New minimum training standards for B.C.’s firefighters will provide a clear and achievable means of ensuring the safety of the men and women in the fire service.

Under the new training standards, which were crafted as part of a Playbook with the Fire Chief’s Association of BC and is updated for the first time in more than a decade, local governments identify the level of service being provided and fire departments are then able to ensure their firefighters are appropriately trained to meet that level. This allows for an effective use of resources to meet the needs of the community without requiring unnecessary training.

The new standards will provide more flexibility for local authorities, provide for better local and regional efficiencies in training and service delivery, and encourage more participation in volunteer fire departments.

With a clear and consistent minimum standard for all, it is expected that the fire service community-at-large will continue to share experience, tactics and approaches with each other as they research and develop best practices.

The new minimum training standards support eight of the 12 recommendations made to government in the 2010 Fire Service Liaison Group (FSLG) report, which was designed to improve the provision of fire and rescue services throughout all of British Columbia.

Quotes:

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice -

“Previously, there was one training standard that applied to every department and every firefighter, from those in the smallest communities to those in the biggest cities. It was a one-size-fits-all approach that wasn’t as effective as we needed it to be. This new standard allows communities to ensure that their chosen level of service and its required training best meet their specific needs.”

Timothy Pley, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia -

“Local governments, especially in rural communities, can now consider the level of fire protection needed in their community, taking into consideration the level of service that their community is capable of supporting. That decision can then drive the level of training required for firefighters. Providing training that is congruent with the clearly defined level of fire protection that is provided in each community, improves safety for firefighters and the communities they serve. We applaud the government of British Columbia for taking the lead and bringing this important project to fruition.”

Dean Colthorp, president of the British Columbia Fire Training Officers Association -

“The Playbook’s obvious benefit lies in how it maps out direction for fire departments and fire department members with consistent messaging for learning and developing firefighting skills; we look forward to working with the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia, the Office of Fire Commissioner and fire services in B.C. as we move forward with the Playbook.”

Quick Facts:

• The minimum training standards, laid out in the Structure Firefighters Competency and Training Playbook, replace standards set in 2003.
• The standards were developed through a collaborative effort using extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia, British Columbia Fire Training Officers Association, Justice Institute of British Columbia, College of the Rockies and Vancouver Island Emergency Response Academy.
• Exterior Level Departments utilizing the train-the-trainer approach for in-house training delivery, will have the necessary training materials supplied in electronic formats to minimize costs.
• The standards are laid out in a playbook that is a living document that can be amended as required.
• The Fire Services Liaison Group delivered its original report, “Public Safety in BC: Transforming the Fire/Rescue Service”, to government in 2010. It contained 14 recommendations for improving the provision of fire and rescue services throughout all of British Columbia. Twelve of these were directed at the B.C. government and two were directed to local governments.

Learn More:

For more information, visit the Office of the Fire Commissioner at: http://www.embc.gov.bc.ca/ofc/

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602