- Author
- Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario, Canada
- Title
- Fire Ground Staffing and Delivery Systems Within a Comprehensive Fire Safety Effectiveness Model.
- Keywords
- fire fighters | fire departments | fire fighting vehicles | fire fighting equipment | fire safety | effectiveness | fire fighting | fire fighting training | response time
- Abstract
- The number of fire fighters assigned to operate fire department pumpers and other related apparatus has been a subject of debate for many years in the fire services of Ontario and other jurisdictions. A number of reports have been prepared on the subject and opinions vary regarding appropriate staffing levels for each vehicle. In the spring of 1991, the Office of the Fire Marshal initiated a review of the matter and concluded that it is not possible to consider fire fighter staffing in isolation. There are, in fact, a broad range of factors which impact on the effectiveness of fire protection services. In view of the complexity of the issue, the Office of the Fire marshal (OFM) has initiated a long-term research project which will lead to a Comprehensive Fire Sfety Effectiveness Model for the residents of Ontario. This public safety initiative is a holistic approach that takes into consideration all factors that influence fire safety. Currently, there is no comprehensive tool to assist municipalities in making informed decisions on how to provide adequate and cost effective fire protection services. The completed Comprehensive Model will serve as a basis for an objective evaluation of fire protection services in a municipality. Application of the model provides an opportunity to maximize the effectiveness of the fire protection services while ensuring an appropriate level of health and safety for the fire fighters. The purpose of this paper is to state the preliminary position of the OFM regarding the number of fire fighters required at the scene of a house fire within the context of the Comprehensive Fire Safety Effectiveness Model. This paper will also address alternative ways in which a fire department may deliver fire fighters and vehicles to the emergency scene, while taking into account that delivery systems may vary for different fire departments. Final conclusions and recommendations on the issue of staffing, for the targeted fire, will follow a thorough validation process which includes consultations with the fire service, simulations of fire situations, and field studies involving selected Ontario fire departments.