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Questions and Answers
What is essential for Incident Commanders to make on-scene decisions?
What is the purpose of silencing the alarm system via radio?
What is included in the secondary assessment?
What should be included in the Alternative Measures for Occupant Safety in the approved Fire Safety Plan?
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Who can assist Incident Commanders in gaining access to suites?
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Who should notify Communications over the radio when a fire alarm has been silenced?
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What is the purpose of investigating an alarm activation?
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What should Incident Commanders consider when investigating an alarm activation?
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What should be completed and issued to the on-site owner/representative after a fire alarm incident?
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What should Incident Commanders engage with when investigating an alarm activation?
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What should the Fire Prevention Notes box be used for in the Fire RMS Incident Report?
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What should be used to gather relevant information at the scene of a fire alarm incident?
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What should Incident Commanders listen for during a secondary assessment?
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What should be completed based on the notes retrieved from the Company Officer's memo book?
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What should be done to ensure that the fire alarm system can be reset after an alarm activation incident?
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Who is responsible for ensuring that the fire alarm system is in operating condition after an alarm activation incident?
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What should be done if the fire alarm cannot be reset with the Owner/Representative present?
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What should the Incident Commander ensure during an alarm activation incident?
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What should be done if deficiencies are identified during an alarm activation incident?
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What should be done after the fire alarm system has been reset?
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What should be done if the fire alarm system cannot be reset and the Owner/Representative is not present?
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What should be done during an investigation of an alarm activation incident?
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What should be done if there are any deficiencies identified during an alarm activation incident?
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Who is responsible for ensuring that the fire alarm system is reset after an alarm activation incident?
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Study Notes
Investigating Alarm Activations
- All alarm activations must be thoroughly investigated to determine the cause
- The Incident Commander will request to silence the alarm system via radio after a thorough investigation, and the area will be re-investigated to probe further
Secondary Assessment
- The Incident Commander should refer to the building's fire safety plan for specific references to building schematics and emergency systems
- Where feasible, go door-to-door on the affected floor and speak with residents to investigate further
- Consider monitoring the floor above and below where the alarm was activated for signs of smoke/fire
- Listen for other audible signaling devices such as stand-alone smoke alarms inside individual residential suites
Fire Alarm System
- The owner is responsible for resetting the fire alarm system
- The Incident Commander shall ensure adequate investigation of the alarm condition in all circumstances
- The owner/representative is responsible for implementing "Alternative Measures for Occupant Safety" in accordance with the building Fire Safety Plan and the Fire Code, including a fire watch
Fire Alarm Condition Categories
- The fire alarm can be reset with the Owner/Representative present
- The fire alarm cannot be reset with the Owner/Representative present
- The fire alarm needs to be reset and the Owner/Representative is not present
After adequate investigation of the alarm condition the Incident Commander
shall ensure actions in accordance with the following:
a) The fire alarm can be reset with the Owner/Representative present:
i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.
ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.
iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.
iv. Indicate it is the Owner/Representative’s responsibility to ensure proper
reset of system and instruct the Owner/Representative that it is clear to
attempt a reset.
v. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken and enter in
the Company Officer’s memo book.
vi. If there are any deficiencies (e.g. no fire safety plan or inadequate
training) then complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form for the
deficiency. Leave it with the Owner/Representative and send a copy via
Internal Mail System to the Fire Prevention Division.
vii. If deficiencies have been identified, check the Fire Prevention Notes
box of the Fire RMS Incident Report (to initiate the Fire Prevention
referral) and provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire
Prevention based on notes retrieved from the Company Officer memo book.
b) The fire alarm cannot be reset with the Owner/Representative
present:
i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.
ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.
iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.
iv. Indicate it is the Owner/Representative’s responsibility to ensure proper
reset of system and instruct the Owner/Representative that it is clear to
attempt a reset.
v. Advise the Owner/Representative:
It is the owner/representative's responsibility to ensure the fire
alarm is in operating condition
TFS cannot put the system out of service
The owner/representative is responsible to contact a service
company immediately to conduct repairs
To notify TFS Communications Centre at (416) 338-9000 that the
system is out of service.
To notify TFS Communications Centre at (416) 338-9000 when it is
back in service.
They are required to follow the procedures identified in their
approved Fire Safety Plan under “Alternative Measures for
Occupant Safety” which should include a fire watch in the affected
area.
vi. The Incident Commander shall notify Communications over the radio
that fire alarm has been silenced, is unable to be reset and a competent
person has implemented their Fire Safety Plan's Alternative Measures.
vii. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken by TFS crews
and building Owner/Representative and enter the details in Company
Officer’s memo book.
viii. Complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form to the on-site
owner/representative and send a copy via Internal Mail System to the
Fire Prevention Division.
ix. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to
indicate any deficiencies and to initiate the Fire Prevention referral.
Provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire Prevention based on
the notes retrieved from the Company Officer’s memo book.
c) The fire alarm needs to be reset and the Owner/Representative is not
present:
i. Investigate the cause of the alarm.
ii. Once investigation completed, silence the system.
iii. Conduct investigation for further independent alarm activation.
iv. Attempt to contact the Owner/Representative.
v. Toronto Fire Services will not reset a fire alarm when the
owner/representative is not present.
vi. The Incident Commander will leave an apparatus on scene until a
responsible person attends to reset.
vii. If it has been determined that an owner/representative will not be
attending - TFS will stay on scene of an occupied building and perform
a fire watch and notify Fire Prevention and the on-call Senior Officer.
viii. Fire Prevention will assume responsibility of that building as soon as
possible.
ix. The Incident Commander will gather relevant information at the scene
on actions taken and enter in their memo book.
x. Assess the fire risk as outlined in #7 of this SOG to determine if the
criteria for an Immediate Threat to Life has been met.
If the Immediate Threat to Life Criteria has not been met
On an occupied building, the operations crews will remain
on site conducting the fire watch until Fire Prevention
officers or an owner or their representative attends the site
and takes responsibility for fire watch.
mmediate Threat to Life Criteria has been met
Operations will remain on site for fire watch purposes
Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken
and enter in the Company Officer’s memo book.
Contact Fire Prevention Division to attend immediately
After hours, TFS Communications Centre are to be notified
that an extreme high risk situation has been identified. The
on call Senior Officer will need to be notified. This will
include contacting the Deputy Chief of CRR and request a
Fire Investigator to attend for issuance of the Immediate
Threat to Life. (Refer to Standard Operating Guideline GSENI: Senior Officer On Call).
xi. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to
indicate any deficiencies and to initiate the Fire Prevention referral.
Provide details by completing a Narrative for Fire Prevention based on
the notes retrieved from the Company Officer’s memo book; including, if
applicable, the information that an Immediate Threat to Life Notice was
issued and the number of hours that TFS conducted the fire watch.
2.4. If the Owner/Representative is not present and a key cannot be found in Key
Safe Boxes and/or Fire Safety Plan Boxes:
i. It is allowable for TFS personnel to use minimal force to gain access to
locked alarm panels to silence alarm system when an
Owner/Representative is not present. E.g. Removing padlock device,
etc.
ii. Gather relevant information at the scene on actions taken and enter the
details in Company Officer’s memo book.
iii. Complete and issue a TFS Immediate Action form for the deficiency.
Leave in a conspicuous location (e.g. alarm panel, annunciator panel,
CACF, door to room containing the control panel, etc.) in the building
and send a copy via Internal Mail System to the Fire Prevention
Division.
iv. Check the Fire Prevention Notes box of the Fire RMS Incident Report to
initiate the Fire Prevention referral. Provide details by completing a
Narrative for Fire Prevention based on the notes retrieved from the
Company Officer’s memo book; including a copy of the Immediate
Threat to Life Notice and the number of hours that TFS conducted the
fire watch.
2.5. Operations personnel shall check the Fire Prevention Notes box in the RMS
report and complete a Fire Prevention Narrative report based on their Company
Officer notes from their note books. This and a copy of the Immediate Action
form are the only means Fire Prevention has of being notified of a faulty alarm
system.
For any incident at which the fire alarm system is left in alarm activation
mode, the TFS Communication Centre shall be advised of such by the
Incident Commander via radio prior to clearing the incident.
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Description
Guidelines for incident commanders to make informed decisions on-scene, including investigating alarm activations to determine cause.
