Central Frontenac Adopts New Fire Master Plan At Special Meeting

Craig Bakay | Sep 25, 2024

The purpose of a Fire Master Plan is fourfold, Central Frontenac Fire Chief told Council at a special meeting Sept. 17 at the No. 3 Station in Sharbot Lake.

“It ensures that the Township is compliant with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and other applicable legislation,” Fire Chief Chris McDonough said. “It (also) provides recommendations about the appropriate levels of public education, code enforcement and fire suppression the Township should receive, allows staff to provide Council with information for making decisions that will protect lives and property and ensure the safety of the Department and its firefighters.

“(And) It provides a clear picture of the community’s current emergency services needs, as well as its anticipated future needs.”

In all, the report contains 23 recommendations under the headings of Legislation, bylaws and agreements (2), Occupational Health and Safety (4), SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, Training (4), Level of Service and resource development (4), Fire prevention and education (2), Future department organization (1), Water supply (2) and Emergency Management (3).

He said that the Province used to provide and advise municipalities on what they wanted them to do but “that’s all changed, now it’s up to Council.”

He said public safety risks range from a rail line fire/explosions/derailment (highest) to a fire/explosion at an industrial complex. Weather events and human health emergencies also rated high on the list of risks while a fire in a commercial complex rated second lowest.

He said they had been concerned about firefighter participation in Arden but that is no longer a worry with “more than 15” there now.

Some equipment is getting “antiquated” at 45 years old “and we need to keep moving forward with this and get ourselves up to speed.”

He also expressed a desire to upgrade communications, adding that with the new towers on Hwy 7 and in Parham, that aspect has been covered but there is a need to upgrade radios and gear.

“We have the capacity to put our system in place,” he said. “We just need the components.”

He said upgrading the communications systems would cost between $100,000 and $200,000

In all, the Fire Master Plan includes 23 recommendations both policy decisions (under Council’s authority) and operational decisions (under the fire department’s authority).

It was at that point that Coun. Phillip Smith asked: “If we accept this report today, when February rolls around (ie budget time), what are we committing to?”

“You’re not committing to $400,000 today,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “You’re committing to working towards getting this system manageable and workable.”

On a different aspect of communications, McDonough said that when consultants were brought in to poll firefighters, “the common thread was a lack of communication internally.

“(To that end) we began an internal newsletter and 98 per cent said we’ve improved that in the last 12 months.”

One aspect of the department the Chief seemed particularly pleased with is their training regime, turning things over to Dep. Chief Jesse Gilroy, who in conjunction with McDonough has been serving as training officer.

“We’ve been doing more internal training,” Gilroy said. “We’ve just finished up some sessions and we’re now at 87 per cent certified Firefighter 1.

“We’re in pretty good shape.”

Gilroy said that in the past, sending a recruit to the Fire College to be certified could cost around $1,200 but “doing it internally basically costs us lunch and wages.”

McDonough said “the only weak spot is Mountain Grove but Arden and Mountain Grove working together seems to work well.”

He said they’re in good shape for bunker gear (having been all replaced in 2018 and the same with air packs.

He said in terms of emergency preparedness, they could use a new generator or two.

“How often does the power go out at your place?” he said.

“It’s monthly at my house,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

McDonough summed this up by saying “the level of service we’re providing is adequate for here.”

Council accepted the report.