The Town of Comox has taken an important step forward with Council approving the submission of Class A cost estimates for the fire hall upgrades and approving construction if the estimates fall within budget. This decision marks another milestone in the Town’s aging fire station, originally built in 1977.
“The existing fire station has served the community for nearly 50 years, but no longer meets the modern safety, operational or post-disaster standards,” said Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “Since that station opened, Comox Fire Rescue has grown from 22 firefighters responding to fewer than 100 calls annually, to more than 60 firefighters responding to close to 1000 incidents each year (both medical and fire).”
The estimated project cost is approximately $6.1 million, with a total of $7 million including contingency. The cost will be shared between the Town of Comox (two-thirds) and the Comox Fire Protection Improvement District (one-third). Additional funding sources include Development Cost Charges and a $50,000 commitment from the Comox Fire Association for furnishings.
A $5 million federal grant application under the Strategic Priorities Fund is under review. If successful, the grant would significantly reduce the financial impact on local taxpayers.
Without grant funding, the project is expected to result in a 2.1 per cent tax increase – about $33 per representative household - beginning in 2028. Interest-only borrowing costs during construction are already included in the 2026 budget.
In the spring of 2025, a local architecture firm, MacDonald Hagarty Architects, was awarded the design contract for this project. That was followed by the selection of Lacasse Construction Ltd. as the construction manager in December 2025. The planning and design phase is more than 75 per cent complete, and once finalized, it will allow the Town to confirm cost estimates. The project is expected to start in April and be completed in approximately 14 months.
“This project is about ensuring Comox Fire Rescue can continue to deliver high-quality emergency services for the next several decades,” said Mayor Comox Minions. “Investing now helps manage the long-term costs, supports firefighters' health and safety, and strengthens our community’s emergency preparedness.”
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 units for firefighters to support quicker nighttime response times and improve service levels across the community
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Media Contact:
Gord Schreiner, Fire Chief
firehall@comox.ca
250-331-6436
