Obviously each area of capacity comes with it its inherent standards such as Structural Fire or Wildland Fire or Medical or Marine and Boat Ops, so each area of service we say we offer needs to be measure against the ability to train and respond with the right kit and equipment and certified personnel, who maintain those competencies etc.

How do we start or have a Fire Dept?

(Fire Department may also be known as Fire Rescue, Fire and Emergency Services and also a Fire Brigade.)

© Gary Foo 2019 Rev 2022 Updated Oct 2021 and Revised Nov 2022 (Dates added below)

INDIGENOUS TERMINOLOGY

As a First Nations, and therefore, an Indigenous Fire Service, we would first expect you to be aware of how Tribal Councils, Treaties and Band Councils are governed, administered and led.

Terminology and cultural practices are fundamental to the communities we serve and it’s important to remember that before we get into the way in which Fire Services operate on First Nations Reserves. 

Background

A Fire Department is usually established by a municipal by-law or Band Council Resolution (BCR) on First Nations or similar with articles for how it will operate and level of service it will provide and requires Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines (SOPs / SOGs). 

Whether an established Fire Department or a new one starting, it will usually have or may have to consider the following when it sets up (and this list is not exhaustive):

A Fire Leadership & Management Team

The Team needs to have dedicated focused Leaders, especially 1 or 2 main driving personalities who will ensure this gets started and actions. You may also need competent partners and allies who will help build and even maintain this on a contract, full time / part time, temporary, permanent (foreseeable) and ongoing basis.

A Fire Master Plan (FMP)

The FMP is an Action Plan is usually drafted by the Fire Chief, with input from other relevant parties like Deputies, heads and leads, etc. It provides the vision, direction, and guidance to the Fire Department in the delivery of fire and emergency services and in context of its communities, usually over the next 5, 10 + years.

Fire Underwriters Survey FUS

The FUS is a national organization administered by OPTA Information Intelligence, formerly CGI Insurance Business Services, formerly the Insurers' Advisory Organization and Canadian Underwriters Association. It presents many standards relevant to providing Fire Safety services for your community.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global self-funded nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. It provides many standards relevant to providing Fire Protection and Rescue services including individual standards for firefighters and rescuers such as NFPA 1001 (for Structural Firefighter) and NFPA 1006 (for Technical Rescue). Some of the organizational standards for departments amongst many are:

NFPA 1500

NFPA 1500 specifies the minimum requirements for an occupational safety and health program for fire departments or organizations that provide rescue, fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials mitigation, special operations, and other emergency services.

NFPA 1710

NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments.

NFPA 1720

NFPA 1720, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire

National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC)

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) is the result of an Indigenous developed framework designed to support Indigenous communities in the development of their internal capacity to support community safety and resiliency.

The NIFSC is Indigenous inspired, designed, and led in collaboration with regional & national Indigenous communities, organizations & leaders.

The Indigenous Fire Marshal Service

The Indigenous Fire Marshal Service (IFMS) is responsible for the responsive and evolving delivery of IFMS programs and services and is the operational arm of NIFSC.

A Statement from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) states:

The CAFC and the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) long advocated for: 

1. The introduction of federal legislation to apply federal or provincial building and fire codes to First Nations communities.

2.  The federal government to create a legislative framework mandating fire inspection, an enforcement protocol to address code infractions and the process of conducting fire investigations, to be introduced in a stepwise and strategic fashion.

3. The federal government to provide AFAC with the appropriate capacity and mandate to carry out these inspections through regional First Nations partners.

4. Continue to fund the creation of an independent Indigenous Fire Marshall Service under the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) which is housed within the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada’s corporate structure.

In May 2018, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett announced an agreement in principle for the formation of an Indigenous federal fire marshal’s office.

In April 2022, the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council is expected to formally launch the IFMO. Several fire safety projects are underway and can be seen here: https://indigenousfiresafety.ca/ 

To date, the IFMS have rolled out several programs and continue to grow and evolve into their role.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) of Ontario

The OFM provides leadership and expertise on fire safety, & promotes changes to minimize the impact of fire and other public safety hazards on people, property and in Ontario.

The OFM Manages and lead on many programs, which are not just restricted to the 444 Ontario municipalities.

The current administration is very supportive and helpful to First Nations communities.

Ontario Fire Protection and Prevention Act

The Fire Prevention and Protection Act, 1997 (FPPA) sets out the legislative and regulatory framework for the establishment of fire protection in Ontario, which is a mandated municipal responsibility. If a fire department is established in territory without municipal organization under subsection 3 (2), the agreement shall provide for the appointment of a Fire Chief.

Health & Safety Section 21

The objective of the Ontario Fire Service Advisory Committee on Occupational Health & Safety under Section 21 of the Occupational Health & Safety Act is to advise and make recommendations on matters relating to the occupational health & safety of all firefighters in the Province of Ontario.

FOUNDATIONAL REVIEW

In creating this department and reviewing the input from the Fire Rescue Service we have started by addressing 10 areas listed below.

1.     FIRE ORGANIZATION The requirements, boundaries, services offered, funding, Leadership etc.

2.     STANDARDS Review the standards & establish SOPs / SOGs (i.e. Uniform, PPE)

3.     MEMBERSHIP Establish adequately trained responders for the fire department

4.     TRAINING Establish training, frequency of training and maintenance of records

5.     FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT eg ULC S515 & NFPA 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1911, etc

6.     FIRE STATION/S Designed and located fire station to serve in the community

7.     FIREFIGHTER NEEDS Safety, Training, Management, Performance, Accountability, PPE, Insurance, etc.

8.     NOTIFICATION ALARMS 24-hour receipt of Alarms, Notification & Response times etc.

9.     WATER SUPPLY Water supply sources for fire suppression purposes

10.  OTHER SERVICES From Wildland Fire, to Medical Responder to Special Rescue / Special Operations

PEOPLE ARE OUR STRENGTH

More than half of those crucial components of a Fire Service come down to the people. The members of our Fire Rescue Service.

FIRE RESCUE MEMBERS

We have 3 main role functions of our Fire Service.

1.              Operational Members (e.g. Firefighters)

2.              Supporting Operational Members (e.g., Field Management & Logistics)

3.              Non-Operational Support Section (e.g., Admin. & coordination away from incident)

For the most part, the standards we are referring to here are referencing the first or “Operational” Members who will likely be running the calls for service including:

·       Structural Fires

·       Vehicle Fires

·       Wildland Fires

·       Medical Calls

·       Special Rescues

·       Disasters and other emergencies

Mandatory Certification

NB: On April 14, 2022, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 343/22: Firefighter Certification, under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The regulation comes into force on July 1, 2022 and gives a few years (depending on subject) for Fire Departments to ensure compliance. Under the new regulation current firefighters in Ontario will need to be certified by July 1, 2026

SOPS / SOGS

Fire Departments operate from Standard Operating Procedures / Guidelines and knowing their Mission, Vision Values and thereby ensuring that their decisions and actions align with them.

RECRUITING, ONBOARDING, TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT & REWARD

Once we have a named Fire Department, considering all appropriate things, and recognised by the community we can start recruiting and training etc!

© Gary Foo 2019 Rev 2022