City of Surrey's 2024-2028 Financial Plan

FIRE

2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

INCLUSION

• Continued to work on behalf of the City Manager with BC Emergency Health Services (“BCEHS”) to establish collaborative working groups to seek alternative, more efficient approaches for Fire Services and Ambulance Services involvement in responding to medical emergencies in Surrey; • Delivered 19 workshops designed to support diversity in the Fire Service by providing equitable access to information required to become a firefighter; • 171 women have accessed firefighting workshops designed to support career development in the fire service; and

Participated in Occupational Awareness Training to help build psychological health and resilience. This 12-module program was developed in conjunction with the BC Municipal Safety Association, the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC.

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Surrey Fire Service aims to support the diversity in the fire service by hosting women in fire fighting workshops throughout the year

BUILT ENVIRONMENT & NEIGHBOURHOODS

• The Community Property Safety Team (“CPST”) treats distressed residential properties with an immediate focus on unsecured or breached abandoned properties by ensuring that property owners maintain their properties in a safety- focused manner to reduce the risk of fire, loss of life or injury. Since inception, 1,830 properties have been identified by the CPST, 950 of those properties were demolished by their owners, and 418 properties re-invested and 333 properties are considered stable with no further interventions required. The program’s success at identifying distressed properties using predictive modeling combined with progressive security measures, targeted inspections, and reporting of security breaches by fire crews has resulted in a reduction of structure fires in abandoned homes. This program continues to prioritize safety for the public and reduce associated risks to firefighters.

City of Surrey | 2024—2028 Financial Plan | General Operating Fund | Fire

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