April 24, 2006
REPORT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: USE
OF TORONTO FIRE SERVICES TRAINING FACILITIES
CONTACT/AUTHOR: Shayne Mintz, Deputy Fire Chief
Ext.
5960
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to
sign a Permission, Release, Covenant and Indemnification to the City of Toronto
and the Toronto Fire Services respecting
the use of Toronto Fire Services training
facilities for training exercises by Town of Markham recruit firefighters, in a
form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Markham Fire and Emergency Services require the use of the Toronto’s Fire Services Division East Training
Tower for the purposes of training Markham’s
Fire and Emergency Services in live fire fighting techniques.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
In the event of an accident, Markham firefighters are covered under
Workers Compensation and the Town’s insurance coverage.
Five additional training days, at an
approximate cost of $14,000, are required as a result of the new staff at the
Bur Oak Fire Station. The remaining 2006
Fire Service training budget (Accts #420 633 5250, 420 699 5250, 420 668 5250,
420 611 5250) is $55,500. The upset limit total cost of the facility rental is
$71,000. The funding shortfall of
$15,500 ($71,000 – $55,500) will be absorbed with in the Community and Fires Services
Commission. The cost associated with the
annual live fire training for the additional staff compliment will be put
forward for consideration in the 2007 Operating Budget.
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Don McClean
Fire Chief
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Jim Sales,
Commissioner
Community & Fire Services
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The purpose of this report is to have Council
endorse the indemnification of the City of Toronto and the Toronto Fire Services in order to allow Markham
recruit firefighters to utilize the Toronto Fire Services training facilities from
May 8 until May 12, 2006 as well as to conduct annual live fire
training for suppression staff from October 23rd until October 27th
and October 30th until November 3rd and November 6th
until November 10th and November 13th until November 17th,
2006 inclusive.
The Town of Markham Fire and Emergency Services Department needs to conduct scenario-based
live fire response training for newly hired recruits. Realistic training needs
to be conducted in order to prepare the Town’s newly hired recruit firefighters
for actual fire responses, as is done for all newly hired recruit firefighters. Fire Department staff rent the Toronto Fire Services training facilities at
4560 Sheppard Ave. East.
In addition, Markham
Fire and Emergency Services Department
conducts annual live fire training for suppression staff with the goal of
preventing skill degradation and potential for injury and death of members. The
training sessions also allows for skills check to verify minimum professional
qualifications of its members. This year’s focus will be on basement fire
firefighting techniques and will be conducted at the Toronto Fire Services training facilities at
4560 Sheppard Ave. East.
A condition of this arrangement is the approval of the Mayor and
council that the Town provide the City of Toronto with a
Certificate of Insurance demonstrating blanket contractual, tenant and cross
coverage for $10 million. In addition to the insurance coverage, the City of Toronto also requires Markham Council
endorsement indemnifying the City of Toronto from any liability claims arising
from the use of its training facilities by Markham firefighters. The City of Toronto has provided a form of Permission,
Release, Covenant and Indemnification that it requires the Town to execute.