To all participants and partners,
On behalf of the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, thank you for taking the time to participate in Operation Wolf on May 6, 2026. Bringing together 165 participants and 40+ agencies for a full-scale Wildland Urban Interface exercise is a significant commitment, and your presence, professionalism, and expertise made it possible.
Exercises like this are only valuable when they reflect real-world conditions and bring partners together to work through complex decisions in real time. Your collaboration, whether on the ground, on the water, in the Incident Command structure, or in the parallel tabletop discussions, helped us test communications, coordination, and structure protection strategies while strengthening the relationships that matter most during an actual wildfire event.
A special thank you to the community residents who volunteered their time and properties to support live structure protection and the mock marine evacuation. Your willingness to participate added realism to the scenario and reinforced the shared responsibility we all have in building wildfire resilience on the North Shore.
We also want to recognize the planners, evaluators, safety officers, logistical and administrative teams, and technical specialists who worked behind the scenes before and during the event. Your preparation and steady support ensured the exercise ran safely and effectively, and that we captured meaningful observations and lessons learned.
Thank you again for your time, expertise, and commitment to regional preparedness. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership as we strengthen our collective readiness for the upcoming wildfire seasons.
Sincerely,
Mike Danks
Fire Chief,
District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
Beautiful weather ☀️ in North Van means we’ve experienced an early start to our rescue season. DNV firefighters and DNV park rangers had joint training sessions this month to stay as sharp as possible in rope rescues and swift water emergencies.
As always, be careful and come prepared. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to call 911! DNV Firefighters are ready to respond to you 24/7.
SWIPE ➡️ Slide 3 shows trail markers, which can assist you with reporting your location on some of our most popular trails, such as BCMC and Quarry Rock.
It was a busy week for our firefighters.
By the numbers, here's a look into the 1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣+ calls DNVFRS crews responded to across the District:
8️⃣5️⃣ medical calls
1️⃣7️⃣ reports of alarms ringing
8️⃣ motor vehicle incidents
8️⃣ reports of Illegal burns
3️⃣ trail rescues
2️⃣ vehicle fires
2️⃣ gas leaks
1️⃣ balcony BBQ fire
1️⃣ report of power lines down
From rescues and medical responses to fire prevention and public safety, DNVFRS crews are ready around the clock, keeping our community safe.
Happy International Firefighters Day! 🧑🏾🚒👩🏼🚒👨🏻🚒 To our brothers and sisters near and far who have dedicated themselves to this career, we salute you today. From, your DNV Firefighters #internationalfirefightersday
Did you know we offer in-depth fire safety home assessments through the FireSmart Home Partners program? Anyone living in the wildland-urban interface can request this free service.
While walking around your home with you, we point out any areas where you can reduce the risks of a fire jumping from the forest to your home. One of our professionally trained Wildfire Mitigation Specialists will create a customized report for you outlining any preventative actions to take.
➡️Visit the FireSmart website to apply today at FireSmartBC.ca
April 28 is the National Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace.
Today, we remember all workers across Canada who have been killed, injured, or made ill because of their work. While this day is deeply personal within the fire service, it is a moment to stand alongside every industry and family affected by workplace loss.
Firefighting carries both visible and invisible risks. Beyond the dangers we face on scene, many members live with the long-term impacts of occupational illness, including cancer and mental health challenges.
IAFF 1183 Firefighters today remember our brothers who died as a result of their service:
Captain Daniel V. Williams (1929–1985)
Deputy Fire Chief Maurice S. Conway (1940–2023)
Captain Harvey B. McKay (1944–2003)
Captain Leonard James Maurer (1947–2023)
Captain Robert (Bob) Harrison (1947–2024)
Captain Steve Villeneuve (1951–2025)
We honour those we have lost, carry their legacy forward, and remain committed to improving safety for those who continue to serve.
Together, we work toward a future where everyone goes home safe.
🧯⛑️🔥We were extremely excited to participate in a special Parent Workshop on Child Safety, co-hosted by Capilano Community Services and North Shore Community Resources. The workshop presenters Captains Al McGee and Julian Hedrich, guided parents and caregivers through practical, confidence-building skills that cover essential child and home safety topics.
Keep an eye out for future events like this one! We will be back 💪
🔥🌲🏡 The FireSmart BC Spring Classroom Contest is back for 2026!
This province-wide contest invites elementary classrooms across BC to explore wildfire resilience through the FireSmart BC Education Program. It’s a fun, effective way for students to learn about wildfire science and resilience.
If you’re an educator, here’s how to enter:
1 Choose a lesson plan online.
2 Conduct the lesson activity.
3 Capture the moment with a photo.
4 Submit your entry online at the link in the post!
The contest runs from April 20 to May 15, 2026, and winners will be announced via a random draw on May 22.
🔥 Free FireSmart Assessments – April 23 🔥
We are looking for 5 District of North Vancouver homeowners interested in receiving a FREE FireSmart assessment as part of our Wildland Mitigation Specialist Course. 🌲🚒
Our team will need access around the entire home during the assessment, which will take approximately 2 hours to complete. Expect about 8 firefighters conducting inspections at their own pace as part of their training.
🏡 Homes must be detached (no condos or townhomes).
If you’re interested, please send us a DM 📩 or email [email protected] ✉️ to sign up!
🔥 Parent Workshop on Child Safety — Registration Now Open! 🔥
We are excited to invite you to a special Parent Workshop on Child Safety, co-hosted by Capilano Community Services and North Shore Community Resources. The workshop presenter, Fire Prevention Captains Al McGee and Kha Nguyen, will guide parents and caregivers through practical, confidence-building skills that cover essential child and home safety topics.
💰Cost: Free/by donation
✅ Date: Wednesday, March 25 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
📧 To register, fill out the form at: http://bit.ly/3NxaUz6
📍 Location: River Room, Lions Gate Community Recreation Centre
🏠 Address: 1733 Lions Gate Lane, North Vancouver
Topics include:
• Choking, emergency scenarios, and poison control information
• Home fire safety, including cooking fires, scalds, and battery safety
• Child first aid for minor injuries
• Adult safety information, including fire alarms, smoke detectors, home escape planning
• How to use a fire extinguisher
We look forward to welcoming you to this valuable session and helping families stay safe and informed. 💚
#FamilySupport #ChildSafety #FirePrevention #ChildFirstAid #Northvancouverfamilies
District residents and businesses can help our firefighters respond more effectively to emergencies by registering with Community Connect.
When we respond to an emergency at a residence or business, firefighters often enter with limited knowledge about the property or the people inside. That’s why we are using Community Connect, a secure database where residents and business owners can share critical information to assist emergency responders.
Learn more at DNV.org
