Fairmont Volunteer Fire Department

04/01/2026

02/05/2026

CV Fire is recommending EXTREME Caution in the coming days on Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake as well as surrounding lakes.
With the continued unseasonably warm forecast persisting late into next week the ice on Lake Windermere and surrounding areas will continue to deteriorate.
Along with organizers cancelling some of their public events on the ice, one can not help but notice that even our most die-hard ice anglers have removed or not placed their fishing huts this year due to the ice conditions.
Our thanks to Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club for their diligent Whiteway updates.
https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=50.467,-115.983

12/25/2025

The holidays are a busy season for batteries, and it's important to use them with caution. Lithium-ion batteries in particular store large amounts of energy in a small space, and if damaged or used improperly, they can catch fire or explode.

- Always follow manufacturer instructions when using and charging lithium-ion batteries.
- Only use the battery and charger that came with a device for that device.
- Do not charge devices with lithium-ion batteries on soft surfaces like a bed or couch.
- Avoid overcharging lithium-ion batteries, as this can reduce battery life or cause the battery to stop working.
- Remove e-cigarette batteries before putting the device in a pocket or bag.
- Stop using a lithium-ion battery if you notice an odour, a change in colour or shape, excess heat, leaking, or an odd noise.
- Recycling used lithium-ion batteries is the best way to dispose of them. Do not put used batteries in the garbage or in piles.

Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season. For more safety tips, click here: https://tinyurl.com/4t4jvr7r

12/04/2025

With the cooler temperatures this week and colder this weekend, it is a good time for a friendly reminder. Please do not plug space heaters or heating elements of any kind into surge protectors or power bars. They are best utilized for home electronics only, and can be overloaded by the amount of electrical wattage and current needed by heating appliances. Also, plugging multiple power bars into one wall outlet, or linking them together will create a fire hazard.

10/17/2025

Following the end of the Provincial Category 3 open burning ban here in the Southeast Fire Centre we have seen and received a number of calls concerning local smoke and fires. A reminder while Category 3 fires are now permitted, they must still be registered (Free and over the phone) and follow Provincial Legislative requirements (links found in the shared post);
The person who lights, fuels or uses a category 3 open fire must adhere to the requirements as outlined in the Wildfire Regulation. Additionally, anyone planning a category 3 open fire is required by the Environmental Management Act to follow the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR).

Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, the Category 3 open fire prohibition will be rescinded throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. With this rescindment, all remaining open fire prohibitions and restrictions within the Southeast will be lifted.

We ask that the public remains vigilant and follow all regulations when enjoying campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires.

For more information about the Category 3 rescindment, see: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-3-open-fire-prohibition-to-be-rescinded-in-the-southeast-fire-centre/

For up to date information on prohibitions and restrictions in the Southeast Fire Centre, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions

10/06/2025

This is Fire Prevention Week™ and the theme this year is "Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” focusing on using these batteries safely. It is important to know how to BUY, CHARGE, and RECYCLE safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.

Charge into Fire Safety: 3 Steps

1) Buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.

2) Charge devices safely. Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged.

3) Recycle batteries responsibly. Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire. Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Visit call2recycle.ca to find a recycling spot near you.

Watch for more fire prevention tips all week and learn more by visiting https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week

10/02/2025

Watch UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)'s new PSA to learn how to Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety and precautions to protect your loved ones whi...

05/29/2025

⚠️ Urgent Water Notice from Fairmont Utilities ⚠️

05/27/2025

FROM BC WILDFIRE: Category 3 open fire to be prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre (Posted 05.26.25 at 11:50 AM)

- Effective at 1:00 PM (MT) on Friday, May 30, 2025, Category 3 open fire will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Anyone conducting Category 3 open fire within the Southeast Fire Centre's jurisdiction must extinguish those fires by the 1:00 PM (MT), May 30, 2025, deadline.

This prohibition will remain in place until 1:00 PM (MT) October 30, 2025, or until the order is rescinded.

In addition to Category 3 open fires, the following equipment and activities will also be prohibited:
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers

A Category 3 open fire is a fire that burns:
- Material concurrently in 3 or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material in one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- One or more windrows each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares

This prohibition applies to all areas in the Southeast Fire Centre that are outside of municipal boundaries. In addition, this prohibition applies to the following types of land within municipal boundaries:
- Parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act)
- Recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act)
- Ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act)
- Wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act)
- Private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act)

This prohibition does not include Category 1 campfires or Category 2 open fires. Further information on the different types of open fire is available online.

The Southeast Fire Centre is asking anyone who conducted a Category 3 pile burn over the fall or winter to check their burn site(s) and ensure they are fully extinguished.

For the FULL news release and more information, contact the Fire Information Officer, BC Wildfire Service - Southeast Fire Centre at 250 318-7715 or visit www.bcwildfire.ca

01/15/2025

NEWS RELEASE: Members of the Fairmont Fire Department Respond to Minor Fuel Spill (posted: Jan.14.25 10:35am)

Members of the Fairmont Fire Department are responding to a minor fuel spill at a commercial location near Fairmont this morning.

“We believe the spill was caused by a mechanical issue with one of the pumps and the staff did a good job of quickly actioning and reporting it,” explains Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Thomas Dobbin. “This is a minor spill, and it has been fully contained to the immediate area, so there is no risk to the public or environment.”

5 Firefighters and 2 apparatus from the Fairmont Fire Department are on site and have entrances to the gas station blocked off until the Spill Response team, which is on route from Cranbrook, arrives and completes the clean up.