Strathroy-Caradoc Council got a good look at 2022 when it comes to local fire services. Chief Brent Smith reported to council that in 2022, the Department responded to 1371 events compared to 929 in 2021 and 950 in 2020. Fire responses are broken into multiple categories: fires, motor vehicle collisions, medicals, burn permits and complaints, fire and safety complaints from the public, and other miscellaneous events. Station responses are based on the 911 call sent out from dispatch to the first fire apparatus being recorded as arriving on scene. Average response times for Station 1 Strathroy was 10 minutes 21 seconds, Station 2 Mount Brydges: 13 minutes 06 seconds, and Station 3 Melbourne: 14 minutes 15 seconds. These dispatch times are dependent on the availability, proximity of firefighters to the stations, and the proximity of incidents to the stations.
Fire Loss and Call Statistics
23 fires with a total damage value of $2,271,500. All structure fires within the municipality averaged 9.5 firefighters attending per call and an average of 10 minutes and 32 seconds response time. A total of 614 hours and twelve minutes were required for these fire events. Total Firefighters attending and time spent for all calls had an average of 9.9 firefighters and 3,282 hours and 32 minutes.
Burn Permits
There were 412 burn permits issued for 2022 compared to 259 for 2021 and 273 for 2020.
Fire-Public Education
Lifted COVID-19 restrictions allowed the department to participate in various school and community events. Seventeen Public Education events were held, delivering fire and life safety information, including
the annual Fire Prevention Week Open House, extinguisher training, multiple community events, and the addition of a Fire Prevention booth at the Community Downtown Market. Currently, we have only 2 certified Fire and Public Safety Educators. In 2022, we have 9 firefighters that have
completed Fire Safety Educator level 1, though the Elgin Middlesex Training School, and currently 5 members enrolled in Public and Life Safety Educator 1 in 2023, and 1 members enrolled in the Public & Life Safety Educator 2.
Fire Prevention-Safety Inspections
In 2022, 376 Fire Inspections were conducted, with 145 fire inspection Orders written for noncompliance. In 2023, with the addition of a full-time Fire inspector, the Fire Prevention division has a very detailed plan. The goal is to complete thirty-five to fifty inspections monthly.
Strathroy-Caradoc Station Training
Thirty eight training sessions were conducted in 2022 by all three stations. Members trained on over 15 training subjects. Subjects included live fire training, preplanning, lecture presentations, hands-on firebase scenarios, and extrication training.
Staff Development, Outside Training Regional Fire Training School
Nine recruits received their NFPA 1001 Level 1 & 2 Firefighting certification in 2022, all received first responder medical training, and 8 received their DZ driver’s licenses. Twenty eight existing firefighters have completed training and certification in Incident Management,
Fire Service Instructor, General Rescuer, Fire Officer, and Pump Operations. The RTC 2023 calendar was released, and 20 members have applied for courses. Courses include Pumper Operations, Auto Extrication, Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, and Public Safety Education.
2023 PROJECTS
· Create and issue RFP for design and build of new Strathroy Station 1 in conjunction with CAO and other Directors.
· Acquisition of land for new combined Station 2 and 3 in response to Fire Location Study.
· Continue to create new programs and implementation of fire inspection program and public education program.
· Standardization of Apparatus and Equipment
· Create and implement more on line training to accommodate our firefighters that are shift workers.
· Continue to follow recommendations of all master plans and implement, adjust and create where necessary.
· Explore Modified Tiered Response Agreement with London/Middlesex EMS.
· Investigate the formation of a Technical Rescue Team
· Renew and modify automatic aid agreements, fire service contracts and mutual aid plans.
· Work with mutual aid partners
· Continue to develop new software and paging system to streamline reports, plans and paging.
· Maintain effective partnerships with SCPS and other service partners
· Hire Full-Time Fire Prevention Officer
· Build plan for potential future full time firefighter complete with full costing.
· Look for more revenue streams for department.
· Deliver PTSD resiliency program to all firefighters in 2023
· Ensure full certification of all firefighters (job specific) before 2024
Chief Officers are currently at 88% of Job Requirement Captains and Acting Captains are currently at 84% of Job Requirement Fire fighters are currently at 84% of Job Requirement.
All members requiring compliance have been registered in required courses to meet full compliance by January 2024.
All members will have met mandatory Provincial Compliance
and SCFD Job Description requirements by January 2024.
written by: SCFD/C.Soares