The department's present 5 bay building was constructed in 1969. Though the number isn't published, we believe that the department is manned by 40 to 50 volunteer firefighters.
The apparatus lineup at present is as follows:
•
Engine 1 - 1997 Freightliner FL80 / Hub (840/1000/15A/15B) (SN#2360-700)
•
RAT 1 - 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 HD / Crimson brush tender (245/300)
• Tender 1 - 1995 International 4700 (-/1700)
• Rescue 1 - 1996 GMC K3500 / Superior (SN#SE 1684)
•
Command 1 - Dodge Dakota
•
Tender 2 - 2015 International / Allweld (350/1800)
•
Engine 3 - 2006 Freightliner M2 / American LaFrance WUI / Hub (1050/500/CAFS)
Tenders have been called for a new pumper, closing 27 September 2019.
The following short news article about fire preparedness in Barriere is particularly pertinent, as Barriere was the scene of one of British Columbia's two worst forest fires in recent memory, both occurring in the hot, dry summer of 2003.
The
McClure Fire of 2003 was
started by a carelessly discarded cigarette butt, caused the loss of 26,420 hectares, 72 homes and 9 businesses. The 2003 fire season was one of the most catastrophic in British Columbia’s recorded history. Due to an extended drought and excessively hot weather in the southern half of the province, forest firefighters faced conditions never seen before in Canada. Lightning strikes, human carelessness, and arson all contributed to igniting nearly 2,500 fires involving more than 10,000 firefighters and support personnel, burning more than 265,000 hectares at a cost of $375 million. You might remember that the equally infamous
Okanagan Mountain Park (Kelowna) Fire was one of those 2,500 fires.
Barriere Fire Hall hosts
Wildfire Preparedness Day
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day at the firehall in Barriere was a great success.
JILL HAYWARD | Jun. 6, 2018
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day at the firehall in Barriere was a great success.
The Barriere Fire Department put on a stellar event last Saturday for area residents to enjoy and to learn.
The June 2 event provided something for all ages, including information on how people can protect their home and property in the event of a wildfire.
Barriere firefighters were on hand providing informative demonstrations and hands on learning for those attending.
They also hosted games and fire truck rides for the kids, cooked burgers and hot dogs on the barbecue, and even provided a failed attempt to dunk Fire Chief Readman into a water tank.
There were a number of free giveaways, with Cindy Carolan being the lucky prize winner of a brand new propane fire pit.
If you have questions about how you can be prepared in case of wildfire please contact your local fire department or go to:
Fire Smart Canada.
You can contact the Barriere Fire Department at: 778-220-1711 or go to:
Barriere Fire
From BC Local News