The Prince George Fire Rescue Service saw a 22 per cent increase in calls in 2022, compared to the previous year.
Prince George fire fighters responded to a total of 9,880 calls in 2022, according to a report going before the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors next week. That’s up from 8,087 calls in 2021.
Of the 9,880 calls last year, 5,949 were emergency medical calls, 2,623 were related to fires, 626 were rescue calls and 682 were administrative.
The Prince George Fire Rescue Service has seen a significant increase in calls over the past eight years.
In 2020, the department responded to 4,831 calls – however, during that year the provincial government revised B.C. Emergency Health Services dispatch protocols so non-paramedic first responder agencies would only be dispatched to urgent medical calls to prevent unnecessary COVID-19 exposures.
But between 2015 and 2019, the fire department responded to between 5,888 and 6,881 calls per year – averaging roughly 6,200 calls per year.
A report on the fire department’s service levels will be going to Prince George city council on March 1. The report is expected to outline the need for additional personnel and resources to meet the rising demand for calls in the city.
