Under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Fire Prevention Officers are mandated to conduct fire inspections based on complaints and request and if possible establish a routine or proactive inspection program. Currently most Fire Prevention Inspections Program are driven primarily by complaint inspections.
According the St. Catharine’s Master Plan, “St. Catharines Fire Service has implemented a Zero Tolerance Procedure. The goal for St. Catharines fire inspections is to move from reactive (complaint) inspections to proactive (routine). A proactive inspection program is true fire prevention that will aid in reducing fire deaths”
As part of the Toron
to Fire Department Master Plan 2015-2019, there will be a strong focus on Fire Prevention with the hiring of at least 25 fire prevention officers a year until 2017. In the master plan starting in 2015, Toronto Fire Department will develop and implement aggressive strategies for pre-incident planning, inspections and Fire Code enforcement focused on violations that impact the immediate life safety of buildings.
Toronto isn’t the only Fire Department whose Fire Prevention Department is experiencing growth. Many Fire Prevention Departments are currently developing initiatives to work with residents and building/business owners in the community to become compliant with the Ontario Fire Code. All building/business owners should also be proactive to make sure they are in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. Under section 2.8 of the code a Fire Safety Plan is required to be submitted to the Fire Department.