a) Fire Recap/Overview

North Perth Fire Department: Operating Overview

2020 Review 2020 Review and 2021 Outlook

2020 was a year to remember for the North Perth Fire Department. The year started off with a reduced number of calls but as the year progressed the number of calls increased. Our call volume was down by only 6 in total compared to 2019 with no significant losses occurring during the operating year. The Home Safety Program was put on hold due to COVID-19, but a greater effort was put forward over social media to continue our public education and awareness programs.

North Perth Fire Department personnel responded to 224 alarms, including 15 in West Perth, 3 in Perth East, and 4 in Mapleton. There have been 7 new recruits hired (Listowel 5 and Atwood 2) to fill vacancies created by past retirements and upcoming retirements. A total of 4 firefighters retired in 2020 (Listowel Station 2 and Monkton Station 2).

Two members of each station where assigned to the truck committee working with Chief Smith to help develop the specifications and meet the needs of the 3 new apparatus currently being engineered for the department. Two (2) trucks were to be received (Listowel tanker and Atwood pumper) in 2020 but have been delayed due to COVID-19. Both of these trucks are almost finished and should be delivered in January of 2021 with the Monkton pumper predicted for May of 2021.

The new program Who’s Responding is working well in all 3 stations. The officers and management are very pleased with its operation allowing us to see who is unavailable in each station and who is responding to the hall when an alarm is received.

Routine inspections were still conducted in high-risk occupancies throughout the Municipality, with regular (routine) inspections slowing down due to restriction being put in place. Overall, the occupancies with high risk, request and complaints are being completed.

This year saw the highest number of burn permits issued – 320 compared to 254 in 2019.

Fire Department personnel took part in the following training:

NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 2 8 Certified Fire Code Div B Part 2 & 6 1 Certified LPG Firefighting Awareness 1 Certified NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Level 2 2 Certified

The Health and Safety Committee has continued to meet 4 times per year by teleconference to meet the requirements of health and safety within the department and under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. New requirements have been put in place to meet proper decontamination of (PPE) Personal Protective Equipment, vehicles and stations for COVID-19 as will as new operating procedures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. This committee continues to review the department’s operational guidelines and update them as required.

The Training Committee continues to maintain and supply training based under NFPA structure within the department. This committee meets a minimum of 5 times per year and puts in countless hours to provide training programs and instruct at training sessions. With COVID19 restrictions, training has changed in the stations. To meet the restrictions on the number of people gathering in one location training is now provided in squads which limits non-essential contact of members within the department.

2021 Outlook

Receive the 3 new trucks and provide training for their operations. Continue with training and certification under NFPA courses and meet the requirements under the Fire Protection and prevention Act.

Respectfully submitted,

Edward Smith Fire Chief