South Salt Spring Island Property Owners & Residents Association
In response to your letter of January 4th and received by the Chairman of the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District, January 12th , we respectfully submit this report addressing your areas of concern.
This report reflects Salt Spring Island as a whole.
As well this report will be released to the local media, made available as a link on www.saltspringfire.com and printed versions made available at Fire Hall #1.
This information was compiled by Fire Chief Dave Enfield, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Akerman, Assistant Fire Chief Arjuna George, Captain Jamie Holmes, and Finance & Administration Officer Carla Hansen.
Inputs were also provided by the members of the Board of Trustees of The Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District.
| GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED |
| AED | Automatic External Defibrillator |
| BCAS | British Columbia Ambulance Service |
| BCFS | British Columbia Forest Service |
| CRD | Capital Regional District |
| EOC | Emergency Operations Center |
| FUS | Fire Underwriters Survey |
| IAO | Insurance Advisory Organization |
| I.C. | Incident Commander |
| INTERFACE FIRE | Wildland fire threatening residential properties |
| M.V.A. | Motor Vehicle Accident |
| NFPA | National Fire Protection Association |
| NFPA 1201 | Standard For Developing Fire Protection Services For The Public |
| NFPA 1710 | Standard for the Organization and Development of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations by Career Fire Departments |
| NFPA 1720 | Standard for the Organization and Development of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations by Volunteer Fire Departments |
| OFC | Office of the Fire Commissioner (British Columbia) |
| PEP | Provincial Emergency Program (British Columbia) |
| PFP | Pre Fire Plan |
| W.C.B. | Workers Compensation Board (British Columbia) |
Re: Five Fire Protection Issues
#1 the adequacy of fire protection in South Salt Spring as compared to the rest of the island.
Of particular concern to us is the fact that neither paid nor volunteer firemen currently work in or around Fulford.
We understand that the faster the initial response, the easier it is to prevent the spread of a fire.
We are afraid, however, that daytime response times for Fulford would compare unfavorably with those for Ganges and Vesuvius.
How could this not be the case with no fire fighters working in the Fulford area?
In total there are seven fire fighters living in the 653 phone exchange.
Two of those are career members.
After May 1st, one of those will be working shift work and will be able to respond to any given emergency during their scheduled days off.
One of those volunteer fire fighters, Stan Mulder, works out of Tree House South.
He works a varied schedule out of that location, typical of a volunteer fire fighter, but when at this location is more than willing to respond.
We have a heck of a time, island wide, getting volunteer response during the daytime.
With that said, all volunteer fire fighters, wherever they are located, respond whenever possible to ALL calls and DO NOT neglect to respond to calls without reasonable reasons.
With the demands of employers we are finding fewer volunteer fire fighters who can respond freely during the daytime.
Currently we have five independent contractors or members who work from home who could possibly be free to respond during the daytime, but they work all over the island and their response may be practical to the area that they are working any given day.
Two members who work for JJM and one who works for North Salt Spring Water Works may be free to respond, but depending on the area that they are working that day and the seriousness of the incident, cannot be expected to respond all of the time.
In comparison to the north end of the island, from Central north, we have four fire fighters who live on the east side of St. Mary’s lake.
One of those is located in Victoria at the present time, attending school.
One is a shift worker for BC Ferries, one an independent contractor and the other, who also works for BC Ferries, but will be moving to Vancouver Island, effective the first of April.
No one lives north of Byron Road at this time.
On the west side of St. Mary’s lake, we have another four fire fighters.
One is not typically available Sundays; one is not available most of the time during workdays, one works for JJM and the other is an independent contractor.
No one resides past the second Mobrae at the present time.
We have tried all methods of recruiting.
The most effective is word of mouth.
We do advertising; notices are included in school newsletters, links on the fire fighters web site along with pamphlets and banners.
Recruiting volunteers in the south end has been a concern of the department for many years.
We have not ignored this problem, but we cannot force people to volunteer.
Today’s volunteer fire fighter has to make a large commitment.
Long gone are the days of putting "the wet stuff on the red stuff."
The accepted standard, province wide is a minimum of 100 hours per year of training.
The fire service is such a demanding position that all members, whether career or volunteer, are trained equally.
Putting someone who has not had proper training or maintained that training level in harms way may open the department and the district to some serious investigation from the Workers Compensation Board.
Last year, Salt Spring Fire Fighters put in almost 5000 hours of training time.
Some members were as low as 75-hours while others were in the 250-hour range.
The accepted norm, adapted by this department, will be 100-hours minimum this year.
As for weekday/daytime responses we have compiled the statistics for the past four years.
The results for emergency responses for the south end (1500 block Fulford Ganges and 500 block Stewart south) and anything north of hall #3 are:
| Daytime 08:00-16:30 |
North End |
South End |
| 2000 |
27 |
21 |
| 2001 |
13 |
10 |
| 2002 |
28 |
10 |
| 2003 |
21 |
5 |
| Total |
89 |
46 |
Total emergency response for the entire island are:
| 24/7 |
North End |
South End |
Hall 1 |
| 2000 |
72 |
49 |
237 |
| 2001 |
65 |
40 |
188 |
| 2002 |
83 |
50 |
235 |
| 2003 |
55 |
40 |
269 |
| Total |
275 |
179 |
929 |
We would like to be able to offer four-minute response times to everyone on the island but that is not at all feasible without a large outlay of tax dollars.
CRD has advised us that the typical Salt Spring resident pays in the area of $00.50 per thousand dollars of assessed residential value.
Areas such as Pender and Westbank, who are also Improvement Districts, pay far more, in the area of $00.80.
The level of service you get from your volunteer fire fighters is above and beyond the call.
Everyone here responds as volunteers after hours.
#2 the adequacy of "day time" first responder health services available to Fulford residents as compared to residents living elsewhere on Salt Spring Island.
This is especially important to us given the very increased likelihood of heart attack victims surviving if they reach Lady Minto within one hour.
Can that objective be achieved in the daytime given the current deployment of full time fire fighters and the pace of business of your volunteers?
First off I can think of no instance that a patient has not been delivered to Lady Minto Hospital, from anywhere on the island, within the hour time frame mentioned unless the patients stability level dictates that further actions are required, before there transport is undertaken.
A provincial ambulance service (BCAS) was established in 1974 and after an inquiry in the early 1980’s the First Responder Program was implemented in the province.
Levels of training were outlined, certification processes were developed, AED and Spinal protocols were added, and the First Responder Program has expanded ever since.
Before 1983 there was no formal province wide First Responder/BCAS dispatch or response system in place.
Some departments responded when contacted, but training was up to the individual departments.
Some had Occupational/Industrial First Aid training or the old "Survivor Level" of training available through St. Johns Ambulance.
The First Responder Program came to Salt Spring Island in the early to mid 1990’s.
Prior to that, other than MVA’s, very few medical emergency calls were attended by this department.
Training was minimal, some basic first aid, nothing mandatory.
Around 6 Salt Spring fire fighters took the initial First Responder training.
The service level has expanded from there.
Today’s First Responder training, for new members, entails 74 hours, to obtain a First Responder level III certification with necessary endorsements.
This has to be renewed every three years.
Prior to 1999 on Salt Spring, it was not mandatory for fire fighters to be FR III certified.
The chief asked that all fire fighters take the training and maintain their FR III certification, even if they wished not to respond to those types of calls.
The training would ensure that if something happened to a fire fighter at an emergency incident, there would be sufficient trained personnel around to handle any situation that may arise.
Most weekend and evenings there are two or three fully equipped First Response vehicles, other than the ones at the fire hall, with the career staff, available to respond, anywhere on the island.
The BCAS "Advanced Medial Priority Dispatch System" protocol breaks medical emergency calls into 5 group responses, A through E.
The protocols show that Saltspring First Responders are to respond on "C"harlie thru "E"cho calls.
"A"lpha & "B"ravo calls are handled by the duty BCAS crews.
Our call volume for First Responder compared to other types of incidents would run in the 50% range.
FR drills are scheduled as often as possible, trying for one per month.
In the year 2003 the Fire Improvement District paid almost $8,000 just for supplies, to provide First Responder services.
Many say the Provincial Government should pay for these supplies.
Some supplies are provided by the BCAS, such as facemasks but First Responders pay for their own oxygen, probably the most expensive item and we cannot purchase it at the same rate as BCAS.
The Provincial Government, in its wisdom to make the First Responder program self-sufficient, has restructured the program this year and has affectively downloaded costs to the First Responder.
The Provincial Government justifies this by saying they are not downloading costs onto a jurisdiction but are billing the individual First Responders for the license fees.
We will be paying these fees.
Beginning in 2004, each First Responder will be billed $85 yearly, through the Provincial Government, for a license and a $20 fee for a criminal record search.
This will cost the District an additional $3990 this year and next year $3100.
The Fire Department is responding as a back up to the BCAS.
Has anyone bothered to ask BCAS about their efforts to obtain further funding or more full time personnel on Salt Spring Island, or are they just trying to put the onus on the fire department for a perceived lack of adequate provincial resources?
There are fire departments around who do not do First Responder calls.
There are fire departments around who do not respond to Motor Vehicle Crashes.
If there were a fire emergency and a medical emergency at the same time, we would try and get personnel to both incidents, but fire is our first priority.
#3 the adequacy and ease of availability of the water supply that can be used for fire fighting in South Salt Spring.
We understand that fire fighters have had some problems in the past gaining prompt access to the water they needed.
Would you please let us know what actions have been taken to see this does not happen again?
Also, will such actions be of value to the entire South End or just to a limited area?
Most sources of water are cataloged and have been faxed to our dispatch center.
There is also a hard copy version in our emergency contact books, carried in the support vehicles and at fire halls.
These areas are typically checked, during the summer months, as a training exercise.
Currently we have plotted five lakes in the south end, as well as over 25 pond locations in the south end with in excess of 50,000 gallons of capacity, many in excess of 100,000 gallons.
As well, most of the driveways with access to Fulford Creek have a year round water supplies.
We may also use ocean water if needed.
The Fire Department is trained in the process of using salt-water and the subsequent maintenance of its equipment to prevent damage.
We also have four large porta-tanks.
The Fire District has also purchased a 20,000-gallon upright water storage tank that will be installed at hall #2 this year.
We are working with North Salt Spring Water Works on the design system for installation of a proper water main system for this tank, to ensure quick filling of our vehicles.
We have been in contact with other fire departments over the installation of dry fire hydrants.
We have worked with CRD on how to get the okay to install these hydrants at both Stowell and Weston Lakes, striving for 2004 installation.
We are doing this in conjunction with Tersasen Water Works, the people who service the fire hydrants on Salt Spring Island for the Fire District.
The department policy for driver/pump operators is as follow.
To drive emergency, red lights and siren, you must first complete the Pumps and Pumping course offered thru the JIBC.
The certificate of attendance course is twenty hours in length while the accredited course takes forty hours, including written and a practical exam.
We offer this course every other year here and was last offered in 2003.
This year we are re-offering it, at our Summer Training weekend in July.
Hopefully we will be able to offer this training to another 12 members.
To drive you must first successfully complete the Pumps and Pumping course, then go thru the departments driver-training program and then successfully complete the "Emergency Vehicle Drivers" course thru the JIBC at Boundary Bay.
Putting members thru this course is a liability issue.
Being properly trained and certified as drivers of emergency vehicles, addresses Law Enforcement concerns at the present time, about the level of training that the department drivers have.
Thus your question on "fire fighters" having difficulty can be addressed.
Two incidents come to mind, both involving more senior volunteer fire fighters.
One had completed the Pumps and Pumping course and one who had chosen not to take part.
The one instance, involving the member who had taken the course, involved hooking a hose line up to a wrong pump port.
This was quickly noticed and rectified.
The second instance involved the member who had not taken the course, but had done countless training sessions, involving obtaining water from a draft.
For some reason he attempted to draft with the wrong type of hose, other than the necessary and available hard suction type.
His attempt failed and because the radio broadcast back to the Incident Commander led the I.C. to believe that the water site was unobtainable, led to the subsequent trucking of water from a source, far removed from the fire site.
Upon checking the site the next day and talking with another member who was with this person when they attempted to get water, it was found that there was and had been no problem with the water source, but was instead due to fire fighter error.
We are a "Fire Improvement District", and do not have control over the numerous water distribution systems, thus we cannot insist on water being supplied for fire protection.
When a developer proposes a development, all we can do, is ask for the installation of water for fire protection.
If they choose not to install the water and the powers to be okay the development, then we have to rely on trucking in water.
At the present time the OFC is doing some research on the powers of Fire Improvement Districts and installation of "water for fire protection".
This report is scheduled to be available in late March.
The fire district drafted a "Bylaw" in 2000 regarding the installation and standard for fire hydrants on the island and the provincial government returned it.
The fire district also pays for each fire hydrant on the island.
Presently North Salt Spring Water District installs them free of charge for us when they are upgrading their service levels.
A fire hydrant costs the District in the area of $1000 apiece.
If the Fire District wished to improve the water distribution system to an area not currently provided water mains, the installation cost for 6-inch mains runs in the area of $100 per foot.
In other words if we wanted to extend a 6-inch water main into a new development to provide water for fire protection, meet NFPA and IAO requirements, for ¼ of a mile, it would cost the Fire Protection District upwards of $132,000 plus the cost of hydrants.
We have embarked on a program, to meet the Insurance Advisory Organization and National Fire Protection Association standards, by having fire hydrants, which are installed on water mains over 6 inches in diameter, serviced yearly by qualified personnel.
Fire hydrants must be tested twice yearly.
This costs the fire district $65 per hydrant in 2003.
Last year we had 80 hydrants serviced.
Hydrants on anything less than a 6-inch main are not a service priority for us, as they do not meet requirements for water flow for fire fighting.
When we use a fire hydrant on any thing less than a 6-inch main, it is usually for filling of our tankers.
#4 the adequacy of the fire protection pre-planning being done for the South End as compared to the rest of Salt Spring.
Is it correct that there is currently no South End water dossier informing fire fighters of all the available sources of water?
And has there been preplanning as to how a fire in Fulford village would be fought or has this just been done for the Ganges area?
We also believe that there has been to date no fire protection audits or either existing or proposed South End communities.
If this is indeed the case, when can we expect such audits to begin?
Formal Pre Fire Planning was introduced to Salt spring fire fighters in 2001.
One member has been sent away on a training course with the Surrey Fire Services, the recognized leader in pre-fire planning in the province.
Surrey Fire Service has been very generous in allowing us free access to their knowledge and programs.
A typical PFP takes upwards of 25-40 hours to complete and the priorities are high-life hazard.
In the south end, Fulford Elementary, Beaver Point and Fulford community halls, Fulford and Burgoyne government docks along with Pattersons Store have all had PFP’s completed.
When we place our first laptop computer in a vehicle this year, these PFP’s will be available at the touch of a button.
Currently they are available in hard copy.
As well as pre-planning for an emergency in the Fulford Village, the last three tabletop scenarios that have been done during training sessions, have all dealt with an emergency incident in Fulford Village.
The last group of fire fighters who went thru the Officer Course did a written practical, in December, which revolved around a major incident in Fulford Village.
This entailed securing a safe water supply and a large-scale evacuation.
This incident involved innovative thinking on everyone’s part.
The local Emergency Program group, in which the Fire Department plays a major role, is currently looking at the official Salt Spring Emergency Plan and has struck a committee to look at each emergency facet and ensure that it meets all first responders needs.
One of the major things being dealt with this year is an official Evacuation Plan.
Evacuations are the responsibility of the RCMP and any evacuation would be done in conjunction with Search and Rescue.
Search and Rescue has agreed to do the evacuation plan for the island and have been given the go ahead to complete this project.
Regarding your question on the water dossier, our list shows almost 70 sources of water in the south end.
It would be impossible to put together a dossier of "all the available sources of water."
As for audits, last spring I was in contact with the Fire Underwriters Survey people and arranged for an Insurance Advisory Organization audit of services offered by the Fire Protection District.
This survey was to have taken place late last year but due to the fact that some pre-survey surveys were late coming in from some of the water districts the survey will not be done until this year.
The last survey was done over 10 years ago and the Board of Trustees, in their wisdom, have adopted a policy whereby this survey will be done every five years.
Some of the items covered in this survey by the Fire Underwriters and Insurance Advisory Organization are:
- The ability of a community to combat fires that may be expected to occur in commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family residential and are developed from a comprehensive review of all facets of a community’s fire defenses including water supply, administration and operations, communications and fire safety inspection programs.
- Training program, Public Education activities, fire prevention initiatives.
- Fire equipment and apparatus level of compliance with current NFPA and WCB standards.
- Training standards to NFPA, 1201, 1710 and 1720.
This will ensure that the Fire Protection District long-range plans are going in the proper direction.
These findings will provide us with a complete picture of the community’s needs and level at which fire protection programs should be to commensurate with the degree of risk.
This will allow us to focus our activities, determine the resources required to address risks and improving the level of service provided.
When the results of the Fire Underwriter Survey are made available to us, we will ensure that the public is made aware of the findings.
#5 the adequacy of the protection that South Salt Spring homes and farms can expect if a forest fire breaks out.
We realize that fighting such fires is a shared Provincial and local responsibility.
However in light of last summer’s very real fire threat here and the forest fires that did break out elsewhere, we believe all of the Island’s residents would appreciate knowing how our Fire Department proposes to protect residences if next summer it is Salt Springs forest that begin to burn.
Forest fires are a danger to communities all over North America.
Salt Spring fire fighters have Forest Service personnel from the Cobble Hill Fire Base come over and put on training sessions.
We work closely with those people.
We also network with other jurisdictions, be they Alberta or from the United States.
As well we receive twice weekly e-mail updates on danger class levels throughout the province.
We also have a BC Forest Service weather station in place at fire hall #2.
This gives us first hand knowledge of the danger here.
As well we receive fax/phone notification of lightning strikes that occur on Saltspring as well.
After attending a symposium in 2002, an information publication entitled, "Fire Safe, Protecting our Community From Wildfire" was developed.
This was made available to people who obtained fire permits last year.
As well "My Forest Home, Am I Prepared" was made available.
The problem with an Interface/Forest Fire is that as it progresses in ranking, it becomes indefensible.
There are many areas on Salt Spring that if we get a rank 4 to rank 6 fire we might not be able to defend.
Deputy Akerman recalls a burn pile that turned into an Interface incident some years (mid 90’s) back off of Stewart Road.
The fire suddenly blew up on them and firefighters had to high tail it out of there to safety.
There were concerns for sometime that everyone had made it to safety.
Areas that may be difficult to defend would be areas with no access to a ready reliable water supply; areas on dead end or narrow streets, which could not be safely protected without threatening the lives of fire fighters and the loss of valuable equipment.
Most of the areas on Salt Spring Island are one way in and the same way out.
It was clearly evident in Kelowna last year that areas equipped with fire hydrants containing ample water, municipal width roads but located on dead ends/cul de sacs, could not be protected when the firestorm blew through, even with all the available ground resources.
Ask any one of the Fire Service personnel who were in Kelowna last year and they are amazed that there were not any lives lost, either public or fire fighters and a greater loss of equipment.
In 2002, during the burning ban, we responded to 29 burning complaints in the south end, people burning illegally.
During 2003 we attended 42 burning complaint calls in the south end, during the burning ban.
In a lot of cases it is found that offenders, no matter where they reside on the island, have failed to obtain a fire permit.
Thus these people have had no access to the available printed preventative material.
As well large signs are quite prominent at all fire halls.
Information is posted on our community notice board, information available on our answering machine, notices announced on the incoming ferries and weekly updates available on the website.
We have also ordered signs that when installed placed, people leaving the ferry terminals, will be made aware of current conditions and closures.
We also try to get updated burning information messages out during our weekly updates in the Driftwood.
The Driftwood does the best that it can, but may have to shorten any stories or have us run an advertisement.
Another problem with running ads in the Driftwood is, not everyone receives the paper.
A policy was instituted early last year, that in the event of an Interface/Forest Fire incident, that Emergency Operations Center personnel would be alerted and that the EOC would be opened and staffed immediately.
This will give us direct access to the Provincial Emergency Program and all of the other agencies via a common link, ensuring that all First Responders, be they Search and Rescue, BCAS, RCMP or Fire, were receiving prompt access to all of the resources they needed.
One of our mini pumpers is equipped, during the Interface/Forest Fire season, solely for response to Interface incidents.
It carries a larger quantity of forestry hose, hand tools, adapters, extra coveralls and the like, more than the other pieces of equipment.
In 2004 we plan on holding open houses that would hopefully involve all interested neighborhood community associations or groups.
At these sessions we would provide information so they can assist in making their communities safer from the Wildland Interface problem.
Plans are being readied to hold community sessions on Saturdays so the public can learn how they can assist the fire department in helping to mitigate their personal danger of interface/forest fires.
We have tried to educate the public that they have to do their share.
If a residence has allowed flammable vegetation to grow up near the house, a wood shake roof, poor access, no proper address signage, firewood stacked against the building and no defensible space, there is little that a fire crew can do.
If the conditions are the same as last year and a fire does occur of the magnitude of Louis Creek or the Okanogan Mountain Park fires, all first responder resources will be taxed.
Even with the quick Barriere response, this fire escalated very rapidly.
The Unified Command system that would be in place, directing all actions if such did happen, would have to set priorities and goals along with hoping for the best.
In the southeast United States, fire departments make as much information as possible to the public on how to prepare themselves for the possibility of hurricanes.
All over North America, fire departments make as much information as possible to protect your home from all types of fire.
If the information is available and people do not avail themselves of this information, and improve their personal situation, those people cannot blame the responding agencies.
A prime example here would be smoke detectors.
We advertise that the batteries in smoke detectors should be changed twice a year.
This should be done when the time changes.
We cannot tell you how many times we go into a building and find inoperable smoke detectors.
Batteries removed, dead batteries or the smoke detectors totally removed from their mounting spots or no smoke detector period are common occurrences.
We have asked you to prepare, to protect your family, property and possessions from all types of events.
People, who live here or have moved here, have done so because of the life style.
They wish to live in the country setting.
They didn’t move here expecting Vancouver or Victoria level of emergency services.
Residents allow the trees and undergrowth to grow right up to the house, have their woodpile stacked against the side of their homes, do not cleanout their eaves troughs, allow their driveways to be overgrown with foliage and then expect the fire department to rapidly mitigate a situation they did not cause.
Fires of the magnitude experienced last year, burn what they want, travel where they want to go and all fire fighters can do is stand by and watch it go, doing the best they can.
We will look at pre planning for neighborhoods but there are so many variables.
Time of day, weather, number of personnel available, response and availability of outside agencies, make this a difficult task.
The main thing we can plan for are areas that fire-fighting services may be difficult to defend and equipment staging areas.
Alternative water supplies will be reviewed this year as standard practice.
As per the fifth fire fighter, that member will be assigned to assist us in all of our programs, island wide.
Beginning in May, Hall #2 will be staffed all day on Thursday, up from the ½ day Thursday at the present time.
There will be an official Open House announced for this purpose.
Having one-person work at a fire hall is a dangerous situation.
Just this past month, at the Fulford fire hall, during an equipment check, the sole fire fighter experienced a dangerous incident.
When he went to start the chainsaw it literally came apart.
The bar hit him in the leg, close to the femoral artery.
The chain itself came loose and came up across his shoulder near the carotid artery.
No injuries were sustained, just some damaged clothing.
If this unit had cut him, you can imagine the results.
Since that incident our policies have changed and no longer can one person check this type of equipment alone.
As earlier stated there are countless regulations that do not allow us to enter a burning building without a minimum of four fire fighters at a scene.
Fire doubles in size every 30 seconds, buildings with the new silent floor system common today cannot be entered safely after five minutes of fire exposure.
Within the first ten minutes of interior fire fighting a Rapid Intervention Team must be established.
This means we must have another 4 fire fighters on site to augment the four fire fighters already in side the building.
They have to be fully prepared with equipment and necessary rescue tools.
These are rules we cannot get around.
By putting one person at any fire hall and having him respond alone, would put that fire fighter in a difficult position, do I or don’t I.
Having this fire fighter show up at a vehicle or brush fire and expecting him to do the work of four people, cannot be expected.
When we respond, we are responding to deal with a problem that we did not cause.
We are there to assist the best that we can.
Our first goal is the safety of our fire fighters and we would be remiss if we put them in harms way.
Fire Fighters can be expected to take risks, that goes without saying, but today’s fire service leaders first responsibility is to make sure that every fire fighter returns safely from all emergencies they respond to.
This new member will allow us to go to a, four on and four off rotation.
Someone will be on duty, not just on call 7 days a week from 07:00 to 17:00 hours.
This will allow us to complete more pre fire plans, improve our training and inspection program, along with the fire permit and building occupancy requests that can be only handled on weekends.
As well our mapping project can move ahead.
This will involve one of the career people visiting each property within the Protection District and ensuring that a proper address is displayed, that all driveways are accessible and give fire safety tips, whether they be on smoke detectors, chimneys or interface problems.
As for your concerns, "that insurance firms will not honour fire-related claims if they learn of the South Ends current lack of protection, the fire department has checked with two sources.
First off we checked with local insurance agencies.
They advise that Salt Spring Island is rated as a Volunteer Fire Department.
All insurance levels are based on the distance your home is from a fire hall and or a fire hydrant.
Secondly we checked with the Fire Underwriter people, Bob Nelson.
His quote is as follows:
"Insurance rates for fire do not change unless we (Fire Underwriter Service) alter the grading classifications.
We do represent 85 to 90% of global underwriters doing business in Canada.
Underwriters do as they please, however they do not have the means or expertise to assess their fire risk exposure on a risk-by-risk or community-by-community basis and therefore rely almost exclusively on FUS for this information.
Unless I am provided with information that clearly demonstrates that protection levels have been severely reduced, fire insurance grading classifications remain as published.
Usually before downgrading occurs, a survey or investigation by me is initiated.
This has not occurred or has been requested for Salt Spring Island.
There are minimum standards with respect to the number of fire fighters relative to protection classifications, however roster turnover is a common aspect of the volunteer fire service.
Insurance brokers know little about the grading process or requirements."(End quote)
The Fire Department looks forward to working with you this spring and bringing our Interface/Forest Fire prevention program to you.
We appreciate the chance to answer your inquiries and hope that all concerns have been addressed.
Attachments:
Pre Fire Plans
- Beaver Point Community Hall
- Burgoyne Bay
- Government Dock
- Fulford Community Hall
- Fulford Elementary School
- Fulford Ferry Dock
- Fulford Inn
- Patterson’s Store
Publications
- Fire Safe Protecting our Community From Wildfires
- My Forest Home Am I Prepared? Beware and prepare!
Salt Spring Island Emergency Response and Recovery Plan
- Fire - Urban and Rural
- Wildfire
Emergency Water Sources
Links
www.saltspringfire.com
www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/
www.partnersinprotection.ab.ca/index.shtml
www.firewise.org
