Saanich and Oak Bay tackling local fire risk together

A renewed Fire Dispatch Contract, as well as resourcing and equipment upgrades, aims to make both Saanich and Oak Bay more ready and able to tackle fires.

The firehouses have close ties, proven by the quick mutual response to an apartment fire in Oak Bay in June.

The two will undertake joint Confined Space training this fall at UVic, and the renewal this past week of the Saanich-Oak Bay Fire Dispatch Contract cements their ongoing commitment to work together through to 2028.

A similar aid-sharing agreement exists between Victoria and Esquimalt fire services that also allows for increased fire ground resourcing, particularly during high risk incidents or in the event that one department’s resources become overwhelmed.

More local fire risk, but more local fire staff

The need to renew mutual fire services agreements and increase staffing comes at a time when population density in the region is growing rapidly and climate change has made for increased risk of brush and wildfires on Vancouver Island.

City council funding aligns with these concerns—both Saanich and Oak Bay fire departments have been able to expand their on-duty staff. In Saanich, Station 3 went from four to six staff.  After its 2022 recruitment drive, Oak Bay Oak Bay hired five firefighters including the first woman firefighter in their operating history.

They also hired a new Fire Chief: Frank MacDonald, who served previously as Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief.

Departments outgrowing their fire halls

These recent expansions are beneficial but they also present the fire departments with their own set of growing pains.  Both Saanich and Oak Bay FDs have outgrown their facilities.  The new truck, a 2023 Smeal 105ft aerial ladder truck set to arrive in December at Oak Bay, won’t fit into any of the existing in-house bays and will have to be housed in a structure that will be purpose-built in an adjacent parking lot. No. 2 Firehall in Saanich is slotted for a 44.6 million dollar redevelopment overhaul. More staff, new equipment, big changes.