DAOD 4007-2, Emergency Fire Operations in Respect of DND and CF Infrastructure

Identification

Date of Issue: 1998-05-29

Date of Modification: 2009-07-24

Application: This DAOD is a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (“DND employees”) and an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces (“CF members”).

Approval Authority: Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) (ADM(IE))

Enquiries: Canadian Forces Fire Marshal (CFFM)

Definitions

Emergency Fire Operations (mesures d’urgence de lutte contre les incendies)
Emergency fire operations mean rescue, fire suppression, emergency medical care and other operations performed at the scene of a fire in respect of DND or CF infrastructure.
Infrastructure (infrastructure)
Infrastructure means fixed and permanent installations, fabrications and facilities, including plants, buildings, works, real property, immoveables, and natural and cultural environments.
Life Safety (sécurité des personnes)
Life safety means the protection of persons exposed to specific hazards from fire or the design or maintenance of buildings or other structures.

Overview

Purpose

The purpose of this DAOD is to set minimum standards for emergency fire operations based on, in order of priority:

This DAOD also ensures that fire risk assessments are conducted regularly at each base, unit and station.

Local Plans

In consultation with local fire chiefs, base and wing commanders shall develop local plans to provide first responders with additional resources and personnel during emergency fire operations which may have a potential large-scale loss of life or property.

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Operating Principles

Minimum Required Firefighting Apparatus and Personnel

For the conduct of emergency fire operations, base and wing commanders shall ensure that there is at least one firefighting apparatus designed to combat infrastructure fires for their base or wing, and that the following number and type of qualified firefighters are available:

Position Minimum Number Minimum Rank or Qualification
Supervisor 1
  • a CF member of the firefighter military occupation of the rank of sergeant or above;
  • a DND employee who has successfully completed the qualification level (QL) 6A course for firefighters; or
  • a DND employee who has been certified by an institution, acceptable to the CFFM, to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Fire Officer Level I.
Journey person 2
  • a DND employee or CF member who has successfully completed the QL5A course for firefighters; or
  • a DND employee who has been certified by an institution, acceptable to the CFFM, to the:
    • NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level II; and
    • NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver or Operator.
Apprentice 2
  • a DND employee or CF member who has successfully completed the QL3 course for firefighters; or
  • a DND employee who has been certified by an institution, acceptable to the CFFM, to NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 1.

Commencement of Emergency Fire Operations

Base and wing commanders shall ensure, if practical, that their fire services can successfully commence emergency fire operations at the scene of any fire at their base or wing, except in conditions of foul weather, hazardous road conditions, training or other extreme circumstances, within 10 minutes of the fire call.

If a base or wing commander determines that emergency fire operations cannot be successfully commenced within 10 minutes of a fire call, the base or wing commander shall notify the CFFM. The CFFM shall carry out a special risk assessment to identify options to mitigate the risk of death, injury, loss or damage by fire at that base or wing.

If DND or CF infrastructure is considered to be a high life safety risk, the installation of automatic fire suppression systems is recommended to decrease the potential loss of life and property.

Fire Risk Assessment

Base and wing commanders shall ensure that periodic fire risk assessments are conducted which study all relevant features of DND and CF infrastructure to determine potential fire severity for emergency fire operations. Following a fire risk assessment, a base or wing commander may, in order to meet the emergency fire operations requirements, investigate alternate delivery solutions.

Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:

The … is or are responsible for …

commanders of commands
  • ensuring that base and wing commanders comply with this DAOD; and
  • allocating adequate resources to meet the requirements under this DAOD for emergency fire operations.

base and wing commanders

  • maintaining adequate resources to meet the requirements under this DAOD for emergency fire operations.

CFFM
  • providing national level specialist support, risk assessments and advice on fire response matters.

fire chiefs
  • ensuring DND and CF firefighters have the minimum required qualifications under this DAOD; and
  • servicing resources that are required for emergency fire operations.

References

Source References

Related References