Vancouver Fire Rescue is facing an unsustainable surge in call volume on the Downtown Eastside, prompting Firehall 2 to reduce its response to low-acuity medical calls. The goal is to ensure firefighters remain available for their primary duty: fighting fires.
Record-breaking call volume
On a recent day, Firehall 2's four crews responded to a record 94 calls in a single shift. Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry described the increase as unsustainable, noting a 51% rise in runs during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Medical runs alone jumped 102%.
Impact on fire response
At 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Firehall 2 responded to a working fire on Gore Avenue, requiring 15 pieces of equipment from two halls. Two people were hospitalized with smoke inhalation. Fry warned that if crews had been tied up on non-critical calls, the outcome could have been worse.
To manage resources, Firehall 2 will limit low-acuity calls, focusing on fires and life-threatening emergencies. Firefighters will still respond to overdoses and cases where paramedics cannot arrive within six minutes.
Changes to service
In a May 11 memo to B.C. Emergency Health Services, Fry outlined immediate adjustments that reduced calls by about four per day. Starting in June, further reductions to Code Red calls—those currently requiring both fire and ambulance—will eliminate duplication of services. Fry emphasized that residents will still receive an ambulance, with firefighters providing backup if needed.
Fry linked the surge to the overdose crisis, stating, "We need to keep our core services available for fires and the most severe medical emergencies, like cardiac arrest." The Victoria Fire Department made a similar decision in January, citing firefighter fatigue and burnout.
