Ken Uzeloc (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Kamloops fire rescue

Kamloops Fire Rescue reports more calls in third quarter, two-thirds medical

Dec 7, 2023 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS – Between July 1 and Sept. 30, Kamloops Fire Rescue responded to 2,785 calls – eight per cent more than the same period last year.

In a presentation made to the city’s safety and security select committee, KFR Chief Ken Uzeloc said 67 per cent of those calls were medical.

“Unfortunately, with the high number of medical calls, it is cutting into our other responses. At times, we have to call in. You know, we have limited resources on duty at any time,” Uzeloc told CFJC News. “When we have units tied up at medical calls, especially for a longer period of time, that means they’re not available for other calls.”

In the same period, 28 naloxone kits were administered by crews.

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According to the fire chief, this volume of medical calls affects more than just resources.

“It does affect morale,” he said. “It’s also affecting what we see as compassion fatigue in our members. You know, that level of empathy, when you’re going to the same people over and over and having to administer naloxone, yeah, you tend to become a little numb to the plight of that targeted population.”

Uzeloc believes the problem is systemic and will need cooperation from many different groups, including the province to solve it.