2017 Citizens Report

MAPLE RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT

One of the first areas to embrace the Open Government Portal (OGP) development was the Maple Ridge Fire Department.

Geographic information Systems (GIS) and data management is an integral part of modern firefighting. Each of the Fire Department fire trucks is equipped with a laptop that is used to calculate the fastest route to a call and provides essential property records that the Fire Department uses to assist in controlling the emergency. “This information allows the first arriving firefighters to recommend a course of action or be advised of dangers within that property,’ said Chief Exner. “Throughout my career with the department I have seen the evolution of technology that improves the response and deployment of our crews to protect lives and property. The opportunity to share this data as part of the OGP was a natural evolution of the department.” The ‘Fire Department Multi Year Stats’ table provides citizens with information on the total call volumes and breakdowns by category. In 2017 there were 144 structure fires compared to 125 in 2016. The data shows that 47 of these fires

Fire Department responds to only the more serious medical type calls. “We are there to respond to serious medical calls where we can absolutely make a positive difference in the medical outcome of a sick or injured person. Our firefighters have medical aid training and are trained in special rescue skills to deal with emergency situations where a few minutes can make a difference in a person’s outcome,” said Chief Exner. “There is no prouder moment than when a person we’ve helped visits the Fire Hall after they recover from their emergency. It serves as a positive reminder that we are here to help.”

were in the downtown versus 43 in west Maple Ridge. “Data drives much of our decision making. Modern building codes require the installation of sprinkler systems to suppress fires in all residential buildings. We have a number of houses and apartments that were built before the sprinkler requirement was put in place,” said Chief Exner. “This means we put a high priority on building inspections on places built before the requirement was in place, especially apartment buildings. Ensuring that the fire exits are clear, that exit signage is in place and that there are no accelerants in common areas, underground parking and hallways, is critical with these properties. It can mean the difference between life and death in a large fire.” There’s a second table that captures the full array of emergency incidents in our community. This table includes data on all types of fires, alarms, medical emergencies and vehicle accident rescues that the Fire Department responds to. Our

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