Vernon Fire Rescue Getting Comms Upgrade

Vernon Fire Rescue to Upgrade Dispatch System as Part of Province‑Wide NG911 Transition

January 14 2026 - Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) is moving forward with a dispatch system upgrade to prepare for the province‑wide transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911).

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The project will replace VFRS’s Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, which manages 911 call information, maps incident locations, and assigns fire units.

The current system cannot fully receive enhanced cellphone location data and other digital information that NG911 is designed to provide, meaning dispatchers now spend extra time extracting basic details.

The upgraded system will allow dispatchers to receive more precise locations and richer information to help respond faster and more accurately in emergencies.

Calls for Vernon fire response are handled through the Kelowna regional dispatch centre, and the new CAD will integrate with that network so VFRS units can take full advantage of NG911 data.

While the CAD system itself runs in the dispatch centre on dedicated networks, most of NG911’s practical benefits still rely on cellphone networks, since the majority of 911 calls come from mobile devices.

Landlines and radio systems are still supported, but without cellphone service, advanced features such as location precision, texting, and multimedia won’t be available.

The upgrade is estimated to cost up to $45,000. It was already approved as a 2026 project with funding planned from the Fire Equipment Reserve, but Council has now authorized staff to apply for a provincial NG911 grant through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).

If the Province approves the application, City staff can accept and manage the grant, saving the fire department up to $45,000 and preserving reserve funds for future needs.

The NG911 transition is part of a national and provincial mandate set by the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to modernize emergency communications across Canada.

The CRTC has extended the deadline for all emergency call centres in Canada to be NG911‑ready to March 31, 2027, after many provincial and municipal services indicated they needed more time to complete the transition.