Kamloops Fire Rescue to have 10 new firefighters placed at Westsyde station

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) will soon have its station in Westsyde fully staffed with full-time career firefighters.

In a news release, the City of Kamloops says 10 new firefighters have completed their training and will serve KFR’s Station 4 in Westsyde. In response, the paid on-call firefighters in Westsyde will be offered to continue their duties further north at Station 5 in Rayleigh.

“We acknowledge the dedication and hard work that our Station 4 on-call members have provided in the Westsyde community,” Ken Uzeloc, KFR Chief says. “However, we know this decision will be a major service increase to the community. The need for paid on-call positions still exists within Kamloops and is a great benefit to the two remaining stations that rely on dedicated members. We hope that Station 4 members will continue to serve Kamloops through Station 5 in Rayleigh.”

Of the seven fire stations in Kamloops, KFR says four are fully staffed with career firefighters while two stations are staffed with paid on-call firefighters. Station 4 in Westsyde has been operating as a combination of both since the addition of two career firefighters to what began as a fully paid on-call station.

KFR says the Westsyde station has seen an increase in calls over the past few years with more requirements related to firefighting from training and health and safety. It says the 10 new firefighters will improve response times and ease pressure on other stations.

The boost of firefighters for the Westsyde station was one of 10 supplemental budget items approved by Kamloops Council this year.

The change takes effect Aug. 1, 2023.