Newfoundland and Labrador Association of
Fire Services
PMA Conference St John’s
April 23,2010
www.nlfireservices.com
Spare:
• Arms of Council
• Your responsibility.
• Must be included in
the local
government’s finance
framework.
Who we are…
Formed in 1964 by a group of NL Fire Chiefs
Provincial Firefighters Association
Over 200 Fire departments –
6000 firefighters in membership
voice of the fire service to the government
we have a cooperative working relationship with
FES-NL and the provincial government
• Proud to be affiliated with MNL- PMA
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Use our list server - Stay Informed !
Who we are…
• Website
• 6000 firefighters in membership
• voice of the fire service to the government
• Proud to be affiliated with MNL
Fire Departments are:
• The key emergency service
provided by a municipal council to
its residents.
Spare:
• Arms of Council
• Your responsibility.
• Must be included in
the local
government’s finance
framework.
Its not all about fires – we do handle
other emergencies.
Fire Departments are:
•Community organizations
•Essential organizations
•Typically the last volunteer
organization to survive.
•The thermometer to the
morale and the strength
of a community and its’
spirit.
Fire Departments are:
• Arms of Council
• Your responsibility
• Must be included in
the local
government’s finance
framework.
Fire Departments are:
• NOT stand
alone or
autonomous
organizations
WHO’s RESPONSIBILTY
• The ultimate responsibility for fire protection
and fire prevention rests with the Municipal
Council or Local Service District governing
committee.
• It is their responsibility to decide if they want
to establish or continue fire protection.
Fire Departments-Dept of Council
MUNICIPALITIES ACT give councils authority to create a fire
dept.
Section 183.
A council may establish, operate and maintain a
fire department composed entirely or partly of volunteer
members or of paid employees, and acquire or provide a
fire hall, fire alarm system, fire engines, hydrants and
other apparatus and appliances for the purpose of fire
fighting, fire prevention and responding to and providing
emergency services for other emergencies that may be
authorized by the minister, either inside or outside the
municipality's boundaries.
Fire Department-LSD
The MUNICIPALITIES ACT give Local Service districts authority
under the LSD regulations to create a fire dept.
Section 50.
Under section 642 of the Act, the committee may
(a) contract for fire protection
(b) construct, acquire, establish, own and operate a fire
hall, fire engines and other apparatus that is necessary for
firefighting and fire.
Fire Chief Regulations
• NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
REGULATION 26/00
• Fire Chief Regulations
under the
Municipalities Act, 1999
• (Under the authority of section 415 of
the Municipalities Act, 1999
• Dated at St. John’s, May 3, 2000.
FIRE CHIEF
• Definition
• In these regulations, "fire chief"
means an officer in charge of a
fire department of a municipality
or local service district.
Duties of Fire Chief:
• Duties of fire chief
• 3. (1) A fire chief shall
– (a) recommend to the council or local service
district committee the most suitable form and
method of organization for the fire department
and recommend rules and regulations for its
control and management;
– (b) prepare and submit to the council or local
service district committee itemized estimates of
the financial needs of the fire department for
supplies, equipment and personnel;
Duties of Fire Chief:
– (c) deploy fire department personnel for maximum
effectiveness;
– (d) maintain a program of recruitment, selection and
promotion of personnel;
– (e) supervise the evaluation of personnel and provide a
comprehensive training program;
Duties of Fire Chief:
– (f) where a fire department is authorized by the minister to
respond to emergencies other than fires, ensure that
department personnel are trained in standard first aid and basic
life support, and have completed the minimum standards for a
first responder level certificate within 24 months from the
authorization;
– (g) respond to and take command at fires or other emergencies,
and direct firefighting and other emergency activities, either
personally or through subordinate officers;
Duties of Fire Chief:
– (h) maintain a liaison with provincial firefighting and fire
prevention authorities and promote public awareness of
fire prevention techniques;
– (i) prepare reports on firefighting equipment and
apparatus and inspect and prepare fire protection, fire
prevention and life safety reports on buildings and
areas;
– (j) recommend fire protection plans to the council or
local service district committee; and
Duties of Fire Chief:
(k) carry out other duties assigned by the manager
or, where there is no manager, by the council or
local service district committee.
• (2) The duties in subsection (1) may, in the absence
or inability of the fire chief, be carried out by a
person designated by the fire chief, manager, council
or local service district.
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Fire Protection Challenges
• Funding (operations, equipment,
training)
• Recruitment and retention of firefighters.
• 911 Coverage
• Municipal Emergency Planning
Fire Protection Challenges
• Training
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Firefighting Training
Emergency Response Training
Administration Training
Leadership Training – neglected
Minimum Training Standards
• The provincial fire commissioner has
developed criteria for minimum standards
for firefighters in Newfoundland and
Labrador.
• This criteria is an excellent tool to guide
municipalities and local governments in their
training requirements.
Minimum Standard
Orientation Level
• Developed by the NL Fire service.
• Very basic minimum knowledge required to
attend an emergency scene.
• A standard guide to providing adequate
orientation to all responders, regardless of
experience.
• OHS regulations
Challenges Bill C-45
• "2.17.1 Every one who undertakes, or
has the authority, to direct how another
person does work or performs a task is
under a legal duty to take reasonable
steps to prevent bodily harm to that
person, or any other person, arising from
that work or task."
OHS Regulations
• Volunteer fire departments fall under the
requirements of the provinces OHS
regulations.
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Breathing Apparatus
Heights
Traffic
etc
Minimum Standard
Orientation Level
• Fire Commissioner
requires this
training completed
as a mandatory
requirement.
• Many
misconceptions
6 Orientation Topics
1. Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation
Commission (WHSCC)
2.Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS)/Transportation of Dangerous
Goods (TDG)/Hazmat
3. Occupation Health and Safety (OH&S)
4.Incident Command System (ICS)
5. Safety on the Scene
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum Standards
Defensive Level Guidlines
• Protects the
surrounding structures.
• Does not enter
structure to engage in
interior fire attack.
• 2 day Basic course
Minimum Standards
Offensive Level Guidlines
• Guidelines for
training
• Interior fire attack
and of rescue of
trapped persons.
• NFPA 1001 Level 1
Train Your firefighters
3 ways to of motivating
firefighters.
Technology
Training
Tragedy
Train Your firefighters
Council should decide
what level of fire
service the
community desires
and can afford.
Training and Equipment
should reflect that
strategy.
Annual Training Conference
• At PMA 170 plus
municipalities
participated
• 163 municipalities present
at MNL Conference
• Fire service conference
only 70 municipalities.
• Some fire chiefs have pay
their own way
individually.
Fire School
Spring and Fall
• Various locations in
the province.
• Something for every
level of firefighter.
• Matched training
fund eligible.
• May 30-June 6 in
Grand Falls-Windsor
Fire School
• Over 30 Courses
• Various locations in
the province.
• Something for every
level of firefighter.
• Matched training
fund eligible.
Challenges
• Funding
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Fire Trucks
Training
Fire Hall and utilities
Paging and communications
Insurance
List goes on….
Solutions
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Lobbying governments
Invest in training
Partner with other
Regionalization
Thank You –
Discussion/Questions
www.nlfireservices.com
Fire Chief Vince Mackenzie
President , NLAFS
Grand Falls Windsor Fire Department
709 -489-0431
www.nlfireservices.com