About the Office
The Office of the Fire Commissioner is the senior fire authority in the province with respect to fire safety and prevention. Services include administration and enforcement of fire safety legislation, training of local assistants to the fire commissioner, fire loss statistics collection, fire investigation, fire inspection, response to major fire emergencies, advice to local governments on delivery of fire protection services, public fire safety education and fire fighter certification.

Fire Safety Legislation
The Office of the Fire Commissioner administers the Fire Services Act and the B.C. Fire Code. Under this legislative authority, the Office appoints and trains Local Assistants to the Fire Commissioner (LAFC), implements fire safety regulations, processes technical code changes and resolves appeals.• Fire Services Act • Interpretation Bulletins

Public Education
The public education program of the Office of the Fire Commissioner provides leadership in fire safety education, with provincial initiatives such as the Learn Not To Burn Program, National Fire Prevention Week activities and a Juvenile Firesetter Intervention program.
• Fire Safety Tips
• Juvenile Firesetter Manual
• Public Safety Announcements
•Fire & Life Safety Brochures
•Position Papers

Training & Certification
The Office of the Fire Commissioner develops and delivers introductory courses to LAFCs, as well as courses in inspections and on specific subjects within the B.C. Fire Code. The Office also provides training in the Canadian Fire Investigation School Levels I, II, and III Fire Investigation to those persons who have a regulatory responsibility for fire investigation.By Ministerial Order, effective January 1, 2003, the National Fire Protection Association training standards have replaced the British Columbia Fire Service Training Standards.The British Columbia Fire Service Certification Program administered by the Office of the Fire Commissioner which was based on the now rescinded British Columbia Fire Service Training Standards is no longer in effect and is replaced by the certification to the NFPA standards issued by fire service training institutions who are accredited by IFSAC or ProBoard. Those fire service members who have been certified under the BC Fire Fighter Training Standards by the Justice Institute of BC, Fire & Safety Division, may be eligible for NFPA certification subject to completing the bridging requirements. For more information on receiving recognition under the NFPA certification, please contact the Justice Institute of BC, Fire & Safety Division directly on their website.

Fire Reporting
Fire reporting is a legislated requirement and the Office of the Fire Commissioner maintains an electronic Fire Loss Reporting System that records all B.C. fire loss statistics. Information collected yearly assists in areas such as public education planning, Building and Fire Code changes and identifying trends in fire loss.• Reporting Code Structure • Reporting Task Group

Emergency Response