Reducing Risk
The top priority for the DNVFRS is to deliver exceptional emergency services. An important part of this service delivery is to minimize the existing risks in our community. If we can prevent fires and emergencies from happening, we can greatly reduce the risk and increase the safety of our residents.
We pursue this goal by investigating fires to understand where they started and what caused them, by working with builders and developers to ensure that measures are in place to limit fire risk, and by regularly inspecting commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings to ensure they comply with all fire codes and standards.
Here are highlights of our work in 2020 that helped minimize the risk of fire in the District.
Fire Investigations
As Local Assistants to the BC Fire Commissioner, we are responsible for investigating fires in our municipality to determine whether the fire was due to accident, negligence, or design flaw.
In 2020, we investigated 101 structure, vehicle, and outdoor fires. DNVFRS recovered $5,000 for 10 of the fire investigations. Cost recovery is a Fire Bylaw requirement that provides direct costing for these investigations.
Fire Inspections
Our Public Safety Officers routinely inspect public buildings, apartment buildings, multi-unit strata (condo) properties, and lodging houses.
In 2020, we conducted 4,267 inspections, which generated $24,290 in cost recovery resulting from non-compliance and re-inspection fines. In early 2020, we paused regular inspections due to COVID-19. Special inspections such as complaints, new occupancies and new businesses continued with new protocols in place.
Fire Safety Plans
As part of fire inspection duties, our staff also process fire safety plans. We processed 67 fire safety plans in 2020, which are required in a number of circumstances:
- Buildings that the BC Building Code requires to have a fire alarm
- Demolition and construction sites
- Storage areas
- Where flammable liquids are stored or handled
- Where hazardous processes or operations occur
- Buildings that have assembly, care, treatment, or detection uses
Construction Plan Reviews
Our Public Safety Division staff work with developers during the design phase of their buildings through to the building permit stage.
This ensures that new buildings comply with the BC Building Code and the BC Fire Code and that they meet fire department operational requirements while under construction, during an occupancy inspection, and over the life of the building
We collect 0.075% of the value of the work to offset the cost of staffing, which in 2020, amounted to $204,312
During this time, we reviewed over 69 submissions for alterations, additions, demolitions, and new construction, including review and recommendation for potential new projects.
Pre-Incident Fire Plan Reviews
DNVFRS personnel maintain a database of building data and plans for properties in the District. An online access program is actively being updated. Enhancements to building data and plans support fire department operations with timely access to information during an emergency.
In 2020, developers submitted 42 plans to DNVFRS personnel for review and implementation and paid $7,560 in review fees. We also updated 230 building data sets.
Direct Fee/Cost Recovery
The Public Safety Division provides direct services to the community for other services such as firework permits and information requests.
In 2020, our staff:
- Issued 56 fireworks permits, amounting to $2,480 in service fees
- Processed file searches and Freedom of Information Act inquiries, amounting to $4,320 in service fees