The City of Kelowna Fire Department dispatch centre handles all 911 calls for over 50 fire departments within the regional Districts of the Central Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, Kootenay Boundary, East Kootenay, Vernon and Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). Our dispatch team processes emergency and non-emergency radio and telephone calls for almost 40,000 incidents each year. This is an ideal job for an independent thinker with good computer skills who can listen and multitask while typing a minimum of 40 words per minute. You must be physically able to sit for long periods, be able to work 10 hour day shifts and 14 hour overnight shifts plus be able to work a flexible work week comprised of scheduled shifts and relief shifts averaging 42 hours per week.

A Fire Dispatch Centre Operator receives, directs and dispatches emergency and non-emergency calls. Fire dispatchers are often the first point of contact when someone calls in to report a fire or other emergencies. They must remain calm and gather essential information quickly and accurately. Throughout the incident, dispatchers maintain communication with first responders on the scene to provide updates, relay additional information, and coordinate additional resources if necessary. As an organized and excellent communicator with great multi-tasking skills, you will handle different urgent requests during your shift. You can prioritize and use good judgement to make quick decisions. Based on the information given, dispatchers evaluate the seriousness and type of emergency. Dispatchers should be familiar with radio systems as they constantly monitor radio channels to keep track of ongoing incidents, updates from field units, and incoming calls for assistance.

• Understands, operates and maintains equipment used in the receipt, retention and
retrieval of all calls.
• Completes all records, maps and pre- plans as required.
• Ability to process Emergency and non-emergency calls effectively, in a timely manner.
• Ability to differentiate between fire prevention, fire suppression, support services and specialty skills within the department.
• Knowledge of the geographic layout of the City of Kelowna and the Regional District.
• Knowledge of basic fire codes, various information retention systems, and an understanding of mapping and pre-plan systems used by the Fire Department.

• Typing 40 wpm
• Teamwork
• Service Excellence
• Objective/Logical
• Computer Literacy
• Communication Excellence

Internal candidates please note that in order to be considered based on your seniority, applications must be received by 4:00pm on June 26, 2024.

Positions that become vacant within the same classification may be filled as a result of this posting if the vacancy occurs within 30 days of closing.

Flexible work week comprised of scheduled shifts and relief shifts averaging 42 hours per week – averaged over 2,184 hours annually.