Nanaimo River Fire Protection Area - Fire Truck Storage Facility

Project Overview

Following the 2022 Nanaimo River Fire Protection Area Feasibility Study, publication of the 2022 What We Heard Engagement Summary Report, and subsequent scoping and estimation work, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board approved a formal survey to confirm community support for constructing a purpose-built fire truck storage facility in the Nanaimo River (South Forks Rd.) area.

Survey Process

• September 2025 – Invitation letters and surveys mailed to registered property owners in the Nanaimo River Fire Protection Area.
• October 8, 2025 – Survey closed which also included an in-person drop-off option.
• November 2025 – RDN Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) reviewed survey results and recommended next steps; the RDN Board has now approved staff recommendations under Item 12.1.8 at their November 18 meeting.

Why This Matters

The survey was designed to confirm whether the community supports building a dedicated fire truck storage facility that would:

• House the fire truck.
• Be designed for future expansion into a full secondary fire hall if the area’s development and tax base grow.

This engagement process was approved by the RDN Board in June 2025 and followed a community information session hosted by Electoral Area C Director Melanson, which revisited recommendations from the 2022 feasibility study and explored outputs from subsequent scoping and estimation work.

What We Heard

Property owners at the information session and through the survey provided valuable feedback on the proposed facility and service considerations. The majority of respondents did not support proceeding with the construction of a dedicated fire truck storage facility in the Nanaimo River Fire Protection Area.

A summary of public engagement process and feedback gathered is available in the 2025 What We Heard Engagement Summary Report.

Next Steps

Based on the survey results, staff report and What We Heard Engagement Summary Report presented to the RDN Board on November 18, 2025, staff have been directed to:

• Suspend further collection of the Nanaimo River Fire Protection Service Reserve Fund indefinitely.
• Prepare reports recommending means to dissolve the Reserve Fund.
• Explore options to address fire service considerations in the area.

For details on what happens following the survey results, see the FAQ titled: Based on survey responses, what will the RDN do?

Stay Informed

• Subscribe to this project for email updates.
• Read about the 2025 survey results and staff recommendations in the 2025 Staff Report and 2025 What We Heard Engagement Summary Report
• Browse Important Links, Supporting Documents, and FAQs on this project site.
• See the What’s New tab for updates on next steps.
• Learn more about the history of this project, including the 2022 Feasibility Study.
• Have a question? Post it here—and we will do our best to answer it.