Windsor's fire chief admits the city's fire fatality and injury rate used to be "awful", but Bruce Montone is encouraged by the results in this year's Ontario Municipal Benchmark Initiative Report.
The report says Windsor's rate of fire-related fatalities is the highest among 16 cities that subscribe to the service. There were 0.95 fatalities per 100,000 residents in each of the past three years.
"What is very encouraging is that our data sees that our current results have sort of plateaued."
When it comes to fire-related injuries, the city had 7.14 for every 100,000 residents last year, again the highest measured.
Montone isn't daunted. He believes there is progress and credits public education, especially in the value of smoke alarms in the home.
"We've seen a decrease from 46 to 29. That tells me that people are getting the message like, get out and stay out. Don't re-enter the home."
When it comes to response times, he says the two new fire halls and fire redeployment should help, but cautions the real results won't be known for 18 months to two years. Only one fire hall is open.
Montone considers the report important, saying it indicates whether fire prevention programs are working.
