North Vancouver firefighters respond to high volume of rescue calls during COVID-19

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — It’s been an unbelievably busy time for District of North Vancouver firefighters during the pandemic, with more people heading outdoors.

Assistant Chief David Dales says the sheer volume of calls is unlike anything he’s seen in his 20 years on the job, with four rescues on Saturday alone.

“The environment of North Vancouver allows for great recreation. But there are some areas which are extremely challenging,” he says.

Dales says three of their rescues took place Saturday because people enjoying North Vancouver were injured on trails or mountains.

Sadly, the fourth rescue ended tragically when a 12-year-old died from severe injuries in a skiing accident on Mount Seymour.

Read More: 12-year-old child dies in serious ski accident on Mount Seymour

Dales says while the department is always ready to assist, preparation is key in order to increase safety and reduce calls.

“Bottom line, if you get hurt in the environment, don’t hesitate. Call 911, district firefighters will respond promptly and we’ll get you out of the trail safely. But if you are going to come to the trails, it’s very time-consuming, if we have to figure out your location so always know where you are, always know where the trail section started, what trail you’re on, because that helps us speed up.

And if you think you’ll be out on the trail for most of the day, it’s important to have a way to communicate.

“We use a lot of technology, so we really need you to have a cell phone with a full battery.”

With files from Jonathan Szekeres

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