Fire and Rescue

Career Firefighter Recruitment

West Kelowna Fire Rescue is not currently recruiting

Firefighting is a challenging and demanding occupation. Firefighters must respond quickly and work effectively as part of a vital team.

Firefighters perform functions in areas including, but not limited to:

• Auto extrications at accident scenes
• Emergency medical care through the First Responder Program
• Environmental and public protection from hazardous materials concerns
• Firefighting
• Participation in various training programs to maintain and upgrade the latest firefighting and rescue methods and technology
• Post-fire inspections and overhaul
• Promotion of fire prevention and public education
• Public events
• Rescue services including high angle, ice, and fast moving water

Firefighters encounter many challenges in fighting fires such as identifying the source of the fire, using appropriate suppression techniques and search and rescue of victims.

Firefighting is very physically demanding work and involves hauling heavy equipment, ascending and descending on ground, extension ladders and fire escapes, working in extreme heat and smoke and working in confined spaces with limited vision.

Firefighting is also mentally demanding and requires constant and ever-expanding knowledge for department personnel. Experience with West Kelowna Fire Rescue ranges from the newest recruit to firefighters with over 30 years of service.

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:

• Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2010, No. 0093
• City of West Kelowna Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095
• City of West Kelowna Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw 2010 No. 0114
• Smoke Control Regulatory Bylaw No. 773

Visit the bylaw page for a complete list of West Kelowna bylaws.

Campfires, Fire Pits, Fireworks and Open Burning

Residents who follow regulations and obtain the necessary permits and permissions help West Kelowna Fire Rescue achieve its goals of fire education, prevention, protection of people and property and safety.

Permits are required for:

• Open Burning, but only on properties greater than 1 hectare, under specific conditions; check today's Air Quality/Venting conditions; and, visit West Kelowna Fire Rescue Administrative Offices to obtain a burning permit during the permitted season of Octoer 1 to April
• Fireworks - professional public display only, with licence obtained from the Fire Chief

Permits are not required for the following:

• Campfires and Fire Pits; however, these may be banned at certain times of year in accordance with Campfire Restrictions. A notice will be posted on our homepage when a campfire ban is in effect.

Fire 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 wildfires, please visit BC Wildfire.

Firefighter Recruitment - Paid on Call

West Kelowna Fire Rescue is not currently recruiting

• Being a resident of the City of West Kelowna or Westbank First Nation Tsinstikeptum 9 or 10

• Having a valid BC Driver's Licence, with no more than 6 points and no prohibitions or suspensions in the past 3 years

• Having a clear criminal record

• Having a doctor's consent to participate in physical fitness testing

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.

Outdoor Burning

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.