Report to: General Committee Report Date: January 19, 2009

SUBJECT: Mobile Fire Safety House

PREPARED BY: Glenn Dick, Chief Fire Prevention Officer

Ext. 5983

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council receive this report, Mobile Fire Safety House for information purposes only.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

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1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to inform council of the purchase and use of the new Mobile Fire Safety House.

The Fire and Emergency Services intends to make full use of this new teaching tool by featuring it at the following community events offering exposure to more than 160,000 people.

- School Fire Safety Programs such as… “Learn Not to Burn” and “Risk Watch”

- Markham Fair

- Fire Prevention Week Open House

- Markham and Unionville Festivals

- Community Picnics

- Street Parties

- Milliken Children’s Festival, and

- Taste of Asia festival

New programs – There is an opportunity to utilize the new Mobile Fire Safety House in new and different ways such as; Business and Industrial Seminars; Emergency Preparedness Week; and Seniors programs.

BACKGROUND:

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OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The total cost for this new apparatus was $49,000 and fundraising efforts raised just over $50,000. The majority of the fundraising was accomplished by Councilor Alex Chiu who managed to coordinate several generous donations from various organizations throughout Markham. The ongoing maintenance costs will be covered under the normal operating budget but may be further offset through rental agreements and public education and awareness programs.

The existing smoke house that was introduced in Markham over 18 years ago was the first smoke house in Ontario. It has been a tremendous success in teaching children and adults the importance of planning home fire escapes, checking and testing their home smoke alarms. The new fire and life safety house will replace the existing aging smokehouse. The existing Smoke House will be decommissioned in accordance with By-law 2004-231.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE

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ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

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ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

The new Fire Safety House is a barrier free structure and has built in features designed to accommodate and educate members of the public with physical, visual and hearing disabilities.

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Fleet Supervisor has been made aware of the purchase of this unit and is accepting of the ongoing maintenance and mechanical fitness of the vehicle.

RECOMMENDED

BY: ________________________ ________________________

Bill Snowball Brenda Librecz

Acting Fire Chief Commissioner,

Community & Fire Services

ATTACHMENTS:

New Fire Safety House, Powerpoint