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Fire Protection - Frequently Asked Questions

I - General Questions

  1. Where can I get copies of the Fire Losses in Canada Annual Report?

    You can have access to these reports at the web site of the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners.

  2. Where can I get fire loss statistics for Canada?

    You can get fire loss statistics for Canada by calling the Fire Protection Services at 819-953-0970.

    To obtain information on a specific fire incident which is not under the federal government's jurisdiction, you must make a request to the appropriate Fire Marshal and Fire Commissioner. You can find a list at the web site of the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners.

  3. Where can I purchase NFPA standards?

    NFPA standards can be purchased from Fire Prevention Canada by calling 1-877-906-6651 or going to the Fire Prevention Canada website.

  4. Where can I purchase pamphlets on fire prevention?

    Fire Prevention Canada has a selection of pamphlets on fire prevention andcan be reached at 1-877-906-6651 or by going to the Fire Prevention Canada website.

  5. How do I obtain copies of the 2005 National Building Code and the 2005 National Fire Code?

    These Codes can be purchased from the National Research Council by either calling 1-800-672-7990, or by writing to Publication Sales, M-20, National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 or going to the NRC website. These publications may also be available at one of your local book stores.

  6. Where can I get information on the number of firefighters in Canada?

    You can get this information by calling or writing to each of the provincial Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners.

  7. Who takes care of Fire Department hiring?

    Hiring is the responsibility of individual fire departments. There are two basic types of firefighters - paid and volunteer.

  8. Where can I get a copy of the Fire Commissioner of Canada Standards and Treasury Board Standards?

    These standards are available from the Labour Program's Fire Protection website.

  9. Where can I get telephone numbers and addresses of the HRSDC, Fire Protection Engineering Services in the regions?

    List of regional or district offices is available on the Labour Program's website.

II - Specific questions on fire protection, investigation and reporting of fires in leased or owned federal buildings

  1. What is the objective of Chapter 2-5, Treasury Board Policy on Fire Protection, Investigation and Reporting?

    The objective of the policy is to protect the government's employees and property from fire.

  2. What are the requirements of the Policy?

    The requirements of the Policy are that federal departments must conform to:

    • the fire safety standards issued under the authority of the Treasury Board's personnel policies on occupational safety and health;
    • to the provisions for fire investigations and reporting of fires in Appendix B;
    • the 2005 National Fire Code of Canada and the 2005 National Building Code of Canada, as amended periodically;

    Also, Departments proposing to acquire or lease a building, or to design, build or alter a building, must have the plans, drawings or specifications reviewed by the Labour Program, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), to ensure conformance with fire standards and codes.

  3. Who is responsible for the provision of fire-protection services?

    The Labour Program, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, is the technical authority and is responsible for the provision of fire-protection services. HRSDC is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of Treasury Board policy, standards, codes and regulations that cover fire protection under the Canada Labour Code. HRSDC also maintains records, and prepares an annual summary report. The fire-protection services delivered by the Labour Program, HRSDC, include:

    • inspections and fire investigations and reports;
    • advice to Treasury Board on fire-protection policies;
    • assistance and advice to departments on fire risk-management matters;
    • liaison with fire, police, and judicial authorities to promote the cause of fire protection and fire investigation; and
    • reviewing plans for the design and construction of buildings to ensure their conformity with fire-protection standards.

    We also provide guidance on materials, systems, design methods and construction procedures not described in the codes and standards, advises on cases where no recognized test procedure has been established, and records and reports the demand for fire-protection services from departments.

  4. Who are responsible for the health and safety of federal employees in the workplace and for the protection of federal properties?

    Deputy heads of departments and heads of agencies with delegated legislative authority to control or administer real or personal property, including leased property, are accountable for the protection of property. Employers, as defined in Part II of the Canada Labour Code, are accountable for the health and safety of employees in the workplace. This includes complying with Treasury Board fire-protection policies and co-operating with the Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development, on matters pertaining to fire protection.

  5. Who should report a fire in a federal building?

    Pursuant to Treasury Board Chapter 2-5, Policy on Fire Protection, Investigation and Reporting all federal departments are required to report a fire by submitting a Fire Report(LAB 1019) and/or Casualty Report (LAB 1020).

  6. Who should complete these forms?

    Federal government property managers responsible for properties in Canada and overseas complete a Fire Report to record all fire incidents on government property and a Casualty Report to record all deaths or injuries sustained as a direct result of fire.

  7. Where are these forms available from?

    These forms are available from the Service Canada website.

  8. How do I complete the Fire Report (LAB 1019) and the Fire Casualty Report (LAB 1020) and once completed where would I send it?

    You should follow each step in the Fire Report form (LAB 1019). The time, date and dollar loss must be entered. Each category of information should only contain one check mark. When a death or injury is reported, a Casualty Report form (LAB 1020) has to be completed and attached as well. The purpose of the casualty report is to record all deaths or injuries sustained as a direct result of fire. When both forms are completed these forms should be sent to one of our regional or district offices.

  9. What is the procedure when reporting a major fire (over $250,000) involving injuries or deaths?

    Within 12 hours of a fire's occurrence, departments must advise Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Labour Program regional or district office, with the following information: fire death or fire injury; dollar loss; suspicious origin; if a significant interruption of essential federal services; necessitating immediate action to prevent a recurrence; or involvement of a prestige or heritage building.

  10. What is the time limit in sending a Fire Report (LAB 1019) and/or Casualty Report (LAB 1020)?

    Federal departments should send in their forms to the applicable Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Labour Program regional or district office within 14 days of a fire's occurrence; conduct a preliminary examination of the fire; submit a fire casualty report for every fire death or injury; submit reports of any formal fire investigations undertaken subsequent to the preliminary examination stage.

    Federal departments must co-operate with and assist authorized fire investigators in performing their duties; implement recommendations resulting from fire investigations and estimate fire losses as follows:

    • losses involving property that is not to be replaced shall be reported on a depreciated book-value basis;
    • losses involving property of any description valued at $1,000 or less, and property that is to be replaced, shall be reported on a straight replacement-cost basis;
    • losses involving property of any description valued at over $1,000, and property that is to be replaced, shall be reported as the actual cash (i.e. market) value of the property at the time the loss occurred. Such loss values shall not exceed what it would cost to repair or replace the property with materiel of like kind and quality;
    • loss values shall include indirect loss values, such as costs of cleaning up and salvage, replacement of records, alternative accommodation and the like, but not use and occupancy or business-interruption losses; and
    • losses involving personal property on Crown property shall be included only if the Crown makes compensation for such losses.

  11. What is the mailing address of Fire Protection Services in Headquarters?

    Our office is located at Place du Portage, Phase II, 165 Hôtel de Ville, Gatineau, Québec but our mailing address is Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0J2.

  12. I have experienced a fire in my building. Do I treat the matter as hazardous occurrence under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, or do I report it as a fire, using the standard fire report forms?

    All employers that are subject to the provisions of the Canada Labour Code, have to report a fire as a Hazardous Occurrence. Custodian departments under the federal jurisdiction, must do both.

    For further information or assistance, contact your nearest HRSDC regional or district office.

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Date Modified:
2011-12-12