11-3151 Fire Annual Report.indd

Transcript

Fire Services Division Fire Services Cover photo: John Hanley Annual Report 2010 TORONTO FIRE SERVICES • 2010 ANNUAL REPORT Table of Contents Message from Fire Chief William A. Stewart 1 Operations Division 2 Staff Services and Communications Division 3 Professional Development & Mechanical Maintenance Division 4 Fire Prevention and Public Education Division 6 2010 Organizational Structure 7 Fire Service Command Areas and Location Map 8 Response Statistics 10 Fire Fatalities 12 Operating Budget 1999-2010 14 False Alarms 1998-2010 15 WSIB Statistics 16 Fire Prevention Activities 17 Alarmed for Life – 2010 18 Toronto Fire Safety Awareness Week 19 Fire Prevention Week 20 2010 Participation in Studies 21 Significant Incidents 22 2010 Rescue and Merit Awards 25 TORONTO FIRE SERVICES CREDO “Courage, Compassion, Service” “Courage to move forward, Compassion in everything we do, Service without boundaries.” VISION STATEMENT “Toronto Fire Services will be a pro-active leader in fire prevention, protection and emergency services to meet the diverse needs of our communities.” MISSION STATEMENT “We are dedicated to protect life, property and the environment from the effects of fires, illness, accidents, natural disasters and other hazards.” “We are committed to enhancing fire safety and raising community awareness through education and involvement.” “Toronto Fire Services will pursue the acquisition and use of the most effective technology, equipment and resources to ensure we continue to perform in a competent and professional manner. We are dedicated to building a cohesive, equitable and unified workforce.” “We provide high quality and caring services to those who live in, work in and visit our City… safely, efficiently and effectively.” Message from Fire Chief William A. Stewart T he members of the Toronto Fire Services are committed and dedicated to the protection of life and property in our city. Further, we ensure compliance of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the Ontario Fire Code for public safety. Every member of the Service is dedicated to the protection of life and property for the citizens of Toronto. Regrettably, we continue to experience loss of life due to fire deaths on an annual basis. Statistically the fire deaths occur where our residents should feel most secure - in their own homes. In 2010, 100% of fire deaths occurred in residential properties. We continue to advocate for the installation of residential sprinklers in all new construction less than three stories. To date, the Province of Ontario has not enacted legislation to include residential sprinklers in homes less than three stories. Our ongoing public education programs and media releases focus on the mandatory requirements to ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of the home as a minimum. Further, the installation of carbon monoxide detectors must be installed in accordance with the by law. Toronto Fire Services is the “All Hazards Emergency Response Agency” for the City of Toronto. In 2010 we responded to 144,407 emergency calls with 276,729 vehicle responses. Our scope of emergency response is very broad, including but not limited to fire response, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, ice and water rescues, hazardous materials, carbon monoxide and fire alarms. The Wellesley Street fire on September 24th was a six alarm fire that required the evacuation of 1,200 residents for an extended period of time. Other major alarm incidents in 2010 included six 4th alarm fires and twenty one 3rd alarm fires out of a total 284 multiple fire alarm calls, along with thousands of other calls responded to by the Service. The members of the Service continue to serve the citizens of Toronto in a professional manner, ensuring public safety. During the past year 79 members of the Service retired from various Divisions. I thank them for the commitment and dedication throughout their career in serving the citizens of Toronto. We welcome the new recruits to the Toronto Fire Services who will carry on our tradition of serving and protecting the citizens of our great City. During 2010, a total of 76 recruits joined the ranks of the Operations Division. We also welcomed ten Fire Prevention recruits, four Communications recruits and three Mechanics to the Service; for a total of 93 new staff. Our annual Memorial Service was held in May to honour the members who have died in the Line of Duty and their families at the Toronto Fire Services Memorial, located at Station 334. Members of the Service also participated at the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Ottawa in September and the Provincial Memorial Service held in October. The Toronto Fire Services Pipes and Drums participated at all Memorial Services in remembering the fallen firefighters who have paid the supreme sacrifice. In closing, the men and women from every Division of the Toronto Fire Services continue to serve the citizens of Toronto with great pride, ensuring our traditions are carried on for future generations of firefighters in the protection of life and property in the City of Toronto. I am honoured to serve as the Fire Chief and lead the members of the Service. William A. Stewart Fire Chief 1 Operations Division Daryl Fuglerud, Deputy Fire Chief T he Operations Division underwent some changes in 2010 with the retirement of Deputy Fire Chief Jim Shelton. Jim retired from Toronto Fire Services on June 30, after 40 years of service. Deputy Chief Shelton had been the Deputy Chief of the Operations Division since June 25, 2003. I took over the portfolio on July 1, 2010. In 2010, Platoon Chiefs Paul Moffat and Gary Davies also retired, with new Platoon Chiefs Trevor Trotter and Eric Cotter taking over their roles and responsibilities. As a result of these changes, Operational personnel were involved in two Platoon Chief promotional interviews, two Acting Platoon Chief promotional interviews and a District Chief’s promotional process in 2010. The most significant event of the year from an Operations Division perspective was the G20, which is detailed in a later section of this report. In addition to this large event, TFS also mitigated several large fires in 2010, as detailed under “Significant Incidents”. The Operations Division always stands ready to mitigate any incident, regardless of size or origin. Toronto Fire Services continues to participate in studies and various safety initiatives on an ongoing basis; brief descriptions of which are detailed in a later section of this report. Some of the major Safety Initiatives that Toronto Fire Services played a role in during 2010 included: • Changes in Asbestos Regulations related to fire • Changes in Bunker Gear Regulations • Safety Initiatives Implemented to Reduce Occupational Illness • Prevention of Possible Off-Gassing on Patients at Medical Incidents; and • The removal of CO monitoring as the decision point for removal of SCBA In 2011, Operations will continue to focus on situational awareness and breaking the error chain at fires. Since amalgamation, and as of the middle of 2010, Toronto Fire crews announced 14 known Maydays. These Maydays should be a rare occurrence and the fact they occurred at every major fire means there needs to be a refocus of our attention to ensure personnel are practicing basic firefighting skills. It is also the goal of Toronto Fire Services to improve our unscheduled absenteeism, improve our Fire Records Management System (RMS) reporting to reduce the number of outstanding reports per quarter in 2011, improve our Fire and Emergency Training Network (FETN) training records to reduce the number of outstanding lesson plans per quarter and to improve our turn out times from the time the alarm is sounded in the station to the time fire apparatus are on the road and responding. I would like to thank the members of the Operations Division for their ongoing dedication to the Service. Daryl Fuglerud Deputy Fire Chief 2 Staff Services and Communications Debbie Higgins, Deputy Fire Chief I am pleased to submit my first report on the activities of the Staff Services and Communications Division, following my promotion to the position on July 1, 2010. Staff Services and Communications is an extremely busy Division, with responsibility for many support functions of Toronto Fire. The Facilities and Materials Management section of TFS manages 95 Fire facilities which include Fire Stations, Training Sites, Fire Prevention Offices, Quartermaster, and Mechanical. There is a significant inventory of aging building stock and the Fire Services continue to work towards an improved system for facilities maintenance. In 2010, Toronto Fire Services, in conjunction with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), began construction of new Fire Station 141. The work is part of the TorontoYork Spadina Subway project and is necessary for the construction of the new Finch West Station. Also, the Master Fire Plan 2007 indicated the need for a new fire station to be constructed in the Midland/Eglinton Avenue area. As a result, Toronto Fire Services acquired a property at 2575 Eglinton Avenue East for this purpose. Design and construction is scheduled to begin in 2011, as is the design, construction and replacement of Fire Station 135. Renovations at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Station are also targeted to begin in 2011. The Recruitment and Community Outreach Section undertook a number of progressive diversity initiatives during 2010 to assure that Toronto Fire Services maintains a leadership position in recruitment and selection practices. From increased participation through community Neighbourhood Action Partnerships (NAPs), to both provincial and City Council approval of an enhanced version of the Ontario standardized Pre-Service Firefighter Training and Education curriculum - we are assuring an equitable system through which residents can better access our services. The Information and Communications Systems Division continued to support a variety of initiatives in 2010. At the forefront of all activities was the unprecedented effort required to provide for the G20 Summit held in Toronto at the end of June 2010. TFS led the implementation of a multi million dollar capital project to enhance radio communications capabilities required to host the country’s largest security event. The radio infrastructure replacement project was impacted by the G20, but benefited by the addition of a full time project manager hired in April of 2010. The CAD/RMS section supported the implementation of a new payroll/time entry system for TFS (Quatro), successfully transitioning all divisions to the new platform in 2010. The Communications Division quality assurance review was completed in March 2010, with a focus on operational efficiencies and best practices through statistical review and customer service initiatives. Two major initiatives were undertaken in 2010: the establishment of the Manager, Quality Assurance and a significant software upgrade to the Computer Aided Dispatch system. The Communications Division also participated in the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation “Fire and EMS Mobilization Times Study”, assessing the effectiveness of emergency response by reviewing call processing and turnout time data. There were a number of significant events in 2010, including a six alarm apartment fire at 200 Wellesley Street East that tested the Communications Division’s response capability. Staff managed these events in a professional and coordinated manner, ensuring the safety of the residents and firefighters involved. I would like to thank all staff in the Division for their ongoing contributions to the Service. Debbie Higgins Deputy Fire Chief 3 Professional Development and Mechanical Maintenance Division, Ron Jenkins, Deputy Fire Chief T he Mechanical Division found 2010 to be a very busy year with the inspection, delivery and commissioning of one Hazmat, two Air/Light trucks, one Service truck, and one rear-mount Aerial ladder. Twelve DC vans and interior conversions were specified and delivered. Eighteen small vehicles were purchased and delivered for various roles. With the expansion of the vehicle repair facility on Toryork Road completed, TFS joined the NAPA parts consignment contract to track parts and inventory costs more accurately. A dedicated 6-month preventive maintenance program was created to have every truck inspected mid range between annual inspections. Drivers now report their repair requests directly into the M5 system from the Fire Station. Staff in the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) room installed a new breathing air compressor and storage system at Fire Station 231, refurbished the compressor at Fire Station 333 and added a storage system at Fire Station 326. All annual SCBA inspections were completed. The Marine Division staff oversaw the Transport Canada mandated dry-docking of fire boat William Lyon Mackenzie where major repairs and modifications to the vessel were performed. Staff at the equipment repair facility at Rotherham Road completed all required annual hose testing and equipment inventory checks. Professional Development & Training The Officer Development Section provided company officer development courses for over 400 potential Operations Captains along with the facilitation of several District Chief courses and SCBA re-certification sessions. The section facilitated the delivery of several firefighter core skills courses including pump operations, Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV), firefighting foam operations, driver training/driver simulator, air compressor operations, live fire training and ventilation saw operations. Emergency Planning, Research and Development (EPRD) was involved with projects that included training recruits, working alongside Chemical Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) Groups in the city, approving and overseeing pyrotechnics for film and media, rerouting large amounts of traffic and persons with the TTC for special events such as the Honda Indy, Caribana Parade and Pride Week. EPRD has also been involved in training exercises with various agencies including the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Emergency Medical Services for the G20 Summit. The Emergency Medical Services Section facilitated the delivery of the First Responder Patient Care Program Module – Secure, Lifting & Moving Patients and Obstetrics and the New Born. The Section continues to facilitate the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium study through base hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The Occupational Health & Safety (H&S) Section remained focused on addressing H&S issues which directly impact our firefighters. The Section ensures safety compliance, investigates injuries and continues to deliver health & safety training. 4 The Recruit Induction section introduced 76 new firefighters to the City in 2010, in addition to training and refresher programs delivered to Operations Division staff throughout the year. The Special Operations Training Section facilitated and delivered a number of hazardous materials and technical rescue programs for Toronto Fire personnel, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) and Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) training, in preparation for joint emergency response. I would like to express my thanks to the staff in Professional Development and Training, Emergency Planning, Health and Safety and the Mechanical Division for their dedication and hard work. We look forward to meeting the many challenges that 2011 will bring. Ron Jenkins Deputy Fire Chief 5 Fire Prevention and Public Education Frank Lamie, Deputy Fire Chief I n 2010, the implementation of several projects and further reorganization in the Fire Prevention and Public Education Division continued. Staff distribution related to work load continues to be closely monitored. As a result of a reduction in the physical area covered in the South Command, inspection staff numbers related to supervision is now closer to being balanced across the four commands. The fire death rate in Ontario was reduced in 2010, however this was not the case in Toronto and fire death in homes continues to be of great concern. In an effort to change this trend, the Project Zero program was expanded. The focus of the program is to ensure that every home in Toronto has properly installed and functioning smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are the first line of defense during a home fire giving the occupants warning in time to escape and call 911. Residential fire sprinklers are considered the next step to improving fire life safety in residential properties. TFS has advocated for the Ontario Building Code to be amended to include a requirement for fire sprinklers in new residential buildings including single family homes. Public education efforts on this matter continued through live demonstrations and the use of our portable sprinkler system trailer. Community Safety Week in June was our most successful effort to date. Injury prevention information in our Risk Watch program is brought to the public, with the focus being on common summertime injuries. In 2010, Fire Services expanded the participation of other City Divisions that have public education programs for injury prevention. This year the Toronto Police Service, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health, Transportation Services and Animal Services; along with HTOtoGO, the Ministry of Transportation, Enbridge Gas, The Red Cross and Kretshcner hot dogs participated. The program was also presented at four elementary schools that include the Risk Watch program in their curriculum. Once again, our presence at the CNE was a huge success. Division staff interacted with thousands of people using informative displays, a fire safety theatre for children and presentations on safe cooking practices at the Cooking Show. During Fire Prevention Week in October, Division staff offered fire safety information to the public at two malls within the City. Public turn-out at the kick-off and open house event at the Fire Academy was good, despite the cool weather. Open houses and displays were also held at the Sheppard Avenue, Bermondsey Road, and Martingrove Road Training Centres. The dedication of our staff is evident in reviewing our 2010 statistics. Fire Prevention staff completed 49,418 inspections, the Legal section laid 2,468 charges resulting in $1,347,100 in fines and the Public Education unit made more than 1,100 presentations that reached over 45,330 people. Operations personnel also conducted more than 65,000 visits as part of the 2010 Alarmed for Life program. My thanks go to all staff for their ongoing efforts towards the protection of life, property and the environment in the City of Toronto. Frank Lamie Deputy Fire Chief 6 Division Chief Fire Prevention and Public Education Jim Stoops Deputy Fire Chief Fire Prevention and Public Education Frank Lamie Executive Officer/ Quality Assurance Manager Scott Robinson Division Chief Communications Vera Maute Division Chief Information and Communications Systems Frank Pappone Division Chief Staff Services David Sheen Deputy Fire Chief Staff Services and Communications Debbie Higgins Administrative Assistant Darlene Reeve Division Commander Command 4 Mike McCoy Platoon Chiefs Len Stadler John D’Aloisio Jim Slobodian Nigel Soper Platoon Chiefs Colin Reid Larry Fry Eric Cotter Les Banski Platoon Chiefs Rob McNamara Reid Page Norm Clements Dan MacIsaac Platoon Chiefs Tony Bellavance Trevor Trotter Ron Moore Roy Law Division Commander Command 3 Andrew Kostiuk Division Commander Command 2 Lorne Buckingham Deputy Fire Chief Operations Daryl Fuglerud Division Chief, Policy and Public Information Toni Vigna Division Chief, Special Projects and Emergency Planning Colin Booth Division Commander Command 1 Bob O'Hallarn Fire Chief Fire Services William A. Stewart Organizational Structure Toronto Fire Services Division Chief Professional Development and Training Doug Silver Division Chief Mechanical Maintenance Rob Anselmi Deputy Fire Chief Professional Development and Mechanical Maintenance Ron Jenkins Photos: John Hanley Toronto Fire Services Response Statistics 2005-2010 (CAD Data at time of dispatch) Call Type Check Call Carbon Monoxide Fire Alarm Ringing Fire Gas Leak Hazardous Materials Island Lake Mutual Aid Medical Call Police Assist Rescue Suspicious Substance Vehicle Incident Water Problem Wires Down 2010 6,435 4,121 23,950 10,615 538 1,731 107 7 1 83,196 24 2,476 71 9,623 623 899 2009 * 6,958 3,850 25,564 10,640 610 1,620 76 5 0 79,747 23 2,156 50 8,878 682 1,115 2008* 7,033 3,511 27,635 10,168 590 1,823 70 10 1 78,251 18 2,322 39 8,805 664 1,004 2007* 7,181 3,596 27,978 11,496 622 1,949 73 6 1 75,177 31 2,381 41 9,675 670 1,465 2006* 7,003 3,652 28,196 10,679 496 1,877 97 14 1 73,140 31 2,199 21 10,238 573 1,042 2005* 7,509 3,828 29,063 11,315 531 1,738 76 6 2 72,645 28 2,311 31 9,483 917 970 Total Number of Incidents % Change Total Number of Unit Responses % Change 144,407 1.69% 276,729 -0.56% 142,014 0.05% 278,281 -3.86% 141,944 -0.28% 289,460 -2.63% 142,342 2.21% 297,287 0.89% 139,259 -0.85% 140,453 294,660 -2.95% Notes: * Numbers have been restated from previous years to reflect vehicle fires as fires, rather than vehicle incidents. 2010 Calls by Event Type (at time of dispatch) Vehicle Incident 6.7% Wires Down 0.6% Rescue 1.7% Other 0.6% Check Call 4.5% Carbon Monoxide 2.9% Fire Alarm Ringing 16.6% Fire 7.4% Medical Call 57.6% 10 Hazardous Materials 1.2% Gas Leak 0.4% 303,606 6:31 5:45 6:33 5:46 5:52 6:36 303,660 3.6% 140,516 7.7% 2005 5:48 6:31 294,660 -2.9% 139,368 -0.8% 2006 4:49 6:44 289,460 -2.6% 142,087 -0.3% 2008 4:51 6:40 278,281 -3.9% 142,014 -0.1% 2009 *Note: The drop in “enroute to arrival” time from 2006 to 2007 relates to a change in the way the time stamps were recorded. The overall dispatch to arrival time (also shown above) does not reflect this same decrease. 4:49* 6:41 297,287 0.9% 142,087 2.3% 2007 276,729 -0.6% 144,407 1.7% 2010 4:53 6:42 293,023 -4.4% 130,500 -2.1% 2004 90th percentile Response Time Dispatch to Arrival 90th percentile Response Time me Enroute to Arrival 306,560 20.8% 127,055 4.9% 2003 26.6% 6.2% 253,868 -3.6% 114,086 8.9% 2002 History of Toronto Fire Services Response Statistics 1998-2010 Total Change - Incidents Total Change - Unit Responses 263,388 1.1% Total Number of Unit Responses 260,576 Change from previous year 2001 116,649 2.2% 2000 114,086 -0.2% Total Number of Incidents Change from previous year 11 Number of fatalities Toronto Fire Services Fire Fatalities 1998-2010 *Note: The unusual spike in fire fatalities in 2003 is a result of a gas explosion that tragically claimed seven lives. Toronto Fire Services continues to strive towards reducing the number of annual fire deaths in the City to zero through public education. In 2010 Toronto experienced 16 fire deaths, which is the lowest level since 2006. Number of fatalities The Office of the Fire Marshal defines a fire death as a person who dies as a result of injuries sustained during a fire incident (including explosions). Reportable fire deaths include suicides by fire and homicides by fire, but excludes fire deaths occurring in vehicle accidents. Toronto Fire Services further reports fire deaths that are preventable versus those that likely are not. 12 Number of fatalities Number of fatalities 2008-2010 Fire Fatalities Details 13 Toronto Fire Services 2010 Operating Budget In 2010, Toronto Fire Services actual net spending (operating budget) totalled nearly $359 million. This represents a 0.7% decrease from 2009 which can be attributed to ongoing cost containment initiatives and fiscal restraints. Salaries and Benefits is by far the largest expense for Toronto Fire Services, comprising over 92% of the total operating budget. The largest proportion of overall expenses for the Fire Services is attributed to the Operations Division, which comprises 80% of expenses. 14 False Alarms 1998-2010 In 2010, Toronto Fire Services responded to a total of 30,143 false fire calls. This figure represents an increase of 1,992 false fire calls from the 2009 total of 28,151. However; both Nuisance and Malicious False Alarms decreased slightly from 2009 by 1,048 and 403 calls respectively. A Malicious False Alarm is the negligent or intentional misuse of a fire alarm system resulting in the activation of the system. A Nuisance False Alarm is the activation of a fire alarm system through mechanical failure, equipment malfunction or improper maintenance or installation of the system, but does not include activation of the system where the activation occurred as a result of accidental damage to the system. As a result of the high number of these incidents, the possibility is always present that responding to false alarms may delay the Fire Services response to a real emergency. Malicious and nuisance false alarms also create great risk to tenants of buildings and to emergency responders. Tenants may become complacent to the continuous false alarms being sounded and therefore may not respond appropriately to protect themselves. Properly installed and maintained fire alarm and security systems are important factors in minimizing nuisance and malicious alarms. Fees are charged to property owners with respect to both nuisance and malicious false alarms. The objective of the fee is to reduce false alarms and prevent the waste of resources. The bylaw includes a provision for re-imbursement of fees if the property owner installs security systems or takes other measures to reduce the likelihood of a false fire alarm at the building in the future. 15 Fire Services 2010 WSIB Statistics The overall number accidents/incidents and lost time days being reported to WSIB are generally trending downward. Invoiced costs to the Fire Services are also slightly lower than in 2009, although compared to 2004/2005, they remain relatively high due to a number of additional job related cancers that are now being recognized. This trend is expected to continue over the next few years as more retroactive settlements are made. It is also expected that these claims will level off or decrease over time as the effect of improvements to personal protective equipment are realized. 16 Fire Prevention Activities in 2010 The number of inspections conducted in a given year varies as the time taken to complete a single inspection is affected by the type of property and the complexity involved. In 2010, Fire Prevention Inspectors conducted over 49,000 inspections. This represents an increase of over 7,500 inspections compared to 2009 totals. Number of Inspections Plans Examined 2010 49,418 1,021 2009 41,778 979 2008 43,995 1,504 2007 38,512 3,527 2008 2,050 $1,377,955 2007 1,798 $907,125 2008 1,516 45,900 119* 2007 919 65,428 122 2006 40,258 4,957 2005 39,168 5,942 Legal Section Number of Charges Fines Levied 2010 2,468 $1,347,100 2009 3,361 $1,815,525 2006 2005 998 924 $519,400 $787,250 Public Education Activities Number of Seminars/Events Number of People Reached TAPP-C referrals 2010 1,113 45,330 36 2009 1,161 44,191 67 2006 879 54,106 187 2005 936 59,276 246 *Restated from 2008 Visit www.city.toronto.on.ca/fire/prevention/index.htm for fire safety and prevention tips and information. 17 Alarmed for Life - 2010 A larmed For Life (AFL) is a community-based proactive smoke alarm education program, and a vital component of the Toronto Fire Services’ overall educational strategy. The purpose of the program is to provide fire and life safety education to the public in an effort to save lives and prevent injuries. From May 15th to September 22nd fire crews were out in the community on Saturdays and Sundays, bringing fire safety information right to the front doors of citizens. This annual door-to-door campaign is directed to residents living in single family dwellings, semi-detached houses, and town houses to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities under the Ontario Fire Code. In effect since March 1, 2006, the code requires these types of dwellings to be equipped with working smoke alarms on every storey, as well as adjacent to all sleeping areas. In addition to installation, homeowners must also test and maintain smoke alarms and should address home escape planning in the event of a fire. Firefighters conduct the program during the warmer months of the year, delivering a multilingual package of information. This approach also allows residents to ask firefighters about any concerns or questions they may have. Failure to comply with the Ontario Fire Code smoke alarm requirements could result in a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations. 18 Toronto Fire Safety Awareness Week, 2010 T he fourth annual Safety Awareness Week was held during the week beginning June 13, 2010. The campaign focused on keeping all family members safe from preventable and predictable injuries during the summer months. As part of its continuing support of the Risk Watch Injury Prevention Program into Toronto Elementary Schools, Toronto Fire Services, along with the dedicated school Principals and staff, hosted a total of four Risk Watch Safety Nights at Yorkwoods Public School, Winchester Public School, St. Bartholomew Catholic School and Christ the King Catholic School. Each Risk Watch Safety Night commenced at 5:00 p.m. and included a variety of displays, demonstrations, workshops and activities held both indoors and outdoors in the school yard (weather permitting), including a fundraising barbecue for the school. Also participating and partnering with Fire Services were Toronto Police Services, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Transportation Services, Toronto EMS, Toronto Animal Services and the Canadian Red Cross. “The majority of injuries children encounter throughout their childhood are preventable and predictable,” said Fire Chief William Stewart. With Safety Awareness Week being held at the end of the school year, the timing is perfect to remind everyone how to stay safe and prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, while enjoying a fun-filled summer. Toronto Fire services urged everyone to remember the safety and injury prevention tips included in the Risk Watch program to keep all family members safe from preventable and predictable injuries during the summer months. The Risk Watch program includes activities promoting safety for each of the eight leading causes of childhood injuries, including motor vehicle safety; fire and burn prevention; choking, suffocation and strangulation prevention; poisoning prevention; falls and playground injury prevention; firearms injury prevention; bike and pedestrian safety; and water and ice safety. Fire and Burn Prevention Tips: • Practice your home fire escape plan. Pretend your primary exit route is blocked by heavy smoke and practice your second way out. Remember to have a working smoke alarm outside every sleeping area and on every story of your home. • Store gasoline and other flammable products outside your home in an approved safety container, tightly sealed, and out of the sight and reach of children. • Outdoor cooking fires and barbecues need to be kept a safe distance from the house - at least 4.5 meters (15 feet). Barbecues should only be lit by an adult. 19 Fire Prevention Week October 5-11, 2010 F ire Prevention Week has a long history with the fire services of North America. In fact, 2010 marked the 91st year Canada has joined with the United States to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire that nearly destroyed the entire city. It was thought that a united effort between the two countries would give greater energy to the cause of educating the public on how to stay safe from the devastation of fire. Through the years, many themes have been used to emphasize different safety messages. The 2010 theme focused on the necessity of having working smoke alarms in the home with the message being “Smoke Alarms: A Sound you can live with.” Toronto Fire Services hosted events around the City that encouraged Toronto residents to consider the importance of fire safety in homes, schools, and workplaces. The official kick-off took place on Friday, October 1st at the Eglinton Town Centre Cineplex Odeon Theatre, where grade one students from the host school, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, performed the National Fire Protection Association ‘Smoke Alarm’ safety song. Hundreds of students were treated to a private viewing of “Firehouse Dog”, compliments of Cineplex Odeon Theatres, followed by a pizza lunch. During the week, students from the host school also participated in a fire safety poster contest, with posters later being displayed for senior residents at Providence Healthcare on St. Clair Avenue East. Prizes were awarded for the best Primary, Junior, and Intermediate posters. On Sunday, October 3rd Fire Services conducted the first of three Open House events at the Toronto Fire & EMS Training Centre, located at 895 Eastern Avenue. Families were welcomed to view displays, participate in a mini combat challenge event for children, watch fire safety videos, have junior firefighter photos taken and see live firefighting demonstrations. Open house events also took place on Tuesday, October 5th at the North Command Training Centre, located at 200 Bermondsey Road and on Wednesday October 6th at the East Command Training Centre, located at 4560 Sheppard Avenue East During the week, fire staff was also out in neighbourhood communities conducting Project Zero, a program that encourages homeowners to install and maintain working smoke alarms on every storey of their home, and outside all sleeping areas. Fire Chief William Stewart reminded the public about the devastating effects that fire can have on homes, communities and your families: “The tragedy of fire is very far reaching. Educate yourself to stay safe in your home – install working smoke alarms on every storey of your home, and outside all sleeping areas. While they don’t prevent fires from happening, they do provide the early warning you need to get your family safely out of a fire.” 20 2010 Participation in Studies T oronto Fire Services regularly participates in a number of studies with various sponsors. Through our participation, it is hoped that the Service will gain valuable knowledge and insight that will compliment the Services’ on-going efforts to ensure that firefighters are equipped with the training, equipment and education to carry out their duties in the safest and most efficient manner possible. In 2010, some of these studies included: CRTI* Motorola Study of Radiation Detection Equipment Provided in Portable Radios: Currently, most RCMP, Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services personnel carry no radiation detection equipment during their daily activities. This deficiency could leave first-responders at risk to radiation exposure in the event of a radiological or nuclear incident. Toronto Fire Services participated in field testing prototypes in routine field operations as secondary non-mission critical communication devices, to test the suitability of the technology for field deployments. * Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) Injury Study with the University of Arizona related on Standard Operating Guidelines: The goal of this study is to evaluate the association of training with lower fire-ground injury rates and to identify Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) incorporating best practices. This three-year international study is partnering with fire departments in Australia (Melbourne), United Kingdom (Lancashire), and the United States (Columbus OH, Phoenix AZ, Washington DC) as well as Toronto Fire Services. Three key objectives of the study are: • • • To compare fire-ground injury rates by department To evaluate the relationship between training and following SOGs among injured firefighters; and To determine SOG best practices. The research program is being conducted under the auspices of the University of Arizona with assistance from the Fire Protection Research Foundation. A final report will be issued in 2012. Air Monitoring Study with McMaster University: Toronto Fire Services participated in live burn studies, assisting McMaster researchers to determine what chemicals, if any, penetrate a firefighter’s bunker gear during normal firefighting situations. Testing was completed in 2010. This type of study will hopefully improve our knowledge of firefighter related cancers in the future. Heat Stress Follow-up Study Toronto Fire Services participated in a live field follow-up study on the impact of current rehabilitation policies on firefighters at real incidents. This was a follow-up study by Dr. Glen Selkirk to the original DNDR (Department of National Defence Research) heat study conducted at amalgamation. 21 Significant Incidents - 2010 January 4: A fourth alarm at 161 Wheeler Avenue. Crews responding to this address in the Beach found a 2-storey frame dwelling fully involved with 15’ flames impinging on both exposures. April 3: A fifth alarm at 141 Lisgar Street. This fire started in the basement of a 3-storey brick apartment building and quickly spread into the walls. Originally a pair of attached 3-storey brick Victorian houses, the structure was reconfigured to add the apartment building to the front half of the structure. The renovation work made chasing the flames particularly difficult and they spread up to the roof and throughout most of both sides of the building. April 16: A rescue/structural collapse at 335A Yonge Street. Renovations were being made to this large eighteenth century commercial block when a brick façade fell from the second floor facing onto Gould Street. The entire piece, 12’ high and one store front wide, piled onto the sidewalk and spilled into the roadway, miraculously not hitting anyone. One person was treated for dust inhalation. P314 was first in and thoroughly searched the premises as two children were reported missing. As a full collapse search and rescue operation was being mounted, police video confirmed that nobody was underneath the façade when the bricks fell. The entire facility was evacuated and adjacent streets were blocked off. Interestingly, the same building, still boarded up from this incident, will be the subject of a report of a 6-alarm fire in the 2011 Annual Report. April 25: A fourth alarm at 100 Echo Point. Smoke and flames were visible from a penthouse apartment in this 25-storey high-rise and P244 crew proceeded to the fire floor amid reports that three children were still trapped inside. There was no water in the standpipe system so the crew waited for the riser to be charged by a Pumper crew. Fortunately, arriving Toronto Fire Services’ members confirmed the children were found safe in the lobby. May 19: A mutual aid trench rescue at 9280 Gerrard Road, Whitby, Ontario. While a work crew was creating a trench next to a single storey frame garage, part of the foundation wall collapsed into the excavation, trapping one man underneath. Markham Fire crews worked for an hour with little progress and it was clear the man had suffered serious injuries, so a trench rescue assignment was dispatched by Toronto Fire Services, with some companies traveling 75 km to the scene. Unfortunately, it proved impossible to free the individual without the use of heavy lifting equipment and he was pronounced dead at the scene. A crane was brought on-site to lift the garage. May 24: A fourth alarm at 795 Queen Street West. Crews arriving at this downtown row of stores and apartments found a rear deck in flames. It was attached to the upper floor of the four-unit complex, the rear wall of which was made of insulbrick. In spite of a quick knockdown, flames had already extended inside and began working their way through wall and ceiling spaces. They were chased into two apartments and up into the roof, then into another apartment at Premises No. 791. The flames were finally knocked down by Toronto Fire Services’ crews, but it required the use of seven lines to accomplish the task. 22 Significant Incidents - 2010 continued August 4: A level III Hazmat at 9 Leslie Street. This incident took place at the sprawling Ashbridges Bay Sewage Treatment facility on the waterfront. A large amount of sodium hypochlorite was accidentally mixed with anhydrous chloride, producing more than 4,000L of a reactive compound that off-gassed chlorine vapour. Given the quantity of vapour, a large response from Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Police was required and the area, largely industrial and parkland, was evacuated while the reaction was monitored. September 5: A sixth alarm at 368A College Street. A large fire in a computer store resulted in the evacuation of tenants from the building involved and two buildings next door. September 24: A sixth alarm at 200 Wellesley Street East. The fire on the 24th floor was intense due to high wind conditions and unusually high fire loading. Over 3,000 people were evacuated from the building for a prolonged period of time while the building was restored and a temporary fire watch was put in place while the alarm system was repaired. October 29: A fourth alarm at 130 Ian MacDonald Boulevard. A roof fire occurred in this new stadium under construction on the north side of York University. November 3: A level III Hazmat at 10 Chemical Court. Following a valve failure, a large cloud of sulphuric acid vapour was spotted over this chemical plant near the east city limit. Master streams were set up to disperse the fumes as crews suited up and went in to shut down the system. Adjacent premises were quickly evacuated and nearby schools put on notice. 23 The Group of Twenty (G-20) Summit O n December 7, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada would host the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto, from June 21 to 28, 2010. In preparation for this event, Toronto Fire Services trained over 300 personnel over 4 days. An additional eight vehicles were trained to fulfill Public Order duties. The Operational Plan proved to be a success, as crews waited for police to secure streets before extinguishing any fires. Crews within the Restricted Access Zone (RAZ) were complimented by the the United States Secret Service for the professionalism shown during the Presidential helicopter landings and take-offs. This was a major event without mishap and Toronto firefighters can be proud to have participated. 24 Rescue and Merit Awards - 2010 T oronto Fire Services annually presents a number of awards to both staff and civilians to recognize instances where they have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Awards for 2010 were handed out during a special ceremony on March 4, 2011. Firfighter Awards There are four levels of Toronto Fire Services’ Rescue and Merit Awards: • • • • • A Team Citation is for a rescue involving a group of firefighters. A Letter of Recognition is for a rescue that did not put a firefighter in danger. A Letter of Merit is for a rescue where a firefighter faced minimal danger. A Letter of Commendation is for a rescue where a firefighter faced a significant danger. A Station Citation is awarded to an entire crew The 2010 awards were presented as follows: Team Citation • • • • • Captain Rob Dies, Firefighters Tom Verhaeghe, Danny Martel, Peter Evans, Captain Barry Locke, Firefighters Michael Rainforth, Robert Anderson, Jamie Anderson, Acting Captain Sean Evoy, Firefighter Aidan Carr, Captain John Welsh, Firefighter Peter Atkins, Captain Brian Bertram, Firefighters David Robinson and Mike Wood Captain William Low, Firefighters John Prucha, Cole Sefc and Patrick Rusnak Captain Patrick MacFarlane, Firefighters Douglas Browne, Kenneth Parker and Jeff Dey Captain Charles Bellamy, Firefighters Bruce Tsang and Ron Pilkington Firefighters Jeffrey David, Peter Bader and Steven Primeau Rescue 434 was dispatched to a rooming house at 43 Twenty Second Street in the early morning of March 28th for the report of a fire in the building. When the crew arrived on scene, flames were visible and a 2nd alarm was requested. Captain Low and Firefighters Prucha and Sefc entered through the front door to search the first and second floor apartments. The crew advanced a hose line to the north side of the building to complete the second floor search and locate the fire. During the search, fire broke through the roof and a defensive position was taken. As they made their way out, they continuing their search, and a man was found by the Captain. The man was carried out by Prucha and Sefc to the front lawn for assessment. He was found to be vital signs absent and CPR was initiated by Prucha and Rusnak until patient care was transferred to EMS. Upon transfer of care to Paramedics, a pulse was detected, and the patient was taken to hospital for advanced life support. For conducting a successful rescue, Captain William Low, Firefighters John Prucha, Cole Sefc and Patrick Rusnak were awarded a Team Citation. 25 Rescue and Merit Awards - 2010 continued A lthough the following incident occurred early in 2011, the ceremony also recognized the Mayday rescues at 335 Yonge Street. On January 3, 2011, a fire at a vacant heritage building located at 335 Yonge Street necessitated the closure of Yonge Street, from Dundas Street to Gerrard Street. The fire spread rapidly through the 19th century building and was quickly upgraded to 6 alarms. During the process of fighting the now defensive fire, two firefighters who were on the roof of an adjacent building, fell 5 metres below into the burning building. Mayday was announced by one firefighter and the Rapid Intervention Team on standby, responded. Then another firefighter fell into the building. Two firefighters lay in the midst of smoke and flames; their whereabouts unknown. The RIT teams went to work and searched for the two firefighters. Once located, they collectively put their training into action and flawlessly executed a (type of rescue) to get both firefighters out of harms way. Fire Chief Stewart summarized the event during an interview that day. “The training that we put our people through worked; worked effectively, and you can tell by the smiles on the fellas’ faces this morning that it was a good rescue.” For quickly rescuing two firefighters in trouble, Captain Rob Dies, Firefighters Tom Verhaeghe, Danny Martel, Peter Evans, Captain Barry Locke, Firefighters Michael Rainforth, Robert Anderson, Jamie Anderson, Acting Captain Sean Evoy, Firefighter Aidan Carr, Captain John Welsh, Firefighter Peter Atkins, Captain Brian Bertram, Firefighters David Robinson and Mike Wood, were awarded a Team Citation Letter of Recognition • Robert McFater, Sean Weaver and Adam Yates • Adam Donadel Toronto firefighters were alerted to a fire in a 3 storey building under construction at 4 a.m. at the intersection of Yonge and Gould on January 3rd. The three-storey heritage building, formerly the Empress Hotel, was constructed in 1888 and was the only surviving 19th-century building on the east side of Yonge between Gould and Dundas streets. This 6 alarm fire at 335 Yonge Street, was extremely taxing to communications staff including an Urgent announcement and 2 Mayday distress calls. Robert McFater was the South Command dispatcher for this call and was very efficient and calm in the handling of the incident. He was assisted by Scott Weaver and Adam Yates in the radio communications not related to the Mayday but to other calls in South Command. There was great cooperation by the whole shift however these three individuals stood out and showed a level of excellence during this very demanding and dynamic incident. For excellence in performing Communication functions, Robert McFater, Sean Weaver and Adam Yates were awarded a Letter of Recognition. 26 Rescue and Merit Awards - 2010 continued Letter of Merit • • • • Acting District Chief Greg Weeks and Firefighters Tom Karnas Captain Glen Keogh, Firefighters Paul Versace, Ronald Nolan and Tony Buonfiglio Firefighters Craig Lester and James Huyton; and Firefighter David Kurmey Over a hundred firefighters battled a fully involved apartment fire at 200 Wellesley Street on September 24th. Due to the excess amount of personal effects within the unit, the fire burned for hours creating an extremely hot and smoke filled environment for firefighters to overcome. In the early stages of tackling this blaze, two firefighters became disoriented and were quickly running out of air. The cries of ‘Mayday, Mayday, Mayday’ could be heard over the radio calling for help. Immediately, the systematic approach to rescuing one of our own began. Two Rapid Intervention Teams or RIT for short, were sent to the 24th floor to commence the search. R326 had set up in a dangerous forward position and executed a fast and successful rescue of one firefighter while R325 crew pulled another firefighter into an elevator. Because the downed firefighter was already was out of air, the two firefighters shared their own air on the way down from the 24th floor. For a well executed rescue of fellow firefighters, Captain Glen Keogh, firefighters Paul Versace, Ronald Nolan and Tony Buonfiglio were awarded a Letter of Merit Station/Division Citation • • Station 315 Communications Division We sometimes forget the efforts of those who provide a supporting role when it comes to rescues and significant events. The staff of the Communications Division is no different. On September 24th when the first call came into the dispatch centre regarding the fire at 200 Wellesley Street East, over a hundred 911 calls were received that were directly related to the fire. During the course of events, an additional 2nd Alarm response in South Command was increased the number of calls to 361 between 5:00 pm and 6:00 am the next day. The excess volume required additional radio channels to be activated in order to receive further calls from the 911 call centre. Shift 2 staff performed their duties professionally and diligently while taking requests from tenants during the mass evacuation of the building. They were able to coordinate efforts between all agencies during this ongoing emergency situation. Dispatcher Adam Donadel was responsible for handling the incident while ensuring the safety of those firefighters on scene as his direct responsibility. He performed his role well in a calm and proficient manner For providing exceptional and ongoing service in support of all firefighting operations, the Communications Division was awarded a Citation. Dispatcher Donadel was also awarded a Letter of Recognition. 27 Rescue and Merit Awards - 2010 continued Stork Awards • • • • Firefighters David Quinn, Mark Middleton and Dan Villeneuve Firefighters Roger Martin and Glenn Williams Captain Alfred Lauzis, Firefighters Timothy Harrod and Nelson Domingues Captain Scott Harrison, Firefighters Enn Valk and Craig McGuire received 2 separate awards! At one in the morning on February 11th, R231 was dispatched to 255 Dolly Varden Blvd for an imminent birth. The crew was met at the door by the expectant mother and placed her on the floor in the hallway. The mother was being helped by the fire crew when Paramedics arrived. Firefighters and Paramedics worked together in tending to patients across the City everyday however it is not everyday that a brother and sister deliver a baby together. Firefighter Craig McGuire and Toronto Paramedic Michelle Robertson both work in the emergency services in the same city and just happened to go the very same call and worked side by side to deliver this baby. Civilian Awards Awards to civilians are presented in the same manner as awards to firefighters; however, civilians are presented with certificates rather than letters. 2010 Awards were presented as follows: Certificate of Commendation • Janie Leopold and Lee-Ann Murphy On December 8th, 2008 Janie Leopold was with a friend in her apartment at 25 Neilson Road when the sound of a smoke alarm was heard from the hallway. Shortly thereafter, she smelled smoke. The two then proceeded to the front of the first floor apartment where they saw flames coming out from around the door frame. Janie, who had a broken foot in an air cast, pounded on the door with her fist to alert the resident inside. A disoriented woman with her hair burning answered the door then attempted to go back inside when Janie grabbed her and pulled her out. The two rolled her in snow to put out the fire. After an assessment, a pulse was not detected in the woman. Janie and her friend picked her up and moved her to another location and re-assessed her to find she regained a pulse and was breathing on her own. Fire crews arrived to find flames and smoke venting from the front window and door and a fully involved fire in the apartment. Janie was taken to the hospital where she was administered oxygen and intravenous and released a few hours later. The occupant of the home is now living back in the same unit thanks to Janie who subsequently broke her wrist and re-broke her foot during the incident. For coming to the aid of others, Janie Leopold and Lee-Ann Murphy were awarded a Certificate of Commendation. 28 Rescue and Merit Awards - 2010 continued Certificate of Recognition • • • • Adam Nardi and Marco Mosquera Warren Bathie and David Kelton Richard English Nicole Phin On July 27th, at 98 Baby Point Road, a senior citizen fell into a backyard swimming pool and was discovered by her daughter after a few minutes. The daughter tried to get her out of the pool and was yelling for help. Construction workers next door heard the calls and ran over to lend a hand. Marco Mosquera and Adam Nardi assisted with removing the woman from pool and CPR was initiated by Adam. P422 arrived and assessed patient - no pulse, no breathing. P422 took over CPR and was about to initiate defibrillation protocol when Paramedics arrived. For their decision to help in a desperate situation, Adam Nardi and Marco Mosquera were each awarded a Certificate of Recognition. 29 Photos: John Hanley Photos: John Hanley Special thanks to John Hanley for the use of his photos. johnhanleyphoto.com For additional copies of this report, call Toronto Fire Services at 416-338-9070 or email [email protected] Fire Services Division Fire Services Cover photo: John Hanley Annual Report 2010