Purchase of Community Volunteer Vehicle known as "Box 12"

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Budget Committee contained in the following communication (December10,1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Budget Committee on December 8, 1998 recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council the adoption of the recommendation of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee not to purchase the community service vehicle.

Background:

The Budget Committee had before it a transmittal letter (December 3, 1998) from the City Clerk forwarding the recommendations of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee regarding the purchase of the community service vehicle.

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(Transmittal letter dated December 3, 1998, addressed to the

Budget Committee from the City Clerk)

Recommendation:

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee on December 1, 1998, recommended to the Budget Committee, and Council, that the report (October 30, 1998) from the Fire Chief requesting authorization to purchase a community service vehicle not be adopted.

Background:

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee had before it a report (October 30, 1998) from the Fire Chief, responding to the direction of the Budget Committee at its meeting held on October13, 1998, which referred this item to the Fire Chief for further consideration and a report to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee; advising that the cost of this community service vehicle is $65,000.00 and that funds could be made available in the Fire Services (North York District) Trucks General Account; and recommending that Council authorize the purchase of this vehicle.

Councillor Shiner, Seneca Heights, appeared before the Emergency and Protective Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

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(Report dated October 30, 1998, addressed to the

Emergency and Protective Services Committee

from the Fire Chief)

Purpose:

This report responds to the direction of Budget Committee at its meeting held on October 13, 1998 which referred this item to the Fire Chief for further consideration and a report to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee.

Financial Implications:

The cost of this community service vehicle is $65,000.00 should council decide to purchase it. Funds could be made available in the Fire Services (North York District) Trucks General Account.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that Council authorize the purchase of this vehicle.

Background and Comments:

The following is the history of support services to the Toronto Fire Services:

Box 12 has supported the former Toronto Fire Department at emergency incidents since 1948. The members of this group (12) are volunteers from the community who provide refreshments to members of the fire service and work on an on-call basis to provide coverage. Box 12 has just celebrated their 50th Anniversary of dedicated service.

The Toronto Fire Fighters Association, Local 113, provides the condiments and the vehicle for the members of Box 12. The vehicle is stationed at No. 14 Station in the South Command and is insured and maintained by the Toronto Fire Services. The vehicle is owned by Local 113.

Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association commenced operations as the Toronto Multiple Alarm Association in 1975. The new name of the association was changed effective September 1, 1998. Currently, 40 members provide volunteer community service to the Toronto Fire Services.

In 1996, the former City of Scarborough and the Scarborough Fire Department purchased a new vehicle to provide canteen service to the Scarborough Fire Fighters at emergency incidents. The members of the Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association staff the unit and respond on an on-call basis. This relationship of service has spanned the past 20 years responding to over 500 calls and the donation of over 12,000 volunteer hours.

The vehicle is stationed at No. 7 Station in the East Command and is insured and maintained by the Toronto Fire Services. The Scarborough Fire Fighters Association, Local 626, provides the condiments for the vehicle.

Canadian Red Cross, North York Branch has provided volunteer service since 1980 to the members of the former North York Fire Department and now the Toronto Fire Services. The branch provides volunteers from their Emergency Response Group.

The Red Cross members operate their own van and provide the condiments. The relationship between the former North York Fire Department and the branch was a very positive experience. The North York Fire Department donated a microwave oven to the branch in 1992 for use on the vehicle and has assisted the branch as required.

The North York Fire Fighters Association has supported the endeavours of the branch and has donated funds to the branch for various projects.

The Salvation Army was presented the former Incident Command Unit of the North York Fire Department by Mayor Lastman and Fire Chief Speed in 1995. This vehicle is used to support emergency incidents in the G.T.A. communities that require the aid and support of the Army.

The Salvation Army has responded to numerous incidents in the former City of North York and will continue to serve the new City of Toronto should we require their assistance. The vehicle is staffed by volunteers from the Salvation Army and is maintained and stored in a Salvation Army facility. All condiments are provided by the Army. I believe that the Salvation Army now has three vehicles outfitted to respond to incidents.

Toronto Fire Services:

The support and cooperation of the four volunteer agencies is greatly appreciated by all members of the Toronto Fire Services. Each agency has indicated that they will continue to support the Service at emergency incidents. All the agencies provide hot/cold beverages and snacks which aid the members of the Toronto Fire Services at long duration incidents. The services provided do not require any staffing complement or funding. In the event that we did not have the volunteer groups providing this type of service, we, as a Service, would have to provide staffing, funding, resources and additional vehicles to respond to incidents.

The past practices of the Fire Fighters' Associations of Scarborough and Toronto have provided the refreshments from association funds. This past practice will likely continue in the new city once the new association has been established.

The units currently located in Fire Station facilities can be prepared for departure to an emergency incident prior to the arrival of the volunteers, providing the station is staffed by a fire crew.

The Salvation Army and the Red Cross have a delayed response time as they have to prepare the unit prior to responding to the incident.

Conclusion:

Currently, we own one vehicle called "Support 7" which has served the previous municipality of Scarborough well by responding to almost 500 requests for assistance utilizing over 12,000 volunteer hours of time. We now have the opportunity to purchase another vehicle from Local 113. In the event that the vehicle is sold by Local 113, we will have to rely on the assistance of the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association. The 50 year relationship with Box 12 would likely come to an end unless council was prepared to purchase this vehicle. The loss of the Box 12 unit would hamper the quick response to incidents, as the other volunteer groups would respond from a greater distance in a non-emergency mode in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act.

Contact Name:

Alan F. Speed, Fire Chief, 397-4300.