The Castlegar Fire Department saw a significant increase in medical response calls in March.
According to Fire Chief Nick Ahlefeld, the department received 38 medical response calls in March 2025, a significant jump from the 12 calls it received in the same month last year.
Ahlefeld told council on Monday that the spike appears to be an anomaly, with no primary reason for the increase.
“I just think it was an anomaly. Even talking with the unit chief just before I came to council, he said they’ve been quiet for the last few days. There’s no rhyme or reason when it comes to those kinds of emergencies; they seem to happen, and it happened a lot at once.”
Fire-related complaints also saw an increase compared to March of last year (three calls), with 11 complaints this year. However, Ahlefeld believes he knows why.
“With our Yard Waste Facility closed, we’re going to see more backyard burns, and people are calling, and we’re responding and dealing with those appropriately.”
The department provided just one burning permit in March and issued no municipal burning bylaw tickets or burning complaint warnings, which is in line with what occurred in March 2024.
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