Frequently Asked Questions

Fire FAQ

• What are the benefits of a professional fire service?

  The City's professional firefighters meet legislative training and proficiency requirements. However, part-time firefighters can find these training requirements burdensome, which can impact service quality. Dedicated career firefighters are crucial for our community.

  Having a professional fire service benefits the community by reducing insurance rates due to fire risk classifications that cannot be achieved with part-time services. Our community has experienced a 183% increase in total calls per year over the past 20 years, highlighting the need for a professional fire service to adequately meet this demand. 

• How do I get a copy of a fire or incident report?

  Reports can be requested through the City’s Legislative Services department and are provided as required by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). The process and application form can be found at https://www.campbellriver.ca/your-city-hall/freedom-of-information

• How do I get a fire department Comfort Letter or Bylaw Compliance Letter?

  Information can be requested through the City’s Legislative Services department and are provided as required by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). The process and application form can be found at https://www.campbellriver.ca/your-city-hall/freedom-of-information

• My smoke alarm is chirping. What should I do?

  An intermittent chirp usually means that your smoke alarm battery is low, or that your smoke alarm is expired and needs to be replaced.

  If your smoke alarm is beeping steadily, it may have been set off by smoke or high heat. If you don’t know the cause of the beeping (such as burnt food on the stove), have everyone leave the home immediately and call 9-1-1.

  If at any time if you are unsure about your smoke alarm or have questions, call the fire department’s non-emergency line, day or night, at 250-286-6266.  

   

• My carbon monoxide alarm is chirping or beeping. What should I do?

  If your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm has a low battery, you will likely hear a short chirp every 15 seconds to one minute. Try replacing the battery and see if that fixes it. However, carbon monoxide can cause a serious health emergency. If you have any concerns, please contact the fire department, day or night, at 250-286-6266.

  To warn of dangerous CO levels, most detectors will beep 4 or 5 times in a row about every 4 seconds. Do not mistake dangerous levels of poisonous gas for a detector with low battery! Even if no one in the building is experiencing symptoms, if there's a chance your detector is signaling carbon monoxide, get everyone outside to fresh air immediately and dial 9-1-1. Acting quickly is key. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include:

  • Fatigue and drowsiness
  • Headaches
  • Impaired judgement
  • Shortness of breath
  • Confusion
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Chest Pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • High levels of poisoning can lead to loss of consciousness and muscular coordination, and ultimately, death.

• Does the Campbell River Fire Department have volunteer firefighters?

  No, like many modern fire departments, the Campbell River Fire Department pays its ‘volunteers’ a wage during training and incident responses, and therefore aren’t considered volunteers in the traditional sense of the word. The term used to describe this type of firefighter is Paid-on-Call (see below).

• How do I become a paid-on-call firefighter?

  Please visit our recruitment page HERE where you’ll find more information about the process and minimum requirements to become a Paid-on-Call (POC) firefighter. There is a POC recruitment class approximately once per year.

• I’m already a trained Paid-on-Call (POC) firefighter. How can I apply to join your POC team?

  If you are already a certified firefighter and looking to join our paid-on-call team, please contact the Deputy Chief of Operations at 250-286-6266.

• I am a career firefighter and want to join the Campbell River Fire Department. How can I apply?

  For employment opportunities, please check out the City of Campbell River careers page HERE.

• Does the fire department do car seat installations or inspections?

  No, the Campbell River Fire Department does not install or inspect car seats. Visit https://vicarseattechs.com/ to find a local car seat technician.

• When is the fire department open to the public?

  The #1 Station (675 13^th Ave) front counter is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday except holidays.

  #2 Station is not open to the public.

• Does the Campbell River Fire Department refill fire extinguishers?

  No, the fire department does not refill fire extinguishers. There are a number of businesses in Campbell River that can refill fire extinguishers. Check your local phone book or search online for one near you.

• Am I allowed to burn my yard waste?

  In 2008, Council adopted a Clean Air Bylaw amendment which prohibits the burning of yard waste for all residents of area "A" in the City of Campbell River. Most properties fall under area “A.” Check the Clean Air Bylaw Schedule “A” map if you aren’t sure which area you are in.

  Residents of area "B" are still permitted to burn their yard waste during April and October, however, they are encouraged to participate in the Yard Waste Curbside Collection program. Please see the Clean Air Bylaw for more detailed rules and regulations. 
  
  Clean Air Bylaw

• My neighbor is burning yard waste. How should I report it?

  If you are concerned about a fire that is not an emergency, call the fire department at 250-286-6266. If you think there may be an emergency involving a fire, dial 9-1-1.

• Are you allowed to burn garbage?

  No. Section 2.3 of the Clean Air Bylaw prohibits the burning of garbage or any noxious material.
  
  Clean Air Bylaw

• Can I have a recreational fire in my backyard or at the beach?

  Yes, recreational fires are permitted within the City of Campbell River unless there is a fire ban in place. Please check current fire restrictions before lighting any fire. Recreational fires must be:

  • for cooking or providing heat
  • in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbeque or fire pit not larger than 60 centimetres (24 inches) in diameter, and designed and constructed to confine the fire, or within a fully enclosed burner or similar device
  • done with appropriate supervision and means of extinguishing the fire such as a minimum of 8L of water, or a shovel.
  • a safe distance away from nearby branches, wood and other combustible materials.
  • below the high-tide line on the beach as fires are not allowed on public land, or private property other than your own

• Where can I have a beach fire?

  In Campbell River there are no designated areas for beach fires. Please ensure your beach fire is not on private property (unless it’s your own) and not on public land. Keep your fire below the high tide line and well away from driftwood and tall grass. Bring a bucket to extinguish the fire before you leave. Please follow all recreational fire regulations and guidelines and always check current fire restrictions before lighting any fire.

• What about camping fires? Do the same rules apply?

  Within the City boundary, the same rules apply to campfires. When you leave the City of Campbell River area to go camping at a provincial or forestry campsite for example, please follow all guidelines provided by the Province of BC. The most current rules and restrictions can be found on the BC Wildfire Service website. http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp

• The Province has issued a ban on Category 2 and/or Category 3 open fires. What does this mean?

  The difference between recreational fires, category 2 and category 3 fires are explained HERE.

  Typically, human-caused fires are more common in the spring due to field and debris burning. By issuing province-wide burning prohibitions, the BC Wildfire Service anticipates a reduction in human-caused wildfires.

  Visit our CURRENT RESTRICTIONS page for more information.

• Do I need an open burning permit?

  Visit our Fire Permits page to find out more. Note: Open burning is only permitted in defined areas within the City of Campbell River in accordance to the Clean Air Bylaw No. 3293 (Schedule A) by permit issued by the Fire Chief or their designate. (exception for recreational fires). All open burning must also meet the Provincial Open Smoke Control Regulation.

• How do I apply for an open burning permit?

  Fill out an application form found under Fire Permits or call the Fire Prevention Branch at 250-286-6266.

• Does the fire department provide station tours?

  Tours can be requested by calling the fire department’s non-emergency line at 250-286-6266. You can request a particular date and the captain on duty will get in touch with you to confirm the details. Please book at least 2 weeks in advance.

• What other fire safety education opportunities are there for the public?

  Every October as part of Fire Prevention Week, our Fire Prevention Officer visits the classrooms of all grade three students in Campbell River with our popular Fire Safety House. We also host an annual open house each May for the public to tour our #1 Fire Station, watch live demonstrations and learn about the services provided by the Campbell River Fire Department.

  If you are interested in learning more about fire safety, or hosting a fire safety presentation, please contact the Fire Prevention Officer at 250-286-6266.  Fire safety information and materials can be found on our website at campbellriver.ca/fire/public-education.

• Does the fire department do woodstove inspections?

  No, but there are local companies that provide this service.

• I have old or expired flares. Can I drop them off at the fire department?

  No, the Campbell River Fire Department does not accept flares. Check with Parker Marine in Courtenay, 1605 Comox Rd. V9N4P7, or call 250-334-4808. There is a fee per flare for disposal.

• What services does the Campbell River fire department provide?

  The Campbell River Fire Department provides a wide range of services that go far beyond firefighting. In addition to their crucial role in extinguishing fires, firefighters also act as emergency medical responders, are often the first to arrive at vehicle accidents and are specially trained to rescue people in various scenarios.

  The fire department provides fire prevention education and investigates the cause of fires. Moreover, the fire department plays an important role in the overall development and building plan review process, as well as permitting.

  Learn more about the five key areas of the fire department here.

Fire FAQ - Alarms - Smoke and Carbon Monoxide

Fire FAQ - Becoming a firefighter