Fire Master Plan

The Fire Master Plan was formally endorsed by Council on May 3, 2022 at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

To ensure that The Blue Mountains Fire Department continues to meet the needs of the community, a comprehensive review of operations and services of the Fire Department is being completed through the development of a detailed Fire Master Plan (FMP). The FMP will also incorporate the findings of the Town-wide Community Risk Assessment (CRA), which is a plan that identifies and evaluates all risks to public safety, helping to inform decisions of the Town’s fire services. The goal is to establish an actionable path forward in planning and preparing for emergency challenges as well as improving overall public education and safety.

Additional Information

The Town of the Blue Mountains is uniquely comprised of many towns, villages and hamlets consisting of both urban and rural areas. Currently, there are over 7,000 permanent residents with an influx population of over 13,000 including seasonal and part-time residents, and nearly 6,500 total homes. In recent years, the Town has experienced significant growth and development, a trend that is anticipated to continue into the foreseeable future.
The Fire Department dedicates their efforts to providing protection from fire, life-threatening emergencies, and dangerous conditions for residents and visitors. The department operates out of two (2) fire stations to serve and protect an area of approximately 300 square kilometers. The department structure consists of the following:
- One (1) full-time Fire Chief
- One (1) full-time Deputy Fire Chief;
- One (1) full-time Chief Fire Prevention Officer;
- One (1) full-time Training Coordinator;
- Three (3) full-time Fire Prevention Inspectors/Suppression Firefighters; and
- One (1) full-time Administrative Assistant / Community Emergency Management Coordinator
The department also operates with volunteer firefighters that are paid for training and responses, consisting of 10 Officers and 30 Firefighters at full complement.

The department responds to a variety of calls that may include general assistance/information inquiries, responding to emergency incidents such as motor vehicle collisions, and fires or medical emergencies. The department delivers a service level as outlined by Council By-Law # 2021-10 (see attached). Following the Ontario Fire Marshall’s prescribed “3 Lines of Defense,” focusing on the proactive activities of:
1. Public Education
2. Fire Prevention and Fire Code Enforcement
3. Suppression operations, responding to emergency incidents.
The FMP will examine the people, processes, and technology of the Town’s Fire Department and will address key items by recommending industry best practices, current standards, and applicable legislation as the foundation for all work going forward. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, the FMP will develop a strong understanding of current and future circumstances affecting the community, as well as identifying the levels of service requested by taxpayers.

To accomplish this, the Town has engaged Emergency Management & Training Inc. (EMT), to assist with this initiative. EMT is a consulting firm that has worked with many fire departments in developing their fire master plans, station assessments and fire service reviews.

Want to Get Involved?

This webpage will be updated throughout the project's life cycle and will share key information, including public engagement opportunities, project materials, and important documents to keep the community informed. Community members and members of the public can also keep engaged by subscribing to this project's webpage for regular project updates.

Project Surveys

There are currently no active surveys for the Fire Master Plan project.

Fire Master Plan Survey (Closed): A public survey was open from November 8, 2021, to December 3, 2021, to help inform the development of the Town's Fire Master Plan. This survey was launched to better understand the community's insight into the current level of services from the Fire Department and the future of fire services in the Town.