B.C. 911 calls at record volumes this year: E-Comm

British Columbia’s emergency communications agency says it has seen a record volume of 911 calls this year, a number they say has exceeded that of the deadly heat dome in 2021.

In a news release from E-Comm Wednesday, the service says it is already seeing an “exceptionally busy summer.”

The agency says it has seen a 21 per cent increase in 911 calls over the first five months of the year, and adds that there were nearly 40 per cent more calls in May of this year compared with the same month last year.

“Extreme heat and wildfires have historically impacted 9-1-1 call volumes, and the return of pre-COVID activities including tourism, social gatherings and events are also likely contributors to the increased demand for emergency services,” the release reads. 

The President and CEO of the company says that although there has been a steep increase, the service is keeping up.

“We have never seen 9-1-1 call volumes this high,” Oliver Grüter-Andrew said.

Related articles: 

• E-Comm urges British Columbians to take the 911 pledge

• Abbotsford police hire staff to triage non-emergency calls

• B.C. investing in upgrades to 911 services

“Despite increasing demands for emergency services, we have continued to meet our service level targets for emergency response this year, thanks to the heroic efforts of our staff who work tirelessly around the clock to keep our communities safe. We have implemented a number of improvements that have helped prepare us for the busy summer ahead, but we still need British Columbians’ help to keep 9-1-1 lines free for emergencies only.”

The agency is asking people to only call 911 when in need of “immediate emergency assistance.”