KAWARTHA LAKES-Chief Terry Jones says recruitment is going well and 30 new volunteers are in the process of being trained and ready to deploy to stations. Another 30 will be recruited during the remainder of the year.
Chief Jones explained, “Due to the dedication and professionalism of Station Captains, we are able to keep volunteer firefighters trained to the provincial standard. Maintaining training for upwards of 400 firefighters across 19 stations over 3200 square kilometres, amid changing mandatory requirements and pandemic demands is daunting at times. It is because we have citizens willing to become volunteer firefighters that we can sustain our hybrid model. With Council support to build a long term plan, I’m confident we are addressing the training shortcomings of the past,” noted Chief Jones.
An independent, third-party review of Kawartha Lakes Fire and Rescue found public safety is being jeopardized by an “ineffective low-cost resourcing model” that does not meet peer comparator Fire departments’ urban station staffing and service levels.
Performance Concepts Consulting Inc. (PCC)was retained by the City of Kawartha Lakes in late September 2021 to execute a Fire Service Modernization Review that was designed and executed to answer a series of core questions around service delivery efficiency (cost) and effectiveness (quality). This independent 3rd party Final Report was completed on January 31, 2022 and is meant to position the City to fully comply with the terms of its Audit and Accountability Fund funding contract with the Province.
According to the review Kawartha Lakes has a deficit of more than 70 volunteer firefighters to meet the Kawartha Lakes target of 20 firefighters per station. Only two stations (#12 and #21) currently meet or exceed the target and this not only impacts safety but could also impact insurance rates for residents.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada requires a minimum of 15 active volunteer firefighters per hall, with 21 preferred. 7 of 19 Kawartha Lakes stations are currently below the 15-firefighter minimum, with 4 more stations hovering at/around the Insurance Bureau minimum.
“Continued station staffing levels below the active firefighter minimum place thousands of residential and business property taxpayers at risk of higher insurance premiums.” says the report.
The review found also unacceptable response times to get 4 firefighters on-scene to execute an internal attack/rescue constitute a significant risk to public and firefighter safety.
“This failed deployment/resourcing model results in a significant response time lag for delivering 4-firefighters on- scene to most Lindsay structure fires. The result is serious erosion in the capacity of Kawartha Lakes Fire to deliver a timely internal attack/rescue response that complies with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)guidelines.” said the report.
Performance Concepts Consulting said the City of Kawartha Lakes should immediately adopt a performance target of 100% compliance when it comes to deploying “4 firefighters on the 1st Truck” for Lindsay station structure fire responses.
“The wait times associated with the arrival of the 4th firefighter on a second truck represent an unacceptable public safety risk in the professional opinion of the Performance Concepts team,” said the report.
Read our exclusive report here: https://www.kawartha411.ca/2022/03/08/independent-review-of-kawartha-lakes-fire-found-unacceptable-response-times-constitute-significant-risk-to-public-and-firefighter-safety/
CAO Ron Taylor says the review was intended to provide supplementary information to the Master Fire Plan.
Ron Taylor, CAO, noted, “This Review was developed with bargaining units, Council, firefighters and key partners. The results were not a surprise, but rather confirmed much of the direction in our Master Fire Plan. This Council has shown its commitment to meeting the required service standards for public safety, while balancing taxpayer affordability. Our approach will continue to be a slow and steady investment to extend fleet lifecycles and a focus on safeguarding the health of our firefighters. With the support of the current and future Councils, we will accelerate strategic investments in fleet, personnel and safety where required, and in tandem with significant growth.”
At the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 3, Chief Jones provided Council a review of the financial requirements to meet the Fire Service’s needs over the next 10 years.
The requirements have been documented in the Master Fire Plan which was created with administration and a consultant and further informed by the review. At the May 17 Regular Council meeting, the Master Fire Plan was adopted by Council.
The Chief outlined a strategy to protect the health and well being of the City’s firefighters. This includes a number of action items to improve physical health such as air filters systems in all stations, decontamination units on scene and in stations.
The mental health of firefighters is being supported by key initiatives such as a Peer Support Program, post-incident debriefs and ‘Working Mind for First Responders’ program facilitated through and developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Cameron Smith, Deputy Chief, reviewed the strategy of capital investments into the Service’s 19 Fire Stations, noting:
- A new headquarters to be designed in 2027 and completed in 2029 or as the tax base and growth permits, at a projected total cost of $10 million.
- The Master Fire Plan includes a capital maintenance plan for all other stations to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the community, at an estimated cost of $5.5 million over the next decade.
Budget highlights to meet growth demands
- Approval for procurement of new pumper and tanker trucks in April 2022 to meet the requirements for Superior Tanker Shuttle Certification and to maintain the fleet replacement schedule, approximately $1.8 million from the Fire Service Fleet Reserve.
- Recommendation of the hiring of two full time firefighters in 2023 and 2024, $180,000 each year, to ensure response of four firefighters on scene to deliver timely internal attack/rescue that complies with NFPA guidelines. Meeting this standard will increase the safety to the public and firefighters.
- A second Training Officer in 2024 to maintain the training required for 400 volunteers and full time staff to meet legislated certification requirements, $160,000.
Mayor Letham commented, “This Council is committed to modernization, with the goal of providing innovative, cost-effective and reliable programs and services. These Reviews and long term plans are important to help Councils make informed investments and decisions. Our goal is to adopt sustainable operating and capital resourcing that optimizes taxpayer value for money.”
