New Fire Chief
IVFD is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Fire Chief, Poul Beer.
Poul has been with the Fire Department since January of 2019 and has been involved in the community since moving to the area. He has exciting plans and ideas to move the department forward in a positive manner and hopes to increase involvement both to, and from, the people in the area.
We have already seen some positive changes and look forward to strengthening our service to the community.
We will keep you informed of our progress.
Congratulations on your appointment Chief Beer!
New Interim Fire Chief
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Rod Dearing has accepted the position of Interim Fire Chief for the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Dearing has been with the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department for approximately 6 years and his most recent position was Lieutenant.
Interim Chief Dearing will be working in this role while a process is undertaken to select a new permanent fire chief. A posting has been made within the fire department to identify interested candidates for the role.
Cariboo Regional District accepts Interlakes Fire Chief’s resignation
CRD to Assess Interlakes Fire Hall issues
https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/crd-to-assess-interlakes-fire-hall-issues/
Interlakes Fire Department Fighting for Survival
https://www.100milefreepress.net/opinion/interlakes-fire-department-fighting-for-survival/
Interlakes volunteer firefighters concerned about new training standards
Lack of Volunteer Firefighters Becoming a Big Problem
(December 16, 2022)
Lack of volunteer firefighters becoming a big problem
The shortage of volunteer firefighters is not something that is only an Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department problem. It is an issue all over rural Canada and the United States. Getting people to volunteer, when their lives are already busy, perhaps even taking on second jobs, is a difficult task. And even the people who are trying to recruit firefighters and first responders are volunteer positions, adding on to their fire firefighting roles, their jobs and their lives.
There are a lot of duties that a volunteer fire department needs to cover. We know that our community can step up to help. We need you. We need all of you!!
Below is a link to a W5 article, as well as a 3-part series that was done about the problems facing volunteer fire departments. We ask that you please read the article and watch the videos. Our firefighters spend many hours helping the community. Please give back to them by understanding the problems that they face.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email ivfdassistant@gmail.com
https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/fewer-firefighters-mean-slower-response-times-jeopardizing-lives-1.6090717
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CRD Rescinds Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccination Policy
(December 14, 2022)
The Cariboo Regional District will rescind its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, effective December 14, 2022. CRD employees, contractors, and volunteers will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to support the delivery of CRD services.
The policy was implemented in January 2022 to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 exposures on the CRD’s ability to meet service delivery expectations. Since the policy was implemented, public health measures in the workplace and society have effectively managed COVID-19 exposure risks and reduced risks to service delivery. As a result, many public agencies are suspending or rescinding their mandatory vaccination policies including the federal government and several local governments in the province.
The measures undertaken by the CRD throughout the pandemic were successful in minimizing the impact of communicable disease exposures on service delivery. Due to the widespread adoption of various health and safety measures, the vaccination policy is no longer necessary for health and safety purposes. As an employer, the CRD will continue to take every reasonable precaution to safeguard employees from workplace hazards, including COVID-19.
The CRD continues to support and encourage practices that are being recommended by public health officials to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including vaccination, wearing masks, and self isolating when sick. Moving forward, the CRD will rely on the Provincial Health Officer and other appropriate agencies for guidance and direction in ensuring the safety of our employees and volunteers.
Brian Carruthers
Interim CAO
IVFD donates expired gear to Firefighters Without Borders
(December 12, 2022)
𝙄𝙑𝙁𝘿 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘽𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨
The Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department gathered up all of its expired fire gear for donation to Firefighters Without Borders. A truck was filled and Maria Hamilton, IVFD’s Volunteer Assistant, drove it to Calgary. On December 12th, the donation was delivered to Firefighters Without Borders (Calgary Firefighters Association), where it will be stored until delivery to a group of firefighters who may not have access to safe gear, or the means to obtain the equipment.
𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙂𝙚𝙖𝙧
The donated gear has reached its end-of-life according to North American standards, but it is still in great condition and suitable for use. IVFD follows the National Fire Protection Association’s standards which stipulate firefighting protective gear be decommissioned after 10 years of use, even if it is still in good, usable condition. By donating the gear, it is kept out of our local landfill and given to firefighters who could really use it.
Gear included:
– 35 sets of turn-out gear (jackets and pants)
– 37 helmets
– 14 pairs of boots
– 21 hoses
– And 6 first responder bags.
We will continue to donate to this great charity as our gear expires.
First Responder Program – Discontinued
(December 8, 2022)
Due to lack of volunteers, effective immediately, the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department can no longer support the area’s first responder program.
What is a first responder at IVFD? A volunteer who is trained to medically assist people prior to an ambulance arriving. And in our area, that ambulance may take a while.
What does this mean to you? When you call 911 for a medical emergency, the ambulance will be first on scene, not IVFD.
IVFD started the first responder program at the community’s request. This program has been struggling to get funding and volunteers to keep it running for a quite some time.
88% of the calls that IVFD receives are medical. With only 6 or 7 first responder volunteers, it is no longer sustainable. In 2022 alone we have had 80 first responder calls. And since we changed our response to only serious medical issues, we continue to have that high rate of calls. Our volunteers are suffering from burn-out and cannot mentally and physically recuperate between calls. Many of these first responders are also firefighters who respond to fires and MVI incidents as well. Add to that, the need to keep up with their training, the burden is very high. And… they are VOLUNTEERS!!
The fact is, IVFD is not receiving new volunteers to cover the resigning and retiring crews. And our existing firefighters aren’t getting any younger. Without a steady stream of new volunteer recruits, our “volunteer fire department” is not sustainable.
How can we fix this First Responder problem? WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
And how do we ensure that the firefighting side of the fire department remains intact? WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
If you are interested in volunteering, please email ivfdassistant@gmail.com
Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department received a new fire truck for Hall 3
(Bridge Lake East) in October of 2022
Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department 