Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) was founded in 1886 and today serves the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. The department provides fire suppression, medical response, technical rescue and hazardous materials response services. In 2017, VFRS responded to 67,000 emergency calls.Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services | City of Vancouver. Vancouver.ca. Retrieved on 12 April 2014.
History
The Vancouver Volunteer Fire Brigade was established in 1886 with one volunteer hose-wagon company assigned to protect the new city which mainly had lumber mills at the time, and within 16 days of its existence, the city of Vancouver burned to the ground. A week after the fire the city purchased its first fire engine from Ontario, the item arrived in August of that year, which made the volunteers confident that they could handle any situation that occurred. A second engine arrived in 1888 along with two new fire halls growing the strength from one company to three companies. J.H. Charlisle was appointed the city's first fire chief who began motorizing fire brigade, and the first motorized fire engine was purchased in 1908 from the Seagrave company of Columbus. By 1911, the department was ranked third best in the world, falling behind London and Leipzing Germany. By 1917 it was completely motorized (no more horse-drawn equipment) and was then recognized as the Vancouver Fire Department. In 1929 the municipalities of South Vancouver and Point Grey amalgamated with the City of Vancouver which also meant the merger of the South Vancouver Fire Department and the Point Grey Fire Brigade, which added six new halls and increased the strength of the department by 100 men.
Since 1893, 48 Vancouver firefighters have died in the line of duty.
In December 2023, VFRS began operating an electric fire engine out of Fire Hall No. 1 in Strathcona. This was the first electric fire engine to be deployed in Canada. The fire engine was introduced to support the City's goal to reduce fleet emissions and electrify city vehicles.
Operations
Rank structure RankFire chiefDeputy fire chiefAssistant chiefBattalion chiefTraining officerCaptainLieutenantFirefighterProbationary firefighterRank epaulettes No insigniaNo insigniaRank pinsNo insigniaNo insigniaHelmet colourWhiteWhiteWhiteWhiteRedRedRedYellowYellowDescriptionThe Fire Chief is General Manager of Department.The Deputy Fire Chief is Second-in-command to fire chiefThe Assistant Chief is in charge of operationsBattalion Chiefs are in charge of a multitude of Fire Companies/Units and Stations in their respective areas.Training officer is in charge of firefighter education and departmental educationCaptains are in charge of one fire hall and they are company officers for one engine/rescue engineLieutenants are in charge of one ladder Truck or secondary engine (pump)Firefighters have the role of maintaining and mastering personal firefighting and EMS skillsProbationary firefighters have the role of learning how to execute the duties of a firefighter while being mentored by senior firefighters and officers Current fire chief and general manager: Karen Fry
Fire hall locations and apparatus There are currently 21 fire halls located throughout the city of Vancouver, organized into three battalions. There is also a training facility, a marine unit and several pieces of reserve apparatus.
Fire hallNeighbourhoodsEngine Companies or squad companiesLadder Companies or tower companiesRescue (medic) Units or wildland unitsChief unitsSpecial unitsAddressOpening date1StrathconaEngine 1Ladder 1Rescue Unit 1900 Heatley AvenueAugust 8, 19752Downtown EastsideEngine 2Ladder 2 199 Main StreetAugust 8, 19753Mount PleasantEngine 3Ladder 3Rescue Unit 3 2801 Quebec StreetJanuary 27, 20014FairviewEngine 4 Pump 4 1475 West 10th AvenueMay 11, 19925KillarneyEngine 5Ladder 5 3090 East 54th AvenueDecember 2, 20196West End 1001 Nicola StreetMarch 1, 19087DowntownSquad 7Tower 7Wildlands Unit 7 1090 Haro StreetDecember 5, 19748YaletownEngine 8Ladder 8Rescue Unit 8 895 Hamilton StreetDecember 5, 19749Grandview–WoodlandEngine 9 Technical Rescue Unit 9 1805 Victoria DriveFebruary 12, 196010UBC VancouverEngine 10Ladder 10Wildlands Unit 10 Parade2992 Wesbrook Mall198211Grandview-WoodlandEngine 11 1756 East Hastings Street (Temporary)12KitsilanoSquad 12 2460 Balaclava StreetJuly 11, 198713Riley ParkEngine 13 Command 13 4013 Prince Albert StreetApril 4, 200314Hastings–SunriseEngine 14 2804 Venables StreetAugust 13, 197915Renfrew–CollingwoodSquad 15Ladder 15Rescue Unit 15Battalion Chief Unit 2 3003 East 22nd AvenueMarch 26, 201217Victoria–FraserviewEngine 17Ladder 17Tech Rescue 17Wildlands Unit 17 7070 Knight StreetApril 27, 202218ShaughnessyEngine 18Ladder 18 Battalion Chief Unit 31375 West 38th AvenueJuly 22, 200019West Point GreyEngine 19 4396 West 12th AvenueJuly 3, 198020Kensington–Cedar CottageEngine 20 Antique5402 Victoria DriveNovember 9, 196221KerrisdaleEngine 21 5425 Carnarvon StreetJune 7, 198522Marpole–OakridgeSquad 22Ladder 22Rescue Unit 22 1005 West 59th AvenueJune 18, 1982Training facilityStrathcona 1330 Chess StreetMarine unit Various locationsReserve apparatus Ladders (x2)
Vancouver's current complement of fire apparatus includes: 13x 2007 Spartan / Smeal CAFS engines 2x 2007 Spartan / Smeal CAFS 125' aerial ladder quints 2x 2007 Spartan / SVI custom-built hazmat units (1 unit later converted to command unit) 1x 2007 Spartan / SVI air/light equipment unit 14x 2016/17 Spartan / Smeal CAFS engines/rescue-engines 10x 2016/17 Spartan / Smeal CAFS 105' aerial ladder quints 1x 2016 Spartan / SVI technical heavy rescue
Fireboats
The VFRS has operated fireboats since 1928 when the city introduced the J.H. Carlisle. It currently operates 3 boats. Fireboats 1 (FB-1) and 2 (FB-2) are Firestorm 40s, built by MetalCraft Marine in Kingston, Ontario. These boats went into service in 2016 and 2017. Fireboat 4 was part of a fleet of five aluminum boats designed by naval engineering firm Robert Allan Ltd. and built in 1992 and has been retained as a reserve vessel.
Former fireboats: J.H. Carlisle 1928–1971 Fireboat No. 2 1951–1987
Crest VFRS uses a standard logo displayed on uniforms and vehicles: Maltese cross Fire hydrant EMS Star of Life Helmet, ladder, horn, hook and axe Response
Tap out response medical aids
Call type Number of rigs needed General 1 apparatus Cardiac arrest1 apparatus (2 for full cardiac arrest) Stroke 1 apparatus Stabbing 1 apparatusShooting 1 apparatusMass casualty incident (5 or more patients)2 apparatus and battalion chief
Tap out response non-medical incidents Call type Number of rigs Motor vehicle incident1 apparatus with pumping capability Motor vehicle incident (multiple patients) 1 rescue engine or engine capability and 1 medic or 1 rescueMotor vehicle rollover1 rescue engine and battalion chief or 1 medicGeneral fire alarm (low risk)1 apparatus with pumping capability General fire alarm (moderate risk)1 apparatus with pumping capability and 1 ladderGeneral fire alarm (high risk) or reported structure fire4 apparatus with pumping capability and 1 medic / rescue unit and 1 battalion chiefRubbish fire 1 apparatus with pumping capabilityVehicle fire 1 apparatus with pumping capability Vehicle fire Alternative fuel 2 apparatus with pumping capability Wildland fire smoldering1 apparatus with pumping capabilityWildland fire small area1 apparatus with pumping capability and 1 wildland vehicleWildland fire large area2 apparatus with pumping capability and 1 wildland vehicle
Structure fire response AlarmApparatus 1st alarm assignment Working fire assignment 2nd alarm assignment2 apparatus with pumping capability 3rd alarm assignment 4th alarm assignment (after deputy chief approval) Additional apparatus as requested 5th alarm assignmentAdditional apparatus as requested6th alarm assignment Additional apparatus as requested 7th alarm assignment Additional apparatus as requested 8th alarm assignment Additional apparatus as requested 9th alarm assignment May involve mutual aid 10th alarm assignment May involve mutual aid
Call volume by hall Fire hall Location Number of calls Busiest apparatus Fire Hall 2 Downtown Eastside 1200+ per month Medic 23 Fire Hall 7 Downtown 500+ per month Rescue engine 7 Fire Hall 8 Yaletown 500+ per month Medic 8
Call volume by year Year Overall Busiest unit Top call 2013 30,000Engine 7 Medical aid201438,000Engine 2 Medical aid 2015 44,000Medic 2 Medical aid
Major incidents and disasters
Great Vancouver Fire
On 13 June 1886, workers were burning brush to make way for development when high winds picked up the flames and began burning out of control in what became known as the Great Vancouver Fire. Vancouver Volunteer Hosewagon Company No. 1, comprising a dozen volunteers, grabbed buckets and axes in attempt to extinguish the conflagration. The city had purchased a fire engine which had not yet arrived and most of the city burned down in 45 minutes.
BC Forest Products
On 3 July 1960, a fire broke out at the BC Forest Products Mill near Oak Street and W 6th Avenue. Initial crews responded and reported large flames and smoke coming from the mill. The chief on scene quickly upgraded the alarm calling in additional companies. Flames started to spread quickly from the mill itself to a nearby dock, which resulted in the chief declaring the incident as a five alarm call, VFRS's first five-alarm fire. All halls were tapped out which sent the fire boat and all but a few apparatus down to the fire ground. A total of 350 firefighters battled the flames for hours on the hot day. A large crowd had gathered to watch firefighting operations which hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze. Most of the mill burned before the fire was extinguished.
Stanley Cup Riot (2011)