Halloween night can bring increased demand for emergency services and E-Comm 9-1-1 is reminding the public to help us help by making the right call – whether that be to calling 9-1-1 in an emergency, a local police non-emergency line, or alternate resources such as city services.
Situations that require immediate response such as a crime in progress, fire, medical emergency, or where there’s an imminent threat to safety should be directed to 9-1-1. Crime reports with a time delay, property crime with no suspect on sight or ongoing threat to safety should be reported through your local police non-emergency line.
How to make the right call this Halloween:
- Halloween decorations: If you notice that your inflatable pumpkin or life-size skeleton have gone missing from your front porch, but there’s no culprit in sight, file a police report online or call the non-emergency line.
- Know your location: The fastest way for our call takers to connect you with help in an emergency is to provide your location. While “the haunted house down the road” won’t help – an exact address will. Landmarks and cross streets can also help us find you quicker.
- Noisy parties: Direct noise complaints to your local city bylaw services during their business hours, or police non-emergency line after hours.
- Fireworks: We receive many reports from callers confusing fireworks for gun shots each year. If you are ever unsure, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. To file a fireworks related complaint, first check the fireworks regulations in your area, and reach out to your area bylaw services or the police non-emergency line. Reports of fires, serious injuries, or an imminent public safety risk due to fireworks would be a 9-1-1 call.
- Suspicious activity: Help deter break-ins and vandalism by locking your vehicles and keeping valuables out of sight. To report crime or suspicious activity in progress (ie. a stranger trying to open car doors) call 9-1-1. Property crime reports with time delays can be reported through the non-emergency line.
- Road safety: Drivers are reminded to practice extra caution on the road, especially throughout the evening on October 31. Minor car accidents with no injuries can be reported to ICBC directly. To report dangerous driving behaviour such as suspected impaired driving or a collision that requires immediate attention from police, fire or ambulance, call 9-1-1.
- File reports online: Our call takers are here to help 24/7, but online crime reporting is the fastest way to report a non-urgent police matter. Visit nonemergency.ca to see if this is an option for you.
- Prevent pocket dials: Lock and store your devices carefully. E-Comm receives hundreds of accidental calls every day. If you do call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the line and let us know you are safe.
“While first responders are busy on the ground this Halloween, our dedicated call takers and dispatchers will be working hard to connect people with the help that they need,” says Carly Paice, E-Comm Communications Manager. “Given the heightened demand for emergency services around Halloween, we are asking everyone to help us keep 9-1-1 lines open for emergencies only. For non-urgent concerns, please call your local 10-digit nonemergency line, or file a report online.”
Stay safe and have a happy Halloween.
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About E-Comm
E-Comm is the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts in British Columbia and provides dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments across the province. E‐Comm also owns and operates the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service, wide‐area radio network in the province used by police, fire and ambulance personnel throughout Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley.
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