FIRE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Mission Statement

To provide the highest level of service and protection of life and property to the people who live, work, visit and invest in the City of St. Catharines through the provision of emergency communications, fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency management.

Organizational Structure

Division(s)

Communications

The Communications division of the St. Catharines Fire Services is one of the first links in the provision of emergency service to the residents, visitors and businesses not only within the City of St. Catharines, but also to those in in Niagara Region's 11 other municipalities. In 2003, St. Catharines also assumed the dispatching responsibilities for Haldimand County.

Operating from St. Catharines Fire Services headquarters at 64 Geneva St., the Communications division is made up of a team of 10 communicators and one communications technician under the direction of the Divisional Chief of Communications. In 2009, this division handled a total of 18,361 incidents, which required a fire department response.

The duties of this division include:

• The receipt of emergency calls from the general public (9-1-1) outside agencies (police, ambulance, seaway authority) alarm monitoring companies
• Dispatching of appropriate municipality and equipment to successfully handle the incident.
• Update emergency contact and property information
• Complete property mapping for fire routes, townhouses and major developments
• Communicate with outside agencies (police, ambulance, hydro, Seaway, etc)
• Maintain current status of all vehicles
• Recall additional firefighting staff to duty during major incidents
• Maintain fire department radio systems
• Log all records regarding fire alarm testing and drills
• Answer and forward telephone calls for other divisions

Prevention

The Fire Prevention division operates from 8 Academy St. at the corner of Centre Street in Downtown St. Catharines. This division consists of a staff of eight, including the Chief Fire Prevention Officer, a Fire Prevention Officer, and six Inspectors under the direction of the Deputy Chief.

All members of this division are appointed as Assistants to the Fire Marshal, and, as such, are responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the Ontario Fire Code. In addition, all fire prevention staff are also appointed as building inspectors for the City of St. Catharines for the purpose of inspecting for compliance with certain aspects of the Ontario Building Code.

Some of the responsibilities of the Fire Prevention Division are:

• Enforcement of the Ontario Fire Code, including prosecution
• Public education
• Plans examination and site plan examination
• Fire investigations
• Public relations
• Alcohol and Gaming Commission inspections
• Occupant load calculations
• Fireworks and pyrotechnics approval
• Fire route approvals
• Fire extinguisher training
• Co-ordinate with outside agencies (Electrical Safety Authority, T.S.S.A.)

The Prevention division is often asked to speak to small groups and large audiences about fire safety topics. We try to accommodate every speaking or demonstration request with at least one week's notice. There is no cost for this service and topics range from home fire safety, smoke alarms, escape planning, electrical safety, fire safety and industrial fire safety.

Please contact us at 905-688-5601, ext. 4224 for more information

Suppression

The fire suppression division of the St. Catharines Fire Services operates from six fire stations strategically located throughout the city. Fire suppression personnel are assigned to one of four firefighting platoons under the direction of a Platoon Chief. These platoons work a four-day-on, four-day-off rotation, averaging 42 hours on duty per week.

In addition to fighting fires, the suppression division is responsible for a large number of additional duties. St. Catharines firefighters are also called upon extensively to provide emergency medical care, with all firefighters being trained in basic life support and CPR. In addition, all pumper trucks are equipped with defibrillators to allow for defibrilliation of heart attack victims prior to the arrival of paramedics.

Some of the additional duties include:

• Emergency medical assistance calls
• Auto extrications
• Hazardous material incidents
• Technical rescue, including high angle, water and ice rescues, and industrial rescues
• Public assistance
• Home smoke alarm inspection program
• Fire station tours
• Fire safety education

When not responding to calls for assistance from the public, firefighting personnel remain busy with continual training in order maintain and develop new skills vital to the performance of their duties.

Training

The Training division operates from Fire Services headquarters located at 64 Geneva St. This division is responsible for the training of all new firefighting recruits and the continuous training of all existing staff.

With the advent of new hazards, new equipment and techniques, training is an integral on-going part of Fire Services. This training occurs in a variety of venues, be it during classroom lectures, fire ground training at the department's training tower on Renown Road along the banks of Twelve Mile Creek.

Some of the duties of the Training division include:

• Developing training programs
• Co-ordinate the delivery of various training programs by outside agencies
• Take part in promotional, reclassification examinations
• Maintain training records
• Research and evaluate equipment and purchases
• Participate in recruit hiring and training process

Emergency Management

The Emergency Management Co-ordinator co-ordinates the City of St. Catharines Emergency Management program, leading and co-ordinating a variety of projects, in addition to the City's Emergency Plan, to support the program's four major components:

1. Prevention/Mitigation - Taking actions to prevent/reduce the impacts of a major emergency in St. Catharines.
2. Preparedness - Informing City staff, community partners, and residents about St. Catharines risks and hazards and educating the public about how to become better prepared. Conducting training and emergency exercises.
3. Response - Managing the City's Emergency Operations Centre in accordance with the City of St. Catharines Emergency Plan.
4. Recovery - Taking actions to recover from an emergency or disaster.

DIRECTOR / FIRE CHIEF

The role of the Fire Chief / Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services is to:

• Develop long-term strategies, which are outlined in the Master Fire Plan
• Develop and monitor programs and budgets
• Create and implement Fire Services policy in accordance with current principals and techniques 
• Enforce City policies, by-laws and other legislation, which affect the Division's operation.
• Advise and recommend all major equipment purchases, including long-range planning for equipment, buildings and property purchases and expansions.
•  Provide technical advice on fire prevention and protection matters to all City departments.
•  Participate in civic programs and activities, fire prevention and safety campaigns and other public relations duties.
•  Command all phases of the operations of Fire Services at major fires or other emergencies.
•  Deal with the public's concerns, problems or complaints about Fire Services.
•  Liaise with other Fire Services and the business and industrial community for the purpose of mutual aid and fire prevention and safety.

Mark Mehlenbacher
Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services

Email Chief Mehlenbacher