Regional Emergency Program

The Kelowna Fire Department spearheads the Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Plan. Participating local governments include Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO).

The plan is designed to:

• Assist emergency personnel in responding quickly and effectively to potential disasters such as wildfires, landslides, major storms, chemical spills, floods, plane crashes, or earthquakes;
• Provide a concentrated assessment and decision-making body that is best able to utilize all available resources within RDCO, and if necessary, from the Provincial and/or Federal Governments; and
• Provide guidelines for recovery after an emergency.

Representatives from each local government as well as fire, police, health care, public works, transportation, media liaison, communications and emergency social services meet regularly to fine-tune and practice the plan, which includes activating the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Larger businesses and the local school district routinely participate in full-scale exercises.

The plan, which is constantly evolving, goes hand in hand with the British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS). As soon as the Emergency Plan is activated the Provincial Emergency Program is notified.

Fire department personnel and Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Plan volunteers meet with neighbourhood and community groups to explain the emergency plan, and educate the public about emergency preparedness.

For more information on emergency preparedness: