Fire Department
The Fort St. John Fire Department carries out fire suppression, fire inspections, fire investigations and provides public safety and education. The Fort St John Fire Department also provides municipal support for emergency and disaster preparedness.
At-a-glance
- Established in 1942
- 30 members, including day officers and suppression members
- 1 station
- 13 vehicles
The Fort St John Fire Department responds to an average of 2,000 incidents every year, including:
- Fire suppression
- Medical response
- Vehicle incidents and road rescues
- Hazardous material incidents
- And other technical rescues such a high angle and confined space
History
After the tragic loss of two young children in a fire, residents of Fort St. John decided to start the first fire fighting brigade. Established in 1942, volunteers equipped a second-hand truck with buckets, spades, axes, and other rudimentary gear. The truck was stations at Bert Bowes and Bradin Herron’s garage on the main east-west road in town; volunteers dug a large hole on the northwest corner of the main crossroad and installed a water cistern. To alert the brigade, a post with a rope and bell was erected and when the bell rang, almost all businesses had a designated person to answer the call.
The Fort St. John fire division was completely manned by volunteers until 1964 when the City hired its first paid chief – Carl Lutz. In 1971, the City hired its first paid fire fighters and the fire department evolved into the team we know and trust today.
