PERIOD REPORT
DATE: May 25, 2026 Report No. FIRE-26-003
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Matt Furlot, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:TITLE Fire Department & Emergency Management Program - 2026 First Period Report Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Fire Department and the Emergency Management Program from January 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026.
I. FIRE DEPARTMENT DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. OPERATIONS
During this reporting period, Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services continued to respond to a wide range of emergency incidents while maintaining operational readiness through training, equipment upgrades, and staffing development. Call volumes remain consistent with projected trends. The data for this period, along with comparisons to the last period and the same period last year, is summarized below:
Notably, Life Safety Inspections are significantly down, reflecting ongoing capacity challenges and the need to prioritize higher-risk premises and follow-up re-inspections to achieve compliance, in alignment with expectations through the Office of the Fire Commissioner and statutory requirements under the Fire Safety Act.
2. COMMUNITY SERVICES
Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) continues to be actively engaged in the community through public education, safety initiatives, and participation in local events.
During this period, community engagement and public education efforts included:
• Hall Tours: Ongoing station tours were provided to members of the public, schools, and community groups, supporting fire safety awareness and engagement.
• Car Seat Inspections: Firefighters provided child car seat inspections and installation to support injury prevention and safe transportation practices.
• Senior Safety Presentations: Two senior safety presentations were delivered, one in collaboration with Victoria Police Department, focusing on safety, awareness, and prevention strategies.
• Pink Shirt Day: Members participated in two events, including Esquimalt High School and a Township-wide initiative with staff and VicPD, supporting anti-bullying awareness and positive community culture.
• Wounded Warriors Support: Continued support of initiatives that raise awareness for mental health challenges faced by first responders and military personnel.
• School Academy: Ongoing engagement with youth through fire service exposure and education programming during this 5-day camp.
• Lions Easter Event: Participation in this community event supported family engagement and public interaction.
• 5km Fun Run: Members supported this event promoting health, wellness, and community connection.
• HMCS Esquimalt Memorial: Participation in this important commemorative event.
• School District 61 Career Fair: Engagement with students to promote fire service careers and provide insight into recruitment and training pathways.
3. DEPARTMENT SERVICES
Fire Prevention
Fire prevention activities experienced a slower start to the period as a new approach was being planned and frame worked. Inspections are now focussed on higher fire and life safety risk premises with the intent to re-inspect and ensure compliance. Capacity still remains an issue for prevention services, and although this new approach is more in alignment with statutory requirements under the Fire Safety Act, the department is falling short of its statutory requirement.
Business license inspections continue to be prioritized, although capacity constraints have at times impacted application processing timelines. The department has leveraged administrative support to assist with service delivery and help improve turnaround times where possible.
Occupancy inspections and fire safety plan reviews have continued as new developments come online.
Fleet, Facilities & Equipment
From a fleet, facilities, and equipment perspective, several key advancements were made:
• The new Light Rescue has been placed into service, enhancing response capability for technical rescue and medical incidents.
• New high-rise equipment has been received and will be placed into service upon completion of training to ensure safe and effective use.
Training Initiatives
Training continues to be a priority for EFRS, supporting operational readiness, firefighter safety, and service delivery.
Key training initiatives included:
• Digital Vehicle Repeater System (DVRS) training in collaboration with Saanich Fire Department
• Probationary testing
• Confined Space Rescue training
• Incident Report writing training for Company Officers
• Search and Rescue training
• De-escalation training in collaboration with Victoria Police Department
• Regional Hazardous Materials training
• Internal High-Rise Working Group development of lesson plans and training rollout
• Fire Ground Survival training
• Incident Command training
• Emergency Scene Management training
• Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Introductory and Refresher training
• Annual Chainsaw Instructor-led training
•
Office of the Fire Commissioner Minimum Firefighter Training Standards ongoing training
4. PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING
The Public Safety Building project continues to progress well and remains on strong financial and operational footing.
• Roofing and building enclosure are now complete, interior rough-ins are underway, and insulation installation has begun on Level 3, consistent with forecasted timelines.
• The project site has operated incident-free during this reporting period, with no injuries or lost-time events.
• Financially, the project remains well-positioned. No new tariff-related costs have been incurred, and the project has avoided inflationary impacts associated with international pressures. A strong contingency remains in place, and change orders to date are low relative to the stage and scale of the project. Overall expenditures remain aligned with budget expectations.
• Supply chain disruptions were encountered due to insolvency of the apparatus bay door and appliance suppliers. These challenges were mitigated through alternate sourcing without negative impact to schedule or cost. Notably, replacement bay doors are Canadian-manufactured, offer improved performance, and are anticipated to provide cost savings.
• A formal schedule extension has been applied, adjusting the projected completion date from October 16, 2026 to January 13, 2027. This reflects previously identified delays. The contractor continues to accelerate work where possible and maintain progress toward key milestones.
• Work is underway to incorporate Indigenous and public artwork into the facility. While still in development, this initiative has the potential to become a significant and meaningful feature of the project.
5. COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL COOPERATION
EFRS continues to support and participate in regional collaboration to strengthen emergency response capabilities and interoperability.
• Ongoing collaboration with regional partners to support training, communications, and coordinated emergency response.
• Participation in joint training initiatives, including DVRS implementation and regional Hazardous Materials training.
• Continued development of high-rise operational consistency through internal and regional working group efforts.
• The Fire Chief continues to Chair the Capital Regional Fire Chief’s Association quarterly meetings, supporting collaboration of our 13 regional fire departments.
6. COMMITTEES
Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services members continue to contribute to local, regional, and provincial initiatives through participation on committees and associations, supporting leadership, training, and operational excellence across the fire service:
• Capital Region Fire Chiefs’ Association (Chair: F/C Furlot)
• Greater Vancouver Fire Chief’s Association
o Technical High Angle Rope Rescue Program (THARRP) (Chair: F/C Furlot)
• Canadian Fire Chief’s Association
o Leadership, Mental Health, and Executive Chief Fire Officer Programs (F/C Furlot)
• Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC
o Financial and Elections Committees (F/C Furlot)
o Education Committee (F/C Furlot)
• CRD Regional Hazardous Materials Response Planning Committee (F/C Furlot)
• Fire Training Officers’ Association of BC (A/C Swan)
• Fire Prevention Officers’ Association of BC (A/C Widdifield)
• Greater Victoria Fire Prevention Officers’ Association (A/C Widdifield)
• Department Occupational Health & Safety Committee
• BC Burn Fund
• BC Professional Firefighters Association
• Greater Victoria Public Safety Unit Joint Management Team
II. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Administration
Partners & Collaboration:
• Ongoing participation in regional working group for Indigenous Engagement Requirements.
• Ongoing participation in Local Government Emergency Partnership Advisory Committee.
• Ongoing participation in Regional Emergency Management Partnership.
• Ongoing participation in Regional Emergency Coordination Advisory Commission.
• Participation in workshop for cultivating culturally safe spaces (as part of the Indigenous Engagement Requirements project).
Grants:
• Applied for UBCM EOC Exercise & Training Grant to support IT equipment for the new Public Safety Building.
• Applied for UBCM Indigenous Cultural Safety & Cultural Humility Training grant to support staff and volunteer training.
2. Emergency Support Services (ESS)
Training, Exercises & Capacity Building:
• Volunteers completed Group Lodging set-up exercises in accordance with the Group Lodging Plan, supported by Oak Bay volunteers.
• Ongoing monthly training sessions completed by ESS volunteers.
Operational Readiness Plans & Tools:
• Volunteers are leading ESS vendor supplier agreement renewals, ensuring Esquimalt-based businesses and service providers are informed about the ESS program and enrolled to support response operations.
Strategic Projects:
• Distributed new logo-branded clothing to volunteers as part of a successful ESS grant application.
3. Resilient Community Program (Formerly NEPP)
Training, Exercises & Capacity Building:
• Attended Wildfire Resiliency & Training Summit in Victoria to build understanding of the FireSmart program.
Partners & Collaboration:
• Ongoing participation in Greater Victoria Community FireSmart & Resiliency Collaborative.
• Participation in Regional Tsunami Risk Forum.
Community Engagement & Public Engagement:
• Developed and shared social media content focused on emergency preparedness and Tsunami Week.
Strategic Projects:
• Advancing hiring of a FireSmart Coordinator through the UBCM Community Resiliency Investment grant.
• Supporting Blackwell Consultant in development of the Community Wildfire Risk Plan, funded through the UBCM Community Resiliency Investment grant.
4. Emergency Radio Communications
Effective radio communications are critical for coordinating emergency response efforts, and the department continues to prioritize regular training and equipment maintenance.
Training, Exercises & Capacity Building:
• Fire Department staff completed Introduction to Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) training.
• Participated in exercise design working group and delivery of the Capital Regional Emergency Program Coordination & Communications Plan 2026 exercise.
• Provided training to members of the Emergency Management Committee.