Fire Service Awards

British Columbia Long Service Medals are awarded by the Provincial Government to persons who have completed at least twenty-five (25) years of paid or volunteer fire service in British Columbia. This is to recognize the dedication and selflessness with which these individuals have served their community and this province in the protection of life and property.

A British Columbia Long Service Bar is also awarded for thirty-five (35) and forty-five (45) years of fire service.

The British Columbia Long Service Medal and British Columbia Long Service Bar are administered by the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

Who is Eligible

A written nomination must be made on the British Columbia Long Service medal Nomination form supplied by the Office of the Fire Commissioner (see below). The nominating authority may be the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Mayor or City Clerk. All nomination forms must be sent to the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

Documentation of fire service must be submitted with the application. If the nomination is for the fire chief, the nominating authority must be the person the fire chief reports to such as the mayor or chief administrative officer of their village, town, district or city. Self nominations will not be accepted.

A person receiving a British Columbia Long Service Medal will have served in a facet of the fire service for at least twenty-five (25) years, and for the British Columbia Long Service Bar, thirty-five (35) or forty-five (45) years.

The total time may be achieved by volunteer or paid service and/or a combination of both. All fire service must have been served in British Columbia. The nominee must have been an active member of the fire service on or after January 01, 1980.

Nomination Process

1. The nomination form is available from the Office of the Fire Commissioner or you can download an electronic nomination form. Note, while you can fill in the electronic form at your computer, you still need to print and sign the completed form.
2. If more than one firefighter is eligible for an award, you can fill out one official nomination form and add the other names using the Additional Names Form.
3. Send completed forms to the Office of the Fire Commissioner in Victoria.

Where the qualifying person is deceased, the next of kin may apply for the British Columbia Long Service Medal.

Recipients of the British Columbia Long Service Medal may also purchase miniatures for non-uniform dress wear. For further information on the British Columbia Long Service Medal, contact the Office of the Fire Commissioner in Victoria.

Bill 60 British Columbia Long Service and Bravery Medals