6.4.2 Fire Prevention & Education Protective Services

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1 HOW DOES THIS SERVICE CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF LONDON? In relation to the desired population results in the City of London s Strategic Plan: A Strong Economy, A Vibrant and Diverse Community, A Green and Growing City, A Reliable Infrastructure, A Caring Community Under the Strategic Plan, the majority of the strategies for this Service Group within the London Fire Department reside within A Caring Community. The service delivery model for this Service Group is unique in that subgroups within the main Group, as explained below, serve the City s 366,000 citizens and others in differing ways. The mission of the group is to reduce loss of life, reduce injuries to citizens, as well as reduce the loss of property due to fire. The largest of the three (3) subgroups includes the Fire Prevention Inspectors who through their activities primarily ensure the safety of the City s permanent residents in occupancies that must comply with the Fire Code such as, but not limited to multi-residential occupancies, educational institutions, hospitals, long-term care occupancies. Inspections of student residences and hotels, etc. serve the City s short and long-term visitors such as students and tourists. Equally important, the Inspectors also inspect the City s commercial, retail and professional services occupancies, factories, etc. Where an Inspector determines an occupancy non-complaint with the Ontario Fire Code, the owner is ordered to remedy the situation. In those cases where an owner refuses to implement the necessary changes to achieve Code compliance, or where a significant fire safety issue exists, the owner will be prosecuted in the provincial courts. Further to the above, Inspectors investigate the cause and source of fires, when required. Another subgroup within the Service Group is Public Fire and Life Safety Education. The primary role of the Public Fire and Life Safety Educators is to deliver public education programs and distribute fire safety information aimed at changing behaviours with the goal to prevent fires and, if they should occur, to ensure citizens react appropriately. These services serve the citizens of London and the student population. The last subgroup includes Fire Prevention staff who assist the Building Division in the review of plans from a fire safety perspective. In this capacity, they work under the Chief Building Official, providing advice and recommendations. The subgroup also provides assistance with respect to Business Licensing issuance. In this capacity, Inspectors ensure that the new businesses meet the requirements of the Fire Code prior to such licences being issued. BASIC FACTS Cost per 2012 Approved Gross Budget 2012 Approved Net (Tax/Rate- # Staff Household ($000) Supported) Budget ($000) 19 $13.36 $2,378 $2,238 Page 1 of Business Plan

2 Name the main activities done to provide this service: 1. Inspections a. Code enforcement (initial) b. Recall of above c. Business Licence d. Building Permits Total: 2. Direct Public Education interactions See Appendix A 3. Other Public Education Exposure CTV-2 public service announcements (candle, cooking, smoke alarms) Billboards, bus shelters, in-bus fire safety marketing Radio shows, media interviews regarding fire safety Website Public and Separate Schools Boards delivering Risk Watch Program, which includes fire safety. A small scale After the Fire program has been in place for a couple of years whereby fire crews distribute fire safety information in proximity to locations where a fire has occurred. A pilot was initiated last year where fire crews carried out a door to door smoke alarm program enquiring about the How much did we do? (statistics - optional) ,381 70,821 (est.) Note: It is anticipated that many individuals have participated more than once within the year. The actual outreach is not known at this time; however, the Department will endeavour to capture the audience size in the future Is this service provided by someone other than City staff? (Yes/No/%) Generally No In the case of Business Licences, Property Standards, MLHU and LFD conduct a joint inspection Yes (% unknown) Included in Stats Co-op students - primarily from Lambton College provide instruction to children at the Children s Safety Village (approx. 0.3 FTE) Excluded from Stats Elementary School Teachers Fire Fighting Crews Development done by outside graphic designer and Corporate Communications representative Page 2 of Business Plan

3 state of smoke alarms protection in residences. They interact with members of the public to answer fire safety questions and make suggestions on improving fire safety measures in the home. 4. Building Plans Reviewed 264 No; however, the LFD undertakes a review of fire safety related matters and advise and recommends to the Chief Building Official 5. Fire Investigations 80 No; however, in accordance with Fire Marshal criteria, investigations can be done in support of an OFM Investigator and/or Police. TURNING THE CURVE Figure 1: Total Fire Related Injuries vs. Fire Related Injuries/1,000 Pop. Total Related Injuries Total Fire Related Injuries vs. Fire Related Injuries/1,000 Pop Injuries Turn the Curve 2 Year Projected /1,000 Pop. /1,000 Projected /1,000 Turn the Curve Fire Related Injuries/ 1,000 Pop. Page 3 of Business Plan

4 Figure 2: Cooking Fires vs. Related Injuries Total Number of Cooking Fires Cooking Fires vs Related Injuries Cooking Fire Related Injuries/ 1,000 Pop. Cooking Fires Projected Turn the Curve Injuries/1,000 Projected Turn the Curve THE STORY BEHIND THE CURVES Over the last several years, the London Fire Department established its priorities on identified risks, both locally and provincially. In the case of fire safety education activities, the very young and elderly people are most at risk for injury or death because they have less ability to help themselves in the event of a fire. Since the mid part of the last decade, the London Fire Department has transitioned from a reactive organization primarily dealing with emergencies to one equally focused on fire prevention and public education. The latter two activities form two of the three critical pillars of fire safety, which target changing behaviours and improving building safety features and performance. Investment in these key areas have proven effective across many other indicators, as will be further discussed below; nonetheless, the 2011 data suggests that in some areas significant work remains. Through the Service Review, the LFD reviewed a multitude of performance curves and analyzed trends. One performance benchmark causing concern (see Figure 1) relates to civilian fire related injuries, which over five (5) years had been on a downward trend but now appears to be on the rise. In relation to the growth of the population, the rate of growth is slower; nonetheless, the potential increase requires redress. Without intervention, the LFD predicts that the number of fire injuries could return to the 2007 levels. The other issue identified in the Review concerns cooking related fires (see Figure 2), one (1) of the top three (3) causes province wide, noting that the LFD has had significant progress toward reducing Page 4 of Business Plan

5 the number of cooking related fires. That said; contrary to logic, the total injuries related to cooking fires, as well as the cooking related injuries per 1,000 people, has increased. In summary, there are less cooking related fires; however, those individuals involved are taking actions, probably to extinguish them, resulting in injury. If the fire is small enough, it is possible for an individual to safely extinguish the fire. While the LFD will continue to strive to reduce cooking fires, its mission must be to reduce related injuries. Discussed later, the LFD has made significant progress across a number of measures; however, there could be a number of factors hindering its success in others. One may be the resources allocated to the prevention and education areas. The National Fire Protection Agency states that ideally a municipality should have one (1) inspector for every 15,000 residents and one (1) public educator for every 50,000 residents, whereas the Department s ratio is 1:28,000 and 1:92,000, respectively. On the assumption that individuals would be available for hire, the added staffing costs would amount to approximately $1.6 million less capital and other operating costs. Toward the goal of controlling costs, the Department has been leveraging no-cost or low cost initiatives, the latter being the fire safety marketing campaign. Another factor could also be that material primarily focuses on the prevention of fires, with the side benefit traditionally being reduced injuries and deaths. Accordingly, the data indicates that an equally strong message surrounding injury prevention is required. STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS TO TURN THE CURVE Briefly explain the strategies and action plans you will undertake in the next 5 years to improve effort, efficiency, effectiveness and economy, including at least one no-cost/ low-cost strategy. Who are your partners and what is their role? See below Action Plan/ Partners (include no-cost and low-cost) Most of the ideas noted below would fall into the no-cost or low cost ; however, any new costs associated with the program will be funded through a re-direction of existing public education dollars or simply a matter of how the material is distributed (i.e. placing posters in stores). General In the immediate future, cooking fires and injury prevention will be a strong focus of educational efforts and a marketing campaign as statistics show incidents have been increasing in recent months. Educational Institutions Contact the alumni associations at Fanshawe College and UWO in order to reach more adults and seniors. Page 5 of Business Plan

6 Leveraging our resources by providing fire safety training to school custodians who will promote fire safety on a daily basis. Local Media An episodic half hour television series is being designed, in conjunction with Rogers Cable TV, outlining all the varying roles of the fire department and imparting important safety themes. Rogers will provide free airtime in keeping with its community programming mandate. Initiate discussions with CTV-A and Rogers about the possibility of using sponsored close captioning fire safety messages attached. Contact several local movie theatres about exhibiting simple fire safety messages before and between features. Corporate Communications Contact Corporate Communications with respect to exploring the use of social media for fire safety messaging. Webinars utilizing internet chat to impart fire safety messages will be introduced. The current fire safety marketing program will be more fully examined to strategically focus it in areas of higher risk, as well as maximize the exposure to higher risk segments of society (i.e. TV spots, radio, billboards, bus ads). Retail Outlets Educators will establish new ties with the retail sector in order to display fire safety messages in stores and other businesses frequented by the public. Fire Fighting Crews Expansion of the in-service smoke alarm program whereby on-duty Fire Fighting Division crew members will, based on an analysis of fires within the City, offer to check smoke alarms, as well as possibly distribute general injury prevention material (i.e. material targeting injury prevention related to cooking fires) Expansion of the After the Fire program whereby fire crews visit approximately 50 residences surrounding the location of the fire to provide fire safety information to the residents that focuses on the cause of the fire. Community Services Work with the Social Research and Planning group within Community Services to overlay various types of demographic over the location of fires, as well as injuries, for the purposes of undertaking an analysis to establish if correlations exist between fires and injuries and the same. Grant funding has been secured for an innovative seniors program in June. Up to 200 people will be bussed to the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre for an event featuring games, entertainment and fire safety messages delivered in a light hearted and fun fashion. A comedic video has been produced to be shown at this event, promoting cooking safety. Page 6 of Business Plan

7 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND STORIES As evidenced by Figure 3 below, the number of total fire related incidents have decreased over the last ten (10) years. The steep decrease since 2008 aligns with the Department s enhanced focus on public education. It is important to note that during the same time period the population increased. The reduction in such alarms is significant because a well known ratio (developed by Herbert Heinrich in 1931 during his employment with the Engineering and Inspection Division of Travelers Insurance Company, which was later refined by Frank E. Bird, Jr., at the time the Director of Engineering Services for the Insurance Company of America, using empirical data) states that for every 600 near misses there will be 30 property damage incidents, ten (10) minor injuries, and one (1) major injury or 600:30:10:1. Figure 3: Total Fire Related Alarms vs. Population Total Fire Related Alarms vs. Population Total Fire Emergency Calls 4,000 3,800 3,600 3,400 3,200 3,000 2, Total 3,743 3,893 3,826 3,918 3,685 3,773 3,841 3,585 3,282 3,489 Population 336,50 336,50 348,16 352,03 355,90 355,60 358,80 362,00 365,20 366,15 370, , , , , , , , , , ,000 Population Figure 4 below depicts the total number of fire related alarms in comparison to the number of such alarms per 1,000 Londoners. Noted earlier, fire related alarms have been trending down with a decrease in the number of alarms per 1,000 residents. While a slight increase occurred in 2011, a review of the data shows the increase attributable to an increase in monitor false alarms. An Investigation of those types of alarms over a ten (10) year period shows the trend has been flat and well within a statistical tolerance. Nonetheless, the 2011 data, as well as the flat trend, suggest that the LFD should undertake a survey of comparable municipalities regarding their false alarm by-laws, educational programs introduced, fines levied, as well as the success of such efforts to reduce such alarms. The goal of any by-law is not to generate income but instead change behaviour. Responding to false alarms Page 7 of Business Plan

8 causes unnecessary risk to the responding crews, as well as may leave several districts unprotected during the response should an actual fire occur. Figure 4: Total Fire Related Alarms vs. Fire Related Alarms/1,000 Pop. 4,000 Total Fire Related Alarms vs. Fire Related Alarms/ 1,000 Population Total Fire Emergency Calls 3,800 3,600 3,400 3,200 3,000 2, Total 3,743 3,893 3,826 3,918 3,685 3,773 3,841 3,585 3,282 3,489 /1,000 Pop Fire Related Aiarms/1,000 Pop. One area where additional data is required is how many structure fires occur annually. While the LFD does have additional data, the Ontario Fire Marshal s Office changed the classification of fires in 2009, which previously included car fires, grass fires, etc. Accordingly, the data is limited. Nonetheless, Figure 5 shows a significant reduction in structure fires from 2009 to 2010 (9.6%) with a very slight increase in 2011 or one fire. While the number of fires is important, the number of fires per 1,000 residents is more statistically accurate when looking at trends. A review of this measure shows relatively flat. Unfortunately, as described in the Turn the Curve exercise, fire related injuries are on the rise. Accordingly, the London Fire Department will be increasing its efforts within existing resources to further reduce structure fires, with a special focus on injury reduction. Figure 5: Structure Fires vs. Structure Fires/1,000 Pop. Page 8 of Business Plan

9 Number of Structure Fires 400 Structures Fires vs. Structure Fires/1,000 Pop Structure Fires /1, Structure Fires/1,000 Pop. One of the provincial mandates concerning fire safety includes a Smoke Alarm program. Since the mid part of the last decade, the LFD has had a Smoke Alarm campaign in place; however, for the most part the Public Fire and Life Safety Educators have been the driving force behind the program. In 2010, the LFD initiated a three (3) month pilot project where fire crews visited 12,000 homes in various neighbourhoods throughout the City and those visits resulted in entry into 6,500 homes. While positive compared to previous surveys undertaken by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, crews found 7.7% of the homes inadequately protected; however, because of the program 500 families were safer. Because of the program s success, in 2012 it will be expanded to five (5) to six (6) months (the latter weather permitting). Furthermore, as soon as the injury prevent material is made available, the fire crews will also provide the residents information on injury prevention. Last year, the Department faced several challenges, two directly associated with provincial downloading. As a result of the Sunrise propane fire/explosion, the Province downloaded the review of safety, response and emergency procedures of Level I facilities (5,000 USWG tanks or less) to municipal fire departments and approval of the same for Level II facilities (more than 5,000 USWG). Because of the lack of training and guidance by the Province, the reviews of the 27 propane facilities have drawn significant resources and consequently adversely impacted regular Fire Code inspections. Equally, the Province is attempting to download fire investigations of Marijuana Growth Ops (MGO). Experience to date demonstrates investigations and the requisite follow up work, which ranges between 50 to 80 hours, results in minimal to no consequence. Based on the latter, the LFD will no longer investigate such occurrences, as they are a police matter. Two years ago, the Comprehensive Risk Assessment showed seniors ranking as a high-risk group; however, gaining access to them in groups is often times difficult. While Public Educators work with organizers of social programs involving seniors and senior s residences to deliver fire safety messages, the lack of penetration into the group remains a concern. Through the enhanced door to door visits, as well as the use of the mass media, the goal is to increase access to vulnerable seniors Page 9 of Business Plan

10 who chose to remain within their own homes. Furthermore, the LFD is contacting groups such as Meals on Wheels and VON to seek alternative ways to reach out to seniors. Concerning success, while the propane review process has significantly drawn on this Division s resources, the efforts put in have undoubtedly provided critical information to TSSA, noting that the LFD review is very comprehensive in comparison to other municipalities. Furthermore, very late in 2011, the Department completed a mobility project with the Fire Prevention Inspectors. The positive results enabled the LFD to reduce the Inspector complement by one (1) position and not adversely impact service levels. Notwithstanding the various other advantages to the Inspectors, eliminating the manual inputting of information also provided another opportunity to reduce the clerical staff by one (1) position. Finally, because Inspectors can use the issued IPADS as computers, the plan is to reissue their desktop computers to the stations, which will be used for online training. The latter avoids the approximately $25,000 being permanently transferred to TSD for the purchase of computers for that purpose. OTHER KEY MEASURES (optional) Description of measure Pop. Served/ Public Educator 119, , ,667 91,538 92,545 93, Pop. Served/ Inspector 23,920 24,133 26,086 28,165 28,475 28,789 MEASURES UNDER DEVELOPMENT What important performance measures have you identified for which you do not currently collect the data? Number of After the Fire initiatives, as well as how many interactions with residents Where a fire has occurred, more finite age categorization to better understand target audiences Development of risk profiles by neighbourhood using actual results and demographic information Page 10 of Business Plan

11 APPENDIX A The following is a list of programs offered to Londoners, by age group: Age 0-4 (Infant) Caregivers of younger children Fire Safety Training Burns and scalds training for caregivers Ready for School Program TV Nelp (Thames Valley Neighbourhood Early learning Program) Age 5-14 (Youth) School Fire Drills Tapp-C Fire Prevention Week Programs Summer Camp Fire Safety Programs Kindergarten Fire Safety Program YMCA Children s Safety Village Risk Watch School Program Babysitter Fire Safety Program Elementary School Fire Safety Programs Grade 8 Fire Safety Program Age (Adult) Workplace Fire Safety Training Smoke Alarm Program Industrial Fire Safety Training (Fire Code) Retirement Home Staff Training (Fire Code) Group Home Lectures Page 11 of Business Plan

12 The Arson Prevention Program for Children (up to 17 yrs) Elementary School Program Career in the Fire Service Summer Safety Program General Home Fire Safety Lectures Babysitter Fire Safety Program Public Events/ Displays E.S.L. English as a Second Language Fire Extinguisher Training (Theory) High/Low Rise Fire Safety Training for Managers & Owners (Fire Code) High/Low Rise Fire Safety Training for Tenants Secondary School Home Economics (Kitchen Fire Safety/Cooking) Secondary School Tech Classes (Fire Safety Training) Retrofit Fire Safety Presentation for Real Estate Board (work in progress) Age 65+ (Senior) Remembering When Older & Wiser Alarm for Life Program (Low/ Fixed Income) High/Low Rise Fire Safety Training for Tenants Seniors Fire Safety Program Page 12 of Business Plan