April 19th, 2013
Fifteen Locals across the province contribute $866K for new Burn Fund Centre
Fifteen Fire Fighter locals from across the province: Burnaby, Cranbrook, Delta, Fernie, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, North Vancouver District, Penticton, Richmond, Surrey, Trail, Vancouver and
West Kelowna have contributed a total of $866,000 to the accommodations facilities at the new $13.1 million
Burn Fund Centre to be built by the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund at 3891 Main Street in
Vancouver.
“We’ve seen firsthand that helping with accommodation for burn and trauma survivors and their families can be
one of the most significant contributions to help survivors physically and emotionally recover and live a full life”, says Mike Hurley, President of the Burn Fund. “We’re so grateful that the Fire Fighters in these fifteen
communities have shown such leadership in helping us meet this critical need – they’ve raised money through
a combination of community fundraisers along with personal payroll deductions from the members.”
The province is experiencing a critical shortfall in accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family
caregivers. Patients’ health may be compromised when they have to return home sooner than medically
advised or live in accommodations not suited to recovery from a burn or trauma. Each year almost 700
children and adults from across the province are admitted to the BCPFF Burn, Plastic and Trauma Unit at
Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital suffering serious trauma. Cases from outside the
Lower Mainland make up 27% of cases, and 60% of those are paying for private sector accommodation for an
average of eight weeks.
The new $13.1 million Burn Fund Centre will provide eight short-term stay units to meet the critical shortfall in appropriate accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family caregivers. The Centre will also
house the offices of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association and Burn Fund and include ground floor
retail space to help fund the ongoing operation of the building. The Burn Fund has secured 80% of necessary
funding and is currently in the midst of a capital campaign.
“Nobody plans to be a burn survivor”, points out Lisa Lacamell, Executive Director of the Burn Fund, “but when
it happens, your family’s life is turned inside out in a matter of seconds. With our contributions to research,
patient care, survivor support and prevention we’re trying to give British Columbians their best chance, the
Burn Fund Centre is the critical piece of that legacy.”
The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund has been providing prevention and survivor support programs,
and funding medical care, training and research to the people of British Columbia and the Yukon for almost
four decades. The Burn Fund’s vision is built by more than 3,800 professional fire fighters from fifty-three
communities in British Columbia and the Yukon who graciously dedicate their funds, time and expertise.
The Burn Fund supports lifesaving medical care, assists survivors and prevents future tragedy thanks to generous donations from the community. Please help with a gift today.
