Osoyoos Fire Rescue

Summer is here, and our Firefighters want everyone to enjoy the outdoors safely! High temperatures and outdoor activities can be risky if you’re not prepared.

Stay safe with these tips:
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
- Take breaks in the shade or indoors
- Wear sunscreen, hats, and light clothing
- Never leave children or pets in vehicles
- Be cautious with outdoor grills, fire pits, and campfires

Enjoy the sunshine, but remember: prevention and awareness keep you safe.

This past weekend we had 6 of our firefighters attend the air brakes training course at Oliver Fire Department.

This course equips our firefighters with the knowledge to operate and maintain all our air brake apparatus.

We thank the trainers, firefighters and OFD for hosting the course this weekend for this crucial course to broaden their abilities on the fire ground.

Yesterday our members went up to the Penticton Safety Village to teach our own Osoyoos Elementary School students on fire safety.

Kids were taught the following fire safety principles:
-Stop, Drop, Roll & Cover Face
-Kitchen Fire Safety
-Exit Drills in the House

A takeaway from the kids was to remind all families of the importance of ensuring your home has a “Family Meeting Place (Muster Point)” in case of an emergency.

We thank all the organizers, volunteers and parents who assisted.

Today our firefighters recently took part in a Lithium-Ion Battery & Electric Vehicle awareness presentation.🔋

We learned about best practices for responding to battery-related incidents, the many household items that contain lithium-ion batteries, and the potential health and safety hazards associated with these events.

Ongoing training helps ensure our members are prepared to respond safely and effectively as this technology becomes more common in our community.

We thank the Kelowna Professional Fire Fighters Association for providing the training, and members from Oliver Fire Department & Anarchist Mountain Fire Department who joined us for the morning.

Osoyoos Fire is currently on scene at multiple emergencies throughout our community.

The public can assist us by reporting emergencies and staying clear of emergency work areas.

During this unpredictable weather event, our crews will be working diligently to ensure emergencies are actioned and cleared up.

We thank the public for your cooperation!

*UPDATE-All units were clear and back at station around 0200.*

Today, Osoyoos Fire Rescue joined Ember the FireSmart™ Fox to visit local Grade 2 & 3 students to share the importance of being FireSmart™!

Students learned about campfire safety, and simple ways families can stay safer during wildfire season.

A big thank you to the students and staff of Osoyoos Elementary School for welcoming us into your classrooms.

FireSmart BC

Last night our members of had the opportunity to learn from BCWS personnel on Interface Response operations. This valuable training focused on strategies and tactics used when wildfires threaten our communities.

Working together and continuing to build these partnerships ensures we are better prepared to protect our community during wildfire season.

A huge thank you to BC Wildfire Service for sharing their knowledge and expertise with our members.

Join us TODAY for a Osoyoos FireSmart community event at Sandhu Greenhouses! 🔥🌿

Stop by between 10 AM – 2 PM to learn practical ways to help protect your home and property from wildfire risk. Our team will be on site sharing FireSmart tips, resources, and information to help keep our community safer.

We have resources covering:
-Home & property FireSmart tips
-Wildfire preparedness resources
-Yard cleanup ideas
-Safe plants guide
-Free information & more

Together, we can create a more FireSmart Osoyoos!

May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and Osoyoos Fire Rescue encourages everyone to take steps to help reduce the risk of wildfires in our community.

Simple actions can make a big difference:
- Follow local burning regulations and fire bans
- Never leave campfires unattended and ensure they are fully extinguished
- Dispose of ci******es properly
- Keep yards and properties clear of dry vegetation and debris

Living in a wildfire-prone region means we all play a role in prevention. By working together, we can help protect our homes, our community, and the beautiful landscape around Osoyoos.

Stay informed, stay prepared, and help prevent wildfires.

Sign up for emergency alerts! Visit: https://www.osoyoos.ca/alerts to learn more.

*Images attached are of the 2023 Eagle Bluff Wildfires*

As we wrap up Emergency Preparedness Week, research shows communities with strong social connections before an emergency experience reduced impacts and shorter recovery times.

During and after an emergency, make sure to:
-Check on others
-Share resources, such as emergency supplies
-Build a community contact list or text group

Learn more about building community connections: www.PreparedBC.ca/EmergencyPreparednessWeek

Sign up for emergency alerts! Visit: https://www.osoyoos.ca/alerts to learn more.