The Nation Municipality

The Fire Department counts 5 Fire Stations

• Fire Station 100 (St-Isidore) with Station Chief: Daniel Desforges
• Fire Station 200 (St-Bernardin) with Station Chief: Gabriel Lalonde
• Fire Station 300 (Fournier) with Station Chief: Shawn Lavertue
• Fire Station 400 (St-Albert) with Station Chief: Stephane Savage
• Fire Station 500 (Limoges) with Station Chief: Daniel Voisine

“Fire Protection” means a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of the residents and visitors of the Fire Department’s response area from the adverse effects of fires, sudden medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature and includes fire prevention, public education, rescue and suppression services:

• auto extrication is limited to basic extrication services for the Fournier, St-Albert and St-Bernardin Fire Stations,
• full extrication services are offered by the Limoges and St-Isidore Fire Stations and the Casselman Fire Department,
• rescue services, as it applies to water and ice rescue, is limited to levels 1 and 2 (shore-based and water entry) by the Fournier Fire Station,
• medical emergency responses shall be limited to those services agreed to under By-Law No. 57-2003 (United Counties of Prescott Russell Tiered Response Agreement),
• fire prevention is offered by all five stations through inspection and educating the public in ways to prevent fires from starting,
• education is offered by all five stations through public festivals, municipal website, school visits and invitations to clubs, associations and events.

The fees will be covered by the owner of the property regardless of whether the services or activities were requested or not by the owner of the property.   All fees are payable to The Nation Municipality. Please find below a list of services or activities available from the Fire Department and their fee. For more information, please see By-law 148-2015 on the Fire Department’s Fees and Charges. 

File Search

The fire department can produce letters of conformity for a property. A fee of 80$ will apply for requests to produce letters of conformity to lawyers and real estate agents, fire incident summary reports for insurance brokers, letters of conformity for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario applications, all other letters of conformity, subdivision plan review. (what’s the process for the request)

On Site Inspections

On site inspections are performed to evaluate if a space conforms to fire codes by the Fire Department.  Residential properties can be inspected at no cost unless the property is used as a rental unit. Consult the By-law No. 148-2015 for fees related to other types of properties.

False Alarms

False alarms are calculated within one calendar year. If the fire department is called to the same location multiple times within one year of the first false alarm call, a fee will be applied to the owner of the property.

• 1st false alarm ; no fees will be applied
• 2nd false alarm : $200.00
• 3rd and all other additional false alarms : $1,000.00

After 3rd false alarm, a notice requesting proof of a recent certificate of an annual inspection of the alarm system, as prescribed by the Ontario Fire Code within 30 days of the requisition.

Fire Code Violation

Property owners have the responsibility to install a working smoke alarm in each of their properties, to maintain the smoke alarm in an operating condition, provide maintenance and instructions to occupants. Failure to meet these requirements will generate a fire code violation punishable with a fine.

Training

The Nation’s Fire Department can provide courses on: Fire Prevention, Fire Extinguishers, Evacuations and Fire Simulations.  Please contact us for more information.

1 to 10 people : $50.00 + Cost of material

Over 11 people : $5.00 per person + Cost of material

Farms and rural properties have unique fire risks. Follow these simple steps to help protect your family and your investment.

1. Carbon Monoxide

What is Carbon Monoxide?

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
• CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbecues, portable heaters and generators or vehicles.
• Over 80% of CO-related injuries and deaths in Ontario occur in the home (source: TSSA).

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its “end-of-life” before calling 9-1-1.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Tips

• Testing and Replacing
• Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in their rental units
• Landlords are required to test CO alarms in rental units annually and when the battery is replaced, changes are made to the electric circuit or a change of tenancy occurs.
• It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with CO alarms in any way.
• Test CO alarms every month by pressing the test button.
  Replace batteries every year.
• Replace CO alarms according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Know The Sound Of The CO Alarm:

• Your CO alarm sounds different from your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
• Know the difference between the CO alarms’ low-battery warning, end of life warning and an emergency alarm – consult the CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions.

What To Do If The CO Alarm Sounds:

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its “end-of-life” before calling 9-1-1.

Find out more about carbon monoxide through this link

2. Escape Plan

Develop a home fire escape plan today… it could save your life tonight! Learn more here.

• Install working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of your home. It’s the law!
• Develop a home fire escape plan.
• Know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Sit down with everyone in your household and discuss how each person will get out of the home in a fire.
• Practise your escape plan with everyone in your home.
• Make sure everyone can get out quickly.
• Make sure everyone knows two ways out of each room, if possible.
• If the door of a room is blocked by smoke or fire, discuss an alternate escape route such as a window. Make sure all windows open easily. Security bars on windows should have quick-releasing devices so they can be easily removed.
• Help those who need it!
• Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, older adults, people with disabilities or anyone else who may need assistance.
• Get low and go under the smoke to the nearest safe exit.
• Most fire deaths are the result of smoke inhalation.
• Choose a meeting place outside, a safe distance from your home.
• A tree, street light or a neighbour’s home are all good choices. In case of fire, everyone should go directly to this meeting place to be accounted for.
• Get out, stay out.

Never re-enter a burning building. Once you have safely escaped, call the fire department from outside your home using a cell phone or from a neighbour’s home.

For more information, contact your local fire department or visit these links.

Home Escape Planning 

Carbon Monoxide – Silent Killer

SMOKE ALARMS

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

W.E.T.T inspections

3. Car Seat Installation

The Ottawa Police does not conduct child car seat inspections but we encourage you to register for an upcoming car seat inspection clinic by visiting  S.E.A.T.S for Kids, Ottawa Safety Council’s Best Fit Car Seat Program, or by calling Ottawa Public Health Information at 613-580-6744, ext. 28020. For more information on safety, visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Watch the video below for 3 Quick Car Seat Safety Tips, presented by Ottawa Public Health.

Car Seat Information and Installations: 

Contact: Jean-Marc Michaud and Lucie Larochelle, (613) 764-3434

General

If you intend to light an open air fire with a flame base larger than 1 square meter you must obtain a fire permit before lighting the fire.

Applying for a Fire Permit

When completing the application, please ensure that the location of the fire section contains adequate directions to allow an inspection of the site.

Fire permits are $25.00.

Next Steps

Once the completed form is received by the Municipality, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer will visit the location to ensure that the fire can be lit safely and that it conforms to the terms emitted by the By-Law. Once the inspection is completed, the Officer may issue the permit, or, issue the permit with conditions, or, refuse the permit.

Reasons For Refusing A Permit

The Officer will refuse to issue a fire permit due to the following conditions:

• The location of the fire is less than 50 metres from a neighbour’s house.
• The location is less than 150 metres from a woodland without snow cover.
• Conditions are too dry to allow burning.
• The smoke from the fire might create a danger to vehicular traffic.

After Permit Issuance

The applicant will receive a fire permit which must be on site while the fire is burning. Before lighting the fire,  the applicant must call 1-888-870-8883 to advise the fire dispatch centre that they will be lighting a permitted fire, the dispatch centre will already have been sent a copy of the permit by the Officer.

Permits can be issued for a duration of up to 30 days. The expiry date will be marked on the permit.

Prohibited Materials

Whether a fire permit is required or not it is prohibited to burn the following:

• Tires, plastic, rubber or petroleum products.
• Grass, weeds or other vegetation while it is still attached to the ground.

The burning of ditches, lawns and fields is prohibited. These types of fires are the most difficult to control, pose the highest danger of spreading and the smoke caused by the burning of roadside ditches creates a hazard to vehicular traffic.

The Act outlines requirements for an advisory committee, consultation and establishing priority risks. A CSWB plan must show outcomes and measurables with strategies to meet them. The framework for planning was provided by the Province.

Municipalities are required to engage with partners to develop the plan and are required to consider data from multiple sources across the broad range of issues and factors.

The CSWB plan must include the following core information:

• Local priority risk factors that have been identified based on community consultations and multiple sources of data including data from Statistics Canada as well as local sector-specific information.
• Evidence-based programs and strategies to address those priority risk factors.
• Measurable outcomes with associated performance measures to ensure that the strategies are effective, and the outcomes are being achieved.

A CSWB plan identifies risks and proactively develops evidence-based strategies and programs to address local priorities related to crime and complex social issues. These strategies can then be implemented.

The vision is to work together to support and promote sustainable communities where everyone feels safe, has a sense of belonging, access to services, and where individuals and families can meet their education, health care, food, housing, income, social and cultural needs.

Developing a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is about working together to ensure the right services get to the right people at the right time. It involves an integrated approach to service delivery by working with a wide range of agencies and organizations, and to build on the many successful efforts that contribute to a strong sense of safety and well-being in our community.

A Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is about preventive action and identifies areas to promote and maintain community safety and well-being through social development, and proactively reduces risk through prevention programs and activities.

The Nation Municipality’s Council is proud to have adopted The Nation Community and Well-Being Plan during their regular meeting held June 14th, 2021.

Planning and Response

The Nation Municipality Emergency Management Plan outlines the municipality’s emergency plan. The Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act requires each municipality in Ontario to develop, implement and maintain an emergency management program. This Emergency Management Plan is formulated to assign responsibilities and to guide the actions of key officials after the onset of an emergency.

Emergency Preparedness

Please visit the Government of Canada’s website to obtain information that will help you and your family be prepared in case of an emergency.

During the Monday February 28, 2022 meeting, Mr. Ted Darby of TDC Group presented the Fire Department Master Plan to the members of the Nation Council.  We invite you to read the plan.