Fire Prevention is Everybody’s Business

A) Inspections

Driveways

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Dine

Although CRD Building inspection is responsible to enforce the rules stated in the building code, there is a provision to accept a lesser standard providing the safety risks can be reasonably mitigated. It is at this point that our inspector sets out to find alternatives that will minimize the risk and assist the land owner by providing alternative solutions to CRD building inspection for consideration.

Some of the alternatives that are used are:

• Ribbed pavement on excessive grades.
• Alternative accesses via neighboring properties.
• Sprinkler Systems.
• Dry Stand Pipes.
• Intermediate Staging areas, etc.

Our goal is to find solutions that allow the property to be developed while minimizing the risk to property owners and the community.

The bottom line is that when our fire trucks cannot get to a fire the odds of containing that fire are reduced. House fires can become forest fires that affect the community at large. Sprinklers are proven to be 99 per cent effective in containing the fire in the room of origin therefore saving the structure, the lives within and the rest of the community.

When the fire inspector considers driveway access he not only considers the risks of fire he also has to consider the accessibility for medical response. In many cases seconds make the difference between life and death. Try to imagine the frustration of getting to a property fast enough to provide life saving interventions only to discover that you cannot get the emergency vehicle up to the house.

You may not think of driveway inspections as saving lives but our inspection department does.

Commercial Property Inspections

Commercial properties are required to meet the requirements of the BC Fire Code. Since January 2006 our inspection department has undertaken to inspect the highest risks in our community on an annual basis.

The response to our inspections has been overwhelmingly positive. Members of our commercial and retail community have shown great initiative in making their places safe for employees and customers.

B) Public education

The goal of our public education program is to reduce risk by teaching our community how to prevent or reduce the dangers of fire and medical emergencies.

Some of the programs that we have put in place to accomplish this goal are:

• Fire Smart
  • Teaching property owners how to reduce the damage that can be caused by wild fire.
  • Seminars can be provided by request for a group of 10 or more property owners.

• Schools and pre schools We visit the schools at least once a year and provide the following functions:
  • Learn not to burn
  • Fun Days
  • Fire Safety House

• Fire extinguisher clinics
• Clinics are available to groups of 10 our more on request.
• The course teaches the students about the types of extinguishers, how to use them and most importantly when to use them.
• This is a hands on experience that may very well save your life or your property some day and once you have done it the knowledge is there for ever.

• Fire and Emergency Safety Training
  • These seminars are available to owners, managers and staff of commercial properties on request.
  • The course outlines emergency priorities, fire safety, fire extinguisher training, the importance of a fire safety plan and video clips of what can happen if you don’ t consider emergency planning.
• Cadets The goal of the cadet program is two fold. First, it is to involve our young people in real fire fighting training; the second is to expose them to our amazing volunteers. In the long term they may even join us on the volunteer force.
  • We have 10 Gulf Islands' cadets that practice twice a month, once a month on Salt Spring and once a month on Pender Island.
  • The program has been in place since March 2005 and already two of our cadets have joined the regular fire department.
  • This program is a hands on with our cadets helping at community events.

For more information please do not hesitate to contact:

Mike Dine
Deputy Fire Chief
Fire Prevention and Public Education
250-537-0101 (Direct)
or 250-629-3321 (Hall #1)