FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION OF BC Fire Chiefs' Association of BC WHO I AM FCABC 1st Vice President (current) Direct responsibilities include provincial fire service training, fire service education, firefighter safety and pre-hospital medical care. Fire Chief, City of Pitt Meadows (since 2008) Service for 24 yrs as volunteer FF or career Chief in Pitt Meadows and Langley City Served 21 years as a paramedic (both ALS and BLS) in Metro Vancouver FCABC projects include: FCABC representative on Provincial Medical Leadership Committee and the BCEHS Provincial Executive Council - First Responder Committee Roll-out of the Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative (FIPI) program with WorksafeBC FCABC lead on new provincial training standard matrix (“Playbook”) Fire Sprinklers, Shipping Container Hazards, Fire Safety at Work (BCIT), LGMA/Chief Orientation, BCIT Report on Fire Fighter Training in BC, and others FCABC ZONE 3 MEETING MAY 2, 2014 Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 2 WHO WE ARE “The Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia shall be a source of peer support, information and education to its members and uphold their rights, it shall actively interface with both government and the public on issues relating to the Fire Service within the Province of British Columbia.” SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 3 EXECUTIVE BOARD President Timothy Pley Port Alberni Fire Department 1st Vice President Don Jolley Pitt Meadows Fire Rescue Services 2nd Vice President Phil Lemire White Rock Fire Rescue Past President Len Garis Surrey Fire Service Zone 1 Director Tom Bremner Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue Zone 2 Director Bruce Ferguson Langley Township Fire Department Zone 3 Director Brad Shirley Salmon Arm Fire Department Zone 4 Director Simon Grypma Nelson Fire Rescue Zone 5 Director Darrell Blades 100 Mile House Fire Rescue Career Director Wayne Williams Penticton Fire Department Volunteer Director Rob Krause Burns Lake Fire Department Industrial Director Don Delcourt BC Hydro Trades Director Lynne Boucher FDM Software UBCM Director Al Richmond Cariboo Regional District LGMA Director David Stuart District of North Vancouver SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 4 WHAT WE DO Represent the British Columbia fire service at all levels with government and with the public. Advocate for the fire service, working with government and standards organizations to improve fire protection for citizens and visitors to BC. The FCABC also functions as a unifying force, providing a forum for its members along with mentorship programs and educational forums to ensure they have appropriate training and support for their many roles. SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 5 MEMBERSHIP Active Members – senior officers from Career, Volunteer, and Industrial fire services as well as Regional District fire managers Associate A – Trades: companies who regularly do business with the BC fire service Associate B – other organizations and agencies Retired – former FCABC members who have retired from Active service SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 6 ASSOCIATIONS The FCABC Executive holds memberships in: Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs NFPA And works in partnership with: UBCM Professional Firefighters Association of BC LGMA Office of the Fire Commissioner BC Fire Training Officers Association Alberta Fire Chiefs’ Association Fire Prevention Officers of BC BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Volunteer Firefighters’ Association of BC Resource Operations — Forest Protection Branch FCABC was instrumental in forming the Fire Services Government Liaison Group – where all five fire service Associations met on a regular basis to provide one fire voice to the various Provincial ministries and agencies SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 7 WORKING SMOKE ALARM MOVEMENT BACKGROUND Recent research revealed almost 70% of smoke alarms present in house fires in BC from 2006-2011 were not functioning Research predicts that a working smoke alarm could reduce deaths by 32% The most vulnerable populations –children, elderly, and First Nations – face the highest risk of dying in a residential fire. It is estimated that 10 lives would be saved each year in BC if every home had a working smoke alarm. Over 9500 alarms provided in more than 55 communities SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 8 WORKING SMOKE ALARM MOVEMENT EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL Signage on two 51’ semi-trailers (both sides) which are used to deliver freight up and down Vancouver Island. Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 9 WORKING SMOKE ALARM MOVEMENT EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL Public Safety Announcement Video SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 10 WORKING SMOKE ALARM MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue CSRD Fire Services Kamloops Fire Rescue Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service Cumberland Fire Rescue Kelowna Fire Department Agassiz Fire Rescue Dashwood Fire Department Kitimat Fire/Ambulance Ashcroft Volunteer Fire Department Dawson Creek Fire Ladysmith Fire Rescue Bowen Island Fire & Rescue Elkford Fire Rescue Langford Fire Rescue Cache Creek Fire Department Forest Grove Langley City Fire Rescue Central Saanich Fire Department Fort St. John Fire Rescue Mayne Island Fire Rescue Chilliwack River Valley Volunteer Fire Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Mission Fire / Rescue Department gitwinksihlkw Volunteer Fire Nakusp & District Vol. Fire Dept. City of Campbell River Fire Department Department Nelson Fire & Rescue Golden Fire Rescue Colwood Fire Department Nelson Fire Rescue Grand Forks Fire/Rescue Comox Fire Rescue New Afton Fire & Mine Rescue Hemlock Valley Fire Dept Courtenay Fire Departmant Oak Bay Fire Department Hope Fire Department Creston Fire Oyster River Fire Rescue Hornby Island Fire Rescue SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 11 WORKING SMOKE ALARM MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS Parksville Fire Department Surrey Fire Services Peachland Fire/Rescue Taylor Fire & Rescue Pender Island Fire Rescue Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept. Penticton Fire Department Township of Langley Fire Department Pitt Meadows Fire Rescue Tumbler Ridge Fire Department Powell River Fire Rescue Union Bay Fire Rescue Saanich Fire Department Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services Salmon Arm Vernon Fire Rescue Services Salt Spring Island Fire /Rescue Victoria Fire Department Sechelt Fire Department West Kelowna Fire Rescue Sicamous Fire Dept. White Rock Fire Rescue Sidney Fire Department Sparwood Fire Department SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 12 SMOKE ALARMS BACKGROUND One unit is mandatory in all buildings constructed since 1979 Minimum requirement of one working smoke alarm per floor Recommended outside sleeping areas and at top of stairways BCBC 2012 requires smoke alarms in every sleeping room Required to be hardwired and interconnected Battery operated units only allowed for retro-fits and as ancillary units beyond the minimum required Many local jurisdictions require all units to be interconnected in cases of residential suites by Bylaw (may be wireless) SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 13 SMOKE ALARM “RULES” Test every smoke alarm monthly (even if interconnected) Replace battery at least annually, or when it “chirps” Clean regularly and vacuum gently (every 6 months maximum) Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years from manufacture date Replace affected smoke alarms after any significant exposure to moderate or greater levels of smoke or heat. Replace any damaged smoke alarm immediately Mount following manufacturers instructions Don’t mount near windows, doors or air duct vents SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 14 SMOKE ALARMS (BC) / SMOKE DETECTOR (USA) Interchangeable terminology due to US influence Ionization Smoke Alarm Photoelectric (Optical) Smoke Alarm Dual Technology / Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms Combination units (Smoke Alarm / CO Detector) All types must pass identical performance standards (UL/ULC) Hard-wired/ battery powered/ both/ interconnected Many new advanced technologies such as “Hush” feature and NEST SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 15 SMOKE ALARMS – PHOTO ELECTRIC Uses a Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a light sensitive sensor in a sensing chamber Smoke particles in the chamber scatters the light beam and sets off the alarm Best response to slow smouldering fires and are less prone to nuisance alarms and deactivation Best suited for living rooms, bedrooms and near kitchens SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 16 SMOKE ALARMS – IONIZATION Uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air in a sensing chamber, permitting conductivity Smoke in the chamber decreases this conductivity. When the conductivity level is reduced to a set level, the alarm goes off Best response to fast flaming fires. Poor response for smoldering fires. Not fully endorsed by some experts Best for areas with highly combustible materials SMOKE ALARMS—THE FIRE SERVICE PERSPECTIVE Fire Chiefs' Association of BC 17 SMOKE ALARMS – NEST New wireless technology product that is a dual sensor alarm using photoelectric and CO Can be wirelessly