Responding to incidents
Our highly-trained firefighters are industry certified to fight fires of all types, from structure blazes to fires in vehicles and boats.
Our firefighters also routinely respond to calls for medical assistance, rescues of all kinds, hazardous material concerns, requests for public assistance, and more.
How We Measure Turnout and Total Response Times
Turnout Time
This is the elapsed time from when a fire engine is dispatched until all firefighters are on the vehicle, properly attired, and heading out the station doors.
Total Response Time
This is the elapsed time from when the 911 call is answered to when the fire engine arrives at the street address and includes call processing time, turnout time and travel time.
Turnout Time by Incident
Turnout time measures the firefighters’ ability to stop what they are doing, get to the appropriate fire engine, put on their personal protective equipment, board the fire engine, and safely secure themselves for travel to the emergency.
90th percentile means that nine times out of 10, we meet the times indicated or better.
Top Five Incident Call Outs for 2022
DNVFRS firefighters respond to a wide range of incidents, including fires, accidents, rescues, and medical emergencies.
Response Time By Fire Station
Firefighters respond to incidents from one — or more — of five strategically situated fire stations, depending on the emergency’s location and size.
Response time is the amount of time that elapses between when the fire department receives a call and the first arrival of firefighters on scene.
Response to Medical Emergency Service Assists (MESA)
DNVFRS responds to numerous Medical Emergency Service Assists (MESA) every year. Our members are well equipped with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the various situations they encounter. All the DNVFRS members are trained in first aid at varying levels depending on their role in the department. DNVFRS members also respond to many Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) on local streets and the portion of Highway 1 that runs through North Vancouver.
Since 2020, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has used its Clinical Response Model for Medical Emergency Service Assists (MESA) calls, as outlined below. This change was made to ensure the patients with the most challenging medical conditions were better prioritized. This new system also aligned first responders and fire departments to provide patients with the most appropriate care and utilize resources effectively. These colour coded medical call categories are also explained in the diagram below.
Dispatch Performance
The Surrey Fire Regional Dispatch Centre continues to provide top-quality service to the DNVFRS and District residents. The graph below demonstrates how Surrey Dispatch’s call processing and dispatch times have continually met and exceeded service expectations over the past five years.
Dispatch performance is based on call processing, which captures the time between the call for service being received and Fire/Rescue resources being alerted and assigned to the incident. As described previously, the 90th percentile means that nine times out of 10, we meet or exceed the times indicated.
A Closer Look at Technical Rescues
The District’s urban core is surrounded by hundreds of square kilometers of rugged mountain wilderness that’s etched with a vast network of hiking, mountain biking trails and fast-moving rivers.
We are also home to Grouse Mountain and Seymour Mountain ski operations and the Grouse Grind, BC Mountaineering Club and Baden Powell trail systems.
That makes the District a popular outdoor playground for visitors and locals alike.
The DNVFRS team is unique in Metro Vancouver because of the number of highly technical rescues we conduct each year and the close mutual support relationship we have with the all-volunteer North Shore Rescue (NSR) team.
In 2022, we attended 95 rescue incidents, with 52% occurring on Mount Fromme, Mount Seymour and Lynn Canyon.
Typical Rescues Occurring on the North Shore
Nearly 95% of the rescue calls our members attended in 2022 involved outdoor recreation in our forested areas (hikers, mountain bikers, swimmers, kayakers, etc.). Elevator rescues were next at 5%.
DNVFRS firefighters are trained to meet and, in many cases, exceed industry standards in high-angle rope rescues and swift-water rescue techniques that are used every summer in Lynn Canyon, Capilano Canyon, and Quarry Rock in Deep Cove.
In response to the complexity of rescue calls in recent years, we have equipped our three new wildland trucks with rescue equipment and medical gear to respond effectively to outdoor recreation-related emergencies.
Working with North Shore Rescue
When responding to wildland search and rescues and technical trail and water rescues in the District, we immediately connect with North Shore Rescue (NSR) to coordinate efforts and ensure that each agency knows about the incident.
Our strong working relationship with NSR allows us to utilize the skill sets of both agencies to best serve residents and visitors while providing an efficient and coordinated response to all emergencies on the North Shore.
Marking a milestone for NSR, in 2022 we saw our partners receive authorization to not only use Night Vision technology for low-light search operations, but in a 1st of its kind in Canada, NSR gained permission to conduct nighttime hoist operations with Talon Helicopters using this technology. Working with an innovative and leading edge partner like NSR enhances our cooperative efforts in the realm of public safety.
We also work collaboratively to exchange information and host training programs that focus on our respective strengths as response agencies.
In 2022, DNVFRS participated with NSR in field training exercises, advanced medical training with Emergency Room doctors and helicopter training. Staff from both agencies are using their combined knowledge and training to work effectively together to respond to various incidents within the District.
Learn more about North Shore Rescue
Responding to Marine Emergencies with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue
We work with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) to respond to all marine and waterfront emergencies in the District.
This includes transporting firefighters and equipment to remote and boat-only access locations, providing water-based information and intelligence for shore-based emergency operations, and performing water rescues in areas that are inaccessible to firefighters.
DNVFRS works closely with RCMSAR to share information and provide training that capitalizes on each agency’s strengths. This collaboration includes preplanning and preparing for access to the Indian Arm communities of Cascades, Sunshine Falls, and Woodlands.
In 2022, DNVFRS re-engaged in crew training opportunities with RCMSAR. Our fire companies participated in vessel orientation, reviewed vessel and team capabilities, performed communication drills and contributed to roundtable discussions between our agencies to preplan for the specific events DNVFRS responds to within our unique geographical location.