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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BALDWIN
BY-LAW NO. 760
BEING a By-law to rescind By-Law NO. 592, to establish a Fire Department.
WHEREAS the Fire Prevention and Protection Act, 1997, S.O., c 4 as amended, requires every
municipality to a) establish a program in the municipality which must include public education with
respect to fire safety and certain components of fire prevention; and b) provide such other fire
protection services as it determines may be necessary in accordance with its needs and circumstances;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the Township, as
follows:
1. In this by-law, unless the context requires,
a) approved means approved by council
b) chief administrative officer means the person appointed by council to act as chief administrative
officer for the corporation
c) company means compliment of personnel operating one or more pieces of equipment
d) corporation means the Corporation of the Township of Baldwin
e) council means the council of the Corporation of the Township of Baldwin
f) deemed means determined by first arriving company
g) fire area as described in Appendix C, forming part of this by-law
h) deputy chief means the person appointed by council to act on behalf of the fire chief of the fire
department in the case of an absence or a vacancy in the office of the fire chief
i)
fire chief means the person appointed by council to act as fire chief for the corporation
j)
fire department means the Township of Baldwin Fire Department
k) fire protection services includes fire suppression, fire prevention, fire safety education,
communication, training of persons involved in the provision of fire protection services, rescue
and emergency services and the delivery of all those services as described in Appendix B and D
forming part of this by-law
l)
member means any persons employed in, or appointed to, a fire department and assigned to
undertake fire protection services and includes officers and volunteer firefighters
m) volunteer firefighter means a firefighter who provides fire protection services either voluntarily
or for a nominal consideration, honorarium, training or activity allowance
2. A fire department for the Township of Baldwin to be known as the Township of Baldwin Fire
Department is hereby established and the head of the fire department shall be known as the fire
chief.
3. The fire department shall be structured in conformance with the approved Organizational Chart,
Table 1. The Mission Statement and Primary Goals of the fire department are found in Appendix A.
4. In addition to the fire chief, the council shall appoint a deputy chief and such number of other
officers and members as may be deemed necessary by the council.
5. The fire chief may recommend to the council the appointment of any qualified persona as a member
of the fire department, subject to the approved hiring policies of the Township of Baldwin.
6. Persons appointed as members of the fire department to provide fire protection services shall be on
probation for a period of 12 months, during which period they shall take such special training and
examination as may be required by the fire chief.
7. If a probationary member appointed to provide fire protection services fails any such examinations,
the fire chief may recommend to the council that he/she be dismissed.
8. The remuneration of the volunteer members shall be as determined by council.
9. The fire chief is responsible to council, through the clerk for proper administration and operation of
the fire department including all fire department functions and programs.
10. The fire chief shall implement all approved policies and shall develop such operating guidelines,
general orders and departmental rules as necessary to implement the approved policies and to
ensure the appropriate care and protection of all fire department personnel and fire department
equipment.
11. The fire chief shall review periodically all policies, orders, rules and operating guidelines of the fire
department and may establish and advisory committee consisting of such members of the fire
department as the fire chief may determine from time to time to assist in these duties.
12. The fire chief shall submit to the clerk and council for approval, the annual budget estimates for the
fire department, a monthly report and any other specific reports requested by the clerk or council.
13. Each division of the fire department is the responsibility of the fire chief and is under the direction of
the fire chief or a member designated by the fire chief. Designated members shall report to the fire
chief on divisions and activities under their supervision and shall carry out all orders of the fire chief.
14. Where the fire chief designates a member to act in the place of an officer in the fire department,
such member, when so acting, has all of the powers and shall perform all the duties of the officer
replaced.
15. The fire chief may reprimand, suspend or recommend dismissal of any member for infraction of any
provisions of this by-law, policies, general orders and departmental rules that, in the opinion of the
fire chief, would be detrimental to discipline or the efficiency of the fire department.
16. Following the suspension of a member, the fire chief shall immediately report, in writing, the
suspension and recommendation to the clerk and council.
17. A volunteer firefighter shall not be dismissed without the opportunity for a review of termination, if
he/she makes a written request for such a review within seven working days after receiving
notification of the proposed dismissal. A person appointed by the municipality, who is not
employed in the fire department, shall conduct the review.
18. The fire chief shall take all proper measures for the prevention, control and extinguishment of fires
and the protection of life and property and shall exercise all powers mandated by the Fire
Protection and Prevention Act, and the fire chief shall be empowered to authorize:
a) pulling down or demolishing any building or structure to prevent the spread of fire
b) all necessary actions which may include boarding up or barricading of buildings or property to
guard against fire or other danger, risk or accident, when unable to contact the property owner
c) recovery of expenses incurred by such necessary actions for the corporation in the manner
provided through the Municipal Act and the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.
19. The fire department shall not respond to a call with respect to a fire or emergency outside the limits
of the municipality with respect to a fire or emergency:
a) that in the opinion of the fire chief or designate of the fire department, threatens property in
the municipality or property situated outside the municipality that is owned or occupied by the
municipality
b) in a municipality with which an approved agreement has been entered into to provide fire
protection services which may include automatic aid
c) on property with which an approved agreement has been entered into with any person or
corporation to provide fire protection services
d) at the discretion of the fire chief, to a municipality authorized to participate in any county,
district or regional mutual aid plan established by a fire coordinator appointed by the Fire
Marshall or any other similar reciprocal plan or program
e) on property beyond the municipal boundary where the fire chief or designate determines
immediate action is necessary to preserve life or property and the appropriate department is
notified to respond and assume command or establish alternative measures, acceptable to the
fire chief or designate
This by-law shall come into force and take effect on the date of its passing
Read a FIRST, and SECOND time and deemed to be read a THIRD time and passed in open Council this
13th day of November 2012.
___________________________ __________________________
REEVE
CLERK-TREASURER
Appendix "A"
FIRE DEPARTMENT
GOALS AND MISSION STATEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
The primary mission of the Fire Department is to provide a range of programs to protect the lives and
property of the inhabitants of the Township of Baldwin from the adverse effects of fires or exposure to
dangerous conditions created by man or nature. These programs include, but are not limited to, fire
prevention, public safety education, rescue and fire suppression services.
PRIMARY GOALS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The goal of the fire department is to provide fire protection and prevention services through a range of
programs. These programs are designed to protect the lives and property of the inhabitants from the
adverse effects of fires, or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature. The order of
priority is first to their municipality; second, to those municipalities requiring assistance through
authorized Mutual Aid activities; and third, to those municipalities that are provided fire protection by
the fire department via authorized agreement.
Primary objectives of the fire department:
In order to achieve the goal of the fire department, necessary funding must be in place and the
following objectives met:
1) Identify and review the fire protection services requirements of the municipality
2) Provide an administrative process consistent with the needs of the department
3) Ensure that firefighting equipment and adequate personnel are available within the municipality to
provide an uninterrupted response to a citizen's call within the department's jurisdiction, on a 24
hours/day, seven days/week basis
4) Provide departmental records to an accepted standard which will ensure the continuous upgrading
of all personnel in the latest techniques of fire prevention firefighting and control of emergency
situations and to co-operate with other departments of the corporation with respect to
management training and other programs.
5) Provide a maintenance program to ensure all fire protection apparatus, including allied equipment,
is ready to respond to emergency calls.
6) Provide an effective fire prevention program to:
ensure compliance with applicable legislation, statutes, codes and regulations.
educate the residents of the community in fire safety.
Reduce and/or eliminate fire hazards.
7) Ensure that in the event of a major catastrophe in the community, assistance to deal with the
situation is available from outside services and agencies.
8) Develop and maintain a good working relationship with the Office of the Fire Marshal and other
agencies related to the protection of life and property.
Appendix "B"
FIRE PREVENTION/EDUCATION POLICY
General
This fire prevention policy has been reviewed and approved by Municipal Council and is applicable in its
entirety for the whole of the community.
This policy will detail fire prevention and public education programs which will assist in reducing or
eliminating concerns by members of the fire department and the public relating to fire
prevention/education objectives.
The fire department will ensure that accurate fire loss data is collected, submitted to the OFM and
managed in a database or other form of file retention for future use.
Upon request, copies of this policy are available for the public through the municipal office.
Annual Compliance Report
Every municipality/fire department in Ontario has received a certificate from the Office of the Fire
Marshal (OFM) confirming that it was in compliance with clause 2.(1)(a) of the Fire Protection and
Prevention Act, 1997 (FIPPA) at the time the certificate was given.
For a municipality/fire department to be deemed in continued compliance with clause 2.(1)(a), it has to
complete the self-assessment form provided by OFM, that covers the four key requirements: simplified
risk assessment; smoke alarm program, including home escape planning; distribution of public
education information and implementation of public education programs; and, fire prevention
inspections upon complaint or request.
Completing the Annual Compliance Report entails:
reviewing/revising the simplified risk assessment;
filling out a form entitled Compliance Self-Assessment Form;
signing the Declaration of Compliance; and
returning the Report to the OFM on or before the compliance date.
Simplified Risk Assessment
Conducting and maintaining a simplified risk Assessment (SRA) is a practical information gathering and
analyzing exercise intended to create a community fire profile that will aid in identifying appropriate
programs or activities that can be implemented to effectively address the community's fire safety needs
based upon local needs and circumstances. Reference OFM Public Fire Safety Guideline (PFSG) 04-40A-
03.
Smoke Alarm Program
The fire chief and the members of the fire department shall develop a smoke alarm program suitable for
their communities and which meets the needs of their community. The Alarmed for Life program, which
can be used in whole or in part, should be used as a best practice example of a smoke alarm program. It
is important that the fire department track and maintain their smoke alarm program activities.
Reference PFSG 04-40B-03.
Public Education/Awareness Programs
The fire chief and the members will provide a variety of fire safety education programs for members of
the community as requested and in accordance to areas identified in the community's simplified risk
assessment.
In addition to the school program, social service and special interest groups may request specific
programs including, but not limited to, Alarmed for Life, Older & Wiser, Remembering When, Kitchen
Safety, Risk Watch or any other program which meets the needs of the group and the fire department.
The public may also request tours of the fire station through the fire chief. The fire chief will make the
necessary arrangements and assign personnel. The station tour should include an educational
component during the tour. For example: demonstrating how a smoke alarm works, what it sounds like
and what to do when the alarm activities including fire escape planning. The fire department to track all
activities related to public education/awareness programs for evaluating purposes.
Distribution of Public Education Material
Fire safety education material will be distributed to residents and/or occupants consistent with the
community's needs and circumstances in various ways. Distribution of fire safety education material will
be on-going throughout the year on various topics and made available to the residents at any
community event, building or fire station. It is important for the fire department to track the
distribution of materials. Reference PFSG 04-40C-03.
Inspections
It is the policy of the fire department to conduct fire prevention inspections of occupancies upon
request to comply with the Ontario Fire Code (OFC) or when a written complaint is received. The OFM
will provide advice and assistance to the fire department when the assigned personnel do not have the
experience and knowledge to perform the inspection. During any residential occupancy inspection, the
fire department will ensure that the smoke alarm(s) are properly placed and are in working order. All
inspections conducted must ensure compliance with the OFC via required follow-up inspection and/or
enforcement of OFC. The fire department must track all activities related to the inspection program.
Reference PFSG 04-40D-03 & 04-50-12.
Note: regular/annual inspections conducted on "high risk" buildings as identified in the community
SRA to be listed by occupancy type and frequency of inspections.
Open Air Burning
Open air burning on private land is only permitted with the approval of the fire chief and on crown land
with the approval of the Ministry of Natural Resources. All burning will be conducted in accordance with
the Forest Fires Prevention Act, R.S.O., and the Ontario Fire Code, which prescribes limitations for such
burning.
Fireplaces and Woodstoves
These appliances will be inspected upon request, however, where they are existing fixtures; comments
will be limited to only the visible portions of the unit at time of inspection. Inspections will not be
conducted for the purpose of insurance approvals but the owner will be advised to contact a WETT
certified technician.
Change of Occupancy or Ownership
These inspections may be conducted when requested by the purchaser's solicitor only when written
permission has been obtained from the owner or the owner's agent to release information.
A fee may be charged for any or all of the above referenced inspections.
A fee schedule shall be developed by the fire department and made available upon request.
Investigation of Fires
The fire chief or designated officer will investigate the origin and cause of all fires within the community.
The OFM will be notified for the following reasons: Large loss fire ($500,000), suspicion of arson,
fatality, serious injury, a gaseous explosion, marihuana grow operations (MGOs), and clandestine drug
laboratories. The fire chief or designated officer will assist the OFM investigator as requested.
Conclusion
This fire prevention policy provides for the participation of all members of the department in fire
prevention and public education activities. It also addresses request and complaint inspections and its
intended as affirmative direction to the fire chief, members and the public.
All activities shall be tracked on forms, which will include the minimum same information as the
examples attached to this policy.
Appendix "C"
FIRE AREA
Accessible areas in the geographic township of Baldwin in the District of Sudbury.
Appendix "D"
SCOPE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED
Definitions
"Fire protection Services" includes fire suppression, fire prevention, fire safety education,
communications, training of persons involved in the provision of fire protection services, rescue and
emergency services and the delivery of all those services.
"Deemed accessible" means as determined by the first arriving company.
"Fire area" means the area of response as defined in the agreement.
General
Fire protection services are intended to provide assistance for the protection of life and property to the
level of training and equipment available to the fire department. This appendix provides guidance on
the expected level of service provided to the public in the fire area.
If a fire chief and or incident commander decide to exceed the listed level of service based on the
number of adequately trained firefighters and appropriate equipment/resources available on scene, he
or she is ultimately responsible for the decision.
Provisions of services shall be commensurate with the emergencies location and accessibility. Due to
the fire department's reliance upon volunteer firefighters, the fire area and the level of training and the
equipment at the department's disposal similar services will be provided in similar circumstances.
It is the objective of the fire department to meet the emergency needs in locations deemed accessible
as quickly and as safely as possible.
In ALL cases, services cannot be delivered without an adequate number of trained and capable
firefighters that have appropriate supervision, resources and equipment.
The fire department shall inform the community of the type and level of services provided.
Core Services
Fire Suppression
Structural Fire Suppression
Shall consist of:
1. Structural firefighting with full interior firefighting and rescue.
NOTE: interior operations will only be considered when the Incident Commander has
completed an incident size-up, a minimum number of ten (10) firefighters are available on scene
with an adequate level of training and the equipment required to safely address the situation.
In addition an Incident Management System must be implemented at all emergency scenes.
2. Vehicle fires
3. Wildland firefighting subject to the Ministry of Natural Resources Agreement that may be in
effect at the time.
Rescue
Shall consist of:
1. Vehicle accidents
2. Vehicle extrication
3. Water rescue - shore based
4. Ice rescue - shore based
Hazardous Materials Incidents
Shall consist of:
1. Awareness level only.
Other Incidents
Shall consist of:
1. Ambulance/medical assistance response based on signed agreement.
NOTE: At no time will fire department personnel participate in emergency operations at a level that
they are not trained and equipped to carry out safely.
Appendix "E"
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Council
Clerk
Fire Chief
Captains
Volunteer
Firefighters
Deputy
Chief
Council
Liaison