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Manitoba Government Sets Out Four-year Provincial Fire Protection Plan

Working with municipalities, fire departments and fire chiefs, the Office of the Fire Commissioner has developed a four-year fire protection plan to improve training, emergency response and strategic planning across the province, Labour and Immigration Minister Erna Braun, minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, announced today.

“We are pleased to see such co-operation with everyone working toward the goal of improving fire protection and promoting fire prevention for Manitobans,” said Minister Braun.  “From large urban fire departments to smaller towns and rural departments, we want to learn what works best and find ways to help do things better.”

Under the leadership of the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs (MAFC) and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, the Manitoba government studied the challenges facing the Manitoba fire services and municipalities.  The group identified key areas to work on as part of the Manitoba Fire Protection Plan including:

• updating fire protection bylaws;  
• strengthening communication between fire departments, municipalities and the public;
• creating new fire prevention and public education programs;
• compiling fire protection documents and operating guidelines;
• improving consistency in collecting and sharing statistics;
• supporting training and recruitment efforts; and
• investing in officer training.

“The AMM is pleased to work in partnership with the OFC and MAFC,” said Doug Dobrowolski, president, AMM.  “We support the effort to improve consistency and co-ordination in how fire protection services are delivered in Manitoba."

Over the next four years, these agencies will continue to develop better working relationships and best practices with the goal of ensuring municipalities and the Manitoba fire services remain strong and well-positioned to collectively meet future  challenges.

“We realize it is essential to join forces in order to improve all fire protection by supporting full-time, part-time and rural-based fire services,” said Martin Haller, president, MAFC.  “We also recognize the need to communicate and share experiences and ideas with our colleagues from all areas of the province.”