September 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY: Elected Officials Set to Feel the Heat at Fire Ops 101
[VANCOUVER, BC] - The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) will be putting elected officials and decision makers through their paces at Fire Ops 101 on Monday, September 14, 2026.
MPs, MLAs, City Councillors and others will be participating in challenging scenarios that represent the lived experience of fire fighting. The event will include an orientation, testing, and live scenarios designed to help our civic leaders better understand the challenges faced by fire fighters and what it takes to keep communities safe.
WHAT: Fire Ops 101
WHEN: Monday, September 14, 2026 beginning at 12:00 p.m. concluding at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Vancouver Fire & Rescue Training Centre, 1330 Chess Street, Vancouver, BC.
WHO: Members of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association
Jake Sawatzky, MP, New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville
Wade Chang, MP, Burnaby Central
Hon. Niki Sharma, MLA, Vancouver-Hastings
Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA Vancouver-West End
Rohini Arora, MLA, Burnaby-East
Councillors, Officers and Managers from Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Langley City, New Westminster, Port Moody, Prince Rupert, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Terrace, Whistler, Vancouver
“Fire Ops 101 offers valuable insight into the physical and psychological demands of this job. The goal is to help participants appreciate what fire fighters on the front lines are going through and better understand the challenges we face in keeping our communities safe,” says Todd Schierling, President of BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
Participants will be suited up in training gear, including a self-contained breathing apparatus, and experience the physical exertion and teamwork required to enter and extinguish a controlled building fire. They will also be using specialized life-saving equipment, such as hydraulic cutters and spreaders, and be safely exposed to the smoke, physical stress, and adrenaline rush that fire fighters and emergency medical personnel routinely address.
“The goal of Fire Ops 101 is to expose decision-makers to the realities of this work and help them gain a first-hand understanding of why we need adequate staffing and up-to-date protective equipment, as well as legislation that protects our members,” says Scott Rose, Vice President, Vancouver Fire Fighters Local 18.
The Fire Ops 101 program is a BCPFFA biennial event and has been running since 2009. Scenarios include hands-on fire fighting and rescue operations under the controlled supervision of the Vancouver Training Division personnel and BCPFFA representatives.
On behalf of the BCPFFA, thanks to Local 18, Vancouver Fire & Rescue Interim Fire Chief, Trevor Connelly and the Training Division for providing the facility and resources.
Media Visuals & Photo Ops
Interview Availability
Todd Schierling, President, BCPFFA, and active Surrey Fire Captain.
Scott Rose, Vice President, Local 18 Vancouver
Darcie Sibbald, Vice President, BCPFFA and active Whistler Fire Captain
Josh Booy, BCPFFA OHS Chair, and active Kamloops Fire Fighter
Any media who would like to attend or observe are asked to register for media credentials prior to Sunday, September 14, 2026 by contacting BCPFFA President, Todd Schierling at president@bcpffa.org or 604.619.7400.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Todd Schierling
President, BCPFFA
604.619.7400
president@bcpffa.org
www.bcpffa.net