By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
The Oliver Volunteer Fire Department (OFD) could soon be designated a Full Service operation following updates to provincial training standards. Amongst the changes this would enable the department to enter “complex structures” to fight fires.
Town of Oliver staff delivered a report to Council at the August 25 Committee of the Whole meeting detailing what it would take to make such a conversion.
One major reason for now being the time to suggest full-service conversion was updated provincial training standards.
Formerly known as the “Playbook”, the British Columbia Structure Firefighter Minimum Training Standards were updated in March 2024 to highlight requirements in training and knowledge for local fire departments. As part of the update, the Town of Oliver was obligated to agree to the new Standards, and affirm the classification of the OVFD.
The wording of the Provincial updates better aligns with the British Columbia Fire Service Act, implemented in 1979. The focus of the updates was on “competencies”, requiring new competencies to be met from drivers and operators, Incident Safety Officers, and Incident Commanders.
Town staff pointed out in the report that the Fire Chief and deputy, along with OVFD’s officers, are trained to the Full Service level, which would negate the need for much of the extra personnel certification.
These positions recently gained this certification by completing Hazmat Awareness training in April 2025. The OVFD as an entity is certified to operate under full-service designation, but has not been declared as such by Council.
The cost to upgrade volunteer members from Interior Operations level to the Full Service level would be $200 per member, annually. Currently, the service costs for Interior Operations are $1,300 per firefighter. This would increase to $1,500 per firefighter under Full Service designation.
More crucially, upgrading the OVFD to full-service would allow firefighters to enter the numerous structures in Oliver currently designated as “complex”.
Interior Operations-level firefighters, under current provincial rules, do not have approval to enter burning complex structures, or environments posing an immediate danger unless operations are pre-planned.
A determination would have to be made by the department that specifically trained firefighters could safely conduct the operations, and have training relevant to the risks and hazards the complex structure may pose. “Complex” structure designation applies to most of the buildings in Oliver that are not single-family residential dwellings.
Beyond the training of extra members, Council would also have to bring this up at a Regular Council meeting. Specifically, Fire Control Amendment Bylaw 1369 would require an update of its language, to refer to the OVFD by the new service level.
The positive, as stated by Fire Chief Ash Regner, is that no new purchases would be required as part of the process, and that the OVFD has the materials it needs to operate at full service.
“We have the appropriate level of equipment today, to continue to operate within our district,” he said. “There would be no additional cost today, for crew or for equipment.”
Councillor Terry Schafer said the proposal for Full Service designation is a testament to the growth of the fire department over the years.
“I’ve been watching this department, the fire department, grow and become more qualified, and also training many (other) fire departments throughout BC, at their Spring seminars,” Schafer said. “I’m really proud of our fire department, and I’d be happy to support the recommendation.”
The motion to bring a report forward to a Regular Council Meeting was carried unanimously. A specific Regular Council meeting date has not yet been chosen.
