The Duncan Fire Department is on pace for more than 500 calls this year.
Fire Chief Geoff Spriggs presented the department’s first- and second-quarter statistics, along with partial third-quarter figures, to Duncan city council last week.
The department had responded to 397 calls as of Sept. 28. False alarms, burning complaints and cancelled or unfounded calls made up the largest categories. Crews also responded to 21 structure fires.
March was the busiest month, with 60 calls for service.
The department said it did not see its usual summer spike in calls, possibly because of increased public caution during this year’s wildfire season. It responded to 49 calls in July and 57 in August.
Duncan Fire is now fully staffed with 38 members, including eight recruits.
“Being up to full compliment is a huge achievement, and with this there is a slightly modified organizational structure,” said the fire department’s report. “The platoons are now divided into 4 with a Captain and Lieutenant and approximately 6 firefighters. The Officers are responsible for platoon training. There is also a training plan for every fire department position – recruit firefighter up to chief officer level to guide this training process.”
The department sent a three-person crew and a wildland truck to assist the B.C. Wildfire Service for more than a month this summer.
With fall here, residents are being reminded to have their chimneys cleaned and ensure their house numbers are clearly visible from the road.
Click here to view the report.
