Dashwood Fire Hall Replacement Project is Complete
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is pleased to announce the completion of the new Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) Fire Hall. The new fire hall design is based on a collaboration between the RDN and DVFD and meets current building and seismic standards while providing an improved layout for training and maintaining equipment.
The new fire hall features:
- Two drive through bays for up to four pieces of apparatus
- Separate areas for radio communications, IT, mechanical, electrical, sprinklers, gear, storage, training, offices and laundry which did not exist in the old fire hall
- A public entrance with an administration area
- A dedicated personal protective equipment/turnout gear room that is positively pressurised to prevent contaminated air from entering the rest of the station
- A dedicated decontamination shower so members can shower upon return from a fire
- A workshop for gear and equipment maintenance
- A room for self-contained breathing apparatus cleaning, maintenance and compressor refill
- Two washrooms and four individual dorm rooms with a living/kitchen area for a future work experience program
- Fitness area
The health and wellness of DVFD staff and paid-on-call members was a primary consideration in the new design. The new Hall meets WorkSafeBC requirements for gear storage, cleaning and the decontamination of members and firefighting equipment as part of efforts to reduce the risk of job-related cancers. The design also considers future growth by allowing for an additional bay and creating a second floor that will support expanded growth.
The $7,384,936 project was funded in part by a $922,274 Growing Communities Fund grant from the Government of British Columbia. The balance of the project was funded by a long-term $6,243,662 building loan and $219,000 from building reserve funds.
A public celebration for the new firehall will be taking place on Sunday, July 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the official ceremony with speakers starting at 11 a.m. There will be activities throughout the event, including station tours from 12 - 2 p.m.
Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department has two fire halls: Station #61 in Dashwood and Station #62 in Meadowood. The department serves approximately 4,000 residents over more than 130 square kilometres. They also provide fire protection under their mutual aid agreements with eight other fire departments.
For information on the Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department, visit dashwoodvfd.com, and for fire services in the RDN, visit rdn.bc.ca/fire-services.
