North Westside Fire Rescue
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NWFR Paid-On-Call Fire Department Proudly Serving The Regional District of Central Okanagan 🚒👨🚒
09/28/2026
Congratulations, Lieutenant Chisana Gardner!
NWFR is proud to announce the promotion of Chisana Gardner to the rank of Administration Lieutenant. Along with this new title, Chi has also taken on the role of Operations Lieutenant, adding another important responsibility to her leadership position.
Chi’s dedication, leadership, and commitment to continuous learning have made her a massive asset to our department. In her role as Administration Lieutenant, she takes a significant weight off the shoulders of our team by taking on many of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that keep our department running smoothly.
Please join us in congratulating Lieutenant Chisana Gardner on this exciting milestone. We appreciate how she supports our team in this new leadership position and look forward to her continued growth.
Congratulations, Chi!
Enjoy this slideshow: A look back at the past year — training, community, memories and most importantly, the people who make up our Firehall family.
The song featured was written by one of our own members after a long day of wildfire operations — a special reminder of why we all love this job.
Brothers and Sisters:
Today, we climb not for ourselves — but for those who climbed and never came back down.
We are gathered here, in our gear, with our boots laced and hearts heavy, not just to remember the 343 firefighters who answered the call on September 11th, 2001 — but to honor the courage it took for each of them to keep going, step after step, knowing full well they may not make it out.
They climbed with purpose. With grit. With love for the people they swore to protect, and love for each other. They climbed knowing the risks. And still, they climbed.
That's why we’re here.
Each flight of stairs we take today is more than just physical effort — it's a promise. A promise that we will never forget. That we will carry their legacy with pride. That we understand the weight of their sacrifice, and that we will never allow their stories to fade into history.
This climb is symbolic, yes — but make no mistake: it is real. It's real in our lungs, in our legs, in our sweat — and in our spirit.
As firefighters, we know that service doesn't end when it gets hard. It begins because it’s hard. And today, we show that the spirit of the fire service — that unbreakable bond, that bravery under pressure, that willingness to go toward the danger when others run from it — it’s alive and strong in each one of us.
So as we ascend these stairs, do it with pride. Do it with purpose.
And if the climb gets tough, remember: they went higher.
They kept going — and so will we.
Let’s climb strong. Climb together. Climb for the fallen.
Never forget.
#911
09/01/2026
A huge shoutout to DEEM Health!
We are incredibly grateful to the team at DEEM Health and all of their amazing clients and members for supporting our community and our firefighters!
On August 28th, DEEM Health hosted a “Skip-a-thon” and raised an incredible $1,670 for the North Westside Road Firefighters Society.
Your generosity means so much to our firefighters and helps support the work we do to protect our community.
We truly appreciate everyone who participated, donated, and helped make this fundraiser such a success.
Thank you, DEEM Health, for going above and beyond for our firehall! 🙌
A Message From Our Firehall
For the past two weeks, things have been unusually quiet from us on social media — but that doesn’t mean things have been quiet at the Firehall.
August 1st — A Day We Won’t Forget
August 1st was a hard day for our community, and an especially difficult day for our hall.
That day, our members responded to 7 emergency calls, including 3 wildfires along Westside Road. At the same time, we had our annual fundraiser happening, and the majority of our members were pulled away to respond to those emergencies.
And yet, our community showed up — and showed up BIG.
Our fundraiser was an incredible success, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out, supported us, made a donation, volunteered their time, or simply stopped by to show their support.
A very special thank you goes to all of our generous donors and local businesses who helped make the fundraiser possible. Your support means more than you know, especially on a day when our members were out serving the community.
The Past Two Weeks
Over the past two weeks, our members have worked tirelessly alongside BC Wildfire and numerous neighbouring fire departments and agencies. We are incredibly grateful for the support, manpower, resources, and expertise that these crews brought to our community. This was truly a team effort.
During this time, our members have been:
🔥 Working alongside BC Wildfire and other fire departments to respond to and contain wildfires
🔥 Patrolling our response area for spot fires and hotspots
🔥 Putting out spot fires and dealing with emerging threats
🔥 Firesmarting homes and properties through FireSmart measures
🔥 Assisting with sprinkler protection in some of our communities at highest risk
🔥 Setting up multiple water sources, pumps, and water supply systems to support fire suppression and structure protection
🔥 Supporting evacuations while also ensuring the safety and evacuation of their own families
Our members weren't just protecting homes — they were protecting neighbours, properties, and the community they call home.
We are incredibly grateful to report that there was no structural loss within our response area. While we are thankful for that outcome, our hearts are heavy for our neighbouring department and the Okanagan Indian Band, who faced significant loss on the north end of Westside Road. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected.
To our community: thank you for standing with us.
Thank you for trusting us. Thank you for supporting our fundraiser. Thank you to every donor, business, volunteer, firefighter, agency, and neighbouring department who helped us through these challenging weeks.
And most importantly, thank you for showing up for us when we were busy showing up for you.
We are so happy to welcome everyone home. ❤️
From all of us at the Firehall — we are proud to serve this community, and we are incredibly grateful to be a part of it.
07/31/2026
🔥June Firefighter of The Month - Brian Pumphrey 🔥
Congratulations to Brian "Pumpy” Pumphrey on being named North Westside Fire Rescue's Firefighter of the Month for June.
Pumpy brings a positive attitude to every training night and every call. Regardless of the role he's assigned, he steps up without hesitation, applies himself fully, and can always be counted on to give his best. His willingness to learn, adapt, and support the crew makes him an invaluable member of our department.
He leads by example through his actions, is always ready to step up when needed, and consistently puts the needs of the team first. Pumpy's work ethic and dedication to serving both the department and our community are second to none, and this recognition is a reflection of this.
Congratulations, Pumpy, on being named our June Firefighter of the Month. Thank you for your continued commitment to North Westside Fire Rescue—we appreciate everything you do!
07/26/2026
⚠️The Evacuation Alert for the 507 households in the La Casa area has been lifted.
The K51214 wildfire (previously referred to as La Casa Wildfire) prompted the evacuation alert on July 25, 2026. Although the wildfire remains classified as out of control, significant progress has been made by firefighting crews in reducing fire activity and protecting the area.
Residents may continue to notice smoke, visible hot spots and firefighting equipment in the area as crews complete mop-up operations. Please avoid the wildfire-impacted area unless necessary so emergency responders can safely continue their work.
This incident is also an important reminder that wildfire season is ongoing. Take time to create or review your emergency plan, prepare a grab-and-go kit and sign up for emergency notifications.
Read the full update: https://www.coemergency.ca/updates/evacuation-alert-lifted-residents-reminded-remain-prepared-wildfire-season
🔗 Emergency preparedness: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/guides-and-resources
🔗 Emergency notifications: coemergency.ca/subscribe
07/24/2026
🚨 EXTREME FIRE HAZARD RATING 🚨
Our area is now under an Extreme Fire Hazard Rating.
Current conditions mean that fires can ignite easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control.
We are asking everyone in our community to exercise extreme caution and do their part to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Please remember:
• Follow all fire prohibitions and restrictions.
• Check the BC Wildfire Service for updates.
• No yard or debris burning.
• Keep vehicles and equipment off dry grass.
• Dispose of smoking materials safely.
• Avoid activities that create sparks.
Wildfire prevention starts with each of us. A single spark can have devastating consequences for our community, neighbouring properties, and our firefighters.
If you see smoke or fire, report it immediately by calling 9-1-1 or 1-800-663-5555 (*5555 from a cell phone in B.C.).
Thank you for doing your part to help keep our community safe.
Think our captain got away without getting soaked?
Keep watching... 😉
While we like to have a little fun, wildfire preparedness is no joke. Your local firefighters will always respond when it matters most—but we can't do it alone.
Wildfire preparedness is a team effort, and there are simple steps every homeowner can take to help protect their property and make our job safer and more effective:
🔥 Create a non-combustible zone within 1.5 metres of your home, and store firewood and other combustible materials at least 10 metres away whenever possible.
🍂 Keep your your roof and gutters clear from leaves and other debris that can ignite from falling embers.
🎒Be emergency ready. Have an emergency plan, pack a grab-and-go bag, know your evacuation route, and sign up for local Emergency Alerts.
A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.
Let's work together to keep our community safe. ❤️
This past Tuesday, our crew at NWFR spent the evening sharpening our forced entry skills and practicing a variety of techniques for when every second counts.
Forced entry is never our first choice. It's a tactic we use only when there is no better option—when delaying entry could put someone's life at risk or prevent us from reaching a fire or other emergency.
Regular training helps us stay proficient, work safely as a team, and be ready to make the right decisions under pressure.
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