Fire and Rescue Annual Report 2018

District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (DNVFRS) provides essential emergency, public education, and support services to our community.

We are committed to reducing life and property loss due to fire, and to promoting public safety through fire education and awareness.

This report is a concise summary of our work and achievements in 2018.

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About DNVFRS

We deliver services to the community through an integrated approach that encompasses response, outreach, and prevention.

The District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services (DNVFRS) is a mission-oriented emergency services agency focused on the safety and well-being of our community.

Our members provide caring and compassionate emergency, fire, and rescue services to citizens and visitors. We deliver our services through an integrated approach that encompasses emergency response for fire, rescue, and life safety, as well as fire prevention and investigation.

Reducing Risk

In 2018, we conducted 96 fire investigations, and completed 3,525 fire inspections and 70 fire safety plans.

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 fire codes and standards. In 2018, we conducted 96 fire investigations, and completed 3,525 fire inspections and 70 fire safety plans.

Responding to Incidents

We responded to 4,447 incidents in 2018, either on our own, or as part of a tri-municipal effort.

Our firefighters are highly trained, experienced, and industry certified to fight fires of all types, from those in structures to fires in vehicles and boats.

In addition to fighting fires, our crews routinely respond to calls for medical assistance, rescues of all kinds, hazardous material concerns, public assistance, and more. In all, we responded to 4,447 incidents in 2018, either on our own, or as part of a tri-municipal effort. Our average turnout time was 1 minute and 35 seconds, and our average response time was 5 minutes and 42 seconds.

Looking to 2019

In 2019, our focus will be on developing a strategic plan for the organization that will guide our future decisions

While we had many successes and made much progress during 2018, we continue to look for more opportunities to improve the tools and strategies we use to care for our community.

In 2019, our focus will be on developing a strategic plan for the organization that will guide our decisions, from budget considerations, to recruitment, to public engagement, for the coming years.

Planning for Emergencies

Our new Extended Operations Unit is the cornerstone of work done in 2018 to prepare the North Shore for emergencies.

Helping prepare for, respond to, and recover from major North Shore wide emergencies is a significant focus of our command staff.

From developing a team to help us strengthen our response to local natural hazards/emergencies and facilitate speedy community recovery, to participating in rigorous emergency preparedness exercises designed to recreate real-life emergencies, we significantly increased our capacity in 2018 to deal with major emergencies.

In the Community

During 2018 we reached 4,595 residents through 70 public events, and connected with 2,445 youth.

Serving in and caring for our community is our number one priority, and we take pride in the work we do for our residents and businesses.

Whether it’s teaching fire safety to children, helping our seniors plan and practice evacuation in an emergency, or demonstrating the tools and techniques we use daily to help keep everyone safe, we are always looking for opportunities to connect with people. Throughout 2018 we offered a number of events aimed at increasing public awareness and safety.

Work Beyond the District

We provide first class service to the wider community. In 2018 we deployed nine times across the province.

We have built our reputation as leaders in the Fire Service, and are known for providing first class service, not just to our own community, but to the wider province during times of emergency.

During 2018, we had nine deployments to four different emergencies outside the District. Not only do these deployments help the host communities, they provide an opportunity for our own staff to develop their skills and abilities.

Team Building

The women and men of DNVFRS are our greatest asset. We provided 10,062 hours of specialized training during 2018.

The women and men of DNVFRS are our greatest asset, and we’re proud of the work they do every day to keep everyone safe.

Building a diverse and inclusive team of dedicated professionals, helping them develop in their roles, and caring for their well-being, is our ultimate concern. Through our tri-municipal recruiting program, training and certification opportunities, and wellness programs, we are building a model workforce. In 2018, we had a training budget of $389,415, which allowed us to provide 10,062 hours of specialized training to 126 men and women.