Pender Island Fire Rescue Services

In many respects the evolution of Pender Island Fire Rescue (PIFR) is a reflection of the growth of North and South Pender. Over the past three decades our Gulf Island community has become ctmore populated and the demands on our infrastructure more complex.

Twenty-five years ago PIFR consisted of one fire hall and two pieces of equipment. We had about two calls per month. At most, there was one major fire a year and we managed burning regulations. We did this with 24 volunteers.

Today, PIFR consists of three halls and more than 10 pieces of equipment. We have about 200 calls per year of which three are major fires. The days of simply administering burning regs are long gone. Today, our services range from multi-casualty and medical assists, to public education, fire prevention and inspection programs and much more.

In this increasingly complex environment, PIFR has evolved to sustain its highly efficient community-based service by recruiting a much broader spectrum of volunteers. Today, the fire department is fortunate to have more than 80 volunteers of which 47 are responders.

On any given day the dedicated volunteers of Pender Island Fire & Rescue may be called to: 

• House fires
• Grass & forest fires
• Vehicle fires
• Fuel fires
• Marine vessel fires
• Gas leaks
  

OR- we may be called upon to provide rescue services at: 

• Vehicle accidents
• Building collapses
• Poisonous atmosphere events
• Chemical spills
• Aircraft mishaps
• Boating accidents
• Missing persons events
• Embankment rescue
  

OR - medical responses including: 

• Cardiac arrest
• Strokes
• Impaired breathing
• Trauma
• Major blood loss
• Allergic reactions
• Overdoses
• Drowning