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FIRE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF SURREY OVERVIEWS
2 0 1 5 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S
• Maintained operations based fleet
capacity, engines with tenure at or beyond
useful life were replaced with several
engines providing economic, social and
environmental benefits including: four
Administration vehicles, two Inspection
vehicles, two Engines and one Technical
Rescue vehicle.
• Continued to minimize absenteeism
related costs through an Attendance
Management Program that resulted in
achieving a 63% perfect attendance.
• Published 23 research articles and/or
papers illustrating the evidence-based
decision-making used for strategic
planning and emergency services activity.
• Electrical Fire Safety Initiative Team’s
ongoing contributions to improved
environmental conditions included 32
inspections, 13 illegal grow operations
detected, and 28 repair notices issued.
• Electrical Fire Safety Initiative Team
mandate expanded to include an
inspection role with Bylaws and Fire
Prevention, regarding problem properties.
• Implemented reporting to enable monthly
reviews and reconciliations of fuel
consumption.
• Provided employees with regular feedback,
resulting in improvements in all areas of
measured performance with Performance
Metrics Software.
• The Administrative Development
Program (ADP) enrolled six staff for
development for future exempt positions.
A combination of work experience with
educational opportunities and work
projects was provided to all staff. Two
vacant exempt positions were filled
by hiring two staff who were in the
Administration Development Program.
• HomeSafe program resources were
successfully redeployed to focus on
targeted Community Safety Initiatives
reaching 29,000 residents.
• Developed a plan to restructure the
fire inspection process to move from
prescriptive inspections to risk-based
inspections.
The Fire Department helps to make the City a safer place to live and has responsibility for the
following divisions/sections:
OPERATIONS DIVISION
Operations is the largest division and is responsible for emergency
medical services, fire suppression, and hazardous materials response
and rescue activities. In addition to the activities handled by the
Suppression Branch, the Operations Division is also responsible
for the Prevention and Training Branches.
Prevention:
Prevention minimizes the risk of life and property loss,
which is accomplished through Bylaws, the Fire Service Act and
Fire Code Enforcement, public education and fire investigation. Fire
Prevention Officers perform fire investigations, life safety inspections
in commercial, assembly, and educational occupancies, re-inspections,
as well as review plans for new buildings, renovations and construction
sites for fire safety, occupancy approval, and business licenses. They
also help to educate the public about fire safety.
Training:
The Training Branch develops and delivers training
programs to enhance the skills, increase the competencies
and expand the scope of training for Surrey’s 500 career and
volunteer staff.
SURREY EMERGENCY PROGRAM
Surrey’s Emergency Program includes Neighbourhood
Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP); Business Emergency
Preparedness Program (BEPP); Surrey Emergency Program Amateur
Radio (SEPAR); Surrey Search and Rescue (SSAR); and Emergency
Social Services (ESS), Level One: Personal Disaster Assistance.
Through these programs, City staff and the large network of
volunteers provide valuable community emergency services.
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