Background
Lytton Fire & Rescue operates from a single fire hall in Lytton with a small group of volunteer firefighters who provide fire services within the Village and to three neighbouring First Nations.
The Fire Department also provides first responder medical services within the Village and its other coverage areas, and road rescue to an extensive area.
Impacts of 2021 fire
The Fire Department lost the following during the June 2021 fire:
- The Fire Hall
- One fire truck
- All of the training and other records
- A water tender
- Most of their protective equipment
These losses have resulted in significant challenges for the Department’s recovery post-fire.
Despite this, the Department continued to operate using borrowed space from the BC Wildfire Service, until the fall of 2024. The Department moved recently to a new temporary Fire Hall adjacent to the temporary Village Office.
Fire Services Review
A Fire Services Review was completed in September 2022 and adopted by the Village in October 2022.
The goals of the Fire Services Review are to:
- Provide a roadmap for how the Fire Department can be fully restored
- Ensure that the Department can provide effective fire and other emergency responses for the Village and the wider service area
The report contains 16 detailed recommendations, as well as priorities for implementation over two years.
Read the Fire Services Review report
Read the September 28, 2022 Fire Services Review Council Presentation
Updates on progress
Lytton Fire & Rescue has been implementing priority recommendations from the review. The following is an overview of the status of the recommendations:
| Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|
| Restore training and related records | In progress |
| Develop revised service establishment and operational bylaw and revised fire prevention bylaw | Review in progress |
| Review/update service and aid agreements | In progress |
| Development and implement an Occupational Health and Safety program | Now incorporated in Village Joint Occupational Health and Safety program |
| Establish Temporary Fire Hall | Now operating out of Temporary Fire hall |
| Review and update an organizational model | In progress |
| Complete financial review and develop 5-year capital and operating budgets | 5-year budget in progress |
| Develop an inspection program and fire prevention program | In progress |
| Replace and procure fire apparatus, as needed | Review underway about the need for additional resources |
| Develop operational guidelines | In progress |
| Conduct prior learning assessment of members, develop a training program, and document training and qualifications | Adopted the minimum training standard as defined by the Office of the Fire Commissioner |
| Analyze response data | Completed |
Read the July 26, 2023 Fire Services Review Update Council Presentation