Fernie Fire and Emergency Services

11/26/2024

🚒🎄Tomorrow night, Fernie Fire and Emergency Services will be joining with other local Emergency Service Providers for their Annual Holiday Food Drive.

🥫From 4:30-8:00pm, you'll hear sirens and see lights flashing as they make their way through Fernie neighbourhoods collecting donations for The Salvation Army Fernie Foodbank.

🛍️You can participate in this important annual campaign by placing non-perishable food items together in a bag or box in a visible location on your front porch for collection.

🍝If you miss them in your neighbourhood, please consider dropping off a donation at the Salvation Army Food Bank on 2nd Ave.

09/12/2024

👨‍🚒This week, Council voted to move forward the Fire Hall Project based on the final conceptual design for a purpose-built, needs-based facility that will meet the fire and emergency response requirements of our community.

🚒The urgently needed new Fire Hall will provide a home for our Fernie Fire Department. The new facility would be built to the required post-disaster construction standards to ensure that in an emergency we can respond, and would be operationally efficient to allow for the quick emergency response required to keep our community safe.

💰Let’s talk dollars and cents – The price tag for a new Fire Hall designed to meet our specific needs, and taking into consideration our location, has a high-level cost-estimate of approximately $20million.

📄What’s next? We need to get into design and choosing the right type of delivery method so we can get to a more certain cost (the initial price tag is based on a Class-D Cost estimate that will be refined as we move through the detailed design process.)
To fund the project we’ll be looking at a combination of borrowing, reserves, contributions from regional partners, exploring other funding streams, and potential disposition of City-owned properties.

🗳️In order to borrow the money needed to build a new fire hall we’ll need to go to referendum to get the approval of City of Fernie residents and property owners (more to come on that.) In the meantime, we’ll be doing required analysis and appraisals on City lands that could be considered for sale, and working towards a more refined design with a more precise cost estimate.

Read the full planning report:https://fernie.civicweb.net/FileStorage/13D9ABA79F4A42498C8D308835270AD7-Attachment%201%20-%20Arcadis%20City%20of%20Fernie%20Firehall%20Fin.pdf
Watch the meeting here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3kEJkHsNg3C33NbT/
Follow along with the Fire Hall project: letstalk.fernie.ca/fire-hall-replacement

07/11/2024

🔥⚠️Effective at 1:00 pm mountain time on Friday, July 12th and until further notice, there is a campfire ban within the City of Fernie and Southeast Fire Centre. All permits allowing Backyard Fire Pits within the City of Fernie are cancelled.

❗To learn more about fire restrictions, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/southeast-fire-centre-bans

11/21/2023

Be prepared for snow and winter storms when driving! Check www.drivebc.ca before you head out, and be sure to travel with a vehicle emergency kit that includes:

• Grab-and-go bag containing water, non-perishable food, and first aid supplies
• Windshield scraper and snow brush
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• Spare tire, wheel wrench and jack
• Shovel and traction mat, sand or kitty litter
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery jumper cables
• Extra clothing and footwear
• Flares and matches or lighter
• Fuel line antifreeze
• Tire chains and gloves

More winter emergency preparedness tips at: PreparedBC.ca/WinterWeather

10/18/2023

Come and see how the project is going. We would appreciate your input

🔥We've been working hard on the Fire Hall Replacement Project, and we're excited to invite you to an open house on October 26 to share our progress on the project, and get your input!

🤷‍♀️If you're on the fence, here's some reasons why should you stop by:

🚒Learn about Fernie Fire and Emergency Services and the urgent need to build a new Fire Hall to serve our community
🗺️See the potential sites for the new Fire Hall, understand the site selection process, and give your input on the shortlisted sites.
🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏽Understand opportunities for potential co-uses and partnerships as part of the project, and tell us what's important to you.
👩‍🚒Chat with the Community Working Group, City Project Team, and consultants about the project, and ask any questions you might have!

🗓️Thursday, October 26, 6pm-8pm
📍Senior Citizen's Drop In Centre.

If you aren't able to attend the Open House there will be an online opportunity to provide feedback following the event. Learn more about the project here: https://letstalk.fernie.ca/fire-hall-replacement

10/13/2023

10/10/2023

Cooking safety starts with you.

This Fire Prevention Week, Fernie Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind you that “Cooking safety starts with YOU!”

• Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. For foods with longer cooking times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Fire Prevention Week 2023 runs from October 8-14. Learn more about Fire Prevention Week at firepreventionweek.org.

09/06/2023

Come and learn and have some fun at Family Safety Day

09/02/2023

🔥 As of 1pm MDT on Friday, September 1, 2023, the campfire ban is rescinded for the City of Fernie, with category 1 campfires also being allowed in the Southeast Fire Centre.

⛺️ As we head into the Labour Day long weekend, remember that anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area, attend the fire at all times, and must have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the campfire.

❌ Category 2 and Category 3 open burning (any fire larger than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high) remains prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

Learn more about prohibited and permitted fire activities at: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-1-campfire-prohibition-to-be-rescinded-in-the-southeast/

08/09/2023

👨‍🚒Are you interested in getting involved with the Fernie Fire Hall Replacement Project?

🗣️We are looking for volunteers representing the diverse interests of the community to form a Community Working Group to help advise to the project team, and ensure varied voices are considered throughout the project.

🌟If you meet ONE of the following criteria, and can commit to meeting twice per month we hope you'll consider getting involved:

☑️Skills and experience in the field of fire/emergency services, building and development, and/or project management.
☑️Academic knowledge, technical qualifications, or professional expertise in land development, planning, and/or community building.
☑️Interest or expertise in fire services, emergency services, and health and safety in connection to community well-being.

Letters of Interest are being accepted until Friday, August 11. Find the full Terms of Reference and further details here:

https://www.fernie.ca/EN/meta/whats-new/news-archives/2023-archive/volunteer-opportunity-fire-hall-replacement-community-working-group.html

08/02/2023

🌊We know it's beautiful weather for spending time on the water, but if you are recreating on the Elk River please be aware that there are multiple dangerous log jams near town.

❗New signs have been installed warning river users of the significant hazards near the Stanford Inn on river left. There are additional known logjams north of the golf course. There have been multiple close calls in the past week and Fernie Search and Rescue recommends floaters stick with bridge to bridge to avoid these dangerous log jams.

If you are out enjoying time on the Elk River, here are some safety tips from SAR to keep in mind:

-Recreational floaters stick with bridge to bridge; If you wish to continue to the Stanford then stay river right and get out at the steps. Remember, even this section is an uncontrolled river - PFDs, navigable watercraft, water rescue skills are still essential.
-For longer floats: River users must have craft that can be steered and navigated around the obstacles
- Do not allow children to navigate solo
- Always wear a PFD, but do NOT assume a PFD will save you or a child - while a PFD is essential, in a logjam they can add to entanglement hazard;
- Estimate your time of arrival and make sure someone knows your itinerary.
- If you go for a swim and are successful at getting out but lose your watercraft, please inform the RCMP or SAR so resources aren't wasted searching for a possible water user in trouble.

☀️Play safe and enjoy the beauty of the Elk River.

07/23/2023

Please be so aware on the Elk River. The river is low right now and so dangerous by Stanford Inn

05/31/2023

05/29/2023

City awarded Arcadis Architects with contract to build new fire hall

02/01/2023

Safety should always be a top consideration when using space heaters. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe and warm when it’s cold outside:

🔌Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire.

🔌Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.

🔌Always unplug and safely store the heater when it is not in use.

🔌Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.

🔌Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep, and don’t let pets or children play too close to a space heater.

🔌Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.

01/08/2023

What a great FERNIE ON FIRE this year. Great vibe tonight from the citizens of Fernie
Lots of money raised for the Elk Valley Su***de Task Force

01/06/2023

Our 2023 Firefighter Calendar is fresh off the press. All proceeds this year go to:
Elk Valley Su***de Task Force
Salvation Army
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
While supplies last you can purchase this amazing calendar at:
Fernie Fire Department
Body Garage
Mantra Studios
MKuhnphoto.com