CALCULATION ₁ TOTAL CODE 3 CALLS WITH NO RESPONSE TIME CALCULATION ₂ 374 TOTAL CALLS WITH RESPONSE 6 MINUTES OR UNDER 569 TOTAL CALLS WITH RESPONSE BETWEEN 6 AND 9 MINUTES 440 TOTAL CALLS WITH RESPONSE OVER 9 MINUTES ₁ Calculated using INCIDENT BEGIN TIME to ON SCENE time of first arriving engine, includes call taking and turn-out time ₂ Response time not calculated due to no ON SCENE time available or re-deployment Paid-On-Call Firefighting Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association 0 Average roster of 6 03 Average roster of 40 Incident Hours, including significant event hours Training Hours, including on line Target Safety Page 5 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

6 Training Training and preparation for emergency response is the most critical component of fire rescue. Firefighters are required to maintain skills, certifications, standards and fitness. At Vernon Fire Rescue training for career and paid-per-call firefighters is completed using a number of methods: Target Safety On-Line training and Action Learning Task and Drill practical skills maintenance Classroom theory sessions Certifications in house or using outside instructors Live Burn sessions at the FTC The table below illustrates the 03 training completed as per the Annual Training Plan. Firefighter Training Summary 03 Action Learning DVD Series: Ladders, Fire Appliances, Property Conservation and Salvage, Building Construction, Fire Foams, Ventilation, Rescue, Forcible Entry, Overhaul, Fire Origin Target Safety On Line Interactive Learning Series: Building Construction, WHIMIS, Incident Scene Management, CPR, Fire Hose, Ground Ladders, SCBA, Fire Streams, Fire Foams, Advanced Ventilation, Defensive Driving, Vehicle Extrications, Forcible Entry, Portable Extinguishers, Electrical Safety, Fire Investigations Class Room Training: Car Seat Technician Cold Weather Firefighting Red Cross First Medical Responder (Instructor) May Day (review) ICS 00 (review) Forestry Compressed Air Foam Training Confined Space (review) S-00 Forestry S-00 Forestry Re-certification Auto-Extrication Training Emergency Vehicle Operations NFPA 00 AED / CPR (review x 3) Traffic Safety FDM CAD Training RIT (Rapid Intervention) / Self Rescue Training Emergency Scene Management Air Brakes Court Procedures and Note Taking (review) Hours per FF Page 6 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

7 Fire Medical Responder Re-Certification First Medical Responder Fire Officer Electrical Safety (review) High Rise Operations (review) Natural Gas Safety (review) Fire Cause / Evidence Preservation Swift Water Shoreline Awareness (review) Task & Drill Training & Skills Maintenance Drafting from Portable Water Source Salvage and Overhaul AED / CPR skill review Tiny Town Scenarios x Ground Ladders Decon Building Ropes and Knots Live Fire (VVFA) x 8 Pulleys and Mechanical Advantage Swift Water SCBA Fit Test Internal Tank Hydrant EVO Skills Course Relay Pumping Hooking into Standpipe Forcible Entry Aerial Operations and Safety FTC Gas Props Patient Packaging Tactical & Post Incident Analysis Reviews: Landfill Fire, 30 th Ave. Fire 6 3 Fire Prevention and Public Education It is the mission of Vernon Fire Rescue Services Prevention Division to promote the preservation of life, property and the environment by providing a dynamic fire and life safety program incorporating fire inspections, investigations and fire safety education to the citizens of, and the visitors to the City of Vernon. Page 7 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

8 Fire Inspections Vernon properties and businesses that require fire inspection, are inspected on an annual cycle. The Fire Inspector (Fire Prevention Officer) and duty crews complete the inspections, and any required re-inspections. In 03 crews carried out 749 inspections with the Fire Inspector doing an additional 05. In addition VFRS is contracted to complete 6 inspections per year for the Village of Lumby, which are done by the Fire Inspector. Fire Code enforcement as well as coordination of crew inspections and Fire Code education is done by the VFRS Fire Inspector and/or the Deputy Chief of Prevention and Education. The Prevention Division regulates open burning and issued permits as well as addressing fire code and bylaw inquiries (9) and complaints (49). Fire Investigations Fire investigations are performed by the Fire Inspector (Fire Prevention Officer) and/or the Deputy Chief of Prevention and Education VFRS is also contracted to complete fire investigations for fires in the Village of Lumby and the District of Coldstream The Fire Prevention Division supplies crew training in fire litigation, evidence identification and preservation. In 03 firefighters were instructed in Investigation: the Role of the First Responder in Fire Investigation. This course was also provided to Coldstream and Lavington members The Office of the Fire Commissioner requires that any fires that generate an emergency response and investigation be reported annually. There were 79 reportable fires in the Page 8 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

9 City of Vernon in 03, investigated in the following categories: o 6 vehicle fires o 37 structure fires o 6 outdoor fires (5 grass/brush + garbage bin) Reportable Fire Investigations completed per the Service Agreements as follows: o 8 reportable structure fires in Coldstream (5 structure, 3 vehicle) and 0 in Lumby City of Vernon Juvenile Fire Setter Incidents: 5 ( as referred through the Restorative Justice System) Public Education / Public Relations Public education statistics are compiled from station tours, requests for fire and life safety presentations, fire extinguisher training/demonstrations, fire drill monitoring, requests for attendance at special public events, class room visits and young driver safety presentations. In 03 there were 73 events that provided opportunity to promote the Fire and Life Safety education curriculum. The Getting to Know Fire education manual is a province wide standard that VFRS follows, including the protocols for the Juvenile Firesetter program. VFRS began tracking child car seat safety inspections at the end of June 0. In 03, 9 car seat safety inspections were completed. Child Car Seat Safety Inspections have been taking place at VFRS since 008. Public Education is generally provided by request. Page 9 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

10 Emergency Management Highlights Operations The operational tempo in 03 was extremely high, with floods and fires dominating emergency response. Ashton Creek and its proximity to residences A flash-flood on Ashton Creek in early May kicked-off the annual Freshet Season. VFRS Emergency Management (EM) staff provided EOC-support to RDNO over the two days of active response. Next to get hit -- and hit hard -- was Lumby in mid-may, with Duteau Creek overflowing its banks and inundating much of the downtown core. Through the regional EOC at TELUS, EM staff coordinated delivery of thousands of sandbags, deployment of wildland firefighters to assist in sandbagging operations, and provided evacuation reception services for dozens of impacted residents. Less than a month later, Lumby flooded again, and this time it was even worse. Local businesses were forced to close, the public water and sewage systems became compromised, and the fire department was forced to re-deploy apparatus to the opposite side of town. Once again, EM staff provided round-the-clock EOC support to the Village and its overwhelmed public works department. Page 0 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

11 Lumby Flooding resulted in a successful DFA award of $.5 million Other creeks which reached flood stage in 03, and hence threatened homes and infrastructure, included the following: Bessette Creek Johnston's Creek sections of the Shuswap River EM staff were involved in preparedness and response operations along all of the above noted waterways. As a consequence of the prolonged and wide-spread flooding impacting our region in 03, EM staff prepared an application for Provincial Disaster Financial Assistance, which was subsequently approved. This was the second such successful application made by EM staff in as many years, bringing another $.5 million in disaster relief to the impacted North Okanagan communities and neighborhoods. Disasters in our region occur in cycles, and 03 was Vernon's turn for interface fires. Indeed, a relatively small fire in Ellison Park in July precipitated the largest evacuation in Vernon's history, with over 300 residents and campers evacuated from the area. EM staff activated the EOC in support of the ESS Reception Center opened to receive the evacuees. A few weeks later, the EM and ESS teams were back in action with an EOC activation and Evacuation Alert issued for parts of Coldstream threatened by a major fire at the Greater Vernon Landfill. A fortuitous shift in the winds in conjunction with aggressive air and ground attacks precluded a Declaration of a Local State of Emergency, and the consequent evacuation of residents. Page of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

12 Grass Fire at the Vernon Landfill Ellison Provincial Park In addition to interface fires, the EM staff were busy with more "routine," but equally emergent, brush fires, HAZMAT incidents, structural collapses, and ESS responses. Indeed, 03 was a record year with 3 ESS responses, a figure that is more than six times proportionately greater than that of the City of Vancouver. Incidents included several apartment fires (two in Capri Gardens alone, requiring complete evacuation of the 7 unit complex on two separate occasions). Finally, due to the comparatively large number of actual emergency incidents and special events (i.e. Funtastic, Back to Earth Music Festival, Heavy Metal Music Fest, etc.), the Regional EOC located in the TELUS building remains on a permanent ".5 Activation" (set-up, but not staffed). Page of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

13 Emergency Preparedness: Training, Planning and Communications Within the approved budget, significant progress was made in emergency preparedness and training in 03: EOC Operations Level 3 EOC Information Officer Level 3 EOC Essentials Applied EOC Implementation of NOEM Information Phone Line NOEM Flood Policy drafting and implementation Annual Sandbag Program Silver Star Mountain Business Continuity Presentation and Planning New EM Website Updating/rationalizing NOEM Emergency Response Plan Lumby Assisted Living Facility (Monashee Mews) Emergency Planning Assistance EM staff assistance with various Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Planning (e.g. Predator Ridge, Silver Star) Re-negotiation of the TELUS EOC Agreement Operationalization of the SENDWORD NOW EOC Staff notification System Negotiation and implementation of OKIB Fire Dispatch Service Construction of joint-rdno/city of Vernon Communications Tower Page 3 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

14 In summary, 03 was extremely busy and productive for Emergency Management. Utilizing capability-based planning, progressive management and planning techniques and cutting edge technology, Emergency Management will continue to deliver a provincially-recognized "best practices" program to the citizens of Vernon and the North Okanagan at a reasonable cost. Emergency Support Services (ESS) Operations 03 again saw the North Okanagan team kept extremely busy between responses with training and public preparedness projects. There were 3 calls for service, including structure fires, two apartment fires (one requiring a full scale Reception Centre), two interface fires (both requiring Reception Centers), flood evacuation calls, and other incidents that left homes uninhabitable (suicide, structural collapses, etc.). This compared to calls for service the previous year. 03 activations required 00 operational hours from 9 of our ESS volunteers, and these volunteers in turn allocated approximately $57,000 from Emergency Management BC budgets. In addition to the operational hours in 03, ESS volunteers participated in numerous training and public education opportunities both locally and with other jurisdictions (Columbia- Shuwsap/Central Okanagan) Page 4 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

15 ESS Training JI (Justice Institute of B.C.) Sponsored Training: Managing Walk in Volunteers ESS Site Management Registration & Referrals Training Local Authority Training: 3 individual training sessions for new volunteers Seasonal Readiness practice/exercise training (June) Level One ESS training day 4 new N.O.M.A.D.S. (North Okanagan Mutual Aid Disaster Support team/trained to a management and mutual aid level for ESS and basic EOC) were trained (60 hours) EMBC Training Disaster Psychology training Community Presentations Big Chief Mobile Home Park Page 5 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

16 RCMP Victim Services Presentation for community members at the Annual Vernon Kidney Walk/Polson Park Evening of training and information sharing with the Lumby Fire Department, RCMP, BCAS and Area Director, Rick Fairburn. In addition to training, education, public presentations and operational responses, an ESS Reception Centre Committee conducted a comprehensive review of regional Reception Centre locations, confirming that pre-positioned supplies and activation plans were current. Page 6 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

17 An evacuation through the eyes of a child (sent to VFRS/EM Staff from an Ellison Park Fire Evacuee) Page 7 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

18 Testimony to ESS' Commitment to Service: A Thank you note and donation received by our ESS Team (Ellison Park Fire) Page 8 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report

19 VFRS Community Fundraising and Community Relations In 03 Vernon Fire Rescue staff raised $4,000 for various charitable organizations by participating off duty in the following events: Rotary mass CPR Training Vernon Vipers 50/50 Muscular Dystrophy Walk BBQ Fundraiser for the BC Burn Fund Shriners Fashion Show Tim Horton s Camp Day McHappy Day Relay for Life Safeway Muscular Dystrophy Campaign CIBC Run for the Cure Pamper Your Palate Silent Auction Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign Vernon Kia Coat Drive Breast Cancer Awareness Month Movember Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drive Page 9 of 9, Vernon Fire- Rescue 03 Annual Report