FIRE PREVENTION

FEE SCHEDULE

Complaints and Requests

One of the major duties of the fire prevention division is to help owners, tenants, or workers deal with fire related problems in the buildings they own or occupy.  Upgrading op properties, using the Ontario Fire Code as a minimum standard, is done on a continual basis to ensure exiting, containment, annunciation (alarms), and suppression equipment and assemblies are present where required by code.

9.5 Inspections

These inspections are part of the Ontario Fire Code retrofit section dealing with multi-unit buildings up to five stories in building height.  Section 9.5 of the code is used when the building has three or more residential units with at least two sharing a common area such as an exit corridor.

9.6 Inspections

A 9.6 inspection is similar in nature to a 9.5 inspection as previously mentioned, however, a 9.6 is a residential multi-unit building greater that five stories in building height.  In this type of building, fire alarms, exit facilities, fire suppression equipment and containment of a fire, should it start, is extremely important.  All these requirements are outlined in section 9.6 of the Ontario Fire Code.

9.8 Inspections

Section 9.8 of the Ontario Fire Code is a fairly new section of the code (1994) that deals with the upgrading of accessory apartments.  Examples of accessory apartments include basement apartments, situated in a single family home, two residential units side by side with a common entrance area, and a building with two apartments situated one on top of each other.  The owners of these buildings must ensure that exiting, annunciation, suppression, containment and the electrical system meet the minimum life safety requirements as set out in section 9.8 of the code.  The fire inspectors in the fire prevention division will help the owners to achieve compliance by sharing code knowledge and trouble shooting situations that are difficult to comply with.

Business License or Registration

An inspection may be required.  Please contact the department at 326-6291.

Compiling Stats

For various reasons, such as providing information, to track occurrences and to plan for the future, statistics are gathered and analyzed thoroughly by this division.  The major categories of our analysis include fires sorted by property type, occupant type and ignition type.  Statistics are also important to track exactly what the activity level and focus of the division is to ensure we are providing the best possible service to the citizens of the city.

Fire Investigations

Unfortunately, due to faulty equipment, unintentional human actions or intentional human actions, fires occur in all municipalities.  Fires of unusual nature, arson, explosions, fatalities or fires that the firefighting division is unsure of the origin, the fire prevention division will assist or assume the lead role in determining the origin and cause of the fire.  The members of the division have specialized training in the science of fire investigation, which they can use to determine the cause of the fire and if necessary, assist the local Police in ensuring a strong legal case in the instance of an intentionally set fire.

Liquor License Approvals

For all new liquor licenses in the municipality it is important that the establishments are in compliance with the fire code.  Our fire prevention division commonly is requested to set the occupant load for the establishment, based on the provisions set out in both the Ontario Building Code and the Ontario Fire Code.  We have a charge for this service.  It is outlined in the fee schedule section of the website.

TAPP-C

TAPP-C stands for The Arson Prevention Program for Children.  The Public Education Officer administers this program.  The first phase of the program is a home visit and an initial contact with a child and family that have been involved in a fire setting incident.  The second phase is a classroom-like program for the child and family that will enforce the idea of safe fire behaviour. The child is also evaluated by a mental health professional at Windsor Regional Children's Centre to identify issues related to the fire setting behaviour.  For more information please contact the Leamington Fire Services at 326-6291 ext. 245.

Follow-Up Inspections

After a work order is issued to an owner of a property or a tenant, the fire prevention inspector must return to the building to ensure compliance has been met.  The property must be cleared of the work order and, when requested, a letter of compliance can be issued to the owners.

Site Plans

To ensure proper fire department access, hydrant locations, standpipe and hose and sprinkler system fire truck connections meet our requirements, the fire prevention division review site plans of proposed commercial and larger multi-unit residential buildings.  It is important that we provide our input prior to the construction of the buildings to ensure the best possible response capabilities.

Zoning Amendments

In some instances, it is necessary for the fire department to review proposed amendments to the municipality’s zoning bylaw.  Similar to site plan review, adequate fire department access is necessary to ensure the best possible response should an emergency occur.  An example of a zoning amendment would be the conversion of a single-family home into a multi-unit home or bed and breakfast occupancy.

Industrial Training

The fire prevention division, training division and the public education division, work closely together to provide specialized training to various industries throughout the municipality.  Depending on the industry’s emergency response capabilities we can train on the proper use of standpipe and hose, fire extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus and any other specialized pieces of equipment that we have sufficient knowledge and experience using and instructing.  There is a fee for some of the industrial training.  Please feel free to phone this division for more information.

Hotel Fire Safety Inspections

The Leamihngton Fire Department is responsible for the inspections of all hotels in the municipality.  Presently, the hotels must conform to the requirements set out in the Hotel Fire Safety Act, which is a stand alone document that is not included in the Ontario Fire Code.

Public Education

This division is often asked to speak on various fire safety topics from small groups to very large audiences wherever possible.  For further details, please contact the department at 326-6291 ext. 245.

Day Care Inspections

The inspectors in the division inspect most large day cares on an annual basis to ensure code compliance.  We also inspect any home-based day cares on a request basis.  For home day cares we ensure that there are adequate exits on the levels of the home that the children are being cared for.  We also inspect and ensure that the home has operating smoke alarms installed in proper locations.  Proper size and location of portable fire extinguishers and appropriate escape plans are also necessary and reviewed by the inspector.

Nursing Home Inspections

Nursing homes in Leamington are inspected on a yearly basis by the fire prevention division.  We also try to be present for at least one fire drill at the facility a year to critique the actions of the staff and, if necessary, make recommendations that will enhance the evacuation.  We have also trained the staff on the use of fire extinguishers and standpipe and hose apparatus for a nominal charge.

School Inspections

Many hours are spent in the municipality’s schools, both elementary and secondary, to ensure that the buildings, where children go to school, are fire safe.  The 13 schools in our municipality are inspected on a yearly basis and a check of the fire drill procedures are conducted during fire prevention week.  We are often asked to speak to the students about our careers as firefighters.

Plans Examination

In some instances such as new schools and larger industrial occupancies or upgrades of existing buildings, the division will examine the plans before construction begins to ensure compliance to our codes will be met.  In most cases this is a Building Department function since the buildings will be built under the auspices of a building permit.

Insurance Fire Reports

After a fire occurs in a building it is very common for the insurance company to request a copy of the incident report to prove that the fire did indeed occur.  This report is generated and sent to the interested party for a small fee as highlighted in the fee schedule.

Hospital Inspections

On a yearly basis many hours are spent inspecting the hospital to reduce the chance of a fire in this building.  As you could imagine, a fire in this building could be devastating.  We also ensure that the firefighting crews that would respond to this building are knowledgeable on how all of the fire safety features in the building work.  This building is one of our highest priorities in the municipality.

Other Duties and Services of the Fire Prevention Division

• Enforcement of codes through inspections (complaints, requests, legislative)
• Issuing Fire Marshal Orders
• Swearing provincial information before Provincial Court Judges and J.P.s
• Preparing prosecution briefs, giving evidence
• Business license inspections
• Liquor license inspections
• Fire cause and original determination
• Title searches
• Corporate searches
• Compile fire loss statistics
• Provide information to insurance industry regarding fire loss
• Provide letters of compliance for property conveyances, mortgages and financial releases
• Issue hydro orders on unsafe hydro installations
• Inspections of apartment buildings, accessory apartments (basement)
• Hotel inspections
• Special occasion permits
• Determination of fire routes
• Specialized home inspections
• Assist engineers and architects with code interpretation and special design requirements
• Lectures and speaking engagements as requested
• Conduct training seminars for hospitals, nursing homes, schools, industrial ccupancies, offices and special groups
• Assist developers, owners and contractors on various projects through site plan, Committee of Adjustment and subdivision committee