Page 30 - Annual Report - Final - Spread - June 2019

YOUR

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Port Alberni Fire Department (PAFD) is committed to the health and well-being of
its staff and the community, and aims to enhance awareness through education and
public participation while providing premier fire and rescue services. In addition to fire
suppression and prevention services, the PAFD also provides medical, vehicle rescue,
technical rescue, hazardous material response and fire investigation.

24/7, 365
The PAFD is staffed with a four person crew and
one Captain 24/7, 365 days a year. In 2018, the
department responded to 1605 incidents, up 7.6
per cent from last year. These calls ranged from
structural fires (34) to public assistance requests.

Medical calls were up by 12.6 per cent from the
previous year.

PROTECTING
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Dedicated to serving the community, the PAFD PORT
educated its citizens on how to protect their
homes from wildfire through the FireSmart
Program, taught elementary school students In 2018, Fire Chief Kelly Gilday left PAFD to join the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional
about fire prevention during Fire Prevention District (ACRD) as the Protective Services Manager. In late 2018 the City announced
Week, hosted two Grade 3 students as Chief for the appointment of Mike Owens as Fire Chief.
a Day and offered hall tours and infant and child
car seat installation upon request.
Looking ahead to 2019, the PAFD is renewing their focus on its employees. A new
Mental Health Committee will be struck and will work to enhance resiliency in
firefighters by providing training to help identify signs and symptoms of operational
stress injuries. The goal is to arm each firefighter with the tools they need to identify
signs and symptoms in themselves and their colleagues. The PAFD is also looking to further
TRAINING FOR DISASTERS build relationships with external partners such as Tseshaht First Nation, Hupacasath
First Nation and the ACRD.
The PAFD participated in over 2,220 hours of
training including daily skills maintenance, The department will also continue to strengthen their relationships with the three Automatic
officer development and coordinated exercises in Aid Agreement partners: Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek and Sproat Lake; helping ensure the
support of partner agencies such as the Ministry collective delivery of outstanding service to the residents of the Alberni Valley.
of Forest and BC Ambulance. Training with the
valley’s Automatic Mutual Aid Partners continued
with courses on Incident Command, Asbestos INTERSTING FACT. DID YOU KNOW?
Awareness and a large scale practice on relay
water pumping. PAFD firefighters train as a crew every shift Every shift firefighters perform routine
to meet quarterly objectives as set out by inspection and maintenance of equipment to
their training department. ensure operational readiness and reliability.

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