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For Newcomers to Canada

For Newcomers to Canada

Welcome to Richmond, BC. We’re excited to welcome you into our community. Here’s what you need to know about Richmond Fire-Rescue and how we can support you.

Being a newcomer to Canada can be an exciting time. Among many things, becoming familiar with the available emergency response services is important.

Each city in Canada has a local fire department that provides immediate emergency response in addition to other services – we urge you to explore our website to see how Richmond Fire-Rescue can support you.

NOTE: You can translate this page into a language of your preference by clicking the Select Language button in the top navigation bar and selecting the language you would like to use.

For Newcomers to Canada Intro

Important things to know

Here are some important things to know about Richmond Fire-Rescue

Here are some important things to know about Richmond Fire-Rescue and how we respond to your needs:

The call centre that handles all 9-1-1 calls is called eComm, and they are able to communicate with you in multiple languages.

NOTE: While Richmond Fire-Rescue responds to emergency calls, it is important that you identify if you require assistance for an immediate or non-immediate emergency at the time of calling.

Immediate Emergencies

For an immediate emergency, please call 9-1-1.

An emergency is a situation that poses a danger to you or the community’s safety and requires immediate attention. 

There are different kinds of emergency response services, such as:

  • Police
  • Fire
  • Ambulance

When you call 9-1-1, they will listen to your concerns and dispatch our crew if necessary.

Examples of immediate emergencies that Richmond Fire-Rescue may be dispatched for include: 

  • Fires 
  • Car accidents
  • You or someone is trapped
  • You or someone is injured
  • Medical emergency 
  • You or someone has fallen and needs assistance
9-1-1: When should you call?

Please consult this brochure for more information on when it is appropriate to call 9-1-1:

Non-Emergencies

For non-emergencies, please call 604-278-5131.

Examples of non-emergencies that Richmond Fire-Rescue may be dispatched for include: 

  • Burning Complaint
  • Public Education Request
  • Permit Request
  • General Inquiries

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

The following websites provide useful information for all newcomers to Richmond and Canada in general:

We encourage you to explore them and use the language translation options available on these sites to access the information in a language of your preference.