Fire department calls are up in the first quarter this year, as firefighters responded to 604 calls for service in the first three months of 2024.
That is a 17 per cent increase over the first quarter of last year, which saw 514 calls come in to the fire department.
For this year, the majority of calls were for pre-hospital care, while firefighters also responded to fire and rescue incidents and overdose response.
There were notable concentrations around care facilities and the highway corridor, according to Scott Driver, Director for Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services.
“As we navigate through the challenges posed by a growing community, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to service. Despite the typical reduction in fire calls during winter months, we continue to witness an overall increase in call volumes, driven by the growth of our community and the social issues that accompany it,” Driver said.
The fire department responded 116 fire and/or rescue calls, including seven structure fires.
Driver noted that there was a notable decline in calls relating to outdoor fires associated with unhoused encampments as opposed to previous years. He attributed that in part to efforts from the Marcel Germer, the city’s social development coordinator, and bylaw services for their proactive work in risk mitigation support and education.
Firefighters also responded to 473 calls for pre-hospital care, which included 72 overdose-related events. Additional pre-hospital emergency assistance involved chest pains, cardiac arrests, breathing problems, and seizures.
Driver also said the department has noticed an increase in call volumes from select facilities grappling with complex care issues and is collaborating with partner agencies to find effective solutions.