Vancouver Fire Fighters

09/05/2026

Members wrapping up at a fire on Joyce Street.

No further details at this time.

09/03/2026

In Solidarity continues with Eric Himmelman, firefighter with VFRS since 2017.

Eric is community minded through and through, and being a firefighter gives him the responsibility to look after the community he cares so much about.

The biggest challenge? Staying sharp. There's always new techniques, new knowledge, new skills to build, and Eric says the real work is constantly pushing himself to get better.

And the important stuff: tonight's fire hall dinner is fried chicken sandwiches, and Eric's crew will tell you he doesn't miss a meal.

In Solidarity is an ongoing series highlighting the members of IAFF Local 18 who make our union strong.

09/02/2026

Some days on the job are hard. Some days look like this: Firefighter Mickey Fabbiano inspiring the next generation at Camp Ignite a few weeks back.

Thank a firefighter for what they do and watch the reaction. Most of them look a bit puzzled, like the thought hadn't occurred to them. Not because the job isn't hard. It's because they can't imagine doing anything else.

That's the part people don't always see. The love for the work is real, and it shows up in moments like this one just as much as it does on the tough calls.

09/01/2026

Vancouver Fire Fighters would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Joan Phillip （Amshen） 彤菲麗, who passed away suddenly last week.

When our team reached out to Joan to meet in 2023, she did not hesitate and scheduled a meeting right away. Meeting her, she was immediately warm, interested in the work our members do, and supportive of our legislative asks.

Joan was a great friend to our union and was always keen to pick up the phone and discuss what was going on with us directly. She happily met with us at home, at conventions, or in Victoria.

She was also part of the largest expansion of presumptive cancer coverage in BC’s history.

Joan was always concerned about our members’ mental health and how the trauma of our work affected us. As someone who grew up in the DTES, she understood the toll that working and living in that area can take, and she was always keen to hear how members at #2 hall were holding up, and even more keen to know what we as a union were doing to support our people.

We will miss you Amshen Joan Phillip, thanks for being a friend and advocate for us❤️

08/29/2026

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THANK YOU, VANCOUVER

We sincerely thank Vancouver Fire Rescue Services for the confidence and trust they have placed in Dependable with the purchase of five new fire apparatus.

Our team looks forward to building these apparatus and supporting the firefighters who rely on them to serve and protect their community. 🔥

Thank you for choosing Dependable Emergency Vehicles.

08/29/2026

Our Tech Rescue member training on top of the Lions Gate Bridge earlier this week.

Why train up there? So that when a real call comes in, our crew makes it look easy.

Not a bad view for a workday either.

Huge props to the team that showed up and got after it.

08/28/2026

Meet Probationary Firefighter Kevin Emerson. He traded a hammer for a hose. He's over a year into his career with VFRS, after a couple years as a volunteer firefighter.

He says the culture at the hall surprised him, in the best way. The camaraderie, the way crews decompress together after tough calls, the people. It's what makes the job more than a job.

Watch to find out the most challenging part of the job for Emerson.

In Solidarity is our ongoing series celebrating the members and leaders that make our union strong.

08/26/2026

It looks simple from the sidewalk. It isn't.

Hooking up a hydrant means hauling heavy hose, wrestling stiff couplings, and cranking a valve that hasn't always been maintained the way it should be, all while the clock is running on a fire that isn't waiting.

Now add a hydrant buried behind a parked car. It doesn't just slow things down, it costs time nobody has.

Keep hydrants clear. It matters more than people think.

08/25/2026

Tower 7, on scene.

08/21/2026

1950. A pier fully involved. Two members, one hose, holding the line.

This is the job, stripped down to its core: a line that has to be held, and members who show up. The uniforms have changed. The equipment has changed. This hasn't.

Seventy-plus years later, it's still two firefighters side by side when it matters most.