PERIOD REPORT
DATE: September 28, 2026 Report No. FIRE-26-006
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Matt Furlot, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:TITLE Fire Department & Emergency Management Program - 2026 Second Period ReportBody
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Fire Department and the Emergency Management Program from May 1, 2026 to August 31, 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:
Life Safety Inspections and re-inspections are not keeping pace with demand. Despite completing 142 inspections and 51 re-inspections this period, current staffing capacity is insufficient to provide timely, risk-based compliance monitoring across more than 700 inspectable premises in the Township of Esquimalt. As a result, the department continues to fall short of its statutory responsibilities under the Fire Safety Act.
2. COMMUNITY SERVICES
Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services continued to support community safety through inspections, public education, and community engagement. Business licence inspections were prioritized and completed as capacity allowed, with administrative support helping to maintain timely service. Occupancy inspections and associated fire safety plan reviews also continued as new developments came online.
Community engagement and public education activities included:
• Hall tours
• Child car seat inspections
• McHappy Day, with crews serving guests
• Wakey Wakey annual event kickoff
• Buccaneer Days Luncheon, with crews serving volunteers
• Coffee with a First Responder, in partnership with Victoria Police Department
• Rainbow Kitchen dinner service
• Rockheights Middle School year-end event
• Co-hosting Island Ignite, an all-women firefighter boot camp, and providing a member to assist with instruction
• Participation in the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC Conference, where the temporary fire hall was showcased as an innovative solution and the Fire Chief presented at several leadership workshops
3. DEPARTMENT SERVICES
Fleet, Facilities and Equipment
Annual hose testing was completed to confirm the operational readiness of the department’s hose inventory. New rope rescue equipment was also acquired to enhance firefighter safety and support technical rescue operations.
Operational Guidelines and Administration
Several operational guidelines and internal processes were developed or updated to improve safety, consistency, and accountability. Department guidelines were also reviewed alongside those of mutual aid partners to support regional alignment where operationally appropriate, improve firefighter safety, and achieve better outcomes for the public. An Officer Daily Report was developed to strengthen communication between Company Officers and the Duty Chief regarding staffing, training, equipment, facilities, and operational readiness.
Training Initiatives
Training continued to focus on operational readiness, specialized response capabilities, and leadership development. Key initiatives included:
• Two days of Public Safety Unit training
• Active Deadly Threat and Rescue Task Force training for all four crews
• Two nine-month and two eleven-month probationary firefighter assessments
• Three-day Low to Steep Slope Rescue Instructor course
• Joint wildland firefighting training with View Royal Fire Rescue, delivered to all four crews
• Fire Ground Survival training for all four crews
• Two days of confined space rescue training for each crew
• High-rise operations training with B and C Platoons
• Driver Training Program development
• Introduction to Reception Centre training, led by Kulpreet Munde and delivered to all four crews
• Return-to-work training and operational reintegration
• Low-slope rescue training at Saxe Point with three crews
• Quarterly skills assessments
|
Training Hours in this Period |
|
Combined Training Hours |
2,758 hrs |
|
Total Staff Trained |
32 Suppression Firefighters |
4. ESQUIMALT FIRE HALL
Through Council resolution, the Public Safety Building was officially named the Esquimalt Fire Hall. The facility will house Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services, the Emergency Operations Centre, and the Emergency and Resiliency Program.
Construction continues to progress within the approved budget and remains scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027. Interior finishing work is underway, including painting, millwork installation, and flooring. Planning for technology equipment, signage, artwork, and the transition into the new facility is also progressing, with Indigenous artists being engaged to submit proposals.
During the reporting period, the Fire Chief participated in media interviews to update the community on the project’s progress and highlight Council’s investment in community safety and emergency preparedness.
5. COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL COOPERATION
Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services continued to work with regional partners to strengthen interoperability and coordinated emergency response. Key initiatives included:.
• Meeting with Langford, Colwood, and View Royal fire departments to review and align mutual aid operational procedures, with a focus on firefighter safety and effective public outcomes.
• Working with Victoria, Saanich, and Oak Bay fire departments to engage Dave Mitchell & Associates in planning and modelling more coordinated and efficient regional emergency responses.
• Continuing the joint recruitment process with Oak Bay, Saanich, and Victoria fire departments, including several preliminary recruitment events to support the development of firefighter eligibility lists.
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 Zone 1 Deputy Director (F/C Furlot)
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 and Collaboration:
• Ongoing participation in the Local Government Emergency Partnership Advisory Committee.
• Ongoing participation in the Regional Emergency Management Partnership.
• Ongoing participation in the Regional Emergency Coordinators Advisory Commission.
• Continued participation in regional working groups focused on operational frameworks, emergency mutual aid, evacuations, and Indigenous engagement requirements.
• Participated in a regional cold weather forum.
• Met virtually with Esquimalt Nation to better understand its emergency management program and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Grants:
• Received approval for Emergency Operations Centre grant funding to support training, equipment, and operational readiness.
• Submitted an application to the Green Municipal Fund for climate risk assessment mapping.
Operational Readiness, Plans and Tools:
• Began updating the Township’s Business Continuity Plan in collaboration with Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety.
• Supported Occupational Health and Safety with fire drills at Township facilities.
• Convened the Emergency Management Committee, with a focus on community recovery and a presentation from the New Westminster Emergency Management Program.
• Submitted three regional project proposals to the Regional Emergency Management Partnership. All three were accepted with support from five other municipalities.
2. Emergency Support Services (ESS)
Training, Exercises and Capacity Building:
• Continued monthly Emergency Support Services volunteer training.
• Participated in joint Group Lodging training with Oak Bay Emergency Support Services.
• Delivered Reception Centre training to all four Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services crews.
• Continued planning with Oak Bay, Saanich, and Victoria for a regional Emergency Support Services workshop scheduled for October 14.
Operational Readiness, Plans and Tools:
• Continued refinement of the Group Lodging Plan.
• Hosted a Community Partners Workshop on August 20 to strengthen relationships with organizations that may support emergency response and recovery. Langford and Oak Bay participated, with additional support from Colwood, View Royal, and Central Saanich.
3. Resilient Community Program (Formerly NEPP)
Training, Exercises and Capacity Building:
• Organized a Songhees cultural walking tour for Esquimalt and Oak Bay emergency program volunteers using provincial grant funding.
• Coordinated an Indigenous awareness workshop for Township staff.
Partners and Collaboration:
• Continued participation in the Greater Victoria Community FireSmart and Resiliency Collaborative.
• Continued collaboration with regional emergency programs and community organizations to strengthen response and recovery capacity.
Community Engagement and Public Education:
• Initiated FireSmart public education and home assessments.
• Continued emergency preparedness and community resilience messaging through social media.
• Began planning with the Parks Department for a community chipping event.
Strategic Projects:
• Onboarded a FireSmart Coordinator on August 2 for an approximately four-month term fully funded through the 2025 FireSmart grant.
• Onboarded a Royal Roads University student for a three-month internship focused on community partnerships and recovery planning.
• Continued review of the draft Recovery Plan and preparations for a recovery exercise planned for late 2026 or early 2027.