Hello and “Welcome” to the home page of the Joe Rich Fire Department!

We trust our site will be both educational and informing with respect

to fire prevention, fire protection and public safety.

Our main administration office is located at 11481 Highway 33

Kelowna (Joe Rich) BC, Station 51. We welcome any feedback,

questions or suggestions related to fire protection services and

can be reached at:

250 765-8660 or emailed at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

IN Case of an EMERGENCY, Call 911 

Sincerely:  

Curtis Nyuli, Joe Rich Fire Chief

Our Mission:

The Joe Rich Fire Department is dedicated to the safety of lives, property and the environment within our community and for those traveling through it, with continued training, education, and rapid response to 911 emergencies.

We have a Vision to continue to provide the highest level of fire prevention, education, protection and emergency response to our community and mutual aid neighbors. We will also continue to pursue and foster the highest standards of excellence manifested in our member’s training to better serve the community of Joe Rich.

The Joe Rich Fire Department builds on its mission and vision with certain Values in mind. Professionalism and accountability define our core values. Our other values, of respect, compassion, dignity and sense of community help us achieve our goals.

                                                                                            (JRFD Membership 2012)

Picture-painting of JRFD at work, 2009 

Profile:

The Joe Rich fire department is a combined service consisting from 25-30 paid-on-call members and up to 6 Auxiliary firefighters.

Organization:

The fire department operates under the direction of the Fire Chief who is responsible to the Regional Board of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

In order to deliver the services needed to accomplish the above-stated mission statement, the department is organized into four major divisions:

1. Operations - responsible for the delivery of emergency services for fire and rescue, as well as backup emergency medical services.

2. Fire Prevention - responsible for inspections, plan reviews, permits, investigation, and public education.

3. Administration - responsible for finance, planning, logistics, and to provide support to other divisions.

4. Training - responsible for achieving and maintaining the skills and expertise to accomplish the departments stated mission.

Positions include:       Fire Chief (1)

                                   Assistant Chief Administration (1)

                                   Assistant Chief Operations (1)

                                   Captains (currently vacant)

                                   Lieutenants (4)

                                   Firefighters (20)

                                   Auxiliary firefighters (6)

The Joe Rich fire department responds to approximately 80 emergency calls per year, ranging from structure fires to grass fires, from rescues and auto extrication to backup for the BC ambulance service. The department also responds to approximately 20 public assists per year, ranging from burning complaints to reports of hazardous materials.

Paid-on-call firefighters:

Paid-on-call firefighters directly participate in fire and rescue operations.  Men and women between the ages of 19 and 65 who are in good physical condition, and have the desire to participate in emergency fire and rescue activities, are eligible to apply for any opening.

Training and Participation:

Over the years, the Fire Service has evolved into a public safety agency providing highly technical and diverse services.  The general public has come to rely on the fire department as the "first responder", not only when life and property are threatened by man-made and natural disasters, but for seemingly smaller problems as well. The JRFD delivers a number of technical services such as Rope rescue, Auto extrication, First medical response, Interface firefighting and Structural interior / exterior fire suppression.

In order to ensure that all members of the department are prepared to deliver the best level of services required, training standards have been developed to provide each member with the needed skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to deliver fire and emergency first aid service to the citizens of the fire protection area.

Firefighters:

All paid-on-call members of the department participate in the NFPA 1001 Fire Service training program, writing the examinations on 19 subjects over a number of years to achieve a level of firefighter 1 & 2 

http://www.jibc.ca/programs-courses/schools-departments/school-public-safety-security/fire-safety-division Members are expected to attend a minimum of 70% of the weekly practices each year.  Individuals who have the desire to increase their skills are provided with the opportunity for advance training in technical subjects such as dangerous goods and high angle rope rescue.

Officers:

Firefighters advancing to the officer level are challenged with additional NFPA training opportunities such as: Fire Instructor 1 & 2, Emergency scene management 1 & 2, Incident safety officer and the NFPA 1021 Fire officer certificate levels 1 – 4.

http://www.jibc.ca/programs-courses/schools-departments/school-public-safety-security/fire-safety-division/programs/fire-officer-certificate

Community:

Our community is served by the members of our local fire department, so be sure to express your appreciation when you see them.  These guys and gals are your neighbors who seem to help with everything!  They are the first responders – not only to house fires, but also forest fires, motor vehicle accidents and other 911 emergency calls.  In first aid they are trained to the BC Medical First Responder level 3. This includes the use of automatic defibulators, spinal and patient immobilization and even emergency child birth! Paid-on-Call (POC) firefighters respond 247/365 whenever paged to deal with emergencies in our community as well as assist with mutual aid to others.

2010 From left to right: Andrew Dumontet, Mike Walroth, Don Kort, Shelagh Weddell, Curtis Nyuli, Terri Lawson, Dave Stephens, Greg Lambert, Richard Romolock, Kelly MacMillan, (below) John Robbins, Louis Prive, Graeme Burke, Marc Gruber, Jason Bailey, Jordie Dunsmuir, Greg Robson.

                                                                      Thank you!

                                                            JRFD “First in, Last out”