Fire Services

White Rock Fire Rescue was established in 1933 to serve and protect our community from the impacts of:

  • Fires
  • Illness
  • Accidents
  • Natural or human-caused hazards

This is accomplished through public education, preparedness, prevention, and emergency response with an emphasis on safety, quality of service, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The Department consists of a Fire Chief who is also the Emergency Program Coordinator, a Deputy Chief for Training and Operations, a Deputy Chief for Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness, an Administrative Assistant, Professional Career Firefighters and Auxiliary Paid-Per-Call Firefighters. The department is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week with four rotating 4 to 5 person fire suppression crews
supplemented by auxiliary firefighters as needed.

The department responds to a wide variety of emergency incidents and provides service in seven key areas:

  1. FIRE SUPPRESSION response to incidents involving or potentially involving fire.
  2. RESCUE AND SAFETY response to a wide range of incidents such as; confined space rescue, structural collapse, low to steep rope rescue, hazardous materials incidents, environmental emergencies, electrical problems, weather events, natural gas leaks, public assists and general complaints.
  3. A proactive FIRE PREVENTION program minimizes the occurrence and potential consequences of fires. Regular inspections are carried out enforcing BC Building Code and BC Fire Code in all assembly, commercial, institutional, and multi-residential buildings. All new building or renovation plans, and development proposals are reviewed. Business license and pre-occupancy inspections are made when required and fire investigations of all fires resulting in over $500 damage or loss are conducted.
  4. Firefighters are trained as First Responders for MEDICAL CALL medical emergencies. This “First Responder” service is a part of the pre-hospital medical care system in the Province of British Columbia. Over 50 per cent of White Rock Fire rescue calls for service are medically related.
  5. The department conducts fire safety and emergency preparedness training and
    offers a variety or other PUBLIC EDUCATION programs.
  6. MOTOR VEHICLE INCIDENTS (MVI) response. The department is equipped with rescue equipment that can be used for auto extrication and also may provide fire suppression, medical assistance, fuel leak control, environmental protection and secure the scene for the safety of other emergency responders.
  7. The department is responsible for administering and maintaining the City’s EMERGENCY RESPONSE and RECOVERY PLAN including activating the Emergency Operations Center when necessary. The plan guides the operations, organization, responsibilities, and coordination necessary to provide for effective response and recovery from major emergencies or disasters in the City.