Over the last century, firefighter unions in British Columbia have evolved from small city-specific groups into a powerful provincial organization, achieving landmark victories in labor rights, occupational health, and community service.

Foundational Milestones

• International Trailblazer (1918): On February 28, 1918, Vancouver Local 18 became the first Canadian local and a founding member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

• Provincial Organization (1924): The predecessor to the BCPFFA, the BC Provincial Association of Fire Fighters (BCPAFF), was organized on September 15, 1924.

• Modern Identity (1964): Through convention action, the organization officially adopted the name British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA).

• Preserving Solidarity (1990s): BC locals led a successful campaign to defeat a breakaway attempt by the Canadian Association of Fire Fighters (CAFF), guaranteeing the IAFF’s continued legitimacy and affiliation with the Canadian Labour Congress.

Legislative and Labor Victories

• The Two-Platoon Act (1923): Firefighters successfully lobbied for the Two-Platoon Act and the Hours of Work Act, establishing safeguards against excessive working hours.

• Work Week Reductions: Through decades of advocacy, the standard work week was reduced from 60 hours (1936) to 48 hours (1946), and finally to 42 hours (1964).

• Binding Arbitration (1995): The BCPFFA successfully campaigned for Bill 35, the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Act, which restored the vital right to binding interest arbitration.

• Pension Advancements: A 1950 "Special Agreement" established preferential pension treatment for firefighters, which eventually evolved into the Group 5 pension transition (2010), allowing for full pensions before age 60.

Health, Safety, and Cancer Presumption

• Cancer Presumption Pioneer (1993–2005): Following landmark 1993 WCB wins for members with cancer, the BCPFFA achieved the 2005 passage of legislation granting presumptive coverage for initial primary cancers. The first reading of the Worker's Compensation Amendment Act, that recognized 8 cancers as occupational diseases for fire fighters {Brain, Bladder, Colorectal, Kidney, Ureter, Primary non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and primary leukaemia, Testicular}. Expanded Protections: Coverage has since grown to include 2008 Lung cancer;

• 2011 Esophageal cancer;

• 2014 Heart Disease;

• 2017 Breast, Prostate, Myeloma;

• 2018 Occupational Stress Injuries;

• 2021 Whitehorse, YK became the first Canadian local to achieve presumption for pancreatic cancer.

• 2022 Cervical, Ovarian, Penile, Pancreatic, Thyroid and reductions in accumulative periods in Testicular, Colorectal, Esophageal

• Eight Cancers added (2026): Skin Cancer, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Mesothelioma (National Alignments)Tracheal, Bronchial, Laryngeal, Nose and Pharyngeal (Respiratory System). In addition to these new listings, the minimum service-year requirement for esophageal cancer has been successfully reduced from 20 years to 15 years.

• Firefighters’ Health Act (2026): The passage of Bill M214 mandated a comprehensive cancer and mental health screening plan and established health equity for wildfire crews.

Community Service and the Burn Fund

• Burn Fund Foundation (1978): Captain Alex Blake and Dr. Charles Snelling established the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund to support burn care and research.

• Burn Survivor Programs: The fund launched the first Burn Survivor Summer Camp in BC in 1994 and the "Future Is Mine" adult survivor program in 2007.

• The Burn Fund Centre (2016): A $13.1 million vision was realized with the opening of a purpose-built facility in Vancouver, providing accommodation for survivors and their families during treatment.

• Silver Star Properties Acquisition for Burn Survivor Thrive and Fire Fighters Wellness Program.

• $28M+ Valuation

  $15M  - Burn Fund Centre

  $3.0M - Silver Star Properties

  $10M  - Endowment Fund (5% annuity)

  $2.0M - Investments / Operating Funds

  $2.5M - annual operational budget

Political Influence and Scope of Practice

• Firefighters in Government: Members have achieved high-level political roles, including Bill Copeland and BCPFFA President Emeritus Mike Hurley as Mayors of Burnaby, Emeritus Vice President Tim Baillie to Township of Langley Council, and BCPFFA Honourary Mike Starchuk, former Surrey Councillor 2014, who in 2020 became the first firefighter elected as an MLA to the BC Legislature.

• Expanded Scope of Practice (2021): The association successfully lobbied to expand the medical care firefighters can provide, including diagnostic testing and administering life-saving medications like epinephrine.