Community members are invited to celebrate the opening of the new Crofton Fire Hall at a grand opening and open house on Saturday, May 3.
The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crofton Fire Hall (1681 Robert St.), with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guided tours and light refreshments. Hot dogs, cake and a look inside the modern facility are all on the menu.
The new 3,600-square-foot fire hall replaces part of the original Crofton fire hall, built in 1964, which required seismic upgrades and repairs. Faced with high retrofit costs, North Cowichan council opted to demolish and rebuild the aging facility. The 2002 apparatus bays were retained and integrated into the new structure.
North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said the project reflects the municipality’s commitment to safety.
“The new fire hall in Crofton is an investment in the safety of our residents and the well-being of our firefighters,” Douglas said. “We are proud to see this project completed and look forward to celebrating with the community.”
The new building features expanded equipment storage, dedicated administrative offices and improved space for firefighter training.
For several years, Crofton firefighters trained in the apparatus bays or outdoors after the second floor of the old hall was closed due to structural concerns. The new training room can also serve as an emergency operations centre during major incidents.
“The Crofton Fire Hall has been a fixture in the community for generations,” Fire Chief Ron French said. “This new and modern fire hall ensures the paid on-call firefighters who dedicate so much to the community will have the tools and space they need to continue that proud tradition for decades to come."
The North Cowichan Fire Department is one of the largest paid-on-call departments in the province, with 120 members serving North Cowichan, Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Stz’uminus First Nation and Lyackson First Nation. Crofton is home to about 25 of those firefighters, who balance emergency call-outs with full-time jobs.
The May 3 open house is a chance for residents to connect with their local firefighters and see firsthand how the new hall supports emergency services in Crofton and beyond.
