The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) recently completed a fire service review. One of the findings of the review was to explore implementing a consolidated service area and to integrate two or more fire departments to serve the southern section of the region.
Due to the close proximity of the Fanny Bay Fire Department and Union Bay Fire Rescue combined with the pending retirement of the current Fanny Bay Fire Department Fire Chief, an opportunity was presented to integrate the two fire protection service areas. Starting on July 1, 2023 Union Bay Fire Rescue Chief will be responsible for managing the operations of both facilities.
“Serving members of each department have been actively involved in the process and with this adjustment there will be an improved level of professional service provided to residents by having a larger membership response for incidents as well as access to available equipment,” explains Chief Ham of the Union Bay Fire Rescue. “Our teams are excited to work together and continue to offer top level service to our communities.”
Residents of Fanny Bay and Union Bay can contact the Chief Ham at firechief@unionbayfirerescue.ca or by calling the Union Bay Firehall at 250-335-2345. Residents who live within Fanny Bay can now visit https://unionbayfirerescue.ca/ for information and updates for their community.
The CVRD administers a number of fire services within the region:
- Hornby Island fire protection service provided through the Hornby Island Fire Rescue department;
- Denman Island fire protection service provided through the Denman Island Fire Rescue department;
- Fanny Bay fire protection service provided through the Fanny Bay Volunteer Fire Department;
- Black Creek-Oyster Bay fire protection service provided through the Oyster River Fire Rescue department;
- Mt Washington Fire Protection service provided through the Oyster River Fire Rescue department;
- Rural Cumberland fire protection service provided through Cumberland Fire Rescue department by service agreement;
- Greater Merville fire protection service provided through Oyster River Fire Rescue department;
- Bates/Huband fire protection service provided through Comox Fire department by service agreement;
- Union Bay fire protection service provided through the Union Bay Fire Rescue department.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contact:
Bruce Green
Regional Rural Fire Chief / Fire Chief Oyster River Fire Rescue
250-337-8121