FireWise Consulting

Our thoughts are with everyone in Summerland, Peachland and across the Interior affected by this week's wildfires.

Homes have been lost, communities have been evacuated and so many are facing real uncertainty right now.

To the wildland crews, structural firefighters, EMS responders and ESS volunteers working around the clock - thank you.

To everyone affected: we're thinking of you.

Current fire status: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/
Evacuation orders/alerts: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
Donate: https://give.redcross.ca/page/26BCF

Donate to the 2026 British Columbia Wildfires Appeal Donations to the Canadian Red Cross will be used to provide assistance to those impacted by the wildfires in British Columbia with immediate and ongoing relief, recovery, and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard d...

As communities grow, so do the opportunities to strengthen fire protection.

A Fire Master Plan is a comprehensive strategy that ensures fire protection services are prepared to meet both present and future community needs.

Through careful analysis, a master plan:

~ Identifies service gaps and risks
~ Provides recommendations for effective resource allocation
~ Establishes clear priorities for sustainable fire protection

At FireWise, we support municipalities and fire departments in developing Fire Master Plans that are built for long-term community safety.

A fire scene tells a story... but only if it's photographed the right way.

Documenting from the unburned areas toward the most heavily damaged helps investigators build a clear narrative of fire development and potential origin.

Accurate photography strengthens analysis, supports evidence and improves the quality of every investigation.

Congratulations to Rheal Gagnon on being appointed Fire Chief of the La Broquerie Fire Dept. 🔥

34 years with the department. That kind of experience speaks for itself.

Wishing Chief Gagnon all the best as he steps into the role.

📷 Photo credit: La Broquerie Fire Department

Stop second-guessing your fire safety responsibilities.

You’re expected to know the fire code, identify risks, and lead safety efforts.

But no one ever gave you the training to do it confidently, until now:

Our Facility Fire Risk Manager Certification is now live.

✔️ 100% online
✔️ Built for building owners, facility staff & property managers
✔️ Focused on real-world fire prevention skills you can use right away

👉 Sign up today: https://www.firewiseconsulting.com/education/facility-fire-risk-manager-certification/

Fire code questions aren't written the way most people read them.

The language is precise by design. Every word in a prescriptive standard has a specific meaning and exam questions are built around that precision.

Two things worth knowing before you sit down to write:

1️⃣ "Shall" means mandatory. "Should" means recommended. Two words that look similar and mean very different things when the question is scored.
2️⃣ When two answers look right, one of them is usually right in principle but wrong for the specific scenario. Read the scenario again before you choose.

The difference between passing and failing isn't always knowledge.

Sometimes it's simply understanding what the question is actually asking.

Not all floors are built the same and in a fire, that difference matters.

Concrete floors can act as a barrier against fire and smoke spread.

But if steel beams are supporting that concrete, the ceiling below becomes critical.

It's what protects the steel from heat.

Wood floor systems are a different story.

Heavy timber holds up well under fire conditions.

Conventional wood framing fails faster.

Modern lightweight truss systems - the ones common in newer construction - can burn through quickly and lose structural integrity before crews even expect it.

For inspectors, what's above and below you is as important as what's in front of you.

Start with the construction.

Congratulations to Rob Atkinson on his appointment as Director of Fire Services and Fire Chief for the Town of Shores Fire Department. 🔥

23 years of service, from volunteer firefighter to Deputy Chief to this. Well earned.

Wishing Chief Atkinson all the best as he steps into the role.

Photo: Town of Saugeen Shores