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Fire and Rescue Services

Vancouver’s Fire and Rescue Services Department saves lives and property in emergencies, checks buildings for fire safety by-laws and educates people about safety. The department has 20 fire halls and more than 800 professional staff, each with special life-saving training such as rescue in high places, fighting boat fires and dealing with hazardous wastes. Every neighbourhood in the city has a community fire station that responds quickly to any emergency at any time of day or night. When you call for help, Fire and Rescue Services will respond within 3-5 minutes. You can also get information about home safety at fire stations.

Fire Safety Tips:

E D I T H (Exit Drills In The Home)

• Install working smoke detectors and test them monthly.
• Make a home escape plan and practise it.
• Draw a floor plan and show two ways out of every room — especially bedrooms.
• Determine a meeting place where all family members should gather after escaping from an emergency.
• One person should call 9-1-1 from a neighbour’s house or from a safe place.
• If there is a fire, check doors before opening them. Open the door only if it is cool to the touch.
• Crawl low under smoke. The cleanest and coolest air is near the floor.
• Get out quickly and safely. Get out and STAY OUT.

What to do during an earthquake:

During an earthquake, there will be a lot of noise and the building may sway and shake. Lights may go out and fire alarms may go off. When the shaking starts, stay in the building. Crawl under a strong piece of furniture such as a table or chair, cover your head and hold on to the item you are under. If there is no furniture to crawl under, crouch against an interior wall and cover your head with your arm. If you are outside and next to a building, get inside the doorway so falling objects won’t hit you.

If you are in your car, pull over to the side of the road and stop, away from power lines and trees if possible. Stay in your car. Identify a safe spot in your home or office where you might seek shelter in the event of an earthquake.

You can put together your home emergency preparedness kit (a carrying bag with straps) with the following items:

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Comments or questions? Send us e-mail at baldwin.wong@vancouver.ca.

© 2002, City of Vancouver, Community Services, Social Planning
Last Modified: Friday, February 4, 2005