Montone: Rise in ‘significant loss’ fires concerning

by Rob Benneian

A substantial rise of structural fires producing significant loss in Windsor has Fire Chief Bruce Montone concerned.

“What’s happening in this city is unacceptable,” Montone said.

Windsor Fire & Rescue Services defines “significant loss” as over $50,000 in damages.

On average, there is a structural fire producing significant loss every other day in Windsor according to WFRS. Additionally, inspections conducted in 2011 by WFRS revealed 43 per cent of homes in the city do not contain a working smoke alarm. The provincial average is 20 per cent.

Since 2007, the amount of structural fires producing significant loss has increased by 75 per cent. Over that six-year span, there have been 12 fire-related fatalities in Windsor. In at least six of those fatalities, the victim did not have a working smoke alarm.

“We need the residents of the city of Windsor to wake up and get working smoke alarms,” Montone said.

Chief fire prevention officer Lee Tome said making sure citizens of Windsor have working smoke alarms is “a huge concern.”

Montone announced March 1 the launch of a new program called Wake Up, Get a Working Smoke Alarm, which will consist of a city-wide blitz where fire fighters will be knocking on doors and offering to conduct free home fire safety checks. Fire fighters will be looking to see if smoke alarms are operational and in good condition. If a smoke alarm fails the test, the fire fighters will install a new one.

Ottawa began a similar program in 2005 when their non-compliance rate for smoke alarms hit 39 per cent. Since then, Ottawa has dropped to approximately 10 per cent.

“We are completely beyond where this community needs to be,” Montone said. “What I’m hoping for the city of Windsor is we go from more than half the provincial average to zero (per cent non-compliance). I’m saying that the city of Windsor can turn this around.”

Fire-related fatalities in Windsor

2013 – 1
2012 – 3
2011 – 3
2010 – 1
2009 – 0
2008 – 1
2007 – 3

Fires producing significant loss in Windsor

2007 – 144

2008 – 156

2009 – 194

2010 – 202

2011 – 181

2012 – 252

2013 – 9*

*As of March 21, 2013

Causes of structural fires producing significant loss 2007-2011

Cooking
2007-11%
2008-14%
2009-24%
2010-20%
2011-24%

Arson

2007-13%
2008-10%
2009-15%
2010-17%
2011-13%

Smoking
2007-17%
2008-15%
2009-13%
2010-15%
2011-13%

Emergency planner

Montone recommended to Windsor city council they consider the addition of a community emergency management coordinator. This position would be primarily responsible for managing, coordinating and enhancing the city’s ability to respond to any type of emergency.

“The benefit is it’s going to enable us to put the resources, time and energy necessary to effectively manage the community’s emergency management program,” Montone said.

Montone estimates creating and staffing the position would cost approximately $130,000.