BC Fire Report Gets Support

Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 30 April 2010 16:25 107.5 KISSFM:

Officials with Vernon Fire Rescue are supporting a report that calls for major reforms on how firefighters operate in the province. Deputy chief Rick Owens feels there's a need to modernize the service, and for one agency to oversee the activities of fire departments. "Generally the fire service is set up on the local level, so everybody's doing a little bit of their own thing so just on some of the bigger events we really have to get coordinated and put everything together, so everybody can respond and do an excellent job. Owens says issues like training can vary. "You can get one department that's very well trained, whether it's career or volunteers members, and other ones where they haven't had the opportunities, or don't have the funding. There's no real set standards." In a report submitted to the province, the Fire Services Liaison Group says B.C.'s 350 fire departments suffer from fragmented control and different standards for training and readiness. The report makes 14 recommendations on improving the service to the government.