Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department staff are fighting more than fires this quarter –– they’re fighting germs, dirt and uncleanliness.
Among the tidbits presented in the department's quarterly report was that staff have been attempting to clean their facility while the department works to replace their janitorial contractor, who retired.
In other news, from July to September, the department received 107 callouts – nine more than the same period last year, GDVFD fire chief Rob Michael told the Oct. 22 Town of Gibsons Committee of the Whole.
Notable incidents mentioned in the report include two simultaneous calls for smoke inside of structures, two fuel spills (one at a gas station and another at a marina), a “vehicle into a building,” and a jet ski incident –– though no details on the files are provided.
Several tickets were issued for illegal burning during the open burn restrictions through the high-risk summer period.
The department’s fire prevention team completed 51 fire and life safety inspections, 18 referrals and two Office of the Fire Commissioner investigations this quarter.
With a roster of 45 firefighters and three recruits, the department is conducting a recruitment drive to maintain “solid membership numbers." The department notes that it takes almost two years to fully train new firefighters.
Michael said training this quarter focused on emergency vehicle operations, vehicle extrication, ladder skills and emergency scene management.
GDVFD also has plans to upgrade its training yard. The department assistant chief is working on future site development plans and improvements to be considered for 2025/2026 the report says. It also notes the facility is currently without a lease to occupy the space on Henry Road and the department is working on drafting a lease agreement with the Town of Gibsons.
Quint 1, GDVFD’s aerial apparatus suffered a faulty fuel lift pump and was placed out of service, this quarter. The report notes the SCRD worked through the night on repairs. Since then a replacement part was installed and the machine is operating normally.
When it came to wildfire deployments, the report says the season went “smoothly,” highlighting the valuable experience firefighters gain that can be utilized locally, noting that these deployments wouldn’t be possible without the mutual aid partners and other SCRD fire department members.
Michael was deployed to the Slocan Valley for a week in August as a task force leader. And a mixed crew from GDVFD, Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Halfmoon Bay Fire Volunteer Department were also deployed as a structure protection crew to the Slocan Valley from July 23 to Aug. 13.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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