The new East Courtenay Fire Hall has reached a major milestone, with all contracts now finalized and construction set to begin this summer. Years in the making, the project represents a significant investment in community safety and emergency services. The fire hall will be located at 220 Waters Place, near Lerwick and Ryan roads.
Construction will be led by Kinetic Construction, with the new fire hall expected to be completed by the end of 2027. “Improving our fire department’s ability to quickly respond in an emergency is a key priority in our community,” said Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells. “This milestone reflects years of planning and collaboration and marks a major investment in keeping Courtenay safe for generations to come.”
The fire hall is designed to:
- improve emergency response times for a growing area of the City
- increase volunteer firefighter capacity
- meet the highest seismic standards
- operate as a fully electric, zero-carbon facility
Today, about half of the city's population lives east of the Courtenay River. Courtenay is expected to grow by 4,500 residents and 2,900 homes by 2031 — much of it in the area furthest from the existing downtown fire hall.
The new satellite fire hall will help meet the needs of this growing area while supporting operations at the existing downtown fire hall. The facility will include two apparatus bays capable of housing up to four emergency vehicles, a fully accessible elevator, dormitory and wellness spaces for firefighters, and a dedicated decontamination area for cleaning equipment after calls.
It will also be built to meet sustainable, zero-carbon standards under the B.C. Building Code.
The estimated construction cost for the new East Courtenay Fire Hall is now $14 million, down $700,000 from the $14.7 million estimate presented to Council in April. Through careful planning, design and procurement, the project team identified significant cost savings while maintaining key objectives. While the new fire hall is planned to be funded through borrowing, the City will continue to pursue grant opportunities to help offset project costs.
“This new hall means more volunteers from a growing part of the City, faster response for residents when it matters most, and a facility built to the highest seismic and training standards for firefighters in our community,” said Courtenay Fire Chief Kurt MacDonald.” We’ve been looking forward to this project for a long time.”
For more information, visit the East Courtenay Fire Hall project page.
Fast facts
- Approximately 50 per cent of Courtenay’s population lives east of the Courtenay River.
- The City’s population is expected to grow by 4,500 residents and 2,900 homes by 2031.
- The hall’s location increases volunteer firefighter capacity from 55 to 67.
- Through our planning, design and procurement process the estimated cost has been reduced by $700,000 following project tendering.
- Construction costs are estimated at 14 million and paid for through borrowing. The City is also applying for grant funding, which could help offset costs.