Emergency Calls
Dial 9-1-1
In Richmond, in an emergency situation where you require the assistance of the police, the fire department or an ambulance, 9-1-1 provides immediate access to all the emergency services. See When to Call Police for more information on calling 911.
For all non-emergency incidents, call Richmond Fire-Rescue at 604-278-5131, or refer to the Fire-Rescue Contacts page for more information.
For other urgent matters such as serious water and sewer problems, road obstructions, traffic signal malfunctions, downed trees, icy roads or other problems of this nature, please call our 24 hour City Emergency Line at 604-270-8721. See Who to call in an Emergency for more emergency contacts and calling information.
What Everyone Should Know About 9-1-1 Service
Regardless of where you're calling from, when you dial 9-1-1 your call will be answered by special 9-1-1 operators at the 9-1-1 Regional Control Centre.
The 9-1-1 operator will ask you which service you require
... "Police, Fire or Ambulance?"
When you call 9-1-1, the system, in most cases, will automatically identify the number of the telephone you're calling from, as well as the actual address of the phone and the name of the registered owner.
The 9-1-1 computer compiles your address and phone number before your call is connected to an operator. You will not hear anything during this time; be patient, it takes a couple of seconds for the computer to finish its process.
The 9-1-1 operator will ask you which service you require "Police, Fire or Ambulance?". If you're not sure which service you require, they will question you to determine the right one. You will then be immediately connected to the correct agency.
The call-taker at the requested agency will ask for your name, address and phone number and the nature of the emergency. This information is required in all emergency reports. Answer all questions as clearly as possible; if necessary, a vehicle may be dispatched as you are answering. Follow the dispatcher's instructions and stay on the phone until you are told to hang up. Try to stay calm.
If you call 9-1-1, but can't speak or continue the call, help can still be sent to you. This problem is not uncommon; sometimes people are panicked or disoriented when they call in an emergency, or are in personal danger and cannot speak. The advantage of the automatic location identification the "enhanced" 9-1-1 system accommodates this problem as it provides the caller's location.
In most cases the Automatic Location Identification will provide your name, address and phone number. The system also works for unlisted numbers and for pay phones. If you wish to anonymously report a crime which has already happened, you can call the Crime Stoppers number, which is 669-TIPS (669-8477). Anonymity is guaranteed on the Crime Stoppers Line.
You can call 9-1-1 from any telephone. If you're at a pay phone, you don't need any money; just dial 9-1-1.
Please don't call 9-1-1 just to see if it works. Your test call could cause delays in responding to real emergency calls. If you dial 9-1-1 by mistake, please stay on the line and let the operator know you've made a mistake. Otherwise, the Operator may assume you are in distress and dispatch the emergency service unnecessarily. Do not program 9-1-1 into your programmable phone; it is too easy to accidentally call 9-1-1.
Calling 9-1-1 is usually faster than contacting your local emergency services directly. Calling 9-1-1 has the advantage of providing your name and address to the call-takers at the emergency agencies. Your 9-1-1 call is transferred by the Regional Control Centre immediately to your local agency where it is answered with the highest priority. There are a few very important things you should do in order to be prepared should you ever have an emergency.
Post the 9-1-1 number next to your phone. Make sure everyone in the house - including your children, your baby-sitter or anyone else who is staying with you - knows the number and can see it when they reach for the phone.
Make sure your home is easy to locate. The police officers, firefighters and ambulance attendants need to be able to find your home immediately. The address on the front of your house must be easy to read from the street. The numbers should not be blocked by trees or hidden in any way and should be well-lit at night
