Whereas extreme weather events are increasing across British Columbia, creating an urgent need for temporary emergency warming centres and shelters to protect vulnerable individuals; and emergency warming centres are temporary, short-term but urgent responses typically operated in existing community buildings and rely heavily on non-profit organizations, staff, and volunteers to operate safely during emergency conditions; And whereas the British Columbia Building Code and British Columbia Fire Code are intended to operate as coordinated companion documents, and provincial guidance confirms flexibility exists to allow temporary emergency sheltering through exemptions and site-specific fire safety planning, while maintaining public safety; and in the absence of clear and consistent provincial direction, inconsistent interpretation of the codes has placed frontline operators and volunteers in untenable positions, increased personal and organizational liability, and in some cases prevented rural communities from opening emergency warming centres during life-threatening weather: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the Office of the Fire Commissioner, provide clear, practical, and consistent guidance on the application of the BC Building Code and BC Fire Code for temporary emergency warming centres and shelters that can be safely implemented through site specific fire safety plans and risk mitigation measures.
