FIRE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES

• May 2016, started an in-service inspection program after putting suppression staff through online training with Fire Wise Consulting.

• Forty-six multi-residential buildings were inspected between May and December 2016.

• June 2016, started using volunteer firefighters for door-to-door smoke alarm campaign in rural areas of Port Colborne. January 2017, donation program to subsidize smoke alarms for lower-income families.

• February 2017, school poster competition promoting fire safety. Posters submitted by schools voted on by citizens on Facebook; overwhelming response. Some schools added fire safety to the curriculum.

• March 2017, using full-time firefighters for door-to-door smoke alarm campaign in urban areas of Port Colborne. Firefighters are assigned to ensure 25 homes are checked per week.

• Leveraging social media as a means of communicating the department’s involvement in the community as well as a fire safety message.

• Participated in Swing into Summer Safety, Safe at Home, and 12 Days of Christmas campaigns from FMPSC.

• Encouraged community partners to host fundraisers to assist in funding several of the fire prevention initiatives, including the Italian Hall and Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookie campaign.