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The CAFC Committee Open Houses are an opportunity for you to have a behind-the-scenes look at what happens at each committee. This year we have several experts within their respective fields speaking on their work, and how it relates to each committee.

 

 

Is there any more relevant topic in today’s Fire-Rescue industry than saving firefighter lives?

Speaker: Gary Lee

 

Abstract

Due to repeated exposure to toxins from burning building materials and home furnishings, firefighters have a much higher risk than the general public of getting, and dying from cancer. And it’s not just from smoke you can see.

Pasco County Florida Fire Rescue representatives talk DECON Series equipment washers:

Division Chief of Safety, Health & Training, John Schmidt, “The fire scenes now, after the fact, are just as dangerous from the perspective of the by-product of the fire. Time is very critical. The sooner you can get the carcinogens off the better. We need to remove that as soon as possible. The MEIKO unit is definitely a game-changer for us.”

Jeff Higdon, Firefighter EMT and DECON Technician, “Even though you don’t see the smoke, these things are still off-gassing. And it can still attach to your skin, to your clothing, to your hair.”

“We washed things manually and then we turned around and washed that same product again in the MEIKO machine, and the difference was astounding,” said Scott Cassin, Fire Chief.

Cole Bordelon, Firefighter, EMT, “Going from just a normal hand wash to that machine, it is night and day. Everything is a lot cleaner, it’s a lot fresher. You can feel it.”

Jeff Higdon, talking to firefighters about DECON equipment washers, “There’s nothing but benefit. I know it’s hard to change, because you’ve always done some things the same way. Can you give me a reason why not to do that? I don’t think they’d be able to.”

Community Risk

Speaker: Shayne Mintz

 

Abstract

NFPA Public Education program and messaging - Community Risk Reduction. This session covers what’s new from NFPA and provides many of the relevant changes and programs NFPA has developed and offers across Canada. It will provide an update on Pub Ed activities; NFPAs Educational Messages Desk Reference; new or updated information and fact sheets (including those translated into French); and, NFPAs Community Risk Reduction program. NFPA 915 - Standard for Remote Inspections (RI) - This presentation will cover this new standard and shall provide the minimum requirements for the procedures, methods, and documentation associated with remote inspections. This includes the provision for remote inspections to deliver equivalent or improved results as would be achieved with other inspection methods. NFPA 51B - Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and other Hot Work - This presentation is about NFPA 51B and how the standard covers provisions to prevent injury, loss of life, and loss of property from fire or explosion as a result of hot work operations. The standard provides minimum requirements for all persons who manage, request, authorize, perform, or supervise hot work. NFPA LiNK™ - This presentation covers NFPA LiNK™, the new NFPA digital reference tool that will change the way the fire and life safety industry works. This tool provides the user with up-to-date code-related information and tools to help resolve questions in real time and have the confidence to keep working. This is a new leading edge information platform… More to follow on a separate application...

CASA BeGrainSafe Program

Speaker: Robert Gobeil

 

Abstract

The presentation will include:

• Introduction to Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) - who we are, what we do
• Background to CASA's BeGrainSafe program
• Overview of BeGrainSafe awareness and training
• How to arrange firefighter or producer training
• Information about sharing prevention messaging in rural communities

RESPECTMap: An innovative service mapping platform for organizations serving military veterans and civilian emergency response personnel.

Speaker: Servane Roupnel

 

Abstract

Multiple stakeholders provide services and assistance across the nation to emergency response personnel, including firefighters & rescue specialists. Some of these professionals face problems and challenges with mental health and adjustment resulting from their service, not only impacting themselves, but also those closest to them and the wider community.

Respect Forum has gained a deep appreciation of the need to share information and collaborate amongst service providers. Though well-intentioned and through no particular fault, services often operate in stove pipes simply due to lack of mutual awareness and the focus on immediate operations. Respect Forum has stepped into this void by developing a comprehensive conceptual framework to guide in creating, developing, and implementing local, provincial, and national service maps for veterans and civilian emergency response personnel to enhance networking, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and analysis of gaps and overlaps in coverage by the organizations and individuals serving them.

Respect Forum has developed a platform for standardized presentation on a voluntary basis of programs, tools, methods, and criteria by organizations engaged in serving veterans and emergency response personnel. The platform currently exists as a public beta website, but we have received funding to upgrade to a fully functioning, robust and secure platform. The target audience for this endeavour is stakeholders engaged in this space as a complement to other platforms, such as 211. We are collaborating with a number of agencies and organizations and wish to extend this to Fire-Rescue Canada. We believe this seminar will contribute to our collaboration.

Trauma-Informed Care - Building a Culture of Strength

Speaker: Nathan Gerbrandt

 

Abstract

Trauma is prevalent in our world and has an impact on many of the people we interact with, including our clients and colleagues. Compassionate and trauma-informed care is essential to providing effective support and building sustainable services. This workshop will explore how to build a trauma-informed culture in a workplace setting that integrates knowledge throughout the organization. Guiding principles will be explored for increasing emotional and physical safety, culturally sensitive empowerment, and creating greater resilience for all parts of an organization.

Human Factors / Human Performance

Speaker: James Rychard

 

Abstract

Building psychologically safe work environments is a goal for all fire service leaders, especially during this unprecedented time. Having a stronger understanding to human behavior and performance would help to strengthen both leadership and work environments. It would be applicable for career, composite, and volunteer structured fire services. Human Factors/Human Performance is quite different from Human Relations. It focuses on topics such as but not limited to: Crew Resource Management; Human Limitations and Human Capabilities; Decision Making; Situational Awareness; Error Management; and Human Behavior, specifically Perception; Attention; and Cognition. The concepts of human factors and performance looks at areas such as situational awareness, decision making, crew resource management, normalization of deviance etc. are vital for the fire service; provides greater awareness, focus and resources to help guide fire service leaders and develop this within their departments is valuable. We as human beings have limitations; being able to identify, discuss, and promote better decisions (understanding its impact on people, in general) minimizes the probability of costly future errors. The presentation would look at case studies and subject matter experts. One example is Malcolm Gladwell who discusses that aircraft disasters are not solely due in response to mechanical, but human factors including culture. Others include Sindney Dekker, Gordon Dupont, and Michael J Ward. Disasters such as NASA's Challenger and Columbia as well as Chernobyl will be identified to identify human error. This presentation is unconventional for the fire service industry; however, lessons and best practices will help strengthen decision-making within fire leadership.

Relationships: A Leadership Perspective!

Speaker: Scott Wilkinson

 

Abstract

How is the development of a leader influenced by the variety of relationships they encounter over their career? How do those relationships impact our ability be the best leader we can be?

We’re not reinventing the wheel, there is a plethora of information out there on leadership, just taking a look from a fresh perspective.

Character is key, but how is it applied? From early on with our peer and superiors, to our subordinates, management colleagues and political bosses, the way in which we communicate and develop these relationships throughout our careers is often the litmus test for our success as leaders. We are many things within them; follower, learner, mentor, collaborator and hopefully a leader based on how well we develop and nurture them.

The ability to facilitate change is one of the major issues for fire service leaders today and much of a leader’s success in that comes from the relationships built and developed over many years. Those same relationships build a “bank” of trust that can allow us to withdraw when things are challenging due to many previous deposits.

Gordon Graham refers to High Risk/Low Frequency events and the training needed to prepare. Relationships are no different. We must continually work on them and prepare not only for the day to day issues but also for those less frequent ones or potentially even those not yet known.

What better way to fulfill our primary role of ensuring the performance and well being of those we lead!

Cease Fire! Conflict resolutions and communications

Speaker: Larry Iverson

 

Abstract

Because of the massive changes in the world due to the pandemic and risk associated with being a first responder, this program brings strategies to overcome compassion fatigue. During the session the participants will take a compassion fatigue evaluation to analyze their risk for getting it. This evaluation can also tell them the level of compassion fatigue they may already be at. They will learn two strategies to staying free of compassion fatigue, or if they are already experiencing it how to break free from it. But the end of the program they will have learned the signs and symptoms of CF and how to avoid having it enter their personal and professional life.

Encapsulated Mass Timber: a new construction type for the 2020

Speaker: Marc Alam

 

Abstract

Encapsulated Mass Timber: a new construction type for the 2020 NBC

This seminar will discuss the fire-related national building and fire code changes related to a new construction type called Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) to be used for wood buildings up to twelve storeys. As well, it will provide an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings.

Storage

Speaker: Shayne Mintz

 

Abstract

NFPA 855 - Standard for Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems - This presentation outlines the new standard NFPA 855 and will cover how it is a key resource for meeting the challenges of safeguarding the installation of modern energy storage systems (ESS). The use of ESS systems is expanding exponentially around the world and while these high-energy, small-footprint systems provide clean, low-cost, long-duration sources of energy, they also present significant life safety hazards. The standard addresses the dangers of toxic and flammable gases, stranded energy, and increased fire intensity associated with them. Alternative Fuel Vehicles - There are presently over 15 million alternative fuel vehicles on North American roadways today. To help emergency responders handle the unique challenges presented by these new technologies, NFPA has developed the Alternative Fuel Vehicles Training Program. The program effectively trains responders through modules such as Introduction to alternative fuel vehicle concepts including, electric, hybrid, fuel cell, bio-diesel and gaseous fuels such as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and Propane. Demobilizing and remobilizing buildings (NFPA 241 Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations) during government required shutdowns. NFPA has developed a new tip sheet to help building owners, authorities having jurisdictions (AHJs), installer/maintainers, facility managers, and contractors safely prepare and execute demobilization efforts in buildings under construction, alteration or demolition in the wake of COVID-19. The new at-a-glance-guidance is designed to help parties implement the appropriate steps to safeguard sites and comply with local requirements that are in effect now and could possibly apply during future emergencies.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (Drones)

Speaker: Mark Wuennenberg

 

Abstract

Purpose: Provide an opportunity to engage fire department leadership,at a national level, to advance the discussion on safe and effective responses to accidents or incidents involving unmanned aircrat systems (UAS).

Methodolgy: Using our six (6) years of operational experience in the safe and efffective operation of UAS in various jurisdictions, we would provide details on the professional and commercial use of UAS and provide factual information on the state of the industry (vs the hype, myths or misconceptions). These operations include aircraft in excess of 500 kgs capable of carrying over 180 kgs of cargo. Additionally, we believe our expreiences would be beneficial with regards to engaging in meaningful discussion on the most effective ways of communicating the essential information needed by those responding to UAS related accidents or emergency situations.

Conclusion: Regardless of the situation being responded to, it is essential to ensure the safety of those responding, particularly if the transportation of dangerous goods is involved. Having emergency responders understand the realities of commercial/professional UAS operations and having the UAS industry (and the regulators) understand the needs of those responding will be important to moving this conversation forward.

Machine Learning Methods Applied to UAV and Satellite Imagery to Characterize Fuels, with Implications to Wildland Firefighter Training

Speaker: Jeff Boisvert

 

Abstract

Purpose: Automatically detect and classify fuels (large trees) relevant to wildland fires in the boreal forest to improve hazard assessment around at-risk communities and improve wildland fire prediction. High resolution fuel maps are integrated into Yellowhead County wildland firefighter training to improve decision making and preparedness during wildland incidents.

Methodology: High resolution UAV imagery (2cm/pixel) is obtained using an affordable hobbyist-grade drone (Mavic Mini). Satellite imagery (50cm/pixel) is purchased from widely available sources. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are trained on UAV and satellite imagery to identify trees (i.e. place a box around a tree) and classify (coniferous vs. deciduous). CNN accuracy varies between 70% and 90% depending on imagery and assessment metrics; satellite imagery has lower accuracy.

Applications: Trees are geospatially located on satellite or UAV imagery. Fuel attributes relevant to wildland fires are calculated, including: density of trees visible from overhead (stems/ha); tree height using structure-from-motion (SfM) algorithms; tree crown width from size of boxed tree, and; tree species, broadly classified as coniferous or deciduous. High resolution maps of tree location, density, size and type can be quickly obtained and used for decision making or hazard assessment. FireSmart-like home assessments are automatically generated, indicating distance between values-at-risk and hazards. Fuel maps are integrated into wildland firefighter training and case studies are discussed. Future directions include (1) community scale hazard assessment, (2) use around active wildland fires for improved decision making, risk mitigation and resource allocation, and (3) increased firefighter training to encourage use of available modern data collection methods.

Beyond Dashboards: Using Aggregate Data to drive Quality Improvement in Fire Service

Speaker: Scott Ramey

 

Abstract

While many Fire Services are using data and tracking more areas of interest with intention to improve service and show productivity, are we using sound data science principles combined with quality improvement methodologies to make meaningful change? Every organization tracks a family of measures with data from various moments of time. The list of indicators often blend measures created by leadership with a mix of from other sources like accreditation bodies, regulators, and benchmarking vendors. These data are usually at an aggregate level or minimally stratified by division or facility. Aggregate data may be useful for judging against your goal or comparing it to other organizations but it offers limited guidance on what’s happening within the organization or what is contributing to the variation we see. How can we learn from aggregate data? and How can we target process improvement in fire service by drilling down our aggregate data?

Should Mass Notification Systems be used for only Emergencies?

Speaker: Brian McKinney

 

Abstract

Most communities onboard technology such as mass notification systems (MNS) for emergency alerts and critical events. BUT, are you missing an opportunity to engage your community, increase enrollment numbers, generate trust and ultimately contribute to your communities emergency preparedness when the emergency does come?

In comparing communities who used MNS for only emergencies vs. emergencies + day-to-day information, it was found that client communities, who issued alerts at a rate of one notification a month or more, experienced an organic registration rate 5-10X higher than communities that issued at a rate of 1-2 alerts per year.

Over a 6-month period, starting 3-months post launch, the higher usage rate communities averaged an enrollment growth rate of approximately 10% month over month. The lower usage rate communities, who were more dependant on static web-site promotions to drive awareness, experienced approximate 1-2% / month growth rate. Note: Neither community initiated external marketing campaigns. Growth reflects organic use only.

Thus, day-to-day engagement via informational notices leads to increased enrollment numbers in communities. So when an emergency does occur, you already have people base of users that trust the service.

The key takeaway is people talk.

Responsible use of the system to communicate relevant day-to-day information is something that people find valuable and community awareness of the system, and in turn registration, is driven by word of mouth. The fact that enrollment is growing indicates a positive reflection on the value of the communications being transmitted.

Introducing what3words: a free addition to the emergency toolkit that can help locate 9-1-1 callers

Speaker: Gregoire de Chavanes

 

Abstract

Several emergency services in Canada (including Kingston Fire, Vancouver RCMP, BC EHS, and others) have recently started using what3words, a new tool to help services locate 9-1-1 callers quickly and accurately. what3words is free of charge to emergency services, is available offline, and requires no CAD integration. Globally, what3words has already proven a vital tool for saving time and lives in emergency situations.

During this session, members of the what3words team will be telling us more about the solution. They will introduce us to the what3words system, how it works, sharing stories from other services who have used the tool successfully and explain how it can be implemented in a control room, without any technical integration.

How the Latest Rapid Access Solutions Aid Interoperability

Speaker: Neal Zipser

 

Abstract

Rapid access solutions are nothing new. These solutions aid fire departments to get quick access when needed while reducing the potential risk to injury (no forced entry) and eliminating unnecessary property damage. However, until now, there has been the concern over losing keys and having them fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, having a mechanical key was not idea for mutual aid services and did not enable interoperability.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services examined options and are in the process of implementing an electronic rapid access system that eliminates the concern over lost keys and provides full accountability and traceability of who had access to boxes. The system also enables interoperability within the department and with other agencies if desires (i.e. neighboring fire departments, EMS, law enforcement, schools and universities, etc.).

This type of system has been rolled out in the United States with Phoenix, Seattle, Columbus and numerous other municipalities transitioning to an electronic solution. Edmonton is the first Canadian city to implement the system and can share their experience.