Annual Report 2014

City of surrey Overviews

Fire Department

The Fire Service helps to make our City a safe place to live. In addition to the Department’s Administration Division, the other three divisions include:

OPERATIONS DIVISION Operations is the largest division and is responsible for emergency medical services, fire suppression, hazardous materials response and rescue activities. In addition to activities handled by the Suppression Branch, the Operations Division is also responsible for the Prevention and Training Branches. Prevention: Prevention minimizes the risk of life and property loss, which is accomplished through Bylaws, the Fire Service Act and Fire Code Enforcement, public education and fire investigation. Fire Prevention Officers perform fire investigations, life safety inspections in commercial, assembly, and educational occupancies, re-inspections, as well as review plans for new buildings, renovations and construction sites for fire safety, occupancy approval, and business licenses. They also help to educate the public about fire safety. Training: The Training Branch develops and delivers training programs to enhance the skills, increase the competencies and expand the scope of training for Surrey’s 500 career and volunteer staff.

MECHANICAL DIVISION The Mechanical Division maintains, repairs and inspects the department’s fleet of specialty fire service vehicles and equipment. SURREY EMERGENCY PROGRAM Surrey’s Emergency Program includes: Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP); Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio (SEPAR); Surrey Search and Rescue (SSAR); Emergency Social Services (ESS); and Level One: Personal Disaster Assistance. Through these programs, City staff and the large network of volunteers provide valuable community emergency services.

2 0 1 4 A c c o m p l i s h m e n t s • To maintain operations based fleet capacity, vehicles with tenure at or beyond useful life were replaced with several vehicles providing economic, social and environmental benefits: One Air and Light Support truck with improved technological advancements to increase operational capabilities; Three tender trucks outfitted with increased storage capacity and water purification systems to aid in disasters where clean water is not accessible; and

• Delivered 47 Surrey Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness presentations to 971 attendees. • 12 emergency preparedness booths were conducted at various fairs, resulting in exposure to 7,375 additional individuals; 23 Level 1 emergency support service responses were coordinated; provided services for 84 displaced residents. • Partnered with BCIT and the Fire Chief’s Association to design an online course for building owners on their responsibilities to adhere to the BC Fire Code. • Secured relationship with Surrey Crime Prevention to identify vacant/abandoned buildings and other problematic properties in the City.

• Renewed dispatch client contracts for all existing clients for another 5 year term thereby securing revenues for the foreseeable future. • Electrical Fire Safety Initiative Team mandate expanded to include an inspection role with the High Risk Location (HRL) initiative involving RCMP and Bylaws. • Implemented video streaming capabilities for distance education/training in station, reducing travel required by fire apparatus to deliver training initiative. • Completed a comprehensive workforce planning study for future exempt positions. This achievement paves the way for the 2015 launch of the Administrative Development Program which is expected to foster staff development for future exempt positions. • Implemented real time performance metric monitoring with the use of business intelligence software.

Three Pumper trucks with on-board emission reducing systems such as Anti-Idling Auxiliary Power units to allow for trucks to function on scene without the main engines idling. • Continued to minimize absenteeism related costs through an Attendance Management Program that resulted in achieving a 62% perfect attendance.

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