Mission Fire Rescue Service

Wildfire season is here, and the risks aren’t always obvious. Messy gutters look untidy, but more importantly, those dry leaves and debris are the perfect kindling for flying embers.

See your property through FireSmart eyes at https://firesmartbc.ca/prepare/

Planning a camping trip this season?

Portable generators can provide
convenience, but they also pose serious safety risks if used incorrectly.

✅ Always operate generators outdoors, at least 6 metres (20 feet) away from tents, RVs, trailers, vehicles, and other occupied spaces.
✅ Never use a generator inside a tent, RV, trailer, garage, or enclosed shelter—even with doors or windows open.
✅ Point the exhaust away from people and campsites.
✅ Allow generators to cool before refueling and never add fuel while the generator is running.
✅ Keep generators dry and protected from rain to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

⚠️ Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colourless, odourless gas that can be deadly. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, weak, or develop a headache, move to fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.

A safe camping trip starts with safe equipment use. Enjoy the outdoors and help keep your family, friends, and fellow campers safe this season.

If it seems as though you've been hearing more sirens than normal in Mission, you're right.

Mission Fire Rescue Service (MFRS) recorded 28 calls from midnight May 27, until midnight May 28, which is the highest single-day call total outside of a weather-related event.

MFRS career and paid-on-call members averaged 23.7 calls every 24 hours between May 19 and 29, with the majority occurring in the downtown core.

"These numbers reflect the commitment and passion our firefighters have for public safety," said Fire Chief Mark Goddard. "All our members truly embody service above self, and we thank them for that."

Stat breakdown:

Person down: 45
Overdose: 44
Burning complaint: 18
Alarms: 14
Chest pains: 13
Cardiac arrest: 10
Motor vehicle incidents: 8

Broken down further, while the career staff are called to nearly every event, our dedicated paid-on-call members from stations 1, 2 and 3 also contributed a significant amount of time to this period, with 75 page-outs coming their way.

Goddard added that MFRS is still responding under the same call matrix it has been using for years, and that this period reflected the current reality of working as a first responder in this city.

Throwback to the 2022 Stave West wildfire.

Did you know - Most homes that burn in a wildfire are ignited by embers, not flames.

Embers can travel up to 2 km, sometimes further, landing on dry leaves, plants, wood piles, decks, or in gutters.

To learn more about embers, visit: https://firesmartbc.ca/why-we-focus-on-embers/

A busy couple weekends at MFRS with our Emergency Vehicle Operator (EVO) and recruit firefighter training taking place simultaneously.

Forestry and a recap of previously-learned skills have kept our recruits engaged while the EVO training focused on deepening the learners' water supply and pump operation abilities.

Your campfire might look small, but the forest sees it differently. One stray ember is all it takes. 🔥

Before you leave, soak, stir and soak again.

And this season, please don’t feed the wildfires.

Fire prevention starts before the emergency happens.

From school visits and community events to safety demonstrations and preparedness education, our Public Education team is here to help keep our community informed, prepared, and safe.