DAC Comparison

TFS Legal Authorities

Extreme Winter Weather

The Fire Protection and Prevention Act – Part V details our Rights of Entry for any fire or emergency – not just ones related to extreme weather. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97f04

RIGHTS OF ENTRY IN EMERGENCIES AND FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

· Entry on adjacent lands by firefighters, etc.

13 (1) A firefighter or such other person as may be authorized by the fire chief, the Fire Marshal or an assistant to the Fire Marshal may, without a warrant, enter on lands or premises,

(a) that are adjacent to the lands or premises on which a fire or emergency has occurred or is occurring, for the purposes of fighting the fire or of providing rescue or emergency services; or

(b) that are adjacent to the lands or premises on which there is a serious threat to the health and safety of any person or the quality of the natural environment, for the purpose of removing or reducing the threat. 1997, c. 4, s. 13 (1); 2001, c. 25, s. 475 (4).

· Prevention of fire spreading

· Entry onto land outside municipality

· Entry where fire has occurred or is likely to occur

· Automatic aid

***No additional legal authorities in an extreme winter weather event.

Toronto FIRE

Toronto FIRE Services

General All-Hazards Plan?

TFS's response to any situation is based on the nature of the emergency, with special consideration given to the weather. The initial response to an emergency remains the same regardless of the weather.

Toronto FIRE

Toronto FIRE Operational Plans not shareable

Extreme Winter Weather Coordination

TFS operational response remains the same in extreme weather.

Extreme weather may be why TFS is responding to an emergency, and it may affect response in terms of response time and available resources. A report of a flood, water rescue or ice rescue would require different apparatus to be dispatched to mitigate the situation, which is determined automatically by TFS Computer Aided Dispatch.

It may also be necessary to provide more frequent relief to crews due to the harsh environment, which the person in charge of the incident monitors.

TFS emergency response guideline recommends a process for adapting and streamlining the number of apparatus responding to an emergency based on the nature of the incident and the potential necessity for prioritizing incidents should call volume exceed our ability to respond normally.

TFS’s Severe Weather Response Guideline (Extreme Circumstances) details the process, but it is only a guideline.

Toronto FIRE

BCP TFS

Extreme Winter Weather

i) If Operations staffing were reduced due to staff not being able to get to work in an extreme weather event, it would result in the relocation of resources and apparatus to balance apparatus location and response across the city.

The four on-duty Platoon Chiefs would do this balancing, and the TFS Communications Captain would be updated regarding each apparatus's status, location and crew complement.

ii) Secondly, extreme weather may delay or add additional considerations to the response. For example, a house fire would have the same initial response regardless of the weather. However, additional apparatus would be requested to relieve crews more often due to the extreme heat or cold, which could strain resources.

The person in charge of the incident monitors the situation.

iii) Measures to ensure the continuity of your critical services during disruption due to extreme winter weather:

· Severe Weather Response Guideline (Extreme Circumstances)

· TFS Communications Centre maintains a back-up location in case of power outage

· TFS Communications can dispatch by telephone if Computer Aided Dispatch is down

· TFS Communications can dispatch by 2-way radio of telephones and CAD fail

Toronto FIRE

Enhanced Guidelines (only a guideline)

Severe Weather Response Guideline (Extreme circumstances)

TFS's emergency response guideline suggests a process for streamlining the number of apparatus responding to an emergency based on the nature of the incident and the potential necessity for prioritizing incidents should call volume exceed our ability to respond normally.

Our Severe Weather Response Guideline (Extreme Circumstances) details the process, but it is only a guideline.

Toronto FIRE

Toronto FIRE data/metrics

Link provided here

https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/public-safety-alerts/alerts-notifications/toronto-fire-active-incidents/

Toronto FIRE

The site provides the cross-street location, dispatch time, incident number and type, alarm level and units dispatched (See attached document – (Toronto Fire Active Incidents). The information is updated by TFS CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) system. Up-to-date data/metrics can be obtained by contacting the TFS Communications Captain at 416-338-9001 – 24/7.

Toronto FIRE AAR

Extreme Winter Weather Coordination

TFS conducts AAR for significant fires, technical rescues and other incidents involving multiple alarms.

We have not undertaken an AAR for extreme weather events. However, moving forward with an AAR for extreme weather events would be a good idea

Toronto FIRE

Mutual Aid/Automatic Aid Agreements

Extreme Winter Weather Coordination

TFS maintains Mutual Aid/Automatic Aid agreements with all bordering Municipal Fire Services (Pickering, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton and Mississauga) regarding emergency response.

Our agreements are not weather dependent.

Toronto Fire Services Hazardous Materials team can be deployed anywhere in Ontario.

Toronto FIRE