The City of Campbell River's Fire Department is responsible for fire prevention work in the City to comply with the BC Fire Safety Act. This work includes plan reviews to ensure building plans meet fire safety requirements of the BC Fire Code. On 'public' buildings, the Fire Department does inspections, checking that they continue to meet code. Other work includes investigations after a fire, and issuing permits to control burning in the city and public education.
Plan Review
Fire prevention planning is a part of the development and building plan review process. The Fire Department's role is to ensure plans meet the requirements of the:
- BC Building Code
- BC Fire Code
- Fire Safety Act
- Fire Services Bylaw
- Building Bylaw
The review process confirms these requirements are met in the early stages of the permit process, throughout the building process, into occupancy.
Areas that are reviewed relate to fire and life safety are:
- Building and occupant fire safety
- Indoor and outdoor storage
- Flammable and combustible liquids
- Hazardous processes and operations
- Fire emergency systems in high buildings
- Fire protection equipment:
- Fire alarm systems
- Sprinkler and standpipe systems
- Fire flow requirements
- Emergency exits
- Emergency lighting
- Portable extinguishers
- Commercial kitchen systems
- Fire department access routes and design
- Occupant load verification
Fire Investigations
The Fire Department, under the Fire Safety Act, must conduct fire investigations and report to the province. These investigations aim to find cause, origin and circumstance of fire occurring within the fire protection district.