While the responsibility to provide Fire Protection is with the local municipality, Lanark County Council decided to provide communications services for Lanark County Fire Departments under one agreement. This service is provided by the Town of Smiths Falls Fire Department.

The Fire Dispatch Centre has the responsibility of providing Emergency Dispatch and Communications for Lanark County Fire Services.

The one central dispatch site, with backup capabilities, receives the emergency calls from the 911 Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (911 CERB). The Dispatch Centre notifies through the County Communications Infrastructure using the paging capabilities, the appropriate Fire Department of that emergency. The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system receives details from the 911 CERB of Municipality name, location (number and street and/or road name), and phone number.

The dispatch and communications system is provided through a series of towers to provide coverage to all areas of the County of Lanark.

The VHF radio system has the capability of paging every Fire Department member on an Emergency Fire Service frequency, alerting the closest responding Fire Station. Should another emergency notification from 911 CERB be received, alternate resources can be directed to deal with the second emergency incident by implementing the Lanark County Mutual Aid Plan. When implemented, notification is sent to the neighbouring Fire Station, in a predetermined format that additional resources of manpower and/or fire apparatus is required.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is a branch of the Public Safety Division of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Mission

The mission of the OFM is to contribute to an environment for the residents of Ontario that is safe from fire and other public safety hazards by providing leadership and expertise in the reduction and elimination of these hazards.

The role of the OFM is to minimize the loss of life and property from fire in Ontario by providing:

• support to municipalities and fire departments across Ontario to meeting the needs of their communities, including public education, fire prevention, firefighting, fire protection, training, and fire investigation
• leadership within the Ontario Government by advising on standards and legislation relating to fire prevention and protection, and recommendations for the provision of adequate levels of fire safety for buildings and premises within Ontario