The latest stats from the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative cast Windsor's Fire Service in a somewhat less than glowing light.
With 19 fire-related injuries per 100,000 population last year and one death, Windsor had the most people hurt and the 2nd highest number of fatalities.
But Windor Fire Chief Bruce Montone cautions not to read too much into the numbers. "There are several factors not taken into consideration" says Montone. "That includes the fact that injuries often occur after someone has made out safely but then re-enters the building."
Montone says improvements are being made. "Putting the fire stations in the right places as compared to where they were in the past so you should start to see. It will take a year or two to demonstrate that but you will start to see improvements in terms of travel time, for example."
Montone adds the target to process a call at the dispatch centre is 75 seconds, and staff are averaging 55 seconds.