Thetis Island Improvement District
TIVFD Service Capacity Policy
January 2004
Policy Purpose:
This policy statement provides a clear statement of the general service capacity of the TIVFD (the "Fire Department"), based on equipment and personnel resources, as well as key limitations affecting delivery of this service capacity. This policy will be revised as necessary for consistency with any significant changes to either the service capacity or limitations.
General Service Description:
The Thetis Island Volunteer Fire Department (TIVFD) provides fire suppression services¹ and first responder services² to the community of Thetis Island, as geographically defined within the approved Letters Patent of the Thetis Island Improvement District.
¹ Fire suppression includes structure fires, urban interface fires, motor vehicle incidents and vessel fires.
² First responder services include victim extrication, physical stabilization, basic treatment and emergency transport. |
Personnel:
The TIVFD includes 15-20 regular volunteers. These volunteers donate their time to practice sessions, training programs and attendance at emergencies. Each member individually decides their level of commitment of time and effort to the service in accordance with their personal situations. The number of trained volunteers available on Thetis Island at any given time can vary. Within the limits of personnel time and fiscal practicality, all reasonable efforts are made to equip, outfit and train to meet various standards provided by: the Workers' Compensation Board of BC, the Province of British Columbia and the National Fire Protection Association. In addition, the TIVFD has a number of auxiliary personnel whose function is, during major emergencies, to provide support services to the regular volunteers.
Emergency Priorities:
On the scene of any emergency the personnel of the TIVFD will undertake action according to the following priorities. Under the direction of the Incident Commander the priority of focus will shift as the highest incident priorities are achieved or are determined to be stable. With provision for incident specifics, the Incident Commander shall determine and direct personnel and equipment to achieve the emergency priorities described here within the capacity of the fire department.
1. The TIVFD operates with the safety of its personnel as its primary priority. The lives and the health of departmental personnel (the "volunteers") will be safeguarded through techniques, training, equipment and operational methods that meet approved standards.
2. The TIVFD will endeavour to protect the lives of other persons associated with emergency situations, while ensuring that priority 1 is sustained.
3. Containment of fire or other emergency risks from spreading beyond the incident site) may be pursued as a goal while personnel ensure that priorities 1 and 2 are secured.
4. Protection of structures and other physical assets from damage or destruction by fire is the fourth level of focus for emergency personnel.
5. Protection of pets and livestock that may be at risk shall be implemented in conjunction with priorities 3 and 4, as possible.
Major Fire Apparatus:
The TIVFD currently (January 2004) operates:
1. two pumper trucks (one based at the Central Hall on Mission Road and one based at the Pilkey Point Road Hall)
2. one 2000 gallon tanker truck, based at the Central Hall
Each of the pumpers carries hose, water, and other fire suppression, personnel gear and emergency equipment. The tanker serves as a portable water supply for the pumper vehicles, as well as having some capacity for direct fire suppression duty. All fire apparatus are limited to the major roads of the community and to private driveways and lanes meeting the minimum access requirements (refer to Appendix 1). Each pumper vehicle is equipped with a portable pump which may be dispatched to pump water from local ponds or the sea to assist in the suppression of brush, structure or boat fires.
First Responder Service:
The First Responder Service is an adjunct to the fire department. The purposes are, in response to requests via the 9-1-1 system, to provide First Responder assistance (Level 3) for medical emergencies and to transport any patients to the designated rendezvous point with BC Ambulance Service personnel. The First Responder service, which is entirely funded by the Improvement District, is not an ambulance or medical services provider, but rather an essential component of emergency services designed to safely extricate, physically stabilize and transport emergency victims, using approved techniques. The TIVFD is not equipped nor are its personnel trained to provide technical rescue services and relies on other agencies for this capacity.
Response Capacity:
The Fire Department, including the First Responder service, is legally limited to responding to emergencies within the territory defined for the Thetis Island Improvement District. For insurance and liability reasons, it cannot and will not respond to emergencies, whether on the sea or on land, that occur outside this territory unless there is a valid mutual aid or similar agreement in place with the appropriate authority. It is particularly to be noted that this legal territory excludes all adjacent islands, with the single exception of Leech Island, and the boundary, which is normally 150 meters offshore of Thetis Island, bisects the middle of Clam Bay, the channel (“the cut’) between Clam Bay and Telegraph Harbour, and Telegraph Harbour itself. The Letters Patent of the Improvement District provide the authorized description of this legal operating territory.
The Fire Department is substantially limited to accessing emergencies via public roads, lanes and driveways that meet the minimum access requirements as described in Appendix 1. For properties not accessible by roads, lanes or driveways that meet the minimum requirements (including most wooded areas and marine access properties), the Fire Department will take all reasonable measures to safely provide emergency service using portable equipment and other alternative techniques within the limits of personnel and equipment capacity.
With respect to all fires and other emergencies, the Fire Department's safety priorities shall be as described above in "Emergency Priorities’. In the event of brush or wildfires beyond the suppression capacity of the Department, the Department will direct its efforts to protecting lives and structures, while requesting support from the BC Ministry of Forests and other agencies for fire suppression.
Public Awareness:
The Fire Department, using permanent signage and periodic bulletins, will endeavour to keep the community and its members informed of fire risks, seasonal limitations to burning, access issues, and measures that residents and property owners may take to minimize risks. The Chief and Assistant Chief, in their capacities as "Assistants to the Fire Commissioner", will work with commercial and residential property owners at their request to ensure that cooking and fire-related installations meet appropriate codes.
Appendix 1: Minimum Access Requirements (for TIVFD fire vehicles)
The following access requirements are based on BC Ministry of Forests´ documents, with adaptation to Thetis Island conditions and TIVFD resources:
1. driveway clearance requirements (12 ft. width x 14 ft. height)
2. safe and clear turnouts suitable for the apparatus (one per 400 ft. and at terminus or within 50 feet of main building)
3. all-weather surface capable of supporting 5,000 kg./axle
4. driveway gradient no greater than 12% except for short straight sections of not more than 16% gradient.
5. gates unlocked or keys permanently provided to fire department
6. gates opening inward and at least two feet wider than driveway
7. curve radius minimum: 45 feet
This Service Capacity Policy is hereby approved by the Thetis Island Improvement District:
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Certified as a true copy of the TIVFD Service Capacity Policy, January 2004.