Powell River Professional Fire Fighters IAFF 1298

06/13/2026

A remarkable piece of Powell River firefighting history.

On June 22, 1956, firefighters responded to a major commercial fire that struck a block of Marine Avenue businesses, including Bowes Hardware, Westview Bakery, Super Service Ltd., the Buy, Sell and Exchange, and the Electric Store. Reported losses were estimated at approximately $70,000.

Crews battling heavy smoke conditions as they worked to locate the seat of the fire hidden within the building. Firefighters cut inspection holes in the roof, searched for fire extension, and prevented further spread through the business block.

The images also offer a fascinating glimpse into Westview nearly 70 years ago: the storefronts, vehicles, streetscape, and the crowd that gathered to watch firefighters at work.

Nearly seven decades later, these photographs stand as a reminder of the firefighters who answered the call that morning and the long history of service to the people of Powell River.

06/11/2026

IAFF Local 1298 congratulates our President, Brad Collicutt, on receiving his 25 Years of Service Medal.

For 25 years, Brad has served the citizens of Powell River with professionalism, dedication, and leadership. In addition to his service on the fire department, he has spent countless hours advocating for the members of Local 1298 and helping strengthen our union.

On behalf of the membership, thank you for your commitment to the fire service, your fellow firefighters, and our community.

Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone.

05/09/2026

“Our members will always step up when called upon, but relying on off duty staffing is not a sustainable solution for a growing community.”

Following the RONA fire this week CTV News, covered the incident and the staffing challenges facing fire response in the City of Powell River.

Full story linked in comments below.

BC Professional Fire Fighters
IAFF Canada - AIP

05/08/2026

On May 6, Powell River Professional Firefighters responded to a rapidly growing fire at RONA, followed shortly after by a second fire elsewhere in the community.

The first arriving engine at the RONA fire had 4 firefighters onboard. That staffing level allowed crews to make a quick, aggressive, and effective knockdown of the fire.

In Powell River, that level of staffing is rare.

Despite being identified in the City’s Fire Protection Master Plan, engines in Powell River more commonly respond with only 2 or 3 firefighters. Reduced staffing slows operations, impacts effectiveness, and increases risk to both firefighters and the public.

Additional off duty firefighters were called in to support operations at the RONA fire and maintain coverage. Those same firefighters were then required to respond to the second fire shortly after. Our members will always step up when called upon, but relying on off duty staffing is not a sustainable solution for a growing community.

As the City of Powell River continues to grow and densify, there is still work to be done to meet the staffing levels identified in multiple reports and studies aimed at keeping both the public and firefighters safe.

Read the Fire Protection Master Plan and IAFF GIS Study at IAFF1298.com

It is our honour and privilege to serve the community of Powell River.

BC Professional Fire Fighters
IAFF Canada - AIP
International Association of Fire Fighters

05/06/2026

It’s McHappy Day! We’re at McDonald’s raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Today, every order helps families stay close to their kids while they’re in hospital.

We’re trying to outsell the cops today!

Come by, grab a coffee or a burger, and be part of this fun event.

05/06/2026

Letter to our community,

Over the weekend our members responded to another structure fire in a residential neighborhood. Crews worked diligently to knock down the fire and save adjacent homes.

A single crew of 4 firefighters worked to save 3 homes, essentially doing the job of 15. Eventually only 3 paid on call members with limited qualifications responded. Only 7 firefighters continued to battle the fire and interior operations had to be delayed until Maple Ridge responded to help due to limited resources.

A small number of qualified firefighters worked every phase of the incident without rehabilitation or medical assessment as outlined by NFPA standards.

Two 2 firefighters were injured. Both injuries were not severe but will still result in time loss and a recovery period.

Our members will always go above an beyond to protect our community.

However this incident like many others highlights the challenges of the current staffing model. We recognize there have been significant investments in ensuring a fully staffed first engine. However, that assumed there was adequate back up for larger incidents.

The Paid On Call model is failing to keep up. It can no longer be relied upon. A lack of qualified resources directly effects our ability to keep you safe and keep ourselves safe.

This incident is not a one off, it is the unfortunate state of the current response model. It is not the fault of any Paid On Call members individually, but rather the reality of the challenges that the POC model has as a whole to meet standards required for emergency response in a growing community.

Change is needed.

We are committed to working with admin staff and City officials to navigate these issues

Public Safety Matters
Firefighter Safety Matters

04/28/2026

04/27/2026

April 1974: A suspicious fire heavily damaged the interior of the Lovies Club in Townsite, formerly the Elks’ Club. The two-alarm blaze required firefighters hours to battle as flames moved through the floor and into the upper level and roof.

The building had reportedly been unoccupied since December 1973. Incidents like this were a reminder of the challenges crews faced in older wood-frame buildings, where fire could spread quickly through concealed spaces.

A small piece of Powell River history and a look back at the calls that shaped the fire service in our community.

04/15/2026

This week, we recognize and thank the dispatchers who support us from behind the scenes.

Powell River Firefighters are dispatched through North Island 911, and we’re continually grateful for the calm, professional voices guiding us when it matters most. From the first call to the final update, you help ensure we get where we need to be safely and efficiently for our community.

Campbell River Fire Fighters Union