STAFF REPORT
March 6, 2000
To: Community Services Committee
From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Alan Speed, Fire Chief
Subject:Toronto Fire Services - Fire Chief's Community Advisory Committee
Purpose:
This report provides Council with an overview of the Terms of Reference of the Fire Chief's recently-established
Community Advisory Committee.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications associated with the approval of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Council Background/History:
As part of a review and examination of the services provided by Toronto Fire Services, it was felt that much could be
gained by establishing an independent committee comprised of broadly-based representative organizations and
communities which could review and assess the effectiveness of the programs administered by Fire Services.
Comments:
The Toronto Fire Services (TFS) administers a variety of public education programs all designed to increase the public's
awareness of safety and fire-related dangers in their homes and workplaces. Thirteen brochures have been produced and
disseminated in the community:
- Fire Extinguishers
- The "Older and Wiser" program.
- Home Smoke Alarms.
- Hot Tips for safety
- Fire Protection and Safety for the Physically Challenged.
- Too Hot to Handle.
- Fire in the Sky.
- Fire Safety in the Workplace.
- Have a Fire-safe Holiday.
- Get out Alive.
- Fire Safety for Parents and Babysitters.
- Fire Safety for Children.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
.In elementary schools, teachers present a program called "Learn Not to Burn" to pupils in the Kindergarten to Grade 3
level. The TFS role is mainly to offer support to the teachers to reinforce the fire-safety lessons being taught. TFS Fire
Prevention staff conduct teacher workshops on program implementation, visit the classrooms and talk to the pupils,
provide resource materials to the teachers, attend curriculum nights, and visit the school with the Fire-Safety House, a
32-foot mobile trailer with 3 rooms designed to teach fire safety in the home.
The Fire Services' Community Outreach program employs two full-time staff to ensure, amongst other things, that our
recruitment programs are indeed reaching the members of the City's targeted groups. TFS is committed to attract more
candidates from these groups for fire fighter positions, and accomplishes this goal by actively working with community
groups to ensure that our message is being delivered and heard.
The Fire Chief's Community Advisory Committee (FCCAC) would be expected to provide an overall general assessment
of the value and effectiveness of these types of programs.
The FCCAC was established as a body of volunteers from broadly-based representative organizations and communities in
the City of Toronto. The goal of the FCCAC is to provide a two-way dialogue with the various community groups within
the City of Toronto, and to give consideration to the needs and expectations of the public, both at the present time and in
the future. Where practicable and feasible, the FCCAC will also comment on the development of community-based
program policies and procedures and assess the overall strategic direction for the Fire Services that best meet the needs and
expectations of the citizens and business interests of the City of Toronto.
The draft Terms of Reference presented to the FCCAC members for comment were as follows:
- to provide community-based advice and guidance on an on-going basis to senior TFS staff;
- to assist in ensuring that TFS programs, community-based services and mandate are in concert with the wishes of the
Toronto Community as a whole;
- to assess the effectiveness of TFS Community Outreach initiatives; and
- to provide a conduit to/from the TFS to give expression to the concrete desire of TFS for full and open consultation with
representatives of the community.
The community groups represented to date are as follows:
The Canadian Association of Retired Persons
The Canadian Condominium Institute
The Canadian Red Cross
Committee on Community Race & Ethnic Relations
Confederation of Residents and Ratepayer Associations
Easter Seal Society
Federation of Metropolitan Toronto Tenants' Association
Insurance Bureau of Canada
Ontario Hospital Association
St. John Ambulance
The Toronto Board of Trade
Toronto District School Board
Toronto Housing Company Inc.
Toronto Star
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association
Urban Development Institute
York Federation of Students
It is expected that the FCCAC will meet 3-4 times per year except where unusual circumstances warrant the call of a
special meeting.
Conclusions:
The Fire Chief's Community Advisory Committee is an adjunct to the 'Best Practices' program at Toronto Fire Services,
and represents a real opportunity for the public and the community we serve to assess the effectiveness of the Fire
Services' community-based programs, and to promote a fire-safe environment at home and at the workplace.
Contacts:
Norm Gibbons, Senior Policy Advisor, Toronto Fire Services
Phone: 397-4315, Fax: 397-4325,
E-mail: ngibbons@toronto.ca
__________________________________________________________
Alan F. Speed, Fire ChiefBarry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner
Toronto Fire ServicesWorks and Emergency Services
