The Prince George Fire Rescue Service responded to 20.5 per cent more calls between Jan. 1 and April 30 this year than over the same period in 2022.
According to a report going to Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors on Thursday, the fire department had responded to a total of 3,559 calls (2,271 medical, 907 fires, 209 rescues and 172 administrative calls) by the end of April this year.
During the same four-month period in 2022, the department had responded to 2,953 calls (1,828 medical, 773 fires, 168 rescues and 184 administrative calls). Prince George fire crews responded to a record 9,880 calls in 2022, up from 8,087 in 2021.
A total of 1,013 of the calls this year (614 medical, 303 fires, 50 rescues and 46 administrative) were in April, up from 808 calls (466 medical, 242 fires, 45 rescues and 55 administrative) in April 2022.
During the five-year period from 2015 to 2019, the department responded to an average 6,200 calls per year, ranging from 6,881 in 2017 to 5,888 in 2015.