BX Swan Lake Fire Rescue

The BX–Swan Lake Fire Department consists of 30+ Paid-On-Call (POC) members. The BX-Swan Lake Fire Protection Area (55.47 sq. km) was created in 1976 and was converted to a local service area in November 1992 by Bylaw 1056.

The department operates under the direction of the Fire Chief. It is the department's mission to provide effective and efficient fire prevention, fire suppression, and rescue services to the residents of the BX–Swan Lake Fire Protection District along with providing mutual aid to any other emergency services in the Regional District of the North Okanagan.

Fire Chief, Bill Wacey heard about the BX-Swan Lake Fire Department from his neighbour and as a result, started with the department in 1985. He became chief in 1999 and has become a role model that inspires many of today's recruits. Chief Wacey enjoys being part of a service that benefits the safety of its community.

In addition to his fire chief duties, he works for the province as their BC Wildfire Structure Protection Coordinator.

Learn more about how to become a firefighter

5764 Silver Star Road |Vernon, BC V1B 3P6
250-545-7432 | bxchief@rdno.ca

The Specifics

The department operates six apparatus;
- a 1050 gpm front line engine,
- a 1250 gpm engine/tender,
- a fully equipped rescue truck,
- a 1500 gallon tender,
- a rescue/bush truck, an interface mini-pumper, and
- a Structure Protection Unit (18ft fully equipped trailer).
The department responds to an average of one hundred and eighty (180) emergency calls per year. Calls include structure fires, grass fires, vehicle fires, and burning bylaw infractions. The department also responds to motor vehicle accidents, and ambulance assist calls, where the department provide assistance to the British Columbia Ambulance Service. In addition, the department provides fire rescue mutual aid to the fire departments of the Regional District of the North Okanagan, and the Ministry of Forests.

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