Mitigating the impacts of fire — and reducing the number of fires that start in the first place — is a primary goal of DNVFRS.

We pursue this goal by investigating fires to understand where they started and what caused them, by working with builders and developers to ensure that measures are in place to limit fire risk, and by regularly inspecting commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings to ensure they comply with all fire codes and standards.

Here are highlights of our work in 2019 that helped minimize the risk of fire in the District.

Fire Investigations

As Local Assistants to the BC Fire Commissioner, we are responsible for investigating fires in our municipality, to determine whether the fire was due to accident, negligence, or design flaw.

In 2019, we investigated 88 structure, vehicle, and other fires.

Fire Inspections

Our Fire Inspections Officers routinely inspect public buildings, apartment buildings, multi-unit strata (condo) properties, and lodging houses.

In 2019, we conducted 5,971 inspections, for these reasons:

• In response to public complaints about potential safety concerns
• The owner or tenant applied for a business license
• There was a proposed change in use for the building
• A new system, such as new sprinklers, was installed
• To review fire safety plans
• To re-inspect
• Non-compliance

Fire Safety Plans

As part of fire inspection work we also process fire safety plans. We processed 122 fire safety plans in 2019, which are required in a number of circumstances:

• If the building is required by the BC Building Code to have a fire alarm
• On demolition and construction sites
• In storage areas
• Where flammable liquids are stored or handled
• Where hazardous processes or operations occur
• In buildings that have assembly, care, treatment, or detection uses

Construction Plan Reviews

Staff in our Public Safety Division work with developers during the design phase of their buildings through to the building permit stage.

This ensures that new buildings comply with the BC Building Code and the BC Fire Code, and that they meet fire department operational requirements while under construction, during an occupancy inspection, and over the life of the building

We collect 0.075% of the value of the work to offset the cost of staffing, which in 2019, amounted to $350,000

During this time, we reviewed over 160 submissions for alterations, additions, demolitions, and new construction, including review and recommendation for potential new projects