Firefighting sense on West Shore; An aid plan to ensure a co-ordinated response to fires will save money -- and perhaps lives

Times Colonist (Victoria)
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Page: A12
Section: Comment
Source: Times Colonist

The proposed automatic-response aid pact between three West Shore fire departments is pragmatic and timely.

The agreement specifies in advance the equipment and personnel from Colwood, Langford and View Royal fire departments that will respond to emergency calls from particular types of buildings, such as a highrises or big-box stores.

Changing times -- and landscapes -- demand such an agreement.

Residential and commercial development on the West Shore is growing both up and out. Colwood has approved a 23-storey residential tower for Wale Road, another highrise in the Colwood Corners area is under consideration and two highrises are being built at Bear Mountain. Langford is also home to most of the region's big-box stores.

These buildings present special firefighting and emergency-response challenges. It makes sense for the region's fire departments to set out in advance how they will respond together to an emergency in these kinds of buildings.

Colwood Fire Chief Russ Cameron notes that co-operation and rapid co-ordination, more than equipment like aerial ladder trucks, are critical. Modern highrises are concrete and have full sprinkler systems and stand-pipe hose connections on every floor, he notes. Most firefighting is done floor-by-floor, within the building. Personnel are needed on the ground, to run hoses and supplies to support firefighters in hallways and suites. A battalion of firefighters is more important than a motorcade of aerial trucks, Cameron notes.

But the pact will allow the departments to co-ordinate their equipment plans as well, avoiding any unnecessary duplication of costly trucks and firefighting gear. View Royal and Langford fire departments already have aerial trucks equipped with 32-metre ladders capable of reaching about seven storeys.

The three fire departments co-operate now under a mutual-aid agreement. If an individual department responds to a fire call and finds the blaze beyond its capabilities, it calls for help.

But a fire can double in size every minute. Calling for help from the scene means a wait while neighbouring departments assemble and dispatch personnel and equipment, when minutes can determine firefighting success or failure -- and even life or death.

The proposed automatic-response agreement -- which only Colwood has signed so far -- ensures an immediate response to major fires. Each department sets out what equipment and personnel it will provide. The response is co-ordinated and immediate.

Someday, the fire services will be fully integrated.

But a systematic, structured response to fires is needed now. This agreement will improve safety for all three communities. Langford and View Royal should be quick to sign on.