Taylor firefighters receive almost 200 calls for service in 2025

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Taylor firefighters were called to nearly 200 emergencies last year. 

That’s according to Steve Byford, the district’s director of protective services and fire chief, who summarised the service’s activities in 2025 to the District of Taylor at its January 19th meeting.

Byford explained the Taylor Fire Rescue received 196 calls for service in 2025. As of January 19th, 2026, there have been four calls for service. 

Byford also noted in 2025 the district received 68 bylaw service calls, with two having already been received this year.

The department also reported it was reviewing the district’s emergency plan, which will be brought before the council as a draft in a future committee of the whole meeting. 

The district, alongside its partners – the City of Fort St. John, the City of Dawson Creek, Doig River First Nation and Saulteau First Nations – is exploring the future of the Indigenous Engagement Requirements Funding Program, which is operated through the province’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act. 

“Currently the team is making initial contact with the First Nation governing bodies within the region,” Byford stated. 

“These meetings are to establish opportunities with any interested governing bodies to discuss the benefits of emergency management engagements and cultural safety training.” 

The report also noted the use of approximately $60,800 in grants and funds for emergency management.

Specifically, the district received $23,798 from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for furniture and conflict resolution training for district staff. 

The district also received $37,047 from UBCM’s Next Generation 911 Grant, on behalf of the provincial government, which it used to equip computer-aided hardware to emergency response vehicles.