PITT MEADOWS, BC – On September 12, the Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service presented an update to Council on operations. Since opening the new Fire Hall and the transition to 24/7 coverage on June 5, there has been a dramatic reduction in nighttime response times from an average of seven to nine minutes to an astounding two minutes and 29 seconds.
“The remarkable decrease in response times during the night is nothing short of lifesaving,” says Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “Every second counts in an emergency! This change and our investment in enhancing Fire Services ensures that our citizens receive the swift assistance they deserve and access to the same emergency services whether day or night.”
On June 5, the Fire & Rescue Service underwent a significant transition to 24/7 coverage, shifting away from the reliance on Paid-On-Call firefighters between 6 pm and 6 am. Since then, the impact on nighttime response has been significant, benefitting a wide range of emergencies:
- Medical (MESA) (29)
- Alarms (21)
- Assist (10)
- MVA (5)
- Brush Fire (4)
- Vehicle Fire (2)
- Structure Fire (2)
- Burning Complaint (7)
- Other (11)
“The move to 24/7 coverage came with its share of obstacles, including 50 percent of our career workforce being new to their roles,” says Deputy Fire Chief Stephane Drolet. “However, the dedication and commitment of our team members have been nothing short of extraordinary.”
To facilitate the transition to a 24/7 response model, significant staffing changes were implemented. The department welcomed nine new career firefighters, promoted four existing firefighters to Career Captains, and another four to Acting Officers. In collaboration with the Pitt Meadows Firefighters local of the International Association of Fire Fighters, a Mentoring and Officer Development Program was initiated, which included on-duty training focused on developing and mentoring those new to their roles.
“It’s truly heartening to witness the investment in the Fire & Rescue Service translate into tangible, life-saving results for our residents,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our city’s first responders.”
The City of Pitt Meadows remains committed to the safety and well-being of residents through continued investment and strategic improvements in the Fire & Rescue Service. The department is actively recruiting new Paid-On-Call firefighters to join their team. For more information, visit pittmeadows.ca/careers.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca