Fire Rescue
The Ucluelet Fire Rescue (UFR) was formed in 1949. Services provided include:
- Fire suppression;
- Medical First Responder;
- Road Rescue;
- Fire Safety Inspections; and
- Fire Investigations.
The firehall is centrally located at 1520 Peninsula Rd. The UFR responds to an average of 150 calls each year.
We provide service in Ucluelet, and through service agreements with Electoral "Area C" of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, the Pacific Rim Highway (BC Highway 4), Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Long Beach Airport, and Ucluelet First Nation. We have an automatic aid agreement with the District of Tofino for structure fires.
The UFR has 19 dedicated members, which consists of a Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, 3 Captains, 3 Lieutenants and 11 Firefighters. Members train every Tuesday evening and on weekends, as necessary.
The UFR trains to the Full-Service Level of the “Structure Firefighters Competency and Training Playbook”. Ten members are certified to National Fire Protection Association 1001, Level 2.
The UFR has two engines, one rescue truck with compressed air foam system, one quad all-terrain vehicle, one UTV equipped for patient rescue / extrication / transportation, and one four-wheel drive command vehicle.
Ucluelet Fire Rescue Operational Guidelines
For more information on the Ucluelet Fire Rescue, please contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.
Fire Inspection Guidelines
The District of Ucluelet is dedicated to making the safety of our residents and visitors our priority. As such, all businesses and public buildings are required to undergo regular fire safety inspections.
Some of the items that are checked during fire safety inspections include:
- Is the civic address visible?
- Is there unobstructed access for fire department vehicles?
- Are fire extinguishers current with maintenance and servicing?
- Are exit corridors maintained clean and free of all obstructions and fire hazards??
- Are fire exit doors installed and functioning properly?
- Are exit signs illuminated?
- Is emergency lighting functioning as required?
- Are all commercial cooking equipment and suppression systems compliant with the BC Fire Code?
- Are fire department connections visible, clear of obstructions, with caps installed?
- Are there any electrical issues that would increase the risk of fire?
- Are flammable liquids stored appropriately?
- Is the Fire Safety Plan up to date?
- Are all service rooms kept tidy and free from accumulation of combustible materials?
For more information on fire safety inspections, please see The District of Ucluelet Fire Safety Inspection Bylaw No. 1265, 2020, or contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.
Ucluelet Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan
Fire Services Development Design Guidelines
The District of Ucluelet’s Fire Services Development Design Guidelines sets the minimum fire safety standards for all development within the Ucluelet Fire Rescue service area. These guidelines are in place to ensure public safety and uniformity across new development, facilitating safe and effective emergency responses.
Fire Services Development Design Guidelines
Emergency Management
Ucluelet Emergency Planning Committee
The District of Ucluelet Emergency Planning Committee is comprised of representatives from agencies in the Ucluelet area that may prepare, respond, recover, and mitigate emergency events.
The Committee’s purpose is to facilitate communication, provide coordination amongst partner agencies, and support emergency management training and exercises.
Membership on the Committee includes, but is not limited to representatives from:
The District of Ucluelet, District of Tofino, West Coast Inland Search & Rescue, Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, Toquaht Nation, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), Tourism Ucluelet, Canadian Rangers, Ucluelet Co-op, School District 70, Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue, RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services, Parks Canada, Ucluelet Emegency Support Services, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The committee was formed in 2009 with the original purpose of developing and maintaining a community emergency plan. With a living draft emergency plan in place, the group is constantly exercising and improving the plan.
Emergency Support Services (ESS)
The District of Ucluelet ESS team is a group of dedicated volunteers who help preserve the well-being of residents and visitors during an emergency. The ESS program helps people affected by large emergencies but may also assist during smaller emergencies such as house fires. Emergency Support Services can provide aid for up to 72 hours and can sometimes be extended depending on the emergency.
When residents are forced to evacuate their homes, the ESS Team will establish a reception centre or group lodging facility.
Learn more about on Emergency Social Services in British Columbia.
For more information on emergency management please contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.
Household Preparedness
Emergency Notifications
The District of Ucluelet has an emergency notification system to rapidly convey messages to residents and visitors about impending emergency incidents. This system can also be used to provide safety instructions and additional information about an emergency event.
To receive emergency notices via email, text message, and/or voice-to-text message, click on the following link and follow the steps.
Sign Up to Receive Emergency Notifications >
Please note that personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(c) the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information will only be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will not be used for any purpose other than to contact you in the event of an emergency.
Emergency Kits and Grab-and-go Bags
Following a disaster, you may need to stay at home with your emergency kit or evacuate immediately with your grab-and-go bags. Local emergency resources will quickly become depleted, so you must be prepared to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours.
Learn more about building emergency kits and grab-and-go bags at the BC Government's emergency preparedness site.
20 Meters in 20 Minutes
The District of Ucluelet established the slogan “20 Meters in 20 Minutes”. The purpose of the this is to stress the importance that after the shaking of an earthquake stops, you will have approximately 20 minutes to evacuate to high ground prior to the arrival of the first tsunami waves. 20 meters is the recommended height above sea level that you should go.
If you are already above the 20-meter mark, there is generally no need to go anywhere.
Evacuations
If the District of Ucluelet directs you to evacuate, take your grab-and-go-bag and immediately head to the nearest Community Assembly Area and stay there. District Staff will then provide you with information as it becomes available.
The 3 Community Assembly Areas in Ucluelet are:
- Tugwell Field – Raven Parking Lot
- Ucluelet Secondary School Field, and
- Coast Guard Rd. – Whale Parking Lot
Important Links:
Emergency Management BC https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-management-bc
Coast Smart http://coastsmart.ca/
The Great BC ShakeOut https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/
National Tsunami Warning Centre https://ntwc.ncep.noaa.gov/
BC Centre for Disease Control http://www.bccdc.ca/
Island Health https://www.islandhealth.ca/
Public Safety Canada https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/
BC Hydro Power Outages https://www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages.html
Drive BC https://www.drivebc.ca
For more information about personal preparedness contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.
This service is used to rapidly convey messages to residents and visitors about emergency situations.
Notice is hereby given that a Special Council Meeting will be held on December 19, 2024, starting at 4:00 PM. This meeting will be held in the George Fraser Community Room in the Ucluelet Community... 
