Does the municipality enforce a burning by-law?

Yes, the R.M. of Springfield has just recently adopted a new Rural Municipality of Springfield  Fire Prevention By-Law. Part 2 Section 8.0 of the by-law deals with open-air fires that will have a significant impact to many of our residents. Residents/Business owners living within 1.6 kilometers of Birds Hill Provincial Park are now restricted in the use of an open-air fire under the Wildfire Act. Essentially the Wildfire Acts stipulates that a permit must be obtained from the Local Authority Having Jurisdiction ( Springfield Fire and Rescue Service) prior to any open-air fire being ignited from April 15 through to November 15^th of any given year. It is important for residents in these areas to understand that any fire caused by them  requiring a response from the fire or other emergency  service may be subject to a portion or entire costs associated with the fire suppression activity. From time to time, especially during very dry weather conditions, the Authority Having Jurisdiction may choose to implement a complete burning ban in the above noted area.  

Those residents living in areas that are zoned residential have also been impacted in the by-law. Any open-air fire must be contained within a fireproof container that is covered by a proper spark arrester or grate. The fire container must be kept 3 meters away from combustible materials such as fences and adequate fire fighting equipment must be readily on hand to extinguish the fire. Please refer to Schedule D of the Municipal Fire Prevention and Emergency Response By-Law.

Agricultural residents are restricted in burning under Provincial regulation however our By-Law stresses that no open fire will be left unattended at any time.

Industrial burning is regulated under the Atmospheric Pollution Regulation and is dealt with by the Provincial Public Health Inspector. Breaches of the above regulation can be referred to the Public Health Officer for Springfield at 945-5896.

It is important to educate our residents of certain facts. In particular, insurance companies will sue you in civil court to recover their loses if you start a fire that gets out of control damaging any property other than yours. Be careful and very weiry of burning. Contact your fire service for more information.  

Does the fire service charge a fee for response?

No, generally the fire and rescue service does not charge for responding to calls. Part of your property taxes pay for the operations of the fire and rescue service. However, we are able to recover some costs from Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for responding to vehicle fires and collisions providing that the incident occurred on a Provincial Highway or the person(s) involved in such an incident was not a taxpayer of the municipality.

The fire service has been successful at recovering costs for firefighting on properties who do not pay taxes to the R.M. such as railway lines.

As a deterrent to the increasing number of false fire alarms, the by-law now allows the fire service to charge a fee for service after the third false fire alarm in a seven-day period. Refer to Section 9.3 of the municipal fire prevention by-law. 

The Fire and Rescue Service has also entered into a contract with the R.M. of Reynolds to provide fire protection on their western boundry of the municipality. The Reynolds Municipality provides a retainer to our municipality for fire protection as well as covering all costs incurred by the fire service in the event of a response to that area. Negotiations are under way with the Provincial Government to recover costs associated with responding to structure fires in Birds Hill Provincial Park.
 

Does the fire and rescue service enforce the Manitoba Fire Code?

Yes, under the new Fire Prevention and Emergency Response By-Law, the fire service has adopted the Manitoba Fire Code as well as the Provincial  Fire Prevention & Emergency Response Act.

How will the adoption of the Manitoba Fire Code effect my home or business?

It is important for residents and business owners to understand that the first priority of a fire service is to prevent the fire from happening. Through education, inspection and enforcement, it is the goal of this service to minimize the risk associated with fire to our residents and their insurers. Most importantly, we have an obligation to our local firefighters to minimize the risk to them. Inherently, firefighting is a dangerous occupation that our firefighters carry out aggressivley using fire risk management principles, However, the chances are great on the fireground for a firefighter to be injured or killed while doing their job. We need to minimize that risk for them through prevention and education.
Therefore, the fire service can and will conduct inspections at our local businesses to assist the owners in education and fire prevention techniques. This is also an opportunity for the Fire Service to preplan and prepare for a fire in any business that was inspected making fire operations more effective if a fire were to occur.  By working together with business owners, we can make the community safer against fire in a cost efficient and timely manner.
The Manitoba Fire Code does not give authority to any fire service to enter a private residence to enforce the fire code. The Province of Manitoba has made significant improvements to the Fire and Building Codes reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by fire. One such example would be mandatory hard wired smoke detectors in all new residences. In saying that, the fire service would not hesitate to enter into a private residence upon invitation with the owner to make a fire inspection of their property. Contact your local fire service for more information by sending an email to rmspfire@highspeedcrow.ca or by calling 981-4042.

What type and size of fire extinguisher should I have?

The recommended extinguisher for home use is a "Dry Chemical" type, generally type 2A - 10BC. 

Where should I store my fire extinguisher?

Store your extinguisher away from the stove, near the entrance to the kitchen. Mount the extinguisher away from power tools, near the exit. Learn the operation of the extinguisher before a fire. During a fire is not the time to read the instructions!

Caution: Never put yourself or anyone else in jeopardy by trying to extinguish a fire which may be too large ... Sound an alarm to other occupants, leave the building closing all doors behind you, call the Fire Department (9-1-1). Go to you designated meeting place and wait for the Firefighters to arrive.
Never go back into a burning building! 

What kind of smoke alarm should I buy?

The Fire Department cannot recommend specific manufacturers. We do recommend that electrical smoke alarms (hard wired), be C.S.A. approved, and that any battery operated smoke alarm be U.L.C. approved. Under the Fire Code, new home construction for the past several years requires that a hard wired smoke detector be installed on every floor that are interconnected. The fire service recommends that a smoke alarm should be installed in every room of the house excluding bathrooms and kitchens, however a smoke alarm should be installed in close proximity to these rooms to supplement the hard wired detectors.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and deadly gas. Because you can't see, taste, or smell it, CO can kill you before you know it's there. Carbon Monoxide poisoning results in death or brain injury.

What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?

Symptoms resemble that of the flu. They may include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. If you feel better after being away from the house for a period of time, you could have carbon monoxide poisoning. Medical studies have determined that a high percentage of the population are particularly vulnerable to CO, including low levels over longer periods of time. The high risk groups include fetuses, children, the elderly and those with heart and lung disorders.