Vancouver Fire Fighters

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Vancouver Fire Fighters

Vancouver’s Bravest. Vancouver Fire Fighters IAFF Local #18
Always ready to step up.

Official Page representing the 815 members of Vancouver Fire Fighters' Union Local #18 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

08/02/2026

Happy long weekend, Vancouver. ☀️

Let’s finish the weekend safely!

Look out for each other. Have a blast and plan a safe way home. 🚒

— Vancouver Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 18

07/31/2026

We'll see you at Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

Vancouver firefighters are proud to be marching in the Vancouver Pride Parade this Sunday, August 2nd! We're celebrating our own 2SLGBTQIA+ members and folks across the city, the country and the world.

Come say hi, wave us down, and celebrate with us. Fair warning: we can't guarantee you won't get sprayed. 🚒🌈

07/30/2026

Colvin O'Driscoll takes us on a quick tour of Pump 2's panel and compartments - check it out.

07/29/2026

The Vancouver Firefighter Charities' annual 50/50 raffle is on now, with ticket sales running July 19 to August 31. Half the pot goes straight to the winner, the other half funds VFC's programs supporting at-risk kids, families, and seniors across Vancouver.

🎫 Buy your tickets: https://vfc.rafflenexus.com/

Can't buy online? Catch Vancouver firefighter volunteers selling tickets in person at Summer Lights at English Bay (July 31) and KitsFest (August 7-9).

VFC is the charitable arm of Vancouver's firefighters, running programs that give back directly to the community: feeding kids in need, providing toys and sports gear for families who couldn't otherwise afford them, and supporting isolated seniors. It's members volunteering their time to give back.

07/25/2026

People see "Vancouver Fire Boat 2" and assume it stays in Vancouver's waters. It doesn't.

Here's FB2 out in West Vancouver, training. And that's not out of area, that's the job. When the old regional consortium wound down, most of the smaller boats went with it, and the outside municipalities on the inlet now contract Vancouver for marine fire response. So when a vessel catches fire off the North Shore, off Ambleside, or anywhere across Burrard Inlet and English Bay, it's Vancouver's fire boats and the crews who run them getting the call.

Dedicated municipal fireboats are rare in this country. Most coastal cities lean on the Coast Guard or smaller rescue craft. Vancouver runs two of the more serious marine firefighting assets in Canada, and they cover a whole lot more water than the city name on the hull suggests.

That's why the crews train across the entire waterway.

Vancouver's fire boats protect Vancouver. They also protect a lot more than Vancouver.

Photos: Jay Kent

07/23/2026

Ever walked past a firehall and noticed the apparatus parked outside instead of tucked in the bay? Here's what's actually going on:

Truck checks and drills. Crews are outside doing daily equipment checks, drills, or maintenance on the bay floor, which means the truck needs to come out first. Apparatus checks are mandated by CVSE (Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement) to keep the trucks safe for the public and for our crews.

Drying after a wash. Apparatus gets washed regularly to stay in good shape, and it needs time outside to dry before heading back in.

Keeping the bays clean. Halls get cleaned out often to maintain the facility, and that means moving the truck temporarily.

Some halls just don't have the room. A few of Vancouver's firehalls have ramps too short to fit the apparatus without extending onto the sidewalk. It's not a choice our members are making, it's a limitation of the building itself.

Our members know it can be an inconvenience, and they don't take that lightly. If you ever have to step around a truck, know that our members are working to keep both you and them safe. Thanks for your patience.

07/22/2026

Photos from an EV fire last week.

When an EV battery goes into thermal runaway, it's not like putting out a car fire in the traditional sense. Here's why:

The fuel is inside the battery itself. Once thermal runaway starts, the battery generates its own oxygen and heat, feeding the fire from within. Water and foam can cool it, but they can't cut off the fuel source the way they do with a gas fire.

It takes a lot more water. Where a typical vehicle fire might take a few hundred litres to knock down, an EV battery fire can take thousands of litres, sometimes tens of thousands, just to keep the cells cool enough to stop the chain reaction.

Reignition is a real risk. A battery fire can appear to be out, then flare back up hours or even days later as damaged cells continue to heat up. Crews often have to monitor a vehicle long after the initial response.

Toxic gases. Battery fires release hydrogen fluoride and other hazardous gases, adding another layer of risk for the crews on scene.

Our members train specifically for this, because EVs aren't going anywhere and the tactics for fighting these fires are still evolving.

07/21/2026

Chief Fry's farewell message to the membership. Thank you Chief!

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Vancouver, BC

Website

http://iaff18.org/

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