Fernie, British Columbia
From ScanBC
Contents |
Introduction
Fernie, with a population of 5,000 as of 2006, is located in the southeast corner of BC, surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. RCMP services are provided by the Elk Valley Regional RCMP detachment. Fernie is served by the Fernie Fire and Rescue Department. Emergency health services are provided to the city by the British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS).
Police
The City of Fernie is served by a regional RCMP service, Elk Valley RCMP; PRIME code 'EV'.
Frequencies
139.5000 - Webster - RCMP E 139.2450 - Flathead/Commerce Peak - RCMP A 139.4100 - Mt. Baker - RCMP B
Dispatch
The Elk Valley RCMP are dispatched from the Kelowna Operational Communications Centre (OCC).
Fire
The Fernie Fire Department (FFD) is a composite department operating out of 1 station, located at 692 3rd Ave. The fire department has 7 full-time fire fighters and a complement of paid-on-call volunteers. The fire hall is manned by 2 full time firefighters during the day and 1 full time firefighter at night. The FFD provides Level 1 First Responder for BCAS as responds to these calls with two firefighters.
Dispatch
The FFD is dispatched by one full time firefighter who mans the phones and covers the radio 24/7.
Frequencies
168.0300 - Dispatch 169.2300 - Tactical
Ambulance
The British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) operates 1 station located close to the Elk Valley Hospital.
Frequencies
149.1100 - Fernie Interconnect ICTACT2 149.2600 - Fernie Sparwood Ridge Repeater RPTR K 142.1550 - Cranbrook Mt. Baker Base Station RPTR 2
BCAS also uses these special operation channels throughout all of its regions which are dispatched on VHF frequencies.
158.7600 - Provincial Air Ambulance Operations - 123.0 149.4950 - Helicopter Air-to-Ground 149.5900 - Mass Casualty Incident - 123.0 155.4600 - FIRECOM 1 155.8900 - FIRECOM 2
Pager Tones
149.1100 1321.2 / 1153.4 at 1 second / 3 seconds - 406E1, 406F1 & 406K1 1321.2 / 1185.2 at 1 second / 3 seconds - Unit Chief
Station 406
Station 406 is located at 1301 6th St Fernie, BC. This station runs a total of 2 cars at one time.
406E1 - BLS - 11 hour dayshift / 5 days a week (Tuesday to Friday) 406F - BLS - Standby car 10 day shift / Saturday to Monday 406F - BLS - Standby car 14 night shift / 7 days a week 406K1 - BLS - Callout car 24/7
The station is manned by part-time paramedics and one full-time unit chief.
A common cross coverage location is Highway 3 in Hosmer for cars from Sparwood station 428.
STARS
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) provides airevac air ambulance helicopter services to the East Kootenay region of the province. STARS is billed to the Province of BC for each flight. Certain BCAS MPDS criteria may lead to an autolaunch of STARS. BCAS paramedics may also request STARS be launched once on scene based on certain injuries. When a BCAS crew activates STARS it may be directed to the scene or to intercept at the hospital. STARS may also respond to the hospital based on a doctor's request. STARS flying time to Cranbrook from their Calgary Airport base is 66 minutes
Frequencies
406.5375 - STARS Tac (On Scene Communications)
Call-Signs
C - Aviation Crew P - Flight Paramedic N - Flight Nurse
SAR
Fernie and District Search and Rescue (FADSAR) works closely with Sparwood and Elkford SAR. The geographical area covered by FADSAR includes east to the Alberta border, southeast to Lake Koocanusa. Fernie also is home to a number of avalanche rescue dogs through the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA).
Frequencies
149.525 - Morrisey Repeater 148.685 - Simplex/Talk around 149.495 - Sparwood Repeater
FADSAR has a portable repeater on order. The repeater will be able to link to the Morrissey repeater as well as link Cranbrook, Sparwood and Elkford.
Forest Service
Information on the Forest Service can be found through the following wiki pages
