In Order to Ensure Adequate Fire Response, the Prince Rupert Fire Department Will Only be Responding to Critical Ambulance Calls

Fire crews in Prince Rupert will only be assisting BC Ambulance teams during critical or “purple” calls from now on, in an effort to ensure crews are available to respond to fires.

Recently, Fire Department staff have spent more time responding to medical calls than fire calls, and have even been required to drive ambulances.

Since April, this has created 68 instances which required fire crews to work overtime due to ambulance-related issues, at significant cost to tax payers.

While it hasn’t been an issue yet, the City is worried that this may lead to the Department’s inability to respond to a fire emergency down the line.

In order to avoid that outcome while maintaining adequate medical response, Council is limiting the types of support calls the Department can respond to to critical calls only.