New minimum training standards for B.C.’s firefighters will
provide a clear and achievable means of ensuring the safety of the men
and women in the fire service.

Under the new training standards, which were crafted as part of a
Playbook with the Fire Chief’s Association of BC and is updated for the
first time in more than a decade, local governments identify the level
of service being provided and fire departments are then able to ensure
their firefighters are appropriately trained to meet that level. This
allows for an effective use of resources to meet the needs of the
community without requiring unnecessary training.

The new standards will provide more flexibility for local authorities,
provide for better local and regional efficiencies in training and
service delivery, and encourage more participation in volunteer fire
departments.

With a clear and consistent minimum standard for all, it is expected
that the fire service community-at-large will continue to share
experience, tactics and approaches with each other as they research and
develop best practices.

The new minimum training standards support eight of the 12
recommendations made to government in the 2010 Fire Service Liaison
Group (FSLG) report, which was designed to improve the provision of
fire and rescue services throughout all of British Columbia.