Fire Department Annual Report 2011

Page 1

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011

calgary.ca | call 3-1-1

Onward/ by 2020, Calgary communities are resilient, complete and connected.


Table of Contents 1. A Message from the General Manager

1

2. A Message from the Chief

3

3. Overview

5

4

7

A Memorable Moment in 2011

5. Focusing Services to Meet Citizens Needs

9

6. Providing and Promoting Public Safety

12

7. Fostering a Community That Cares

26

8. Providing Services that Calgarians Value and Rely on

30

9. Building and Strengthening Partnerships to Meet Community Needs

38

10. Fostering a Positive, Innovative and Safe Workplace that Attracts, Retains and Develops Motivated and Talented People

40

11. Financial Summary

50

12. Looking Ahead

54

13. Honouring Our Fallen

56


1

Message from the general Manager

dear Council, Citizens and City Colleagues, improving the quality of life in Calgary is at the heart of everything we do in Community services & Protective services. we deliver a broad array of social, recreation, leisure and public art programs and services that encourage active lifestyles, inclusive communities and vibrant neighbourhoods for all citizens. we protect, preserve and restore public safety through the programs and services of the Calgary fire department, 9-1-1, bylaw education and enforcement, and emergency and disaster response systems.

Citizens have told us they value things like libraries, recreation facilities, culture and sport facilities, and fire services. we have listened. And we are responding. on July 25, 2011, City Council created a long-term sustainable funding pool to address both new and existing community infrastructure needs. their foresight

the community investment fund will allocate $252 million into tangible and useful community improvements over the next six years on things like libraries, recreation centres, swimming pools, arenas, athletic fields, parks, playgrounds and emergency services. while projects vary in scope, size and cost, every single one of them directly helps create more livable communities. i look forward to sharing more information with you on these projects in 2012! we are proud to share with you the major accomplishments and milestones we have highlighted in our 2011 Annual reports. thank you to all the employees of our department who work in Calgary neighbourhoods every day to make our city vibrant, healthy, safe and caring.

erika hargesheimer general Manager Community services & Protective services the City of Calgary

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 1

we do all this with a staff of 5,200 hard-working, dedicated employees, in partnership with community agencies, community and social recreation partnerships, civic partners and a network of provincial and federal departments and emergency management agencies. And we do so with the needs and priorities of citizens in mind.

to create this fund demonstrates the City’s commitment to safe, sustainable and vibrant neighbourhoods for all Calgarians.


2

A Message from the Chief

i am proud of the accomplishments of the men and women of the Calgary fire department (Cfd) over the past year. in 2011, we received a citizen satisfaction rating of 98 per cent. this is an exceptional achievement considering the challenges we faced over the past year, including meeting the needs of a number of emerging communities, implementing much needed life-cycle replacements, and strategically planning for future, anticipated growth. despite all this, citizens told us that we did the right things at the right times - another indication of our appropriate investment in services and setting of priorities over the past year.

And what better way to face challenges than by navigating into the future and developing a 10-year sustainability plan. the fire department sustainability Plan (2011-2021) was a significant accomplishment as we were the only municipal service to provide a level of planning and analysis to City Council for consideration into the City’s future growth and service delivery. through the direction and innovative thinking set out in the plan, we intend to establish a leadership role in sustainable development within the fire service, ensuring our operations are aligned with the needs of citizens today – and into the future.

in 2011 we showcased our department, our people, and most importantly, our commitment to those we serve – Calgarians. we were honoured to be the host city for the annual fire-rescue Canada Conference which brought together more than 400 fire service leaders from across north America. “taking the lead” was both the conference theme and a great way to encapsulate how we successfully embraced the many challenges and opportunities of 2011.

throughout 2011 we also developed a comprehensive and inclusive business plan outlining strategic result areas and goals the department will pursue over the upcoming three years. Along with our sustainability plan, the three-year business plan will help shape the future of the fire department by focusing on continual improvement, organizational efficiencies, and achieving the desired outcomes and priorities set out by Council and citizens.


And that is just a snap shot. while i’d never be able to make mention of each of our achievements and successes in 2011, i wanted to depict the journey and leave the assurance that we are positioned for the challenges and opportunities that await us in 2012 as we continue to learn, grow and thrive to create an even stronger fire service for the citizens of Calgary.

w. (bruce) burrell fire Chief

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 3

we also had the opportunity to challenge our resiliency and demonstrate our values – in a big way. while i am proud to say that Pride, Professionalism, teamwork and respect can be seen at all levels of the organization on a daily basis, we did prove this on a larger scale in response to the tragedy in slave lake. our members’ capabilities and competencies really stood out during the most significant deployment in our department’s history. between the Calgary fire department, Calgary emergency Management Agency, and Canada task force 2, Calgary was well represented and our neighbours to the north remain extremely grateful for our assistance.


3

overview

The Fire Department is an essential element of complete communities and every program and initiative is directed towards protecting the safety of citizens.

2011 Service to Citizens

Guiding Direction

over 1,400 firefighters and staff work together to deliver worldclass emergency services and participate in and lead community initiatives designed to support the safety of citizens of all ages. in 2011, firefighters provided 100,695 responses to 50,520 incidents, an increase of 6.2 per cent over 2010. the breakdown of incidents to which the fire department responded remained consistent with previous years. Citizen calls for emergency medical assistance accounted for just over 46 per cent of total incidents, followed by false alarms, hazardous conditions and investigations.

fire department operations are guided by Council’s priorities and policies, the Community services & Protective services business plan, and the fire department’s own business plan, policies and procedures. the fire department continues to achieve results for citizens through support of strategic areas identified within the Community services & Protective services department’s 2009-2011 business plan including:


Providing and promoting public safety

fostering a community that cares

Providing services that residents value and rely upon

building and strengthening partnerships to meet community needs

fostering a positive, innovative and safe workplace that attracts, retains and develops motivated and talented people

design fire-safe communities

build a sustainable fire service

be the international fire service leader

support our employees

enhance the health and safety of our people and environment

emergency response and firefighting

Community safety programming

rescue/other incident responses

Prevention and investigations

Support to Citizen-facing Services •

Planning, risk analysis and performance management

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 5

these overarching principles are reflected in the five strategic result areas set out in the fire department’s 2009-2011 business plan:

Citizen-facing Services


4

A Memorable Moment in 2011

The Calgary Fire Department is fortunate that its members are well-trained and wellpositioned to assist communities in response to, and recovery from, large-scale disasters and emergencies. on the afternoon of saturday May 14, 2011, two separate fires burned within the Municipal district of lesser slave river near the town of slave lake and sawridge first nation. one fire was burning to the southwest of slave lake, the other emerged east of the town of slave lake. on the afternoon of May 15, 100 kilometre-perhour winds stirred up the fires, threatening lives and infrastructure. despite efforts by Alberta sustainable resource development (srd), the fire entered the town of slave lake destroying approximately 40 per cent of the town including the town hall and town library. the government of Alberta formally requested the assistance of a number of agencies in Alberta and across Canada, including the

Calgary fire department, Calgary emergency Management Agency (CeMA) and Canada task force 2 (Cantf2), to assist with the disaster. the City of Calgary responded quickly. deployment began shortly after midnight and was completed within 12 hours of the request. over the following two weeks more than 100 staff members and several pieces of apparatus were sent to help with the salvage and recovery efforts. the conditions on the ground in slave lake were such that most have not seen or experienced - to date, it is considered the single largest fire devastation in Canada’s history. the government of Alberta upgraded the disaster to a level four emergency, the highest


possible designation that involves a sustained government-wide response. the disaster not only destroyed private and public properties, it took down essential services. As a result, there was great demand to provide for the essential needs of residents and restore essential services such as utilities.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 7

though it was physically and emotionally challenging, Calgary firefighters at slave lake dealt with the firefighting operations, conducted salvage operations, dealt with hot spots and removed debris. Calgary firefighters also responded to a helicopter crash that was involved with the wildfire suppression operations. CeMA was instrumental in establishing an effective emergency operations Centre, as well as, assisting with recovery planning. Canada task force 2 provided immense support to Alberta health services and to the responding crews by providing an emergency Medical Assistance task force, water filtration units, heaters, tents and power generators, in addition to a number of other resources.

the slave lake disaster was a monumental and historic event. the successful response by the Calgary fire department, the Calgary emergency Management Agency and Canada task force 2 illustrates the City of Calgary’s preparedness. the Calgary fire department is thankful to those who deployed and those who supported the deployment.


5

focusing services to Meet Citizens needs

The Fire Department strives to deliver on its values of pride, professionalism, teamwork and respect. As an essential element of complete communities, citizens often share their thoughts and thanks for a job well done, which speaks volumes about the quality of service and care the Fire Department provides.

in 2011, the fire department continued to deliver on citizen expectations as evidenced by receiving the highest level of citizen satisfaction of all City of Calgary services. in addition, citizens rated the quality of fire department services top among all services provided by the City of Calgary’s Community services & Protective services department.

Citizen Satisfaction Survey, 2007-2011 Citizens Responding Somewhat or Very Satisfied 100%

98% 90%

97% 90%

99%

99%

89%

80% 64%

64%

68%

89% 71%

98% 90% 75%

60% 40% 20% 0%

2007

2008 CFD

2009 CS&PS

2010 Corporation

2011


As the nature of community fire and safety demands continues to change, the Fire Department engages with its citizens and adapts its service to meet developing needs. Citizens surveyed revealed that they expect the fire department to efficiently and reliably respond to emergencies, that prevention and public safety programs are an essential part of the community, and that having a safe community is important.

Service Expectations of Local Community Fire Stations respond to emergencies (fires, accidents)

42%

educate people/ run awareness program in the community

23%

fire prevention program

15% 13%

Public safety program

12%

home/ building inspection (carbon monoxide, fire alarm)

11%

reliable/ always there when needed

9%

do a good job/ service

7%

Collect/receive chemicals/hazardous waste

5%

Provide information/courses on safe handling/disposing of chemicals/hazardous materials

5%

Community presence keeping the community safe other mentions don’t know

4% 3% 6% 7%

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 9

efficient/ fast response


6

Providing and Promoting Public safety

fire department apparatus responded 100,695 times to 50,520 incidents in 2011, a 6.2 per cent increase in incidents responded to and a 1.2 per cent increase in apparatus responses than the previous year.

Incidents and Apparatus Responses, 2007-2011 120,000 103,481

the most common call for help from citizens was for medical assistance, which accounted for 46.3 per cent of all incidents responded to in 2011. fires represented 3.7 per cent of total responses, while false alarms represented 16.7 per cent. hazardous condition calls, which include fuel leaks from vehicles and gas releases, represented 15.8 per cent of total calls. Although only 3.7 per cent of all incidents emergency response crews responded to were confirmed as actual fires, in 2011, the Calgary fire department responded to 10,685 calls (21.2 per cent of all incidents responded to), where an alarm or other indication of fire was present.

109,476

100,000

100,761

99,476

100,695

46,992

47,554

50,520

80,000 60,000 40,000

44,895

49,876

20,000 0

2007 2008 2009 Number of Apparatus Responses

2010 2011 Number of Incidents


In providing services fundamental to the quality of life of citizens, the Fire Department adapts its services, education and approaches to reflect the social fabric of citizens and changes in the community. Incidents by Major Incident Type, 2011 fires (3.7%)

rupture/explosions (0.1%)

investigations (9.1%)

Medical Assists (46.3%)

hazardous Conditions (15.8%) false Alarms (16.7%)

rescues (1.0%)

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 11

Public service Assistance (7.0%)

severe weather (0.4%)


Providing and Promoting Public safety

More than half of all fires occurred in structures, such as homes, garages and businesses. this was followed by outside rubbish fires and mobile property or vehicle fires, which accounted for 14.7 and 13.9 per cent of fires, respectively.

As a result of the fire department’s continued efforts to support the building of fire-safe communities, the number of fire incidents declined for the fourth straight year. in 2011, the fire department responded to 1,860 fire incidents, a decrease of 4.9 per cent from 2010.

Fires by Major Fire Category structure fires natural vegetation fires

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

1,029

1,137

1,075

1,037

943

282

299

258

211

187

Mobile property (vehicle) fires

302

274

275

223

258

outside rubbish fires

392

467

314

291

274

special outside fires

82

130

87

72

62

Cultivated vegetation / crop fires

1

1

2

2

1

other fires

121

159

152

120

135

total fires

2,209

2,467

2,163

1,956

1,860


to protect the lives and property of citizens, the fire department aims to contain 65 per cent of fires to the room or object of origin.

in 2011, the fire department achieved its target and limited fire in 69.3 per cent of building and structure fire incidents.

Percentage of Building/Structure Fires where Flame Spread was Limited to within the Room or Object of Origin, 2007-2011 100%

60%

59.8%

68.8%

66.9%

2009

2010

69.3%

55.2%

40%

20%

0%

2007

2008

2011

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 13

80%


Providing and Promoting Public safety

The Fire Department is an essential element of complete communities and every program and initiative is directed towards protecting the safety of citizens. The Fire Department aggressively works to reduce injuries and fatalities through its inspection, prevention and public education programs. Civilian Fire Injuries and Deaths, 2007-2011 As a result of the fire department’s continued efforts to encourage fire-safe communities, the number of fires in Calgary declined for the fourth consecutive year. this focus also contributed to a decrease in the number of civilian fire-related injuries and deaths in 2011. despite best efforts, in 2011 there were three civilian deaths and 35 fire-related injuries.

80 70 63

60 51

50 40 30

37

35

26

20 10 0

3

2007

3

7

2008 2009 Civilian Injuries

5

3

2010 2011 Civilian Deaths


on the morning of february 23, fire crews were called to a house in southwest Calgary. upon arrival, crews were faced with flames and heavy smoke conditions. Crews quickly knocked down the fire and upon their search, found one male victim. in the early morning hours of March 2, emergency crews responded to a report of a house fire in northeast Calgary. the home was fully engulfed in fire when crews arrived, and upon quickly knocking down the fire, discovered a single male victim that had succumbed to the fire. Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 15

in the early morning hours of september 13, fire crews were dispatched to an explosion call in southeast Calgary, and upon arrival at the scene, found a brush fire. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered one male victim that had died as a result of the fire.


Providing and Promoting Public safety

Demand for fire and community safety services have steadily increased over the past decade as the population has increased. The Fire Department has seen a growing need for service in other areas vital to the safety the community and the environment.

As Calgary’s population has increased by 7.0 per cent over the past five years, the number of fires has declined by 15.8 per cent.

Estimated Fire Loss and Saves 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

number of fire incidents

2,209

2,467

2,163

1,956

1,860

estimated loss from fires

$35,805,985

$52,634,093

$30,465,711

$42,126,848

$24,151,683

$35.11

$50.47

$28.59

$39.32

$22.14

1,019,942

1,042,892

1,065,455

1,071,515

1,090,936

estimated value of property

$3,422,021,014

$2,024,034,215

$2,979,283,525

$1,200,203,064

$1,041,447,739

estimated value saved from fire

$3,386,215,029

$1,971,400,122

$2,948,817,814

$1,158,076,216

$1,017,296,056

99.0%

97.4%

99.0%

96.5%

97.7%

fire loss per capita total population

Percentage of value saved


of the total estimated property and content value of $1.04 billion affected by fire, the fire department limited those losses due to fire to an estimated $24.1 million.

the fire department achieved a return on investment of an estimated $1.02 billion, representing a save rate of 97.7 per cent.

Estimated Fire Loss, Value Saved and Save Rate, 2011

estimated value saved $1.02 billion estimated fire loss $24.1 million

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 17

Save Rate = 97.7 per cent


Providing and Promoting Public safety

As a leader in the fire industry, the Calgary Fire Department strives for continuous improvement, ensuring that it operates as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Performance measure/Council approved long-term benchmark

2011 Comparative Cities benchmark survey results

Calgary fire department 2011 results

number of fire stations per capita at or near comparable Canadian cities

An average of 29,603 persons protected per station

Cfd’s 37 fire stations each protected an average of 29,485 persons.

number of fire suppression personnel per capita at or near comparable Canadian cities

one firefighter for every 832 persons

Cfd’s staffing level was at one firefighter for every 840 persons.

Average service area covered per fire station at or near comparable Canadian cities

An average service coverage area of 27.33 km2

Cfd’s 37 fire stations each cover an average service area of 22.92 km2

fire suppression cost per capita at or near comparable Canadian cities

Average of $124.99 per capita

Cfd provided fire suppression service at a cost of $136.09 per capita.


Calgary fire department 2011 results

first-in engine emergency response within seven minutes at fire rescue incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

64.0 per cent of first-in engines arrived within seven minutes.

first-in engine emergency response within six minutes and 30 seconds at life-threatening emergency medical incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

73.3 per cent of first-in engines arrived within six minutes and 30 seconds.

ninety second or less turnout for the preparation of the first engine company at fire rescue incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

54.7 per cent of first-in engine turnout times were within 90 seconds.

sixty second or less turnout for the preparation of the first engine company at life-threatening emergency medical incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

27.0 per cent of first-in engine turnout times were within 60 seconds.

four minute and 30 second or less travel time for the arrival of the first engine company at fire rescue incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

72.2 per cent of first-in engine travel times were within four minutes and 30 seconds.

four minute and 30 second or less travel time for the arrival of the first engine company at life-threatening emergency medical incidents, 90 per cent of the time.

78.2 per cent of first-in engine travel times were within four minutes and 30 seconds.

full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incident within 11 minutes, 90 per cent of the time.

56.1 per cent of full first alarm assignment total response times were within 11 minutes.

eight minute and 30 seconds or less travel response time for the deployment of a full first alarm assignment at a fire suppression incident, 90 per cent of the time.

54.9 per cent of full first alarm assignment travel times were within eight minutes and 30 seconds.

flame spread limited to within the room or object of origin in 65 per cent of building and structure fire suppressions.

flame spread was limited to within the room of origin or object of origin in 69.3 per cent of building/structure fires.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 19

Performance measure/ Council approved long-term benchmark


Providing and Promoting Public safety

Fire Rescue Incidents the fire department target is for a first-in engine to arrive at the scene of an incident within seven minutes 90 per cent of the time at emergency fire rescue incidents. •

in 2011, first-in engines responding to fire rescue incidents achieved a total response time of seven minutes or less 64.0 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses were made within nine minutes and 22 seconds or less (29 seconds faster than in 2010).

Life-Threatening Emergency Medical Incidents the fire department target is for a first-in engine to arrive at the scene of an incident within six minutes and thirty seconds 90 per cent of the time at life-threatening emergency medical events. •

first-in engines achieved a turnout time of 90 seconds or less 54.7 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses achieved a turnout time of two minutes and 15 seconds or less (three seconds faster than in 2010).

in 2011, first-in engines responding to life-threatening emergency medical incidents achieved a total response time of six minutes and 30 seconds or less 73.3 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses were made within seven minutes and 58 seconds or less (21 seconds faster than in 2010).

first-in engines achieved a travel time of four minutes and 30 seconds or less 72.2 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses achieved a travel time of six minutes and 2 seconds or less (23 seconds faster than in 2010).

first-in engines achieved a turnout time of 60 seconds or less 27.0 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses achieved a turnout time of two minutes and 10 seconds or less (one second faster than in 2010).

first-in engines achieved a travel time of four minutes and 30 seconds or less 78.2 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of all first-in engine responses achieved a travel time of five minutes and 29 seconds or less (12 seconds faster than in 2010).


Response times are an important marker of citizen safety and service. In the event of a fire rescue or life-threatening emergency medical incident, the first engine on-scene plays a critical role in initiating life-saving actions, such as providing CPR or establishing a means of access to occupants trapped in a building. First-in Engine Response Time Performance, LifeThreatening Emergency Medical Incidents, 2007-2011

100

100

78.2%

76.7%

81.7%

73.3%

70.8%

70.5%

76.9%

60

74.6%

72.2%

69.3%

68.1%

69.0%

70.3%

0

27.0%

26.9%

20

24.2%

20

26.6%

40

23.6%

55.4%

54.7%

62.2%

57.3%

64.6%

64.0%

61.1%

63.3%

40

58.6%

66.9%

60

80

80.0%

80

Benchmark 90%

78.4%

Benchmark 90%

0 Total Time Benchmark Met (7min) 2007

2008

Turnout Time Benchmark Met (1min 30sec) 2009

Travel Time Benchmark Met (4min 30sec) 2010

2011

Total Time Benchmark Met (6min 30sec) 2007

2008

Turnout Time Benchmark Met (60sec) 2009

Travel Time Benchmark Met (4min 30sec) 2010

2011

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 21

First-in Engine Response Time Performance Fire Rescue Incidents, 2007-2011


Providing and Promoting Public safety

Assembling a full first-alarm is vital to allowing firefighters to safely, adequately and properly attack and extinguish a fire.

the fire department has set a target for getting 14 firefighters to a fire rescue incident, referred to as a full first-alarm assignment, within 11 minutes 90 per cent of the time. Amassing these resources to a fire suppression incident ensures that appropriate levels of firefighters and equipment are in place to safely set up equipment and simultaneously handle critical firefighting tasks to control and limit a fire and protect people, property and the environment.

•

in 2011, units responding to fire suppression incidents met the total response time benchmark of 11 minutes 56.1 per cent of the time. ninety per cent of responses requiring a full first-alarm assignment were made within fifteen minutes and 34 seconds or less (49 seconds slower than in 2010).

•

units met the travel time benchmark of eight minutes and 30 seconds 54.9 per cent of the time. A full first-alarm assignment arrived at 90 per cent of all fire suppression incidents within a travel time of twelve minutes and 50 seconds (11 seconds slower than in 2010).


Full First Alarm Assignment Response Time Performance, Fire Suppression Incidents, 2007-2011 100

Benchmark 90%

54.9%

56.9%

61.2%

55.0%

58.2%

56.1%

57.8%

60.2%

20 0 Total Time Benchmark Met (11min) 2007

2008

Travel Time Benchmark Met (8min 30sec) 2009

2010

2011

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 23

40

60.0%

60

64.5%

80


fostering a Community that Cares

7

when not fighting fires the department’s dedicated and competent staff commit their time and energies to a range of programs and charities designed to support the citizens of Calgary.

Canadian Military family resource Centre

staff make contributions to wear red epaulettes or clothing to recognize the efforts of military forces, with funds going to the Centre.

Canadian blood services sirens for life

An annual challenge between Calgary and edmonton emergency services, members donate blood that save lives.

big brothers & sisters of Calgary

staff participate in events like the Annual bowl for kids to raise funds for big brothers & sisters of Calgary.

united way of Calgary

staff make pledges as part of the annual City campaign and volunteer their time with the organization.

Project warmth

fire stations accept clothing donations on a year-round basis and volunteer firefighters collect, repair, clean and distribute outerwear to those in need.

uniCef

fire crews collect and sort money collected during halloween.

raise a reader

the fire department accepts book donations at local fire stations, and personnel donate their time to sell papers to raise funds and awareness of the Calgary herald’s raise-a-reader program.

Calgary firefighters benevolent fund

staff volunteer and donate to the Calgary firefighters benevolent fund which supports firefighters, retirees, and their immediate families in times of sickness and distress.

MAdd red ribbon Campaign

fire engines sport red ribbons to promote the message that deaths and injuries from impaired driving are preventable.

Meals on wheels

the Calgary fire department and Meals on wheels launched a pilot program where Calgary fire department Community safety officers taught Meals on wheels volunteers how to assess smoke alarms in their clients’ homes.


Through their close ties to the communities they serve, firefighters engage area residents, businesses and agencies in preparing and educating others on ways to reduce risk, bolster resiliency and foster self-sufficiency.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 25


fostering a Community that Cares

The Fire Department promotes safe, sustainable environmental practices, and works to reduce risks to the health, safety and protection of Calgary’s waterways, land and air by pioneering safe management practices for hazardous materials in homes and businesses. throughout 2011, the fire department experienced many successes in reducing its environmental footprint and in leading initiatives to minimize impacts on the environment.

Reducing Environmental Contaminants fire crews picked up an estimated 48,255 litres of fluids from motor vehicle accidents and other emergency calls. Waste Diversion and Reduction

in addition to cleaning up fluids from accidents and emergency events, and diverting and reducing waste from Calgary’s landfills, the fire department helped to keep the community safe by removing discarded needles from playgrounds, school grounds, public parks and streets. in 2011, the fire department collected close to 7,400 needles through the drop-box program and attended 59 incidents to pick up discarded needles.

five fire stations and three landfill throw & go locations designated as household hazardous waste program sites collected 852,133 kilograms of household hazardous waste chemicals from citizens. household hazardous waste program sites collected 81,332 kg of propane tanks, helium tanks and other cylinders from citizens. household hazardous waste program sites diverted 473,200 litres of waste oil and flammable liquids from Calgary landfills. household hazardous waste program sites diverted 1,899,029 litres of latex paint and waste oil paint liquids from Calgary landfills. in partnership with waste & recycling services, the household hazardous waste program sites collected 3,125 metric tonnes of hazardous materials from citizens.


In Their Own Words “they’re the first on the scene. i couldn’t imagine life without the fire department.”

“thank you for being an everyday hero. you sacrifice your life to save others from danger.” “i am writing today to give a special thank you to brad Mcdonald (fire investigator). As my husband was being checked out by the eMs team, brad took especially good care of my six year-old son and i. i so appreciated his assistance in coaching me through this difficult process of contacting the insurance, and making sure the house was secured before they all left. if it weren’t for his kindness and patience, i don’t think that i could have kept it together.”

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 27

“your personnel were instrumental in helping us evacuate more than 200 tenants, some due to complex needs who required gentle coaxing and others who do not speak english. your personnel also helped tenants retrieve critical items, removed pets and patiently awaited the arrival of the private security firms. the Public information officer, brian McAsey was on site to help with media relations the night of and in the following days.”


Providing services that Calgarians value and rely on

8

An integral part of Calgary’s complete communities, the Fire Department’s 37 emergency response stations provide both emergency and non-emergency services that residents rely on. in 2011, the Calgary fire department had eight emergency response facility projects in various stages of development and construction to improve services to the citizens of Calgary. •

ground breaking at douglas glen emergency response station occurred in June. Construction is expected to be completed by Q3 2012.

ground breaking at symons valley emergency response station occurred in June. Construction is estimated to be completed by Q3 2012.

ground breaking for replacement south Calgary station #5 took place in August. the project is expected to be completed by Q4 2012.

detailed design, permitting, and community engagement work was underway for upgrades to windsor Park station #11. this project is expected to be completed by Q4 2013.

land acquisition was finalized in Q4 2011 to support construction of the seton multi-use facility. estimated project completion date is early 2013.

Project initiation and permitting was underway for the evergreen permanent emergency response station, replacing the existing short-term facility located in bridlewood. estimated project completion date is Q3 2013.

site location for the royal vista permanent emergency response station, replacing royal oak’s interim facility, was in the process of being finalized. Project completion is estimated for 2014.


NORTH ANNEXATION (INDUSTRIAL) NORTHWEST ANNEXATION

40

NORTHWEST INDUSTRIAL

KEYSTONE HILLS SYMONS VALLEY (#40)

38

31 ROYAL VISTA (#34)

WARD 2

WARD 3 NORTHEAST INDUSTRIAL/AIRPORT

36

34 28

WARD 4

21

TUSCANY (HOUSE)

32

13

18

WARD 1 22

35 15

17 VARSITY

4

MOUNT PLEASANT

10

29

WARD 5

7

WARD 7

E.O.C.

6 8

WARD 10

DOWNTOWN EAST (#1)

2

WARD 6

12

1

WARD 8

BELVEDERE

EAST CORE

23

5 33

SOUTH CALGARY (#5)

TRAINING ACADEMY PROJECT

16 HQ FIRE HEADQUARTERS

20

11

WINDSOR PARK (#11)

WARD 9

WARD 11

9

25

14 SHEPARD INDUSTRIAL DOUGLAS GLEN (#39)

19

WARD 13 37 PROVIDENCE

WARD 14

WARD 12

26

EVERGREEN (#37)

Current station funded Capital Projects under Construction Msi and Crl funded Projects future Capital Projects required (unfunded)

SHEPARD RESIDENTIAL

30

SOUTHEAST ANNEXATIOIN

WEST MACLEOD

SETON (#41) FAR SOUTHEAST ANNEXATIOIN

EAST MACLEOD

Kilometers 0

1

2

4

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 29

24


Providing services that Calgarians value and rely on

Stations and firefighters are core to Calgary’s communities and are key to delivering programs, services and education that enhance the health, safety and preparedness of Calgary’s citizens.


4

vista heights

1991 18 Avenue ne

5

south Calgary

3129 14 street sw

6

louise Crossing

360 8 street sw

7

Mount Pleasant

2708 4 street nw

8

rosscarrock

1720 45 street sw

209 silvergrove drive nw

temple

7199 temple drive ne

23

dover

2727 26 Avenue se

24

Cedarbrae

2607 106 Avenue sw

25

foothills industrial Park

4705 76 Avenue se

26

Midnapore

450 Midpark way se

28

edgemont

7925 edgemont boulevard nw

29

Coach hill

7027 Coach hill road sw

30

Mackenzie towne

6 Mckenzie towne gate se

31

Country hills

11955 Country village link ne

• •

• •

9

ogden

2515 78 Avenue se

10

briar hill

1909 16 Avenue nw

11

windsor Park

5536 4 street sw

12

forest heights

123 44 street se

13

Airport

2021 78 Avenue ne

• •

14

haysboro

9840 horton road sw

15

bowness

6328 35 Avenue nw

16

highfield/headquarters

4124 11 street se

17

varsity

3740 32 Avenue nw

18

huntington hills

415 68 Avenue nw

• • •

19

Parkland

13807 Parkland boulevard se

20

lincoln Park

2800 Peacekeepers way sw

bulk water fill station

• •

sand (winter only)

450 1 street se 1010 10 Avenue sw

Address

fire station tour

downtown east beltline

name

• •

32

saddleridge

800 saddletowne Circle ne

33

signal hill

3800 69 street sw

34

royal oak

1 royal birch hill nw

35

valley ridge

11280 valley ridge boulevard nw

hidden valley

10071 hidden valley drive nw

36

37

bridlewood

2375 162 Avenue sw

38

skyview ranch

3 skyview springs Cove ne

40

sage hill

121 sage bank Crescent nw

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 31

1 2

no.

smoke detector program

silver springs

22

Address

Calgary Fire Department

station locations and services Provided (as of december 2011)

Chemical drop off

21

bulk water fill station

• •

sand (winter only)

• •

fire station tour

water safety patrol

smoke detector program

Chemical drop off

water safety patrol

Cholesterol screening

Cholesterol screening

name

blood pressure testing

no.

blood pressure testing

Calgary Fire Department

station locations and services Provided (as of december 2011)


Providing services that Calgarians value and rely on

Ingraining fire and community safety service into communities, the Fire Department plays a pivotal role in helping build and support fire-safe communities.

in 2011, the fire department achieved its goal of reaching 1 in 10 Calgarians annually through non-emergency initiatives.

Non-Emergency Public Contacts, 2007-2011 120,000 100,000 86,118

91,562

93,359

2008

2009

106,947

108,815

2010

2011

80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0

2007


What Our Citizens Say “i go to school at Captain John Palliser elementary. in our school, we have a goal called Making Mondays Matter. each Monday, a goal is set and the next week, a new goal is made. these are tons of fun to achieve. for example, we had to draw a fire escape plan for our houses.”

“you are a hero because you save our lives, putting yourselves in danger, you have determination. Making a difference is what you do for us. you are persistent and fearless. the hard work that you do pays off in the end. you use search and rescue plans to help protect building and homes. thank you for making me feel safe.”

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 33

“i would like to thank you because you put out fires and you are always there, ready to help. you take care of the environment. thank you for fixing and testing our fire alarms and for making thousands of people feel happy as can be. firefighters need to be strong and physically fit, that is just what you are. these things make you brave, selfless and educated about fire awareness.”


Providing services that Calgarians value and rely on

Visits-Presentations- Public Assistance After-the-emergency Community support Program – providing caring support to citizens affected by crisis. home safety Program– canvassing homes in the community, firefighters provide home safety education. youth firesetter intervention referral and education service (y–fires) Program – educating youth, children and their families about the dangers of playing with fire. firefighter school visits – voluntarily visiting schools, firefighters promote age-appropriate community safety messages. Public fire station educational tour Program – providing an opportunity for citizens to visit a community fire station to learn about the importance of fire safety with the people who make it happen. fire Prevention week – offering open houses to the public at community fire stations to create fire safety awareness. Education – Prevention – Inspection river patrols – promoting water safety with boaters and rafters. Community safety events – in the community delivering safety messages. fire hydrant inspections and testing. Health and Wellness street safe needle Program – keeping the community safe by removing discarded needles from playgrounds, school grounds, public parks and streets. Community health Assistance – providing cholesterol screening and blood pressure testing free of charge to the community at fire stations.


Working to reduce the risk of injury, the Fire Department is committed to delivering preventionbased outreach to Calgarians and encouraging citizen responsibility and safe practices.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 35


building and strengthening Partnerships to Meet Community needs

9

the fire department continually looks at issues impacting the community, and collaborates with other city services and agencies to reach citizens with programs that improve safety. in its effort to reach even more Calgarians in non-emergency settings, in 2011 the fire department piloted several new programs in partnership with other City business units and external organizations. •

the fire department launched the Partners in bow river safety Pilot Project in conjunction with Animal & bylaw services to increase the safety awareness and education of recreational bow river users. the pilot project saw two bylaw officers join fire department aquatic crews on regularly scheduled boat patrols throughout the summer. focussed on river safety through education, almost 4,300 bow river users were educated.

Calgary’s City Council approved a pilot program to allow taxis to use fire hydrant space to wait or stand for fares in sections of Calgary’s downtown area. this new concept, believed to be the first of its kind in north America, was a collaborative effort between the fire department and the City of Calgary transportation department.

As part of fire Prevention week, the fire department partnered with Meals on wheels to launch a pilot program aimed at increasing home fire safety for Calgarians in need of assistance. during the week, fire department Community safety officers accompanied Meals on wheels volunteers on their delivery routes to teach volunteers how to assess smoke alarms in the homes of their clients, and what to do if smoke alarms are lacking or non-functional.


The Fire Department ensures it is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. To further enhance its sustainability, the Fire Department strives to leverage leading-edge knowledge and practices, as well as the resources available within the community.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 37


fostering a Positive, innovative and safe workplace

10

The Fire Department develops the knowledge, capabilities and motivation of its staff, and aligns them with the vision and goals of the Fire Department.

in 2011, 1,402 employees delivered emergency and non-emergency services to over one million Calgarians.

Total CFD Employees, 2007-2011 1,500

• •

over 92 per cent of all employees are uniformed staff. 85.6 per cent of employees provide frontline emergency services to citizens. the remaining 15 per cent of staff either directly support firefighting staff through health and wellness, training and technology initiatives, or are responsible for programs to enhance service to citizens, such as public education and response and station planning.

1,200

1,229

1,289

1,356

1,369

1,402

2009

2010

2011

900

600

300

0

2007

2008


Uniformed and Non-Uniformed Employees, 2011

uniformed 92.6% non-uniformed 7.4% Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 39


fostering a Positive, innovative and safe workplace

The Fire Department values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing recruitment and outreach to a broad range of skilled talent that exists in the community.

the number of potential retirements is expected to increase over the next five years as almost a quarter of fire department employees are over the age of 50. in 2011, 47 employees retired from the fire department, a 57 per cent increase over 2010.

recruitment

2011

number of people hired

91

number of outreach events

7

number of classes

3

number of applications received number of aptitude candidates tested number of interviews

2,634 384 185 over 45 days


recognizing that recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce are critical to effective, long-term service delivery, in 2011, the fire department hosted several recruitment information sessions for people interested in a career in the fire service.

New Recruits, 2007-2011

two month-long recruitment competitions were held in 2011, the first time since 2009. through these month-long recruitment drives over 2,600 applications were received.

150

200 170

119 97

100

91

50

0

39

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 41

three recruit classes were held, adding 91 new firefighters to the department.


fostering a Positive, innovative and safe workplace

The Fire Department’s workforce is its most important asset and is an essential element of sustainability and success. Employee Satisfaction Survey Index Score, 2007-2011

demonstrating the greatest gains were employees feeling they have the resources needed to do their job and that the balance between their work and personal commitments is right. employees also indicated they get a sense of accomplishment from their work, and that they are satisfied with the fairness and respect they receive from the person they report to directly.

60

111.8

100.6

118.4

81.7

102.6

113.6

100.2

88.6

101.5

88.3

80

75.3

overall, 57 per cent of employees are satisfied with the overall quality of their work life, compared to 47 per cent who were satisfied in 2010.

100

63.4

satisfaction index scores increased in 2011, representing the fifth consecutive year of increased employee satisfaction results.

69.9

108.5

120

119.5

the 2011 City of Calgary employee satisfaction survey indicated that the fire department continued to make gains in employee satisfaction.

40 20 0

2007

2008 CFD

2009 CS&PS

2010 Corporation

2011


Building on its health and safety initiatives, the Fire Department continually works to expand its occupational health and safety programs to focus on injury prevention and healthy lifestyles.

in addition to its regular fitness and health guidance, in 2011, the wellness Centre oversaw a vaccination program for on-duty personnel to help combat the spread of seasonal flu, which is particularly important for emergency responders who regularly work with the public.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Member attendance

968

992

1,148

1,071

1,086

Pre-employment medicals conducted

238

114

104

43

152

driver’s medicals conducted

137

135

220

237

257

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 43

wellness Centre statistics


fostering a Positive, innovative and safe workplace

The Fire Department provides opportunities for staff to learn and excel, and works to ensure its employees have the skills and knowledge to deliver fire and community safety service to citizens. in addition to delivering over 207,000 person hours of training, the fire department leveraged new technologies and developed scenario-based training courses to provide consistent and timely

number of person-hours of training delivered

training without adversely impacting staff availability for emergency response. this included computerized driving simulations in a controlled environment.

2008

2009

2010

2011

recruits and incumbents

55,452

95,950.45

69,888.50

76,498

Cadets

4,320

4,878.50

4,202

3,988

oversight of technical training

15,480

11,216

11,680

8,070

fire Crew instructional hours

114,000

119,870

121,480

119,000

total person hours of training delivered

189,252

231,915

207,250.50

207,556


in 2011, the fire department worked to expand its leadership acumen. leaders within the fire department completed the Masters Certificate in Municipal leadership through a partnership with the york university school of business, and ten managers and supervisors completed the supervisory leadership development Program offered by the City of Calgary in partnership with the Canadian Management Centre. the fire department also developed an incident Management system training course to foster leadership amongst fire officers in mastering the complexities of fire ground command protocols and standards. Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 45

in addition to delivering over 207,000 person hours of training, the fire department leveraged new technologies and developed scenario-based training courses to provide consistent and timely training without adversely impacting staff availability for emergency response. this included computerized driving simulations in a controlled environment.


fostering a Positive, innovative and safe workplace

The Fire Department is proud of the contributions its members make, and for their work in upholding the values of pride, professionalism, teamwork and respect.

across Alberta, both professionals and volunteers, were recognized for their distinguished service, which included 33 recipients from the Calgary fire department.

in 2011, the fire department leveraged its experience and shared its achievements to drive success in community and fire safety. •

the 20th Annual kevin brown Memorial Award was held and a member of the fire department’s aquatic rescue team was awarded a scholarship to attend aquatic-related training. As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, the insurance bureau of Canada donated a new rapid deployment craft rescue boat to the aquatic rescue team.

on behalf of the Province of Alberta, the fire department was proud to host the 2011 fire services exemplary Medal Awards for southern Alberta to recognize fire personnel with 20, 30 and 40 years of service. in total, 78 firefighters from

the fire department partnered with the Province of Alberta to host the Alberta emergency services Medals honouring members with 12 years of service. thirty-one deserving recipients of the Calgary fire department received this medal, demonstrating loyalty and dedication to emergency services in Alberta.


the fire department was honoured to receive the national Municipal environment Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators for the fire training water re-use Project. in partnership with the City of Calgary Parks, this initiative allows water used for fire suppression training to be captured, treated and re-used – saving up to 150-million litres of water a year and reducing its environmental footprint. this project also received the globe Award for excellence in urban sustainability and was nominated for an emerald Award.

•

the fire department received an award from the Canadian forces liaison Council in recognition of supporting reservist members. seventeen organizations from across Canada, including government, business and academic institutions, received national awards to recognize those that have made significant efforts to accommodate reservists commitments to military training and operations. the Calgary fire department was the employer from Alberta chosen to accept the national honour.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 47

•


11

financial summary

For every dollar of The City residential property tax bill, 43 cents is collected on behalf of the province. Of the 57¢ collected for the municipality, The City spends 13 cents on Community Services & Protective Services. Of that amount, the Fire Department spends 6.5 cents. Proportion of Tax Dollar by Business Unit Provincial government 43 Municipal services & Programs 57 Community & neighbourhood services 0.1 Parks 2.8 recreation 1.5 Animal & bylaw services 0.4 Calgary fire department 6.5 Public safety & Communication (9-1-1) 0.7

* based on the combined current municipal and provincial property tax rates as independently determined by each level of government. figures presented are in cents.


The Fire Department is committed to providing efficient and effective services and optimizes the use of its resources to achieve desired outcomes and the priorities as set out by Council and citizens. Calgary Fire Department Operating Budget vs. Actual and Full Time Employees (FTEs), 2007-2011 200 175.8

127.9

1,229

1,500

137.1 134.7 1,289

1,356

1,369

1,402

100

1,000

50

0

500

2007

2008

Budgeted Operating Budget

2009

2010

Actual Operating Budget

2011 FTEs

0

FTEs

127.2

2,000

170.8

158.5 153.2

150

$ Milions

184.4 183.6

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 49

the fire department’s 2011 Council-approved operating budget was $184.4 million, 4.9 per cent higher than 2010 funding. in 2011, the fire department’s actual operating expenditures were $183.6 million, one half a per cent lower than the approved operating budget.


financial summary

the fire department’s total 2011 Council-approved capital budget was $234.2M, distributed over 2011-2016. the budget allocation for 2011 capital expenditures was $60.94 million, with just over

half (50.7 per cent) being allocated to growth and replacement of emergency response stations and facilities.

Capital Budget Allocation, 2011 emergency response stations and facilities (50.7%) facility lifecycle (11.0%) technology and Communications equipment (8.0%) Apparatus and equipment (30.3%)


Capital Budget Highlights Phase 1 installation of emergency generators in nine stations was completed and Phase 2 of a further nine locations was initiated. these generators support the off-grid sustainability ensuring service will be available in any circumstance.

2011 marked the completion of the department’s 2009-2011 fleet acquisition plan. the department was fortunate to take possession of 15 engines, 4 rescues, 8 quints and a driver simulator unit.

in 2010, 18.9 per cent of the fire department’s fleet was past its approved lifecycle replacement age. in 2011, this declined to 8.6 per cent.

investments were made in other supporting infrastructure as well, including rolling stock, duty gear, and hazardous materials equipment.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 51


12

looking Ahead

Through the direction and innovative thinking set out in the Fire Department’s Sustainability Plan 2011-2021, the Fire Department intends to establish a leadership role in sustainable development within fire service.

As the nature of our city changes and citizen expectations change, so must the fire service. As we evolve to meet the needs associated with growth and emerging community safety demands of Calgarians, we will be looking at how we can leverage our stations, firefighters and relationships with other City business units and agencies to address these needs. we will be a vital partner in identifying and delivering safety and community services to our citizens, and we will work diligently to ensure the level of service we deliver strikes the best balance between appropriate, acceptable and affordable.

Moving towards sustainability - Aligning our short-term planning to meet our longterm vision the fire department’s sustainability Plan 2011-2021 has shaped both our short-term and long-term planning. the plan is an integrated, innovative and long-term approach for achieving a more sustainable fire service for our citizens, our employees, our fleet, our fire stations and our finances while addressing the social, environmental and economic issues facing the city and the fire department in the next decade.


As part of the work we completed for our 2011-2021 sustainability Plan, an analysis of the issues and trends most likely to impact our organization over the next three to ten years was completed. the goals and objectives we have set out in our 2012-2014 business plan are designed to address these key emerging issues, and will advance the our 2011-2021 sustainability Plan and the vision for Calgary as set out by City Council and City Administration. our focus from 2012-2014 will be on five key strategic result areas. safe, complete communities.

2)

A sustainable service through a more effective and disciplined organization.

3)

A resilient workplace.

4)

ongoing program review and improvement.

5)

environmental stewardship.

1.

Managing Growth.

2.

Ensuring Safe Communities.

3.

Leading in Service to Citizens.

4.

Elevating our Environmental Stewardship.

5.

Valuing and Empowering Our Workforce.

6.

Building Service Resiliency Through Emergency Management.

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 53

1)

Fire Department Sustainability Plan (2011-2021) Priorities


13

honouring our fallen

each year, the fire department carries out the proud tradition of remembering and honouring the memories of those who lost their lives in service of others. to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the united states, the us Consulate general attended Calgary and hosted an event on september 11, at which representatives from the Calgary fire department, Calgary Police service, Alberta health services and the Canadian Military honour the lives lost a decade ago and celebrated the strong friendship between our two countries.

Firefighter Hugh McShane (1923) Apparatus Accident

Firefighter Jerry Walter (1972) beachcomber night Club fire

Captain Ron Renard (1998) occupational Cancer

Captain Arthur Simmons (1948) union Packing Plant fire

Firefighter David Allan (1976) Apparatus Accident

Division Chief Ken Moody (1999) occupational Cancer

Firefighter Norman Cocks (1962) training Accident

Firefighter George Look (1981) Manchester racquet Club fire

District Chief Maurice Simonin (2000) occupational Cancer

Lieutenant Lloyd Dutnall (1970) Calgary stockyards fire

Firefighter Morley James (1992) forest lawn hotel fire

Chief Training Officer George Heming (2003) occupational Cancer

Lieutenant Harold Smith (1971) Mctavish block fire

District Chief Reuben Poffenroth (1998) occupational Cancer

Captain Edward Briggs (2004) occupational Cancer


Firefighter Robert Elder (2005) occupational Cancer

Captain Olaf Wilson (2007) occupational Cancer

Captain Alan Edwards (2005) occupational Cancer

Captain Bruce Dancy (2006) occupational Cancer

Division Chief Jim Carrington (2008) occupational Cancer

Fire Chief Thomas Minhinnett (2005) occupational Cancer

District Chief Sidney Gilbert (2007) occupational Cancer

Captain Ron Lindberg (2010) occupational Cancer

Captain James Symon (2005) occupational Cancer

Firefighter Gord Paul (2007) occupational Cancer

Calgary fire department Annual report 2011 55

Deputy Chief William Beattie (2005) occupational Cancer


Calgary fire department Annual report 2011

2012-0230


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