89% of Ontarians Support Adoption of National Fire Protection Association Standards for Minimum Personnel per Vehicle and Response Time
Three-quarters (72%) of Ontarians express confidence in the people who provide fire fighting services. However, half (50%) of Ontarians say that there is not quite enough (31%) or not nearly enough (19%) funding `to ensure the quality of fire fighting services in [their] community for the future.'
If introducing the new NFPA standards requires more funding, two-thirds (64%) of Ontarians say they would be willing to pay an extra $50 a year in taxes to ensure that there was funding to meet the NFPA standard. Another one-quarter (23%) would be willing to pay an additional $100, while 10% would pay an additional $150 and 6% would pay an additional $200. However, over eight in ten (85%) indicate a preference for the provincial government to provide this funding.
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association between September 12th and September 16th, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 600 adult Ontarians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Ontario population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Ontario population according to the 1996 Census data.
89% of Ontarians Support Adoption of National Fire Protection Association Standards for Minimum Personnel per Vehicle and Response Time
Nine in ten (89%) Ontarians express support for the adoption of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standard which calls for `a minimum of four fire fighters on each vehicle, with the first vehicle arriving at an emergency within four minutes and the remaining vehicles arriving within eight minutes, 90% of the time'. In fact, six in ten (59%) Ontarians strongly support the adoption of NFPA 1710, with an additional 30% who somewhat support this action. Nine percent oppose this move.
- Urban residents (72%) are more likely than rural residents (57%) to believe that these objectives are reasonable.
- Ontarians between 18 and 54 (91%) are slightly more likely to express support than are those 55 or older (83%).
- There are no statistical differences between regions or genders.
One-third (33%) of Ontarians already think that it would take on average less than five minutes for `fire fighters to respond to a fire, medical or other emergency in their community, that is how long do [they] think it would take for the firefighters to arrive at [their] home for an emergency once a call was made.' A further 48% say it would take between five and 10 minutes, with 13% say it would be between 11 and 20 minutes. Only one in twenty (5%) indicate that they think it would take more than 20 minutes for fire fighters to respond to an emergency at their home.
- Ontarians in urban areas (35%) are more likely than those in rural areas (18%) of the province to say they think the response time in their community would be less than five minutes, while those in rural areas (12%) are more likely than those in urban (3%) parts of the province to say they think that the average response time would be more than 20 minutes.
- Residents in the Greater Toronto Area (52%) are more likely than those in Eastern Ontario (42%) to indicate that the average response time would be between five and 10 minutes.
- More women (52%) than men (43%) say that the response time would be between five and 10 minutes.
- Ontarians between 35 and 54 years of age (52%) are more likely than those 18 to 34 (44%) to think that the average response time would be between five and 10 minutes.
Ontarians appear to believe that these proposed standards are reasonable. In fact, 72% (very reasonable 30%; reasonable 42%) say that `overall, [they] personally think that a four-minute response time is reasonable to expect in a fire, medical or other emergency.' Only 12% believe that standard is unreasonable (10%) or very unreasonable (2%).
- Those in urban areas (75%) of the province are more likely than those in rural (57%) areas of the province to believe that a four-minute response time is reasonable.
- Residents in the Toronto area (76%) are more likely than those in the Southwestern (65%) area of the province to indicate that a four-minute response time is reasonable.
- Ontarians between 18 and 34 years of age (78%) are more likely than those 35 to 54 years of age (69%) or 55 years of age and older (68%) to express the view that a four-minute response time is reasonable.
A similar number (73%; very reasonable 29%; reasonable 44%) indicate that `generally, [they] think that the requirement of four fire fighters on each truck is a reasonable expectation.' Twelve percent believe that it is an unreasonable (9%) or very unreasonable (3%) expectation.
- Ontarians in rural areas (83%) are more likely than those in urban areas (71%) to indicate that this is a reasonable expectation.
- Men (77%) are more likely than women (69%) to say that this is reasonable.
- Those aged 35 to 54 (77%) are more likely than Ontarians in the 18 to 34 age group (67%) to believe that this is reasonable.
Confidence and Quality
Three-quarters (72%) of Ontarians express confidence (rating of 6 or 7 on a 1 to 7 scale) in the people who provide fire fighting services. This compares to six-in-ten (60%) who are confident in those that provide EMS and ambulance services, and just over half (54%) who are confident in their local police services.
- Statistically there are no differences in confidence across demographic groups or regions regarding the people who provide fire fighting services.
Asked about the overall quality of their local fire fighting service, two-thirds (63%) rate it as excellent or very good (rating of 6 or 7 on a 1 to 7 scale). This compares to the top rating given to local EMS and ambulance services (49%), local police services (49%), local garbage and snow removal services (36%) and local public transportation services (28%).
- Statistically there are no differences in the view of the overall quality of local fire fighting services across demographic groups or regions.
However Half (50%) Say There Is Not Enough Funding to Ensure Quality of Fire Fighting Services
While there is confidence in fire fighting services, half (50%) of Ontarians say that there is not quite enough (31%) or not nearly enough (19%) funding `to ensure the quality of fire fighting services in [their] community for the future.' In comparison, two-thirds (63%) hold this view regarding EMS and ambulance services and half (51%) regarding local police services.
- Men (57%) are more likely than women (42%) to say that there is not enough funding to ensure the quality of fire fighting services in their community for the future.
When asked if they personally think a number of local services have improved, stayed about the same or have become worse compared to 5 years ago, only 3% indicated that local fire fighting services have become worse during this timeframe. Twenty-eight percent indicated that service has improved, while 63% say that it has stayed the same.
- Ontarians 55 years of age and older (33%) and those 18 to 34 years of age (31%) are more likely than those 35 to 54 years of age (22%) to say that fire fighting services have improved over the last 5 years.
This compares to the view of local EMS and ambulance services (improved 25%; stayed the same 54%; worsened 15%), local police services (improved 27%; stayed the same 56%; worsened 13%), local public transportation services (improved 22%; stayed the same 50%; worsened 20%), and local garbage and snow removal services (improved 16%; stayed the same 56%; worsened 25%).
In terms of the priority that their local municipality places on fire fighting services, eight in ten (84%) say that enough priority is placed on fire fighting services, while 12% indicate that not enough priority is placed on these services. In comparison, seven in ten say that enough priority is placed on local police services (73%) and EMS and ambulance services (72%). As for other local services, 68% believe that enough of a priority is placed on garbage and snow removal services, and 50% believe this of public transportation services.
- There are no statistical differences between demographic groups or regions regarding placing enough priority on fire fighting services.
Two-Thirds (64%) Willing to Pay Extra $50 per Year Taxes to Pay for New Standards
After being told that `Introducing this new NFPA standard may require more funding to ensure that the resources are available to meet the requirements in the standard.' Two-thirds (64%) say they `would personally be willing to pay an extra $50 a year in taxes in order to support this kind of standards in [their] local community.' One-quarter (23%) would be willing to pay an additional $100, while 10% would pay an additional $150 and 6% would pay an additional $200.
- Residents of Eastern Ontario (68%) are more likely than those in the Hamilton/Niagara region (55%) to say they would be willing to pay an additional $50 of taxes to ensure funding for the NFPA standards.
Eight in Ten (85%) Believe Provincial Government Should Provide Funding to Municipalities For More Fire Fighters and Equipment
However, while Ontarians are willing to pay extra taxes to cover the costs of new standards, over eight in ten (85%) indicate that yes they think `the Provincial Government should provide individual municipalities with funding for more fire fighters and fire fighting equipment,' while 12% indicate that no the provincial government should not do this.
- Younger Ontarians, those between 18 and 34 (91%) are more likely than those 55 years of age and older (79%) to believe that the provincial government should do this.
- Residents of Northern Ontario (95%) are more likely than those in the Hamilton/Niagara region (77%) to believe this to be the case.
Developing and Enforcing Standards
As for `who or what organization [they] think should be responsible for [developing / enforcing] fire and medical emergency service standards', Ontarians cite `government'. As to who should develop standards, the provincial government is cited by one-quarter (24%), while municipal governments are mentioned by 21%. Other mentions include fire fighters/fire chiefs (16%), the federal government (7%), government (all levels/unspecified) (4%), third party groups/agency (3%), a provincial-municipal partnership (2%), the public/people in the community (2%), a special public board/committee/taskforce (1%) and Health/Safety/Welfare departments (1%). Seventeen percent had no opinion or say they `don't know' and three percent offered other suggestions.
- Ontarians between 35 and 54 years of age (28%) are more likely than those between 18 and 34 years of age (19%) to indicate that the provincial government should be the one to develop guidelines.
As for enforcement, once again, the provincial government (30%) receives the largest proportion, followed by municipal governments (25%). Other individuals or organizations cited include fire fighters/fire chiefs (10%), the federal government (4%), government (all levels/unspecified) (4%), third party groups/agency (3%), a provincial-municipal partnership (1%), the public/people in the community (1%), a special public board/committee/taskforce (1%) and the Health/Safety/Welfare departments (1%). Fifteen percent had no opinion or say they `don't know' and three percent offered other suggestions.
- Men (36%) are more likely than women (25%) to believe that the provincial government should be the one to enforce standards.
86% of Ontarians Believe Specific Standards Are Important Regarding Response Time and Number of Personnel Required to Respond to Emergency Situations by Fire Fighting Services
And finally, eighty-six percent of Ontarians say that it is important (rating of 6 or 7 on a 1 to 7 scale) `that there are specific standards that [fire fighter services] must meet in terms of things like response time and the number of personal required to respond to different emergency situations.' This compares to 84% who believe standards should be in place for EMS and ambulance services, and 81% who indicate this regarding local police services.
- Middle aged (89%) Ontarians are more likely than older (81%) Ontarians to indicate that it is important to have specific standards for fire fighting services.
- Those in rural areas (85%) are as likely as those in urban areas (86%) to say that standards are important for fire fighter services.
- There is no statistical difference between gender and regional groupings as to their views regarding standards for fire fighter services.
While there are currently no standards detailing the number of fire fighters required, three in ten (28%) think that it is already a requirement that `four fire fighters be on each fire truck when responding to a fire or medical emergency'. One-fifth (20%) believe the current requirement is five fire fighters, and one-quarter (26%) indicate the number is more than five per truck. Five percent are correct that there is no specific requirement, while two percent think the required number is two, and 10% say three fire fighters are the standard requirement.
- Men (32% versus 25% of women) are more likely to say that the current standard is four per truck, while women (32% versus 20% of men) are more likely to believe that the standard is more than five fire fighters per vehicle.
- Younger (31%) Ontarians are more likely to suggest that the standard is more than five fire fighters per truck compared to the views of middle aged (23%) Ontarians.
To view the factum and tables, please open the attached PDF files.
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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
