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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: March 21, 1996
File No: cr/diveteam.doc
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Assistant Fire Chief (Operations),
Vancouver Fire And Rescue Services
SUBJECT: Firefighting Dive Team
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve the implementation of a Firefighting Dive Team
at an annual cost of $10,500 and a one-time training and equipment
start-up cost of $52,000 with funding to be provided in the 1996
operating budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Vancouver Fire Rescue Services RECOMMENDS
approval of the foregoing. The service has been faced with a number
of fire situations where such a team would have effectively
assisted in fire suppression.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no Council Policy directly applicable to this matter apart from
that of providing an effective Fire Service.
However, Council has instructed that requests for additional ongoing
funding in the Operating Budget should be accompanied by off setting
expenditure reductions or revenue increases.
PURPOSE
This report seeks funding to implement a Dive Team with Firefighting
capability. The funding would be used to purchase dive equipment, and
provide external training for volunteer dive team members.
Dive Team Firefighting capability is viewed by Vancouver Fire Rescue
Services as another tool resource in controlling and extinguishing dock
fires.
DISCUSSION
The City Of Vancouver has experienced two major dock fires in the past
four years.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD DOCK KITSILANO
On Sunday, July 7,1991, the Kitsilano Canadian Coast Guard Dock was
completely destroyed in a major conflagration. The fire travelled
quickly fanned by strong winds burning large creosoted piles and beams.
A concrete road surface six inches thick above the fire severely
hampered the Fire Services ability to direct large fire streams at the
seat of the fire for effective control and extinguishment.
No fire boat consortium or firefighting dive team existed at the time of
this fire.
ALBERTA WHEAT POOL DOCK
On Wednesday, August 24, 1994, the Alberta Wheat Pool Dock, 200 N.
Cassiar Street, resulted in extensive damage to the dock. The fire
travelled quickly fanned by sea breezes burning large creosoted piles
and beams. An asphalt road surface four inches thick above the fire
hampered the Fire Service s ability to direct large fire streams at the
seat of the fire for effective control and extinguishment.
Although three consortium fire boats were on scene, their ability to
direct large fire streams at the seat of the fire under the dock was
hampered by a rising tide. As the fire boats rose with the tide master
streams directed at the seat of the fire became increasingly
ineffective.
A specially trained and equipped Firefighting Dive Team could have
assisted in each of these waterfront fires. Such a team working with the
fire boat consortium would have the capability of floating large
firefighting hose streams under a dock or similar structure for maximum
control and extinguishment. After securing hose streams Dive Team
Firefighters would withdraw to safety. The fire boat consortium would be
used as an adjunct.
The addition of a Firefighting Dive Team to Vancouver Fire Rescue
Services is considered to be an important tool in the control of large
dock fire conflagrations. Experience gained from the past two dock fires
clearly illustrates the need for improved fire stream positioning by the
use of divers to effectively attack and extinguish a fire under a dock.
ALTERNATIVES/OPTIONS
A telephone survey was conducted of cities on the West Coast regarding
Dive Team capability. Victoria is trying to establish a team, but is
experiencing union difficulty. Seattle is aggressively working on
establishing a team but has none at the present time. Portland, San
Francisco and Los Angeles all have dive teams.
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
This proposal is for existing members of Vancouver Fire and Rescue
Services to volunteer for Dive Team service with no increase in staff.
Members volunteering for service will receive no additional
remuneration or pay premium and be expected to commit to a minimum of
five years' service. Ongoing training would be conducted while in
secondary response with no additional cost.
A Technical Rescue Vehicle for transporting dive equipment and personnel
to the scene would be provided from the current fleet of Vancouver Fire
and Rescue Services at no additional cost.
Compressed air used in filling dive tanks for diving would be filled by
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services at no cost.
A copy of this report has been forwarded to the Vancouver Firefighters
Union, Local 18.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Equipment purchases would consist of the following:
Dry suits, hoods and mitts
Masks, snorkels and fins
Weight belts
Air tanks
Regulators and second stage whips
Buoyancy compensators
Knives (tool type)
Duffle bags for carrying equipment
Coveralls.
Total one time equipment cost: $34,000
Initial external training costs would be incurred by sending four
instructor volunteers to Dive Rescue International for certification as
Public Safety Dive Instructors. The four instructors would then be able
to train and certify Dive Team volunteers on their own shifts (A,B,C,D,)
at no cost.
One time training cost: $18,000
Total one time equipment and training cost: $52,000
It is estimated that the annual cost of equipment
repair and replacement would be approximately: $10,500
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Upon acceptance of this proposal a fully operational Firefighting Dive
Team would be scheduled to be in service by the Fall of 1996.
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