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Castlegar Fire Department reports 43% of calls for medical responses

Fire calls drop in 2024 while 9-1-1 calls climb
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Castlegar Fire Department extinguished a trailer fire on May 16, 2024. (Betsy Kline/Castlegar News)

While overall annual numbers for the Castlegar Fire Department (CFD) remained steady in 2024 compared to 2023, there was one category that was down drastically – fires.

In 2023, CFD reported 62 fires to the Office of the Fire Commissioner (those that damage property, cause injuries or fatalities or require fire department resources to suppress), 44 of those were considered suspicious, intentionally set and/or arson.

In his year end report for 2024, CFD Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio said the 2023 spike was due to deliberately set fires by one individual.

In 2024, CFD only reported 23 fires to the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Unfortunately, several of those fires caused extensive damage and the reportable loss for the year was $1.5 million.

Total calls came in at 876, up just three from the previous year.

CFD saw a 12-per-cent increase in calls coming through 9-1-1 with 640 originating from the emergency number. In 2023, 572 calls were through 9-1-1.

CFD responded to a high number of medical response calls, with 43 per cent of their total call volume going towards things like first responder calls, rescues, jaws of life and B.C. Ambulance assists.

The department responded to 59 motor vehicle incidents and 16 hazardous materials incidents.

False alarms have come down the past two years from 72 in 2022 to 59 in 2023 and 51 in 2024. However, these calls continue to be a waste of resources as each of these calls costs the city hundreds of dollars and draws resources to a location where they are not really needed. Businesses and individuals may face fines for repeated false alarms.

The fire department also completed 221 commercial fire inspections during the year, an 18 per cent increase from 2023. There are more than 485 inspectable commercial properties within the city.

When not dealing with emergencies, CFD can often be found making public service calls for things like community festivals, education events, school visits and Christmas toy drives. In 2024, they made more than 50 of these visits.

CFD reported one fire-related firefighter injury during the year. Castlegar's volunteer firefighters logged more than 7,225 hours of training and response calls in 2024. 

Seven individuals served more than 400 hours during the year: Josiah Wardle (490 hours), Cpt. Tony Mackie (486 hours), Holly Ludlow (481 hours), Lt. Dave Blancher (477 hours), Fabian Glowalla (472 hours), Lt. Nick Pieszak (464 hours) and Garret McCracken (401 hours). 

Notable 2024 fires:

In April, CFD responded to a suspicious landscape fire near The Apple Guy fruit stand on Heritage Way.

On May 16, CFD extinguished a trailer fire and a grass fire simultaneously.

On July 30, four members of the Castlegar Fire Department headed to the Slocan Valley to support firefighting efforts at the Slocan Wildfire Complex.

On Aug. 11, a fire at Castlegar's Interfor mill was contained to one area thanks to the cooperation of three firefighting crews – Interfor staff, Mercer Celgar's Emergency Response Team and CFD.

On Aug. 15, fire caused major damage to a home on 5th Avenue and claimed the life of a pet.

In November, fire destroyed three sheds in downtown Castlegar.

 

 



Betsy Kline

About the Author: Betsy Kline

After spending several years as a freelance writer for the Castlegar News, Betsy joined the editorial staff as a reporter in March of 2015. In 2020, she moved into the editor's position.
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