Local firefighters spent more time battling blazes in 2013 than any year in the past decade.
In his annual report to Mapleton council at its Jan. 28 meeting, Fire Chief Rick Richardson noted the Mapleton Fire Department responded to a total of 159 incidents last year, of which 41 (26 per cent) were fire calls.
A 10-year comparison shows the next highest number of fire calls in the past decade was 34 (23%) in 2005. In 2012, fire calls accounted for only 25 of 163 incidents (or 15%).
The 10-year low for fires occurred in 2010, when firefighters responded to only 14 fires, 11% of the 124 incidents that year.
In 2013, medical calls accounted for 47 incidents, or 31%, while 36 incidents, or 23%, were rescue calls for accidents.
While the number of fire calls was up last year, Richardson noted the combination of medical and accident calls continues to represent the majority of activity.
“Our major item was medical and rescue, and third was fire. That’s been pretty consistent with the last 10 years,” he said.
False alarm calls accounted for 12% of all responses, with various other types of incidents making up 16% of the total.
Richardson said the proliferation of cell phones is partly responsible for the number of false call outs. He said people passing the site of a controlled burn often call them in and, if they get the address wrong, there is no way of knowing the burn was pre-planned.
“Of course you get out there and find out they have a permit for it, but you have to respond,” he explained.
Fire prevention
In an outlook for fire prevention activities in 2014, Richardson advised council the Ontario Fire Marshal has changed the priority order of the three traditional lines of defense for fire departments.
The previous priority order was: fire suppression, public education, fire prevention. That has been changed to put fire prevention and fire code enforcement first, followed by, public education, then fire suppression.
Fire code inspections have previously been required on complaint or to address licensing or other requirements, Richardson explained in the report.
A new risk management tool will now be available to identify properties requiring inspections at certain intervals. Buildings occupied by “vulnerable people” will also require more inspections and fire drills, Richardson noted.
Among the new public education initiatives proposed for 2014 by the Mapleton department is a public safety day at the PMD Arena for students in Grades 1 to 4 at all local schools. The students would be brought in for half-day sessions with presentations by representatives of the OPP, EMS, public health unit, farm safety, safe community committee, emergency planners, and the fire department.
The local department also plans to continue its popular Fire Prevention Day Breakfast and develop a department brochure explaining burn permits, recruiting, emergency preparedness and other topics.
