MUNICIPALITY OF IROQUOIS FALLS DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
April 2011 Description
The Municipality of Iroquois Falls embraces an area of 69,018 hectares west from the Abitibi River to Frederickhouse Lake and north and south some 24 km along Highway 11. Within the boundaries of the municipality are three main residential areas; the Town ofIroquois Falls, population 4729, with some 1,660 residences and variety of businesses: the village of Monteith, population 256, with 41 residences and the village of Porquis Junction, population 314, with 67 residences. Approximately 220 kms of roads service the rural area.
The Ontario Northland Railway line from North Bay to Cochrane runs south to north through the western edge of the municipality and is adjacent to Highway 11. A branch rail line runs east from Porquis Junction and through the Town of Iroquois Falls to service industrial plants. Montieth Road connects the village of Monteith, located just off Highway 11 along the railway at the southern extremity of the municipal boundary, to the Town ofIroquois Falls. From the Town ofIroquois Falls, Jacob's Hill Road runs north west some 10 km to connect with Highway 11 at Hi-Way Beach and Highway 67 runs about 10 km west to connect with Highway 11 at Porquis Junction. Rese Road connects the two villages, Monteith and Porquis Junction. An industrial development road runs north from the town to the Abitibi cutting rights and connects to Highway 652 running from Cochrane east to the Quebec border.
The Iroquois Falls Municipal Airport is located 10 km northwest of Iroquois Falls on Highway 11.
Policing is provided by the Ontario Provincial Police. The Iroquois Falls Detachment, is located on Highway 67 at the western entrance to town. Municipal services consist of the Public Works Department and Volunteer Fire Department.
The Ontario Northland Railway line at the western edge of town. An operating liquid aluminium SUlphate manufacturing and storage plant is located to the northwest of town, near the junction of Highways 11 and Jacob's Hill Road. The newsprint manufacturing plant, Abitibi Bowater Inc., is located on the eastern edge of town along the bank of the Abitibi River.
There is an Ammonium Nitrate unloading dock at the Porquis Junction railroad site. Community Profile
The Town of Iroquois Falls has a population estimated at 4729 according to the 2006 demographics. However, recent downsizing at Abitibi Consolidated has had an impact on population. The Town prides itself on the bilingual nature of its residents and the business community. In terms of use of the two official languages, Iroquois Falls has 2755 residents or 57% of its population indicating knowledge / use of both English and French according to the 2006 Census data. The Iroquois Falls and District Chamber of Commerce is reporting over 177 businesses in the community. According to the Financial Post data, there were approximately 2020 private households of which 1610 are owned; and there are reported 1445 families.
At the time of the 2006 Census, the three largest industrial sectors in terms of experienced labour force were manufacturing, retail trade and health and social services. The main industry of the town employs 33% of the labour force. Health and social services employ approximately 12%, slightly higher than the provincial level. Retail trade was the next largest sector employing 10.5% of the labour force.
Iroquois Falls is located on the Trans-Canada Highway # 11, 45 minutes northeast of Timmins, and 30 minutes east from Cochrane. The service infrastructure is ideal with rail, gas, hydro, and telecommunications available on a large number of available properties for development.
Iroquois Falls' employees have had tremendous experience in the wood and paper industry and in the trade area. The community is ideally suited to attract value-added plants in the resource industry, warehousing on the Highway 11, call centre operations, and new retail/service entrepreneurs.
Iroquois Falls has an excellent array of schools and access to the facilities of two colleges: English and French. The Town's natural surroundings, its industrial and entrepreneurial spirit and its friendly, proud citizens set the backdrop for a community that depicts a harmony between nature, industry and recreation.
Anson General Hospital services the Town of Iroquois Falls. Newly renovated, the 40- bed hospital has 25 active beds and 15 chronic care beds.
The South Centennial Manor a Home for the Aged has 69 residents.
2 Population Profile
Iroquois Falls experienced a decline in population between 2001 and 2006 of 9.4 %.
As of2006, the total population of Iroquois Falls was as follows: Age 0 to 14 represents 695 or 14.69 % of total population Age 15 to 64 represents 3120 or 65.96 % of total population Age 65 and over represents 920 or 19.45 % of total population
The population estimates for the next few years may indicate a decrease in 0-14 age category due to the working force relocating for available jobs outside the community and as well the age group of the 55 and over, taking early retirement to spend more leisure time within the community.
This projection of the aging population has the municipal council looking at creating a "Retirement Community."
3 IROQUOIS FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING CLASSIFICATION
Assembly
5 Schools (elementary or secondary, including private) 2 Other educational institution 6 Churches 7 Assembly hall 2 Clubs, private and fraternal 2 Taverns
Institutional 1 Hospital (Anson General) 40 beds 1 Old age home 69 residents 1 Penal institution 211 residents
Residential Occupancies
1525 single family 1525 128 single family semi-detached 2 x 128 256 40 Row/Town houses 40 28 Mobile homes 28 58 Duplex 2 x 58 116 21 Triplex 3 x 21 63 10 Fourplex 4 x 10 40 3 Fiveplex 5 x 3 15 2 Sixplex 6 x 2 12 8,9,15,20,18,20 apartments in each of6 buildings up to 4 floors walk up apartments more than 6 units Total of 2020 plus buildings over 6 units
Mercantile
1 Building having more than two stores attached and under one ownership 2 Department/discount store 1 Multi-type complex 25 Retail with residential unites) 12 Unspecified commercial property
4 Business
2 Financial Institutions 2 Retail with office(s)
Industrial
2 Heavy industrial properties 1 Cement plant 1 Standard industrial property 1 Other industrial 1 Servco Transformer Station 1 MEU Transformer Station 1 Private Generating Station (Fossil Fuel and Cogen) 3 Automotive fuel stations 5 Automotive shop/auto repair/collision service
5 Fire Department Responses to Occupancy Classifications Occupancy Classification 2007 2008 2009 2010 Group A "Assembly" • Schools 7 4 6 4 • Jus Jordan Arena 6 2 3 0 other 0 2 3 0 • (I) • # of Dollar Loss Calls (0) (0) (0) Group B "Institutional" • Manor/Hospital 5 4 11 10 • Montieth Correctional Centre I 1 0 0 • Group Homes 2 0 0 0 (I) (1) (0) (0) • # of Dollar Loss Calls
Group C "Residential" • CO's 10 13 11 14 • Homes/Apartments 19 10 6 13 • Senior's Apartment Building 3 3 5 0 (9) (6) (4) • # of Dollar Loss Calls (0)
Group D "Business & Personal Services" 3 I 5 5 • # of Dollar Loss Calls (0) (0) (0) (0)
Group E "Mercantile" • Friendly Warehouse I 0 0 0 • Old Calvert Motors I 0 0 I • Home Hardware 0 2 0 0 • Rexal 0 2 I 0 (0) (0) • # of Dollar Loss Calls (0) (0)
Group F "Industrial" • Abitibi Consolidated 19 19 6 20 • Cogen 1 I 3 4 • Old Bioshell I • Number of dollar loss fires (3) (2) (0) (1)
Misc. structures and property • Vehicles 2 2 2 3 • Bush and Grass Fires 4 1 1 11 • Hydro wire arcing 7 2 3 2 • Natural Gas 0 2 I I • • Dump • Vehicle MVA I 0 0 I • No Response 6 8 0 9 I • Ambulance assist 3 9 2 0 0 • Inicident not found 3 6 0 0 3 • Water Rescue 0 0 0 1 I Mutual Aid • I 2
Total Responses 99 85 86 103
6 TYPES of RESPONSES to MANOR/HOSPITAL
Responses 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
3 4 11 10
Type of Assistance required
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Sprinkler 1 0 0 3
Burnt Toast 0 1 0 0
Overheated Motor/electical 0 2 1 0
Set off by Contractor 0 0 3 1
Patient pulled alarm 0 0 4 4
Faulty Detector 2 1 2 2
Other 0 0 1 0
TOTAL 3 4 11 10
7 TYPES of RESPONSES to RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS
DWELLING Responses 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 32 26 22 27
Type of Assistance required
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
False Alarm 7 2 5 5
Washer/dryer 1 1 0 0
Furnace motors 1 0 0 1
Chimney/Woodstoves 0 1* 1 1
Downdraft 2 0 1 0
Pot on Stove 2 3 0 3
CO's 10 13 11 14
Smoke alarms 2 1 1 1
Soldering/grinding 0 2 0 0
Electrical 3 2 2 1
Arson 1 1 0 0
Flower pot 0 0 1 1 Investigations (No Fire)* 0 1 0 0
Undetermined House Fire 0 0 0 0
Under Investigation 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 32 26 22 27
8 TYPES of CO RESPONSES
Co Responses 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
10 13 11 14
Type of Assistance required
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Faulty Detector 7 8 8 9
Low Battery 0 1 1 2
Faulty Furnace 0 2 1 1
Renovations/Painting in I 0 I 0 House Battery Charger 0 0 0 1
Chimney Downdraft 1 1 0 0
Plugged Woodstove/Chimney 0 0 0 0
Smoke Alarm Faulty 0 1 0 0
Burnt Food 1 0 0 1
Total 10 13 11 14
9 TYPES of RESPONSES to MILL
Responses 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 19 19 8 20
Type of Assistance required
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Sprinkler 10 7 0 1
Electrical 0 0 I 0
Power Failure 0 0 1 0
Fire in Duct 1 1 0 1
Paper/dust Fire # I 1 I 0 1
Paper/dust Fire # 8 1 2 0 3
False Alarm 1 2 0 0
Welders 0 1 0 0
Bearing/Overheat 4 0 2 9
Bark Hopper/chip blower 1 1 0 I
Slasher Bark 0 I 0 0
Vehicles/train,crane 0 1 2 1
Paper/dust fire finishing room 0 I 1 0
TMP Boiler 0 1 0 2
Virwite* 0 0 1 I
TOTAL 19 19 8 20
*Vlrwlte - Zmc SodIUm Hydrosulphlte
10 PROPERTY DOLLAR LOSS Occupancy Classification 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Group A 0 0 $3,000,000 0 "Assembly" (1) Group B $100 $100 0 0 "Institutional" (1) (1) Group C $392500 $388200 $349,500 11,000 "Residential" (9) (3) Group D 0 0 0 0 "Business & Personal Services" Group E 0 0 0 0 "Mercanti Ie" Group F $4500 $6,000 0 $700,000 "Industrial" (4) (10) Misc. structures and vehicles $500 $2500 $3500 25,075 _(2) (4) (4) (3) Total Dollar Loss $397600 $396800 $3,353,300 $736,075
(#) Denotes numbers of fires
F·Ire I·DJUrIeS . IF a t a rrlIes Occupancy Classification 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Group A 0 0 0 0 "Assembly" Group B 0 0 0 0 "Institutional" Group C 2 Injuries 1 Injury 0 1 Injury "Residential" 1 Fatality 1 Falality Group D 0 0 0 0 "Business & Personal Services" Group E 0 0 0 0 "Mercantile" Group F 0 0 0 0 "Industrial" Misc. structures and property 0 0 0 0
11 ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
Assembly
Over the past 4 years the fire department has responded to numerous calls at the Public School regarding the sprinkler system. The fire prevention office has been working with the school to try and rectify this problem. Significant work was done on the sprinkler system in September 20 1a but the problem still persists.
The Fire Department had no dollar loss fires in the assembly occupancies in 2010.
Institutional
A number of alarms occurred at the Manor during 20 ladue to problems with sprinkler system. The systems had been serviced by a licensed company but still froze causing significant water damage but again there were no dollar loss fires in 2010.
The Manor had a problem with a resident who moved from the Hospital pulling the fire alarm, this has been corrected with the installation of a cover for the pull stations.
Fire alarm maintenance and servicing companies have been advised to notify the monitoring company and the fire department dispatch centre prior to commencing any work. As a result ofthis initiative on the part of the Fire Department, the incidents of false alarms have been greatly reduced in all types of occupancies.
The Fire Department did not respond to any alarms at the Montieth Correctional Center in 2010.
Residential
The dollar loss for residential fire dropped significantly for 20 1a with a total fire loss of only $11, 000. The three dollar loss fires were the result of cooking incidents.
The Fire Department responded only to one no dollar loss chimney fire ..
12 The number of CO calls has settled to a fairly consistent number, with the majority being faulty detectors.
Business
The business occupancies didn't report a dollar loss in 2010.
Mercantile
The mercantile occupancies didn't report a dollar loss in the last year.
Industrial
The number of fire loss calls continues to decline at Abitibi-Bowater but the number of responses rose significantly, the fire prevention officer does spot visits of areas where frequent fires occurred in the past. This increase could be due to continued downsizing resulting is less regular maintenance being done.
The large loss industrial fire occurred in the warehouse at the vacant old Bio Shell building, the cause of this fire was undetermined, but the building had no services at the time and being unoccupied it is probable that this was youth vandalism as the fire occurred during the day during the school March break.
13 FIRE LOSS BETWEEN 2007-2010
Group A - Assembly 2007-Nil o 2008-Nil o 2009 Undetermined $3,000,000 20IO-Nil
Group B - Institutional
2007 Bedding $200 2008 Bedding $100 2009-Nil
Group C - Residential
2007
Fridge $100,000 Under Investigation $150,000 Kitchen Fire(3) $10.000 Electrical $69,100 Dryer $5,000 Arson $58,000 BBQ $400 Total $392,500
2008 Electrical(2) $53,000 Soldering $152,000 Arson $180,000 Cooking $3,000 Grinding $200 Total $388,200
2009 Fireplace insert $300,000 Lightning $49,000 Electrical $500 Total $349,500 2010 Cooking (3) $11,000 Total $11,000
14 Group D-Business & Personal Services 2007-Nil 2008-Nil 2009-Nil 2010-Nil Group E - Mercantile 2007-Nil 2008-Nil 2009-Nil 2010-Nil
Group F - Industrial
2007 Dollar Amount Paper/Dust in ductwork (3) $4500
2008 Electrical $5,000
2009 Paper/Dust Fire (3) $0
2010 Bioshell Warehouse-Undetermined $700,000
15 IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS
As a result of our findings from the evaluation, which took place, the dollar loss fires between 2007 and the year 2010, we have set the following priorities to be acted upon.
1. A Fire Safety Education program to continue.: (a) to advertise in the local newspaper on wood burning, grass burning, smoke alarms and general fire safety practices (b) to have voice safety messages on the local radio station promoting fire safety (c) include fire safety messages on water bills (d) for 2011 will be concentrating on cooking fires when advertising
2. Continue smoke alarm program. Emphasis for 2011 to be on residential units containing 2 or more units ..
3. Compile list of multi unit properties and ensure smoke alarm compliance and conduct mail out informing all landlords of their responsibities.
4. Use the material provided by the OFM to educate high school students on responsible cooking.
5. Continue working with Abitibi-Bowater to reduce the number of responses before a serious fire occurs.
6. Work with the newly opening ISP plant at the old Bioshell to maintain a fire free workplace.
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