VANCOUVER - A new report warns British Columbia's fire and rescue services are at a breaking point and calls for major reforms on how firefighters train and operate in the province.

The report by the Fire Services Liaison Group says B.C.'s 350 fire departments suffer from fragmented control and different standards for training and readiness.

It says unless changes are made, their ability to protect people and property in the future will be hindered.

Port Coquitlam Fire Chief Stephen Gamble chaired the group and says the report has been submitted to the B.C. government, but so far, there's been no word on whether its 14 recommendations will be implemented.

The report says problems are particularly acute for smaller volunteer fire departments, whose members suffer stress in their work and family lives from being on call or summoned to emergencies.

Gamble says that while the report addresses issues in B.C., other provinces, First Nations, federal and private industry fire departments face the same problems.

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