DNVFRS is a mission-oriented emergency services agency focused on the safety and well-being of our community. 

Our members provide caring and compassionate fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to our citizens and visitors. 

We deliver services through an integrated approach encompassing emergency response for fire, rescue, life safety and community risk reduction through public safety programs, including risk-based inspections, fire investigation, and public education.  

A Welcome from Fire Chief Brian Hutchinson

We at the District of North Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (DNVFRS) are pleased to provide you with our annual report for 2023. By all accounts, it was an extraordinary year. During this time, we worked to reaffirm our long-standing partnership with our regional fire service, police service, and search and rescue partners.

This teamwork-focused approach to public safety ensures better communication between different agencies, making our operations more effective. It also ensures that when someone calls 911, they receive prompt and compassionate assistance.

It also enables us to deliver the best possible fire and safety services to our 90,000 residents and over 1 million visitors annually.

The DNVFRS remains committed to the process of fire service accreditation. As one of only nine fire departments in Canada (312 globally) accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International/Center for Public Safety Excellence, we demonstrate leadership in our profession.

We are proud that our Fire & Rescue Services team remains one of North America’s most highly trained, innovative, resilient, and compassionate emergency service agencies.

We hope you enjoy reading this Annual Report and that you learn more about the people who serve this community every day.

Respectfully,

Brian Hutchinson, MA, CEM®, ECFO, CFO

Retirement Message

On March 1, 2024, Fire Chief Brian Hutchinson retired after eight years of dedicated service with DNVFRS. Chief Hutchinson has been a committed and invaluable member of our team, contributing significantly to the department.

Under his leadership, the DNVFRS achieved remarkable progress in various areas, including fire suppression, medical response, technical rescue, fire prevention and public education.

Notably, Chief Hutchinson led the DNVFRS to accreditation by the Commission on Fire Service Accreditation, making us one of the nine fire departments in Canada to attain this prestigious status.

His collaborative and inclusive approach has helped shape the DNVFRS, providing a strong foundation for our future endeavours. We will continue to build upon his accomplishments and strive for excellence in all aspects of our work.

Please join us in expressing gratitude for Chief Hutchinson's leadership, dedication, and service to the DNVFRS and the community. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mike Danks

Fire Chief

What We Believe 

Our Mission

We proudly serve our community by providing exceptional fire suppression, medical aid, technical rescue, fire prevention and public education services. 

Our Vision

To be an inclusive and progressive leader that consistently provides our community with excellent service. 

Our Values

• Community — Treat people with kindness and respect 
• Integrity — Do the right thing 
• Well-being — Foster physical, mental, and emotional well-being 
• Innovation — Drive change for the good 

Your DNVFRS at a Glance 

With 142 uniformed personnel, including firefighters, command, training, and support staff, we serve the District’s 91,767 residents and 160 square kilometres of urban and wilderness land from five strategically located fire stations and a training centre. 

Part of a Regional Fire and Emergency System 

An exceptional emergency response partnership thrives on the North Shore. We work alongside West Vancouver Fire and Rescue and the North Vancouver City Fire Department under a Cooperative Fire/Rescue Services agreement. This groundbreaking agreement was initially signed in 2017 and was reviewed and re-signed by all three departments in 2022. 

As a participating agency, the DNVFRS has agreed to eliminate jurisdictional borders for fire and rescue responses to support a timely and effective response. This agreement directly enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of responding to calls for assistance within the District and across the three municipalities. Our approach continues to be seen as a model within British Columbia and across Canada.