West Kelowna Fire Rescue is dedicated to providing emergency response, fire prevention and protection and rescue services for City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation residents. The department partners with fire/rescue services in other jurisdictions when needed to deal with regional, provincial and national emergencies.
9-1-1 Emergencies and Emergency Response |
Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency or if you see smoke. In the event of a forest fire or natural disaster go to cordemergency.ca for information on evacuation alerts and orders, emergency reception centre locations, and other important details including how to safely return to your home after a flood or wildfire. |
Bylaws |
Four primary bylaws relate to West Kelowna Fire Rescue operations and regulate such things as burning, campfires, fees and charges, fire hydrants, fireworks and nuisance smoke:
Visit the bylaw page for a complete list of West Kelowna bylaws. |
Campfires, Fire Pits, Fireworks and Open Burning |
Burning Permits/Open BurningStarting October 1, open burning permits will be available for eligible West Kelowna property owners. Permits are required during open burning season and only issued for properties greater than one hectare, under specific conditions including suitable air quality and adequate venting. Open burning season is typically from October 1 to April 30, but local fire chiefs may shorten the season in the interest of public health and safety. To obtain a burning permit, call:
Check today's Air Quality/Venting conditions. CampfiresCampfires are currently permitted. At times when campfires are allowed, permits are not required for the following:
Fireworks
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West Kelowna FireSmart Grant Program - Guidelines & Information |
IntroductionThe City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation dedicated $30,000 in funding to encourage private property owners to use FireSmart principles and initiatives to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and our Westside community. Funding for FireSmart grants in the City of West Kelowna is expended for 2020, with the exception of vouchers of up to $20 to help cover costs of taking yard waste to the Westside Transfer Station. Some FireSmart grant funding remains available on a first come, first serve basis for eligible residents, community associations, and strata properties in Westbank First Nation. Property owners must conduct FireSmart treatments within zero to 10 metres from their home (Zone 1 & 1a) will be eligible for FireSmart grants. Application Requirements & Process
Completed submissions will be considered on a first come, first served basis. All applications and attachments must be emailed to wkfr.prevention@westkelownacity.ca. |
Firefighter Recruitment - Career |
![]() Firefighting is a challenging and demanding occupation. Firefighters must respond Career Firefighting Requirements Minimum Qualifications at time of application:
Preferred qualifications/skills are:
Check careers.westkelownacity.ca for available recruitment opportunities. |
Firefighter Recruitment - Paid on Call |
Paid On Call Firefighting RequirementsMinimum requirements at time of application are:
The Paid On-Call recruit training program is an 18 month process comprised of four hours on Tuesday evenings and one mandatory weekend per month. The training is designed to give the necessary skills to be a Paid On-Call member with West Kelowna Fire Rescue. Training topics will cover Emergency Medical First Responder 3 with AED and Spinal, NFPA 1001, S100/S130 Wildland Firefighter and JIBC Live Fire 1. |
Regional Air Quality Program |
Our community cares about clean air. Outdoor burning regulations provide residents greater protection from the impact of concentrated smoke. To learn more about outdoor burning regulations, please visit the Regional Air Quality website. If you have questions or require more information, please contact the Regional Air Quality Program via email or by phone at 250-469-8408. |
Wildfire Danger Rating |
For the current rating, see the BC Wildfire Service's West Kelowna Fire Danger Rating. Fire danger ratings can change significantly during fire season, from approximately May to October. To learn more about wildfire response in British Columbia, including a list of active fires, official danger ratings throughout the province and how to prevent forest and grass fires, please visit BC Wildfire. |
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