Fire Chief Laing provided a presentation on the 2020 Annual Report for Central York Fire Services. The presentation outlined the challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic and how the Fire Services needed to pivot to virtual services for public education, building inspections and training. The presentation continued with the Fire Chief highlighting metrics from the fire prevention, training, and suppression divisions. He concluded with a review of the annual budget and the cost recovery program.
Members queried Assistant Deputy Chief Duval regarding mindfulness training, and how the training was received by staff. The Fire Chief explained that Central York Fire Services is the first department in Canada to install the Scene Apparatus Manager (SAM) system onboard a fire truck. Deputy Chief Volpe provided information on the cost recovery program and discussed the impact of the stay at home orders and more individuals working from home on the program.
Discussion ensued on the vulnerable occupancies and the York Regional Police's active attacker video (Run, Hide, Defend). It was noted that this video is available on YouTube.