National Fire Incident Database Project Update
December 13, 2011Overview
In August 2011, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) launched a year-long project to explore the development
of a web-based database of fire statistics that would be available to fire departments and organizations across Canada.
The National Fire Incident Database (NFID) project was funded by a $149,000 grant from the Canadian Police Research
Centre, a federal program administered by the Defence Research & Development Canada – Centre for Security Science.
Canada currently lacks a national system for collecting fire statistics. A NFID would collect and analyze fire data,
providing Canadian fire services with information they need to make evidence-based decisions in order to target their
resources, operate more efficiently and increase their fire prevention capacity.
The research project will outline the scope for a national system, including types of data to be collected, hardware and
software, partner roles and contributions, funding sources, and resources required to set up and maintain the system.
The broad spectrum of fire service agencies and stakeholders across Canada are being consulted as part of the
research. The research team will also investigate existing public and private Canadian data management systems,
international best practices and other countries’ national databases.
Len Garis, Fire Chief for the City of Surrey and President of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of B.C., has been selected to be
the CAFC’s representative on the project. B.C.’s University of the Fraser Valley is coordinating the project research and
consultation on behalf of the CAFC. Working with Chief Garis to manage the research team is Dr. Darryl Plecas, School
of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Noted criminology researcher Paul Maxim, Associate Vice-President of Research at
Wilfrid Laurier University, will conduct the research.
Status and Next Steps
The researchers have begun to collect information about databases in Canada and abroad. Paul Maxim has already
visited the United Kingdom and is making arrangements to travel to the United States.
In terms of consultation, meetings are being planned with Fire Marshalls/Commissioners from each province in fall/
early winter 2011, followed by regional meetings with stakeholders across the country in early 2012. Surveys are also
being planned to consult those stakeholders who wish to provide input but cannot attend the regional meetings.
Information about the NFID project will be posted this fall on the CAFC website, including a link to the survey.
More information
Questions about the project may be directed to Len Garis, lwgaris@surrey.ca.
The Official Canadian memorial pin developed by The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation and approved by the CAFC. 
