Fire service pushes for permanent collaboration

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BY SEAN PEARCE

The success of Central York Fire Services is a good example of how municipalities collaborating on service delivery, especially in tough times, can be a winning solution, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen said.

And fire and waste might just be the start, Mr. Van Bynen said, adding he, Aurora Mayor Phyllis Morris and the town's CAOs have talked about better utilizing their resources.

The 2002 consolidation of Newmarket and Aurora's fire services has resulted in improved access to resources, more manpower and better cost efficiencies for both municipalities, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Leslie told Aurora council Tuesday.

Because of this, making the joint fire service a permanent arrangement would certainly be a prudent measure, rather than having the towns review the partnership again and again every five years, Mr. Leslie said.

"We believe (the consolidated department) meets the needs and provides a broader and deeper level of service that would have been available individually," he said.

Apart from committing to a permanent consolidation, the review also recommended the creation of a vision statement for the joint service, the development of a comprehensive communications strategy and examining the feasibility of consolidating management and ownership of all fire department properties.

The joint council committee would also continue in its role.

As far as levels of service go, the review also recommended:

- the service strive to have its first crew on scene within 60 seconds of receiving a call 90 per cent of the time;

- when responding to building fires, 12 firefighters arrive within 10 minutes, 90 per cent of the time;

- the service work toward a goal of 60 seconds or less for the turnout of firefighters and;

- the service work to improve response by reviewing call handling times.

Enhanced and wider access to public fire safety education would also help, Mr. Leslie said.

Central York Professional Firefighters Association president Brent Heppell disputed little in the review, but suggested while response time goals are good, they could be better.

Without more funding, manpower and equipment, the service is simply not capable of simultaneous rescue and suppression, Mr. Heppell said.

"The public ... expects us to not only be able to put the fire out, but rescue anyone trapped within at the same time," he said. "Not one and then the other."

Mr. Heppell's concerns were received by council and are to be reviewed by staff.

Making the service a permanent arrangement would be a beneficial move for everyone involved, former joint council committee chairperson and Newmarket Councillor Chris Emanuel, said.

Both towns have seen enhanced levels of fire service provided at a significantly reduced cost, he said.

"Going forward we may even find more cost efficiencies or be able to provide even better service (to both municipalities)," he added.

It's one of a handful of joint ventures under way.

The northern six York Region municipalities have managed to save more than $11-million by teaming up on the Green Bin program, he said, adding there could be room for more co-operation.

"Does it make sense for us to have the Ray Twinney Complex half full and fully staffed and for Aurora to have their facility half full and fully staffed every day?" Mr. Van Bynen said. "Maybe it makes more sense to have swimming one day at the Ray Twinney Complex and the next at the Aurora Recreation Complex and so on."

It's all still very preliminary, Mr. Van Bynen stressed. Yet, residents don't seem to mind crossing borders for services, so, perhaps, municipalities might not be too far off to look outside of their borders to help cover the cost of providing them. Some homes now being built even straddle municipal boundaries, he added.

"I think the fire service is a first class example of what can be accomplished," he said.