Fairmont Volunteer Fire Department

10/06/2026

This is an amazing video that clearly demonstrates the explosive power behind Lithium-ion battery fires.

10/05/2026

Safe Charging Is a Superpower!
Fire Prevention Week™ is October 4–10, 2026. “Charge Into Fire Safety™. Safe Charging Is a Superpower” focuses on the everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer.

Join NFPA and fire departments across North America for Fire Preven...

08/28/2026

Earlier this month, the Timber Springs Community near Fairmont Hot Springs was hit by a wildfire. A BC Wildfire Service helicopter crew and an initial attack crew, already en route to a nearby fire, were diverted and intervened almost immediately. No structures were lost, and some cabins that were surrounded by flames came away scorched but standing.

Pictured here is Bill Thompson, in his "I Am FireSmart" t-shirt. His daughter, Kirsten Thompson, shared the photo along with her family's story.

"We are a FireSmart community, and I have teased my Dad, Bill, about him cutting down trees and obsessively cleaning up pine needles and debris. We were incredibly lucky, and no structures were lost, even though some were entirely surrounded by flames. Cabins were scorched but otherwise unscathed, in part because trees had been cut back and fuel sources replaced with rock borders. I am 100% a believer now and heartily endorse this program."

FireSmart activities can reduce risk to a home, but outcomes depend on many factors, including weather, fire behaviour, and emergency response. Kirsten and her family credit their FireSmart work, along with a fast response from BC Wildfire Service, with how their home came through.

Photo and story shared with permission from the Thompson family.

Do you have a FireSmart story we can share? Please reach out to [email protected].

Learn what FireSmart steps you can take today at firesmartbc.ca/prepare/

08/28/2026

August has been a challenging month for the Fire Service and many communities in BC. We are proud that our Columbia Valley Rural Fire Fighters stepped forward to assist when called upon by the Province, just as we are equally proud of our members who continued to respond to our local emergencies this summer.

For most of August, we deployed 2 apparatus and rotated crews who were deployed and served in The Cariboo, Thompson and Okanagan regions. All members are home, safe and rested.

Our continuing thanks and appreciation to our Firefighters, and their families for their sacrifices in protecting us locally as well other British Columbians in times of need.

08/02/2026

The time to prepare for an emergency wildfire situation and increase you situational awareness is NOW.
Current fire hazards, coupled with increasing winds and temperatures and a moment's inattention can have catastrophic circumstances.
PLEASE focus and prepare on what to do in the event of a sudden tactical evacuation in the event of another fire start near you.
Review prior RDEK emergency preparedness messaging and stay turned for updates.

URGENT WILDFIRE UPDATE 08.01.26

Crews are responding to four new fires at this hour and this is an emerging situation - particularly in the Ta Ta Creek area.

N11360 - in the Ta Ta Creek area off of Highway 95A
• A tactical evacuation is underway for residences closest to the fire - door knocking is underway. Formal notification will be forthcoming - as the Evacuation Order boundary is confirmed.
• Highway 95A is closed in the area of the fire
• Further information coming soon; however, residents and recreationalists in the Ta Ta Creek area should be taking steps to prepare to leave on a moments notice and follow instructions from first reponders/emergency personnel if they arrive at your property and direct you to leave.
• Emergency Support Services (ESS) is available at Parkland Middle School in Cranbrook located at 1115 2 Ave S, Cranbrook, BC. Look for signage.

OTHER FIRE UPDATES:

N11356 - NW of the Koocanusa Bridge / RDEK Boat Launch
• Crews and aviation are responding

N21358 - in the Skookumchuck Creek area near Farstad Way
• Crews and aviation are responding

N21362 - Fairmont Area (Coys area)
• Suppression activities are underway / crews are responding

We are aware of power outages in multiple areas - the best resource for details is the BC Hydro Outage Map: https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html

07/26/2026

PLEASE STAY CLEAR of the water and the area if you see Tanker Planes or Helicopters approaching. It is both illegal and highly dangerous to interfere with Fire Fighting Aircraft Operations. Be aware of the developing situation in the Region, visit BCWildfire.ca or download the mobile app for information.

07/21/2026

Category 1 Open Fire Prohibitions including Campfires come into effect this coming Thursday. Please read the details in the post regarding the use of CSA Approved pellet smokers and propane appliances with a maximum flame height of 15cm.

FROM BC WILDFIRE SERVICE: Category 1 campfire to be prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre (Posted 07.20.26)

Category 1 campfire to be prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre

Effective at 1:00 PM MT on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Category 1 campfire will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Anyone conducting a Category 1 campfire within the Southeast Fire Centre's jurisdiction must extinguish it by the 1:00 PM MT, July 23, 2026, deadline.

This prohibition will remain in place until 12:00 noon Pacific Time October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.

A Category 1 campfire is a fire that burns:

1. No larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in width
2. Used for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for ceremonial purposes

Also prohibited is the equipment and activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):
• Air curtain burners
• Carbonizers
• Fireworks as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
• Binary exploding targets
• Burn barrels or burn cages or any size or description
• Controlled air incinerators
• Sky lanterns
• Wood-fired hot tubs, wood-fired pizza ovens, and other wood-fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building

This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall. More information about outdoor stoves can be found on our Open fire and safer burning webpage.

Reminder that Category 2 open fire have been prohibited since July 10, 2026, and Category 3 open fire have been prohibited since May 21, 2026.

Read the FULL news release here: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-1-campfire-to-be-prohibited-in-the-southeast-fire-centre/

07/12/2026

Fairmont Fire received a delivery in error. This is the fire department address, but we do not know this person. If you do know them, have them reach out to us.