An Invitation to Join the New Municipal Fire Research Partnership
Background: For over a decade, University of Waterloo (UW) researchers have conducted collaborative training and research with the fire service in the Region of Waterloo and other municipalities across Canada. A unique synergy has developed leading to direct transfer of results to the municipal fire service. One notable accomplishment was the completion (mid 2003) of a new $5.6M, state-of-the-art Live Fire Research Facility (UWLFRF) in which controlled, realistic, live-fire research can be conducted. Research at the Facility focuses on application of basic fire science principles to practical field issues such as smoke and heat movement, fire spread, fire safety performance of materials, and new methods for fire protection.

Infrastructure at UWLFRF rivals the best in the world. It consists of a large indoor fire test area (3,975 ft2, 4+ storeys high) with controlled, generated wind from 0 to 20 mph. It contains a moveable, steel burn ‘house’ that can be configured, lined with various materials and furnished for fire scenarios. In addition to the test area, the laboratory building contains state-of-the-art fire test equipment. Experiments are monitored continuously using video, infrared photography and velocity, temperature, pressure and concentration measurements. Please visit http://www.me.uwaterloo.ca/~firelab/. The Opportunity: We invite you to join a new “Municipal Fire Research Partnership” being established to initiate and develop on-going research programs through the UW Live Fire Research Labs in areas of direct interest to the Municipal Fire Service. We are currently preparing an application to the Ontario Government Research Excellence (ORF-RE) matching fund in which UW contributes 1/3 of the total research cost, ORF-RE contributes a maximum of 1/3, and the final 1/3 is combined contributions from municipalities and industry. We are asking you to participate in this exciting initiative by contributing to the “Partnership” and helping us to satisfy this final 1/3 funding requirement. Your contribution, combined with UW and ORF-RE funds, will provide necessary funding for graduate student researchers, technical support and operating costs of the proposed research. The Proposed Research Project: The initial research project will concentrate on the impact of fire suppression techniques, i.e. solid stream vs narrow and. wide angle fog streams, on the environment in the fire compartment and surrounding enclosures. There is currently debate in the fire service regarding the effectiveness of various suppression methodologies - with few controlled comparisons and virtually no accepted procedures for characterizing interaction between suppression and the fire environment. Quantitative comparison of the effectiveness of existing (or new) methods of structural fire attack is important. In this project, common fire attack methods will be characterized and compared in the context of structural fire applications. The suppression streams from various nozzles/nozzle settings will be quantified. In full-scale instrumented structural fire tests, fire evolution during suppression will be monitored in the fire room and adjacent compartments. There is very limited data of this type in the literature, therefore results should provide measures of suppression effectiveness with recommendations for use in realistic fire situations. Further, such data is needed for the development of future predictive models for structural fire suppression. How can you participate? You can support this project by submitting a letter of interest on your municipal letterhead (see attached format) stating that your Fire Department is committed to making a cash contribution of at least $500 per year for 2 to 5 years to initiate the Municipal Fire Research Partnership and related research programs. How will this benefit you? Your Department will gain direct access to the results from any of the research funded by the Partnership through a regular e-newsletter and specialty user workshops, with broader communication to the fire service through seminars at venues such as Fire Chiefs, Fire Prevention Officers and Fire Service Instructors Conferences. Through on-going discussion groups, you will also have direct input into defining future research programs conducted through the Partnership. The proposal will include a plan for youth outreach activities revolving around Public Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Week Activities. If you have any questions, please contact: Beth Weckman phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 3345 e-mail: ejweckman@uwaterloo.ca Mechanical Engineering UW

The ORF Research Excellence (ORF-RE) program is a four-year, $217 million fund to promote research excellence in Ontario by supporting leading-edge research, training new research talent, and encouraging partnerships between research institutions, municipalities and business in Ontario. The program funds direct costs of research. Institutions applying for funding must have a commitment from their partners to contribute one-third of the total proposed costs. Municipal funding will be accepted on a case-by-case basis where there is direct pertinence of the research to the municipal sector. See: http://www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/en/rts/rts_orf_res_excellence.jsp

OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NEW
Thanks Colin for all your hard work!!!

(Colin Darmon, Past President, receiving award from President John Skanes.)

LIFE MEMBER AWARDS

(Presented to Peter Heyerhoff)

(Presented to Kerry Eaton)

(Presented to Dick Walters)

CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN!!!

INVESTIGATION OF INDOOR DRUG OPERATIONS SEMINAR
By Randy Corsini, B.A., C.I.P., C.F.E.I., Director I.A.A.I. Ontario Chapter

On June 20, 2002 over 100 fire police and insurance personnel attended the Mississauga Convention Centre for a seminar dealing with the "growing" problem of indoor drug operations. There were a number of speakers including the Mississauga Fire Department, the Peel Regional Police Service, the Brampton Fire Department and the Ministry of Labour.

The following is a brief synopsis of the seminar.

Quite often an operation is set up inconspicuously in established neighbourhoods. Typically one would see new neighbours, furniture being moved in, window coverings being put on and yes at times even Christmas lights.

Usually the house is a detached dwelling. From the outside one would not know there was a grow operation ongoing. There would be a number of windows covered however one looking in from the outside would see a typical household set up.

Quite often these homes are purchased however not occupied by the purchaser. The purchaser or someone on his behalf would have someone "farm" the "crop" on their behalf.

In the way of set up, what typically happens is a hole is made in the foundation by the electrical panel and the wiring for the grow operation is connected directly to the main feed before the electrical panel. In order not to arouse suspicion about either an increase in electrical usage or minimal usage quite often this connection to the main feed is also spliced into the electrical panel for regular household use.

The wiring then runs to a series of transformers and then to a series of plugs to operate the various equipment required for growing plants including lights and fans.

Some operations can expect to realize hundreds of thousands of dollars within a one year period.

There are a number of consequences as a result of these grow operations, a few of them listed as follows:

1. Electrical

These operations present a shock hazard. Usually the equipment is wired live. The whole idea is minimal work to get the operation going with no regard for safety. Quite often the wiring is not ground properly.

Quite often fire fighters will enter in to the house and not knowing what they are going into have been shocked. This also increases electrical costs which is eventually passed on to the consumer.

A grow house can consume in one month what a typical household would consume in a year. It is estimated in one major community that the electrical costs are over a million dollars a year.

2. Fire

The electrical set up with these grow operations is done with minimal if any regard to safety. Quite often the wiring and equipment becomes overheated resulting in a fire.

It is estimated one out of ten grow operations results in a fire.

3. Structural & Other Damages

As a result of these operations quite often after the grow operation is discovered and/or abandoned. Major structural damage has occurred. Typically you have damage to the foundation as well as walls either being altered or removed. Usually the electrical system is beyond repair. With all the moisture in the growing of the plants there is quite often a serious mould problem. It is not unusual for a typical grow house to be rendered a total loss due to the extent of damage.

4. Increased Insurance Premiums

Either the grow houses are rented or the house is bought outright with minimal down payment and the balance mortgaged.

Quite often there is a situation where a fire or other damage occurs in a grow house unbeknownst to the landlord. In many instances the insurer is required to respond to the damages. However, some insurers are now starting to take measures by adding certain exclusions to their policies regarding hydroponics grow operations.

In the cases of those houses that are mortgaged even though the purchaser of the house and/or the occupants are responsible for the illegal grow operation, the insurer still has an obligation under the policy to pay out the mortgagee. This eventually results in increased insurance premiums for all.

In summary, hydroponic grow operations are a very serious problem and continue to proliferate the community. It is therefore important that the "Team Approach" be used by the various agencies involved in combating this serious problem.