The Town of Comox and the Comox Fire Protection District are marking a major milestone in the renewal of the fire station, as the demolition of the office portion of the building wraps up.
The project is now transitioning into vertical construction, bringing the community one step closer to a modern, resilient fire station that will serve Comox for decades to come. When complete, the new office portion will be approximately 11,000 square feet.
“With demolition complete, we’re turning our focus to building a modern fire station that meets today’s safety, operational, and post-disaster standards,” said Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “This is an important investment in community safety and in supporting the firefighters who serve the community every day.”
During the deconstruction phase of this project, there was a strong focus on commitment to sustainability practices. Approximately 95 per cent of the materials on-site were recycled, with very little sent to the local landfill. Materials were salvaged and diverted whenever possible, thereby reducing the project's environmental impact.
“From recycling the vast majority of the building materials to designing a modern, energy-efficient facility, we’re making thoughtful choices that reduce our environmental impact while supporting a safer community and our firefighters,” said Comox Mayor Nicole Minions. “We are proud of the work that has already been accomplished by our local partners and look forward to building on this progress.”
“As a funding partner, the Comox Fire Protection District is proud to support this important investment in modern, reliable fire protection services,” said Bill Windram, a director from Comox Fire Protection District. “This project strengthens our ability to provide efficient, high-quality service to residents while ensuring the facility is built to meet future needs in a sustainable and responsible way.”
“We’re proud to be building a facility that reflects the needs of today and the future of the community,” said the owner of Lacasse Construction, Cale Lacasse. “Our team lives and works in this community, so to be able to play a part in bringing such an important building to life is something we take very seriously. We are honoured to work alongside such an amazing group of individuals at Comox Fire Rescue. Their team deserves a home that reflects their passion, values, and hard work in our community. This building will deliver that for them.
“We are honoured to be a part of the upgrade to the office wing of Comox Fire Rescue,” said Pelle Campbell, representative from MacDonald Hagarty Architects. “The original hall was built in 1978, and a lot has changed in the fire service since then. Firefighter safety and operational efficiency are constantly evolving, as is the size of the community this station serves. Our role has been to ensure that Comox Fire Rescue is equipped with all the tools they need to serve this community now and, in the future, in a modern, operationally efficient space. We feel this project does just that."
Key design features of the updated fire station currently include:
- Post-disaster construction standards and backup power, enabling the building to function as the Town’s Emergency Operations Centre.
- Improved firefighter health and safety through proper decontamination, laundry, and shower facilities.
- Universal accessibility, including an elevator and accessible washrooms
- Expanded training, classroom, kitchen, and office spaces
- Five on-site affordable lodging for firefighters to support faster nighttime response times and improve service levels across the community
The updated construction cost is estimated at approximately $5.9 million, down from an earlier estimate of $6.1 million. A contingency of 15 per cent has been included to address potential changes during construction. As a shared service, project costs will be split between the Town of Comox (two-thirds) and the Comox Fire Protection District (one-third).
Additional funding sources include future Development Cost Charges and a $50,000 contribution from the Comox Fire Association for furnishings.
Construction of the new fire station is expected to continue through 2026 and 2027, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.
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Media Contact:
Gord Schreiner, Fire Chief
firehall@comox.ca
250-331-6436
and
Nicole Minions, Comox Mayor
nminions@comox.ca
250-339-2202
