Fire & Emergency Response
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.