Fire Master Plan
The Milton Fire & Rescue Services (MFRS) will utilize the 2024 Community Risk Assessment (CRA) to identify the fire safety risks within the Town to inform the development of goals and objectives for the delivery of fire protection and emergency response provided. Optimizing the methodology of the three lines of defense (Public Education, Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement, and Emergency Response) will allow MFRS to provide a comprehensive fire protection program.
Strategic priorities
The following strategic priorities are the foundational principles that will inform future resource allocations, policy development and operational enhancements:
1. Risk-Informed Service Delivery
Ensure the ongoing application of the Community Risk Assessment (CRA) to identify and evaluate fire safety risks across the municipality. This assessment will guide the development of targeted goals, objectives, and service levels aligned with community fire life safety needs and legislative responsibilities.
2. Strengthening the First Two Lines of Defense
Optimize the use of public education and fire prevention, supported by the enforcement of fire safety standards and the Fire Code. These proactive measures are essential to reducing fire risk and enhancing community resilience through a comprehensive fire protection approach.
3. Sustainable and Value-Driven Services
Prioritize strategies that enhance the long-term sustainability of fire protection and emergency services. Focus on delivering the most effective and efficient levels of service to ensure fiscal responsibility and maximize value for the community.
Goals
To support the strategic priorities MFRS has defined a series of program-specific goals to guide the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of fire protection services.
Goal #1: Administration
Enhance administrative efficiency and support systems to ensure the seamless operation and sustainability of programming initiatives, maintain key operational activities, and maintain the appropriate resources to provide support to identified programs.
Goal #2: Public Education
Develop and implement fire safety education campaigns that targets risks identified in the CRA to raise awareness about fire prevention, the importance of fire safety practices, and what to do in an emergency.
Goal #3: Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement
Implement a program for proactive fire safety inspections for residential, commercial, and public buildings to ensure compliance with fire prevention codes, identify fire hazards, and encourage timely maintenance and repairs to non-compliant issues.
Goal #4: Operations
Provide emergency response services that reflect the community’s identified risks, growth projections, and operational realities. Services will be delivered with a focus on health and safety, industry best practices, and a commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term value for the community.
Goal #5: Emergency Management
Strengthen its capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies. Through coordinated planning, training, and inter-agency collaboration, the Service will enhance community resilience, safeguard life and property, and support continuity of operations across a broad range of hazards.
Goal #6: Communications
Maintain and enhance a technologically advanced communications system that supports the operational needs of a growing community. By adopting industry-leading practices, scalable technologies, and robust dispatch protocols, the Service will ensure timely, accurate, and resilient emergency communications that enhance firefighter safety and improve overall service delivery.
Goal #7: Training
Deliver a progressive and sustainable training program aligned with the services authorized in its Establishing and Regulating By-law. The program will integrate current firefighting practices, safety standards, and emerging technologies to ensure personnel are equipped with the competencies needed to respond safely and effectively to evolving risks and service demands.
Goal #8: Facilities, Apparatus, and Equipment
Ensure that apparatus and equipment are available in the appropriate quantity, maintained in a ready and reliable state, that align with operational requirements. Through robust preventative maintenance and asset management practices, the Service will support safe, effective, and efficient emergency response across the community.