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Community ReportCommunity ReportCommunity Report
Photo Credit: In View Images
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Maple Ridge Fire Department
Mission Statement
“Protecting Life, Property and the
Environment”
Motto
“Everyone Goes Home!”
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Comments from Mayor Read, CAO Ted Swabey and GM:
Corporate & Financial Services, Paul Gill ....................... 4
Message from the Fire Chief........................................... 5
Organizational Chart & Fire Department Overview ........ 6
A Day at the Fire Department ......................................... 7
Fire Prevention ................................................................ 8
Training and Safety ......................................................... 10
Public Education & Community Relations ...................... 12
Administration ................................................................. 14
Operations ....................................................................... 15
Hall No. 4 Update ............................................................ 20
Changes & Goodbyes ...................................................... 21
2016 Fire Budget ............................................................ 22
Closing Remarks ............................................................. 23
Table of Contents
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Message from Maple Ridge Mayor, Nicole Read
On behalf of council, I would like to
thank Chief Howard Exner and all of
the firefighters who serve our
community each day. Our department
does incredible work every day
responding to emergency calls,
conducting important life safety inspections in multi-unit
dwellings and interacting with the community to share
important education on fire safety.
In 2016, the Maple Ridge Fire Department became the
third Fire Service to deploy Narcan kits as part of the
department’s advanced First Aid equipment. This move
reflects the Department’s commitment to evolve to
meet the needs of citizens.
I, and the community, was deeply moved by the
Department’s actions when you lost your brother
firefighter Lt. Dennis te Boekhorst. His passing, and the
subsequent memorial service, reflected the close bond
of everyone serving the Maple Ridge Fire Department.
The outpouring of compassion from the community
reflects our respect for this team and their work.
I hope that citizens will read this information carefully
so they can fully appreciate the role the Maple Ridge
Fire Department in the safety of our citizens.
Message from our GM: Corporate &
Financial Services, Paul Gill
I’ve been working with our Fire Department
for many years and have seen it evolve from
a Volunteer Department to the Composite
Department that it is today. Through that change, the thing
that has impressed me the most is the Fire Department’s
commitment to serving the community. This is seen through
all of the activities, including emergency response, public
education, prevention inspections and fundraising. Service to
the community is at the core.
We have a Fire Department that is the envy of other
communities. Proud of our past and are ready and able to
serve the citizens of today and tomorrow.
This annual report highlights some of the major achievements
over the past year. By all measures, it has been a successful
year. A year that everyone should be proud of.
Message from Chief Administrative Officer,
Ted Swabey
The following information will
provide citizens with some
important data on the work of the
Maple Ridge Fire Department for
2016. Maple Ridge has a unique
approach to the delivery of Fire
Protection Services with the use of a combination
of Career firefighters and Paid on Call members.
This approach provides great value for citizens
and ensures that the department can scale up a
response for any large incident.
As this is a look back at 2016, I would be remiss
if I didn’t acknowledge the retirement of Chief
Dane Spence at the end of June 2016. Dane
joined the department 30 years ago as a
volunteer firefighter and over time received
promotions culminating in his appointment as
Chief. In that role he, and a strong leadership
team, developed the Master Plan that allows
Maple Ridge to transition from a volunteer
Department to the composite model used today.
On July 1, 2016, a member of the leadership
team that helped create and implement the Fire
Master Plan, Howard Exner, assumed the role as
Chief. The transition has been seamless and
Chief Exner has developed a management team
that is focused on delivering Fire Protection
Services with great efficiency and effectiveness.
This report reflects the excellent work the
Department delivered in 2016.
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Message from the Fire Chief
My name is Howard Exner and one of my duties is to report out to the community on the work we do
via this Community Report.
I must preface this report by saying that the Fire Department has been well positioned and quite
resilient, strong and prepared to fulfill our mission by the hard work of many.
2016 was a year of challenge for us, with changes to some key positions and the unexpected loss of a
member. Fire Chief Dane Spence retired after 30 years of exemplary service to the City of Maple
Ridge. We also lost Lieutenant Dennis te Boekhorst way too soon due to a medical issue that was
determined to be a Line of Duty Death. Both events were indeed a huge loss for the department and
the City.
It was a busy year, we attended more calls for service, completed more training, inspections and
public education events than ever before in this growing City. This is simply what our employees do to
exacting standards and as a further mark of their excellence are the countless hours they volunteer
for public relations and charity events.
For all that the members of the Fire Department do, I am extremely proud of the work they complete
on your behalf every day.
Finally, I would like to thank all of those who prepared this report for you, the citizens of Maple Ridge.
Howard R Exner
Fire Chief
Maple Ridge Fire Department
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FIRE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The Maple Ridge Fire Department is a composite Fire Department, where we utilize 53 full time Career
firefighters and 67 Paid On Call firefighters to protect our community. Our unionized full time firefighters
are members of IAFF Local 4449. We have a Fire Chief, a Deputy Chief, four Assistant Chiefs, three
Administrative staff and a Chaplain (on call).
Our composite model was introduced in 2005, as the population in Maple Ridge grew and our volunteer
based firefighter response became inadequate to meet the needs of our fast growing community.
Our full time members are stationed at Hall No. 1 and Hall No. 3 and respond to the majority of calls that
are one or two unit responses. It is important to know that they respond to all calls within Maple Ridge,
from the Golden Ears Bridge to east of Whonnock Lake and throughout Golden Ears Provincial Park. They
also provide mutual aid to our neighbouring communities of Mission, Langley and Pitt Meadows, when
required. Our full time firefighters are divided onto four watches: A Watch, B Watch, C Watch and D
Watch.
Their shift patterns has them working two 10 hour day shifts and two 14 hour night shifts. This schedule
allows the Fire Department to staff two trucks at Hall No. 1 and one truck at Hall No. 3 on a full time
basis.
Maple Ridge Paid on Call firefighters respond to multiple calls and, more specifically, to major events
(structure fires, serious motor vehicle accidents) where their attendance makes an immediate difference
in our response times and staffing requirements.
Organizational Chart
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A day at the Fire
Department…
Fire Prevention
Training and Safety
Public Education &
Community Relations
Administration
Operations
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By Assistant Chief Mark Smitton
The Maple Ridge Fire Department continued to pursue a very aggressive policy of inspections during 2016.
Outlined in the Fire Service Act of BC, is the requirement for regular inspections of businesses, public buildings,
schools, hotels, multi-family dwellings and manufacturing premises. These inspections are carried out by the fire
crew on-duty and the Assistant Chiefs in the Fire Prevention Office. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure
that the aforementioned occupancies meet the British Columbia Fire Code with respect to Fire and Life Safety.
Inspections are generally conducted on an annual basis; however, certain occupancy types are inspected more
frequently due to their high potential for loss.
Inspecting public buildings provides many advantages:
Ensuring that building safety equipment is maintained appropriately
Providing for a safer environment for occupants in case of fire
Allowing firefighter familiarity of the occupancy/building so that in emergencies there is an understanding of
occupancies and known risks associated within the community
Educating property/business owners to reduce the chances of a negative outcome in an emergency
These inspections require the crews to physically visit the premises and inspect any and all equipment related to
fire safety: fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, elevators, sprinkler systems, fire alarm panels, fire stops and
separations, exits, means of egress, etc. During these inspections, inspectors identify any deficiencies and outline
the expected remedy. Inspectors conduct follow–up inspections as needed to ensure that the deficiencies are
addressed. Inspections within the
City of Maple Ridge take various
forms. Regular Fire and Life Safety
Inspections are performed on an
annual and semi-annual basis,
scheduled throughout the year.
In 2016, the Fire Department carried
out 1907 regular inspections at
businesses, schools, hotels,
apartments and industry.
Fire Prevention
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In addition, all new businesses within the City must have fire inspections done in order to obtain their business
licence. A member of the Fire Prevention Office conducts these inspections and notifies the Licences, Permits
and Bylaws Department when the applicant has met all fire and life safety requirements. Multiple inspections
for an applicant are often required as business owners ask for visits at various stages of occupancy. This
process allows for any upgrades in occupancy safety, as well as educating business owners of safety
requirements that are expected to keep their premises safe throughout the year. In 2016, the Fire Department
carried out 99 inspections for Business Licences.
Another category of inspections performed by the
Fire Department deals with complaints, occupancy,
life safety inspections and oil tank removal permits.
In 2016, the department did 61 inspections in this
category.
In conjunction with the Licences, Permits and
Bylaws Department, the Fire Department also
manages vacant/abandoned buildings in the
community. Identifying and ensuring these types
of buildings are kept secure keeps the public and
emergency responders safe. This year, the Fire
Department worked with Licences, Permits and
Bylaws to inspect 84 vacant buildings within the
City.
In addition to conducting inspections, the Fire Prevention office works with the Building and Planning
Departments in reviewing submitted plans for development permits, rezoning, subdivision and building permits.
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By Assistant Chief Bryan Vinje
The Training Division was busy in 2016, balancing the requirements of Career, Paid on Call and Recruit Training.
How many training hours did our firefighters receive in 2016?
Paid on Call = 6,502 hours
Career = 6,731 hours
Medical = 1,851 hours
Driver = 716 hours
Recruit = 3,582 hours
Other = 1,695 hours
This was a total of 21,077 hours, which were conducted in 919
training sessions by 4,483 Instructor hours.
To ensure acceptable levels of staffing at all fire halls, the Fire Department hired and successfully trained 12
Paid on Call (POC) firefighters in 2016. These recruit firefighters completed the requirements for the Basic
Firefighter Program, as well as training for First Responder, Electrical
Safety, Emergency Scene Traffic Control and Auto Extrication. All
have completed the requirements of the probationary period and
have been promoted to the rank of Firefighter.
POC training involves two practices per week, Monday evenings and
Friday mornings, where a variety of topics are covered to ensure that
POC firefighters’ skill sets are developed and maintained. 129
training sessions were completed in 2016. POC firefighters
participated in three live fire training sessions at the Justice Institute
of BC Training Centre Burn Building. Live Fire Training provides an
opportunity for firefighters to hone their firefighting skills in a similar
environment to the structure fire incidents that they respond to. These training opportunities ensure POC
firefighters are ready to respond to incidents throughout the City of Maple Ridge.
Daily training for Career firefighters ensures that their diverse skills are continually developed and maintained for
emergency responses. A total of 353 training sessions were completed in 2016.
Training and Safety
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Some highlights of the past year’s Career Firefighter Training included:
Recertification of 52 Career firefighters in Swift Water Rescue to ensure staff are operationally ready for
incidents that involve rescue from the variety of waterways in our community.
In partnership with the Horse Council of BC, we acquired a horse rescue
mannequin to further develop firefighter abilities to rescue large animals.
Completion of Live Fire Training to ensure safe, effective and efficient
operations in these hostile environments. Four members successfully
completed the first Fire Officer II program.
The Fire Department worked with BC Emergency
Health Services (BCEHS) to change our medical
protocols regarding overdose calls. The Training
Division, in conjunction with BCEHS Instructors,
trained 13 firefighters as Naloxone Instructors to deliver Naloxone Training to 53 Career
members. These members are now able to deliver the opioid antidote when responding
to overdose incidents.
Due to changes from our First Responder Service Provider, MRFD migrated to the
Red Cross Emergency Medical Care – First Responder Program. This involved
training 16 Red Cross Emergency Care instructors and delivering full recertification
programs to 60 members. Training was also provided to the remaining 53 members
to ensure continuity in the service provided.
An increase in the frequency of multiple incidents prompted the use of a dedicated
Tactical Operations Channel for communications. Training Division developed and deployed a training program
for staff to become proficient in these new operations.
Lastly, with the promotion of a new Training Captain, the Training Division will be able to continue to support the
operational needs of the organization.
Photo Credit: Red Cross Canada
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By Assistant Chief Timo Juurakko
Public Education, Public Relations and charity events all aim to make connections with the community we serve.
In 2016, we made 128 such connections (this averages to two and a half
every week of the year!)
Public Education strives to teach those we connect with to make positive
changes in their behaviour to reduce injuries and incidents of fire. More
than half our 96 education events were with young children who are
identified as a vulnerable population group. Preschools, in particular,
book regular visits with us each year; most operators know me and our
instructors by name. Our staff is overjoyed when they see children in the
community tugging on a parent’s arm, pointing and saying “there’s
firefighter Ben” or approaching them directly with “I remember you – you came to my school…” These are true
connections.
Public Relations events, such as Hot Summer Nights,
are opportunities for the community to connect with us
in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Normally the
public sees the fire department operating at
emergency scenes where the members and apparatus
are not approachable. Being welcomed to chat and
ask questions of our firefighters, both Paid on Call and
Career, is an exciting opportunity for both young and
old. The chance for everyone to climb onboard a fire
truck is often a highlight.
Our intent is to educate the community at events with
unique and fun handouts that have fire safety messaging. Fire Prevention Week in October is the prime time to
connect with the community. We hold a great Open House at Fire Hall No. 1 with ever increasing attendance.
With community partners, we work together to make further connections. The two local Panago Pizza stores
provide up to 14 free orders each throughout Fire Prevention Week, if customers can demonstrate to attending
firefighters that they have working smoke alarms and a family escape plan.
Boileau Electric helps display our message banner across Lougheed
Highway each year for commuters to view. A&W and the Justice Institute of
BC help our “Fire Chief for a Day” winners enjoy their special day.
Public Education &
Community Events
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I am very proud of our Youth Academy program. In partnership with
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District No. 42, we connect with
Grade 11 and 12 students for a work experience program unlike any
other. Successful applicants in turn connect with our staff, the
community and their peers throughout the demanding time spent with
us. Exposure to the ways that we support the community through
charity and community events has left an impression with numerous
participants; they have gone on to join and work with community
support groups and charities. Many students go on to pursue careers
in firefighting or emergency services. I continue to field inquiries from
parents and students in various communities and other provinces who wish to be part of our program. It is
always a joy to run into graduates who are well into their careers and have them comment and remember their
time with us; successful connections.
Charity events see the Fire Department interact with the community in various fundraising opportunities. This is
evident as residents donate so generously at the Firefighters for Families Food Drive and Ridge Meadows
Hospital Gala Auction; I believe that the connection is so strong because all funds stay within the community.
Our annual carwash supports the Burn Unit, which serves our
community through Children’s Hospital and Vancouver General
Hospital should the need arise. Donors line up well before the
carwash is set to open; some decline the wash and simply leave a
donation. Children and seniors alike have walked to the event
with buckets of coins in tow to be part of our event. Panago gives
out free slices of pizza to donors. Last year, a child-seat inspection
was offered free of charge by Cooperators Insurance, fostering
true community connections.
The circle is completed by your firefighters themselves. Ninety-five
percent of them live in the community where they work, play, raise
their families and volunteer their time. They contribute to the community because they truly care about those
that they serve and the place that they call home. They feel connected.
2016 Charity Events
Various charities in Maple Ridge received donations from the Maple Ridge Fire Department in 2016. A total of
$28,508 was raised in our community and was donated to the following charities:
Charity Organization Money Raised
Muscular Dystrophy $9,033
Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation $7,500
Christmas Hamper $5,000
Friends in Need Foodbank $5,000
Burn Unit $1,975
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The administrative staff at the Fire Department operate out of Fire Hall No. 1. We work collectively with
other City of Maple Ridge departments, Fire Department staff, and you, the residents of Maple Ridge.
Whether you need to book an inspection for your business, inquire about upcoming Public Education
events or apply for a seasonal burning permit, when you call the Fire Department, we will answer your
questions or direct you to the appropriate person to handle your request.
We also provide administrative support by completing the following duties for the Fire Department:
Compiling department Payroll
Processing our Accounts Payable
Invoicing our Accounts Receivable
Issuing Fire Department related permits
Updating social media & website with relative Fire Department information
Organizing special events for the Fire Department
St. Patricks Day 2016St. Patricks Day 2016 ——Fire Department Chiefs and AdministrationFire Department Chiefs and Administration
Administration
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By Chief Howard Exner
The Fire Department believes in Safe, Effective and Efficient fire operations. Our Mission Statement and Motto
are a testament to these beliefs.
Safe - we ensure that firefighters and other people at an emergency scene are kept out of harm’s way. This is our
highest priority because if we are down, we can’t help you.
Effective - we mitigate potential dangers right away so that the scene can be controlled.
Efficient - we can quickly identify the potential threats to life, property and the environment in a safe manner.
The composite model of utilizing Full Time and Paid on Call firefighters enables us to guarantee a response in a
timely manner to most calls. As indicated in the 2003 Fire Department Master Plan, several standards of coverage
were specified for each of the three response areas.
For more information on the Fire Master Plan, please review it at www.mapleridge.ca/423/Master-Plan
SUPERIOR TANKER SHUTTLE SERVICE
In 2015, the Maple Ridge Fire Department was awarded “Superior Tanker Shuttle Service” by the Fire
Underwriters Survey (FUS). This service provides parts of Whonnock and Ruskin with more efficient water service
in a fire situation, as these areas do not have fire hydrants. Again in 2016, we worked with FUS to complete a
comprehensive study of fire improvements that the City has put into place over the last several years. This study
proved to be very favourable with regard to our fire insurance classification and grading. This improvement should
be reflected in the fire insurance premium of commercial insurance policies.
MUTUAL AID FACTS
Along with the “Composite Staffing” model used by the Fire Department, we also enjoy the benefit of Mutual Aid
Agreements with neighbouring fire departments. This allows us to utilize resources and augment our service to the
community. Furthermore, we have Automatic Aid Agreements with Mission Fire Rescue for structure fires in the
Whonnock and Ruskin area, and with Pitt Meadows and Township of Langley Fire Departments for responses to
incidents on the Golden Ears Bridge.
Operations
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In 2016, the Fire Department attended 4,502 calls for service. This was a 3.73% increase over 2015.
To break this down further, there were 388 “fire” response dispatches, of which 123 of those calls were structure
fires.
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CALLS FOR SERVICE—2012 TO 2016
These next two graphs indicate what the trends have been for calls for service over the past few
years in relation to 2016. As seen, there is a general trend upward over the years, which is typical for
a growing City. The largest changes come in our medical response area. This is tied to the use of
Fentanyl and the dire effects it has had on our citizenry.
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HOW FENTANYL AFFECTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
In the spring of 2015, the drug Fentanyl came to the streets of Maple Ridge and changed our response to
overdoses in a most profound manner. Prior to 2015, our annual response to overdoses was averaging 65 calls
per year. In 2016, our response to overdoses increased over 400% to 297 (of the 2,387 medical calls for service).
The Fire Department responds primarily to the higher acuity calls, we refer to them as “D” and “E” calls, which
make up 94.1% of all medical calls we attended in 2016. These calls are significant because people are suffering
life threatening medical events. Indeed, by having the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) or having the
training to administer Naloxone, we have been able to revive several patients from an uncertain fate.
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The Maple Ridge Fire Department has 3 Fire Halls to serve our residents:
Fire Hall No. 1 is located at 22708 Brown Avenue. This building is LEED Gold certified.
The following apparatus respond from this hall:
One Engine
One Tender/Engine
One Heavy Rescue
One Tower Truck
One Operational Support Unit
Three Utility Units
Two Wildland Operation Trailers
Six Chief Vehicles
Fire Hall No. 2 is located at 27501 112 Avenue
The following apparatus respond from this hall:
One Engine
One Tender
One Light Rescue
Fire Hall No. 3 is located at 11777 203 Street
The following apparatus respond from this hall:
Three Engines
Pink Shirt Day Feb 2016— (L-R) Retired
Chief Spence, Superintendent Fleugel
and PM Asst. Fire Chief Perrie
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By Deputy Chief Michael Van Dop
Building Fire Hall No. 4 has been on the horizon for many years. Originally planned for construction in the early
2000s (before the considerable expansion of the Albion area took place), the project was put on hold. Over the last
several years, the population in the Albion area has densified and with it, the call volume has increased
accordingly. In 2016, this translated to about 14% of the total number of calls (including 22% of structure fire
calls). Now exceeding 600 calls per year for service, we are actively moving forward with the Hall No. 4 project.
The new fire hall will provide the necessary infrastructure to support the composite Fire Department model. A
successful composite model relies on community minded individuals willing to respond to fire halls as trained
firefighters, to augment our full time Fire Department members. In order to do this, the fire halls need to be
strategically located within proximity of the workforce, i.e. their residence. The time it takes Paid on Call firefighters
to respond to their respective fire halls directly affects the timeliness of the response, which in turn affects the
outcome of the fire incident. Stated simply, the further away a Paid on Call firefighter resides from their assigned
fire hall, the longer it takes for fire trucks to respond, resulting in potential increased losses.
A large number of Paid on Call and Career firefighters who respond after hours live in the Fire Hall No. 4 response
area. These firefighters are currently assigned to either Fire Hall No. 1 or No. 2. This means that Firefighters
responding to alarms from their homes need to travel significant distances. The construction of the new fire hall
will address this concern. It is also reasonable to conclude that the potential for attracting new Paid on Call staff
will improve. The construction of Fire Hall No. 4 will also support Fire Hall No. 2, providing the Whonnock area
residents with a higher level of Paid on Call response.
Hall No. 4 Update
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Howard Exner—promoted to Fire Chief Michael Van Dop—promoted to Deputy Chief
Retirements
Fire Chief Dane
Spence retired from
the fire department
after 30 years of
exemplary service to
the City and citizens of
Maple Ridge. Dane
saw the Fire
Department evolve
from the volunteer
based organization he
joined to the
composite model that
he helped to establish.
In Memoriam
Lt. Dennis te Boekhorst
was taken from us far
too soon, leaving his
wife and two children,
his parents and his Fire
Department “family”
behind. Dennis proudly
and rightly served the
City of Maple Ridge from
1999 until his passing
in October 2016.
Changes
Goodbyes
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Budget Outlook for 2016 to 2020
We understand that the Fire Department is large cost centre for the City of Maple Ridge. We are very
cognizant of the expenses we incur for the City and take every opportunity to optimize our expenditures.
With this in mind, I would like to briefly comment on a few of the 2016 variances noted above. The
largest increase in 2016 was in our salaries budget. This year over year increase is tied to our
contractual obligations under Collective Agreements with the IAFF 4449 and CUPE 622 Unions. The
increase in Operating Repairs relates to the ongoing costs of keeping our fire trucks maintained and
ready to respond to calls. The other smaller increases reported above relate to cost of inflation and
consumer commodity increases.
2016 Fire Budget
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In closing, on behalf of the Maple Ridge Fire Department, I would like to thank you
for taking the time to read the 2016 Maple Ridge Fire Department Community
Report.
While we faced some challenges in the last year, I am very proud of the many
accomplishments we achieved throughout the year. We look forward to the future,
and continuing to build a resilient fire service that Maple Ridge can depend on.
I would also like to acknowledge the support that we have received from Mayor
and Council, City Staff and especially you, the public, over the last year.
I invite you to contact me (hexner@mapleridge.ca) if you have any questions or
comments regarding the contents of this report.
—Chief Howard Exner
Closing Remarks
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