It was quite appropriate that just a few days before Fire Safety Month, Marc Proulx, a 20 year veteran of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service provided 25 members of the PPMA with an excellent overview of the preparation and implementation of fire plans. 

In just over 3 hours, Marc informed and educated all present in the “Five W’s” of Fire Safety plans.  He was not dry, as you would expect from the topic, but rather held the attention of the participants through the use of multimedia, personal anecdotes, and his sense of humour.  The seminar included a PowerPoint presentation, video, sample fire plans and a written guide to preparing fire plans that conform to the Manitoba Fire Code.   

Every apartment building and most other residential rental accommodations must have a written fire plan.  Did you know that in approximately 4 minutes a fire will go from just over smouldering to its flashpoint; the point where an entire room is engulfed in flames.  An average smoke alarm will not sound until 2 minutes into a fire because the volume of smoke will not be great enough until that time.  That gives occupants less than 2 minutes to safely leave their dwelling.  Closing doors will slow the progress of fire from that first room to the rest of a structure.  A properly developed and implemented fire plan will help managers to ensure that tenants are aware of such facts and will help them to train staff and tenants in how to best act if an emergency develops.  It can mean the difference between slight damage and total loss or between safe exit and loss of life. 

There are ten steps to preparing and using a proper fire plan.  The written guide and sample fire plans - provided at the seminar - allow a property manager to develop and implement a fire plan or at the very least ensure that their current fire plans are acceptable and being properly implemented.  Each building is different; there is no single fire plan that works for everyone.  Every fire plan must be reviewed at least annually. 

The evaluations of this seminar were glowing.  The challenge for all property owners and managers is to review their current fire plans and make certain that they are up to date.  Equally important is to ensure that staff and tenants are aware of what they should do in the event of a fire or other emergency that may require evacuation of the building.  Not only is this likely to reduce liability as owners and managers, but far more importantly it can save lives.    

We are compiling a list of professionals that are willing to develop or review fire plans for members of the PPMA.  Please contact Avrom Charach at 339-0461 or Tonya Moreton if you have a name to add to this list or if you would like a copy of the list.