I Want To

Apply for

A Building Permit A Burning Permit A Business Licence Community Funding & Support A Development Permit A Dog Licence A Municipal Job

View

Budget & Taxes Bylaws Council Information Garbage Collection Calendar Official Community Plan Online Property Tax Account Recreation Schedules & Programs Reports, Strategies & Plans

Contact

Council or Staff Emergency Services Hospitals & Clinics Report a Problem or Request Service Social & Community Services Submit an Event

Pay for

Parking Tickets Property Taxes Municipal Services Municipal Tickets & Fines Utilities

Emergency Services

Emergencies can happen at any time and your best defence is to be prepared!

Whether an emergency occurs from human-caused, technological or natural means, be assured that the District of Sparwood has emergency management plans and programs in place. The nature and scope of an emergency determines which emergency plans and programs will be activated.

Find the District’s EOC Program here.

If you are experiencing and emergency, dial 911.

We want our community to be prepared for an emergency. Forest fires, floods, avalanches and other emergencies affect hundreds of people in British Columbia each year.

It is important to always be prepared, especially when we live in a location that is prone to heavy snowfall, freshet or wildfires. Here is what you can do:

  • Know the hazards;
  • Create an emergency kit and grab and go bag;
  • Have a plan.

Here are some excellent resources to help you and your family prepare for any kind of emergency:

In the event of an emergency requiring an evaluation alert or warning, you will receive notification from various sources which include, but are not limited to:

  • Emergency crews going door-to-door;
  • Alerts on the District of Sparwood Facebook Page & Website;
  • A static notice on the District of Sparwood electronic sign located on Aspen Drive;
  • Updates over radio local radio stations, if required;
  • A push notification through the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Evacuation Notification System. Sign up for this here;
  • Notification through the RDEK Facebook page & website.

Ensure you follow, listen to or view reliable new sources, such as those listed above.

More information can also be found at:

Preparing for Emergencies

All it takes is three simple steps to get prepared for emergencies:

  1. Know the risks
  2. Make a plan
  3. Get an emergency kit

Learn how to prepare for an emergency

During an Emergency

In an emergency, we will be working to ensure the safety of residents. We will work closely with utilities, businesses, provincial ministries and community partners to respond to the emergency. Follow and listen to or view the reliable news sources listed above.

Learn how to get more information during an emergency

After an Emergency

Care needs to be taken when re-entering your home after an emergency and understanding your family may need help in coping. 

Things to consider after an emergency

The key objectives of the Vulnerable Person Registry (VPR) initiative are to improve the safety of vulnerable individuals in Sparwood and to support positive communication between the District and the community.

The development and implementation of a VPR is an essential piece to the District’s emergency preparedness efforts as it will improve both disaster planning and response capacity by providing key information to authorized response personnel during emergency events. This also includes impacts from power outages and residential evacuation needs.

A vulnerable person is defined as an individual who due to age, illness, trauma, disability or another reason, may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against harm. This registry will ensure that first responders and emergency social services teams are better prepared to provide proper assistance in the event of an emergency. If a vulnerable person is thought to be at risk, their personal information will be shared with emergency responders, allowing them to provide effective assistance to the registrant.

Emergencies and disasters can strike at any moment and without warning – they can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or be constrained to your home. In the event of an emergency, many of these vulnerable people do not evacuate due to limited means – whether they have no place to go, no way of transportation or they lack the assistance required to be able to leave safely. Vulnerable people are more likely to suffer in times of emergency especially if they lack adequate support systems.

Having your name on this registry is not compulsory and participation is completely voluntary. All information provided will remain confidential and will only be released to emergency responders when an emergency occurs or during emergency preparedness planning. It is important to note that registering your name does not guarantee extra assistance in an emergency.

Please complete one registry form for each vulnerable person in your household; additional copies can be picked up at the District Office or found online here. When completed, the registry forms can be returned to the District Office at 136 Spruce Avenue during regular work hours of 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, or online via https://sparwood.ca/contact/.

Any further questions regarding this registry can be directed to 250.425.6271 or sparwood@sparwood.ca.
Thank you for your participation. 

Vulnerable Person Registry Form

The Sparwood Fire Department responds to emergency incidents, including fires, motor vehicle incidents, public service incidents, rescue incidents, as well as hazardous material spills in accordance with Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008. The department works closely with other emergency response partners such as BC Ambulance, Search and Rescue, Elk Valley RCMP Detachment, BC Wildfire Services and Dangerous Goods response teams. Members provide emergency services for all of the response area, along with providing public education and fire safety awareness.

The department works with the District of Sparwood’s Emergency Program Director to administer the District’s Emergency Program. The key responsibilities are to establish and exercise plans to prepare, respond, and recover during disasters such as those which are man-made (hazardous materials, terrorism) or naturally occurring (floods, avalanches).

Fire Operations and Core Services

The Sparwood Fire Department provides:

  • Fire suppression and rescue services within the District of Sparwood response area (we do not provide first response to medical emergencies);
  • Yearly fire inspections for public and commercial buildings; Enforcement of the Fire Services Act and the BC Fire Code;
  • Fire investigations (3 department officers are Local Assistants to the Fire Commissioner); Fire prevention and life safety education;
  • Issue fire pit and burning permits;
  • Manage and coordinate the annual Wildfire Fuel Reduction Program; Provide operations level confined space rescue; and
  • Respond to dangerous goods incidents with first responder awareness.
  • In addition to the above services, the department conducts the annual “Fire in the Sky” fireworks display during Coal Miners Days.

Our Fire Halls and Equipment

There are two fire halls within Sparwood, Fire Hall #1 (which is the main hall) is located at 479 Pine Avenue, and Fire Hall #2 (the north hall) is located at 1391 Ponderosa Drive in Sparwood Heights. The department currently maintains a fleet of 9 vehicles (including 2 triple combination engines, a 75 foot aerial truck, 2 rescue units, water tender, command vehicle, mobile treatment center, an emergency response trailer and an antique fire truck — we call “Old Red”) .

The Main Fire Hall, which was opened in the spring of 1998, is a two-story, triple tandem bay facility, consisting of the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief offices, a communications office, exercise area, SCBA refill and repair room, as well as a repair and maintenance area. The second story houses a meeting/training area, complete with kitchen facilities. A three story training tower is located on the northwest corner of the building, complete with drafting area and sprinkler training components. Approximately half of our firefighters respond out of the hall. Currently housed at this facility are Ladder 1449, Engine 1447, Rescue 1448, Tender 1446 and MTC 1443.

The North Fire Hall was built in the early 1980s to ensure we had sufficient response coverage to Sparwood Heights in the event of a wash out of Highway 43 at the river or creek crossings. The facility is a 40’ x 40’ insulated two-bay metal Butler building with a 16’ x 40’ un-insulated and un-heated storage facility for equipment and other items. Currently housed within the main bays of this hall are Engine 1445 and Rescue 1451. The attachment provides storage and houses the emergency response trailer 1442. There is an 8’ x 10’ washroom with upper mezzanine at the rear part of Bay 1. This location is used as the department’s live training ground.

To find out more about their work in the community or to request an inspection, you can contact the Fire Chief at stennant@sparwood.ca or by phone at 250.425.0558.

The Elk Valley Regional detachment serves the communities of Sparwood, Elkford, Hosmer, Fernie, Elko, Baynes Lake, Grasmere, Rooseville and Galloway.

In addition to reporting a crime, making a firearm enquiry, or reporting non emergency complaints, citizens are able to obtain various other services through the RCMP such as criminal records checks, fingerprints, vulnerable sector checks, police certificates, document verification, and restricted use operation permits (e.g. ATVs).

Elk Valley Regional Detachment Contact Information

The Elk Valley Regional detachment office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and is conveniently located at:

607 Douglas Fir Road
250.425.6233 (for non-emergency enquiries)
During an emergency, dial 911

Sparwood Search and Rescue is a registered non-profit society devoted to the recovery of missing persons.

The team works closely with the Elk Valley Regional RCMP detachment and BC Ambulance Services. They also assist local emergency management during disasters and participate in community events and public education programs to help raise awareness. The dedicated team of trained volunteers provides vital support to our community in times of emergency by performing:

  • Ground search and rescue;
  • Rope rescue;
  • Swiftwater rescue;
  • Inland water rescue;
  • Evidence searches;
  • Evacuation assistance;
  • Spotting and tracking.

To find out more about their work in the community, please visit the Sparwood Search and Rescue Society website or you can contact them at info@sparwood.vr-sar.org or by phone at 250.425.5913.

Emergency medical services for the District of Sparwood are provided by the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS).

BCAS provides public ambulance service throughout British Columbia under the authority of the BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS). The BCEHS’ mandate is to provide provincial ambulance and emergency health services under the Emergency Health Services Act. To find out more about BCEHS services, visit the BCEHS website. The Sparwood detachment of BCAS is located at 603 Pine Avenue.