Peachland Fire and Rescue Service

10/09/2026

Over the past week, we've shared important fire safety messages about smoke alarms, lithium-ion battery safety, and keeping exit routes clear. These simple steps can make a big difference in protecting your family, your home, and your community.

🚒 Fire Prevention Week Day 5: Are You Ready?

As Fire Prevention Week comes to a close, let's take a moment to review some key safety reminders:
✅ Test your smoke alarms regularly and replace them when needed.
✅ Follow safe charging practices for lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes, e-scooters, and other devices.
✅ Keep hallways, stairwells, and exits clear so everyone can get out safely in an emergency.

This week, Peachland Fire Rescue Service was proud to participate in elementary school fire drills. The students did a great job and showed that they know where to go and what to do when the fire alarm sounds at school.

But here's an important question:
🏠 Do you know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds at home?
Every household should have and practice a home fire escape plan:
🔥 Know two ways out of every room whenever possible.
🔥 Make sure everyone knows the sound of the smoke alarm.
🔥 Choose a meeting place outside where everyone can gather.
🔥 Once outside, stay outside and call 9-1-1.
🔥 Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

When a fire occurs, seconds count. Having a plan and knowing what to do before an emergency happens can save lives.

Thank you to everyone who followed along during Fire Prevention Week and helped spread these important safety messages throughout our community.
🚒 Peachland Fire Rescue Service

Stay Safe. Stay Prepared. Stay Fire Smart.

10/08/2026

🚪Keep Exit Routes Clear - Every Second Counts🔥
Day 4 of Fire Prevention Week
When an emergency happens, everyone needs a safe and unobstructed path to get out quickly. Hallways, stairwells, exits, and doorways are designed to provide a clear route to safety and must always remain free of storage and other obstacles.
This is especially important as more people use e-bikes and e-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries. These devices should never be charged in hallways, corridors, stairwells, or near exit doors. If a battery fails and catches fire, it can produce intense heat, toxic smoke, and block the very escape routes people rely on during an emergency.
✅ Keep hallways, stairwells, and exits clear of personal belongings, furniture, bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters.
✅ Never charge lithium-ion batteries near exits or in common corridors.
✅ Follow manufacturer instructions for charging and use only approved chargers.
✅ Ensure exit doors can open fully and are never blocked or locked in a way that prevents emergency egress.
A clear exit path can make all the difference when seconds matter.
Peachland Fire Rescue Service Working together to keep our community safe during Fire Prevention Week and beyond.

10/07/2026

🔥 Fire Prevention Week - Day 3: Electrical Safety 🔥

Electricity powers our homes every day, but damaged cords and unsafe electrical practices can quickly become a fire hazard. This Fire Prevention Week, take a few minutes to inspect the electrical cords throughout your home. A small problem today could prevent a fire tomorrow.

⚡ Electrical Safety Tip: Check Your Cords!

✅ Inspect cords regularly for:
• Fraying, cracking, or exposed wires
• Loose plugs or damaged connectors
• Pinched cords under furniture
• Cords running under carpets or through doorways
✅ Remember:
• Extension cords are for temporary use only
• Major appliances should be plugged directly into wall outlets
• Never overload outlets or power bars
• Replace damaged cords immediately
🚨 Call a qualified electrician if you notice:
• Warm or discolored outlets
• Frequent breaker trips
• Flickering lights
• Sparks from an outlet
• Burning odors from electrical equipment

Electrical fires often start out of sight. Taking a few moments to check your cords and outlets can help keep your family safe.
Fire Prevention Week 2026 Theme: "Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home"

Learn more fire safety tips throughout the week from Peachland Fire Rescue Service.

10/06/2026

🔥 Fire Prevention Week - Day 2 Fire Safety Tip

🚨 Remember when we used to say, “Check your smoke alarm batteries when you change your clocks”? 🚨

For many years, the start and end of Daylight Saving Time served as a reminder to test smoke alarms and replace batteries. While many of us no longer think about changing our clocks, the need to check our smoke alarms has not changed.

✅ Test your smoke alarms every month by pressing the test button.
✅ Make sure smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your home.
✅ Replace batteries as needed and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
✅ Replace the entire smoke alarm when it reaches 10 years of age.

A working smoke alarm provides critical early warning in the event of a fire, giving you and your family precious time to escape safely. In fact, many home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

♻️ When replacing batteries, recycle them properly. Never throw loose batteries in the garbage, as damaged batteries can create a fire hazard. Take used batteries to an approved recycling location and tape the terminals of lithium batteries before disposal.

This Fire Prevention Week, take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms. It's a simple step that can save lives.

Peachland Fire Rescue Service "Make Smoke Alarms Work for You!" 🔥🏠🚒

10/05/2026

🔥 Fire Prevention Week - Day 1 🔥
Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: Buy. Charge. Recycle.
Did you know that many of the devices we use every day, including phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, power tools, and cordless vacuums, are powered by lithium-ion batteries? These batteries store a lot of energy in a small space and can overheat, catch fire, or even explode if damaged or improperly charged.
✅ BUY SMART
• Choose products with recognized safety certification marks such as UL, ETL, or CSA.
• Avoid cheap, uncertified batteries and chargers.
✅ CHARGE SAFELY
• Always use the charger supplied by the manufacturer or one approved for the device.
• Charge devices on a hard, non-combustible surface.
• Do not overcharge batteries. Unplug the device once it is fully charged.
✅ RECYCLE RESPONSIBLY
• Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the garbage or regular recycling bins.
• Take old or damaged batteries to an approved battery recycling location. Visit https://call2recycle.ca/ to find a drop-off site near you. ⚠️ Stop using your device immediately and call 9-1-1 if the battery:
• Smells unusual
• Gets excessively hot
• Makes popping or crackling sounds
• Changes shape or color
Protect your home and family by learning how to Buy, Charge, and Recycle lithium-ion batteries safely.
🚒🔥

10/02/2026

🚒 Fire Prevention Week is Coming! 🚒
As members of Peachland Fire & Rescue Service, we spend countless hours planning, preparing, training, and teaching to help keep our community safe.

As we get ready for Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10), we're asking residents to help us by taking a few simple steps to protect themselves and their families:

✅ Test your smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed
✅ Practice your home escape plan
✅ Charge devices safely and avoid overloading outlets or power bars
✅ Recycle old and damaged batteries properly
✅ Take a few minutes to learn some new, and not-so-new, fire safety tips

Fire prevention starts with awareness and preparation. Together, we can reduce the risk of fires and make Peachland a safer community for everyone.

Visit the Fire Prevention Week website and follow our page throughout the week for safety information, tips, and resources.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/fire-safety/fire-safety-education/fire-prevention-week

🔥 Prepared. Educated. Safe.
🚒 Peachland Fire Rescue Service

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT CONTEST for kindergarten to Grade 7 kids - Scan the QR Code for details.

09/24/2026

Peachlanders, please meet Nigel Thomas, Peachland Fire & Rescue Service’s new Deputy Fire Chief of Community Safety. Deputy Chief Thomas joined the department in July and brings to the role over 17 years of experience with the Summerland Fire Department, along with a background in electrical services and design.

His Community Safety responsibilities include oversight of the District’s FireSmart program, which he describes as one of the best in the province.

“I’m passionate about FireSmartBC and helping Peachland become more resilient to wildfire risks. I’m equally passionate about fire prevention, life safety, and public education. I enjoy working with residents, local businesses, and community partners to build a safer community through awareness, preparedness, and collaboration.”

Learn more about Deputy Chief Thomas and the 2026 FireSmart program accomplishments at https://www.peachland.ca/news/firesmart-2026-introducing-deputy-chief-nigel-thomas

08/27/2026

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MUTUAL AID PARTNERS
Peachland Fire & Rescue Service extends a sincere thank you to our mutual aid partners at West Kelowna Fire Rescue and Kelowna Fire Department for their tremendous support during the recent Lipsett Avenue fire. We’re also incredibly grateful to BC Wildfire Service for their continued and outstanding support. Their crews and expertise are invaluable to our community and our emergency response. We are fortunate to have such dedicated partners who are always ready to answer the call. - Peachland Fire Chief Ian Cummings

08/26/2026

Please share this message. Flying drones near fires impedes emergency response. Just don't do it.

We are currently assisting Peachland Fire and Rescue Services in response to K51966, located southwest of Peachland. Our crews and fire department personnel are onsite working along the flanks of the fire, which is currently under one hectare in size. Additional information will be available on the incident page: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2026&incidentNumber=K51966&source=map

A drone was spotted during our initial response to this incident, forcing aerial resources to adjust response tactics to ensure the safety of responders. When you fly a drone or UAV near or over a wildfire, you're breaking the law and endangering firefighting personnel. Transport Canada and the BC Wildfire Service explicitly prohibit the use of drones or UAVs of any size near a wildfire.

All wildfires are automatically “flight restricted” according to federal Canadian Aviation Regulations. The restricted area is within a radius of five nautical miles around any smoke or fire and to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level.

08/25/2026

Peachland Fire & Rescue extends a heartfelt thank you to Peachland residents for your tremendous resilience and support during the recent emergency response to the Bald Lake Wildfire. Your willingness to step up for evacuees, neighbours and other community members in need demonstrated the strength and compassion that makes Peachland such a special community.

We’re not out of the woods yet — pardon the pun.

With drought conditions continuing and the risk of wildfire remaining high, it’s important that we all continue to exercise extra caution. Now is a great time to take another look at your property and consider what more you can do to reduce wildfire risk and help protect your home and neighbourhood.

The Peachland FireSmart team will be at the Peachland Fall Fair on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. Come visit our table at the Peachland Community Centre to learn more about our program and what you can do to protect from wildfire risk. Find more resources at https://firesmartbc.ca/
https://peachlandfallfair.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/firesmartbc