The Town of Comox Council has unanimously approved moving forward with the development of a design and financial plan for a significant upgrade to the Comox Fire Rescue station, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of the growing community.
Originally built in 1977, the current fire station has exceeded its functional lifespan and no longer meets the operational requirements of the department. Essential facilities such as showers, washrooms, offices, kitchen and meeting spaces are inadequate for the current number of firefighters and staff.
The fire station is jointly owned by the Town of Comox and the Comox Fire Protection District. The cost of the upgrade is shared between the two partners—two-thirds funded by the Town and one-third by the Fire Protection District (Area B).
When our fire station opened in 1978, we had one full-time firefighter and 20 paid-on-call firefighters responding to about 70 calls per year,” said Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “Today, we have eight full-time firefighters and 52 paid-on-call firefighters responding to over 900 incidents annually. We’ve simply outgrown the space.”
Beyond space limitations, the current facility faces other critical challenges, including inadequate training areas, aging electrical systems, a leaking roof, a lack of accessibility and construction that does not meet current standards for disaster resilience.
The approved upgrade will prioritize a major replacement of the office wing, transforming it from its current 4,200 square feet to a three-story, 10,000-square-foot facility. Key improvements include:
- Enhanced Office & Training Space: Expansion from three to eight offices, plus three boardrooms/classrooms that can double as a study area or community Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
- Improved Firefighter Facilities: Increase from one shower and three washrooms to 10 showers and 12 washrooms. A dedicated decontamination and laundry area will help firefighters clean gear after fires, reducing carcinogen exposure.
- On-Site Affordable Accommodations: The top floor will feature five hotel-style suites with a shared common area, providing affordable housing for paid-on-call members. This initiative will enhance emergency response times, particularly at night, and support future full-time staffing needs.
- Upgraded Infrastructure: Minor improvements to the truck bays, including a new roof and sprinkler system, will improve building safety and longevity.
This is the first step towards looking at how we can upgrade our fire station to improve firefighter safety and support the long-term growth of the community,” said Comox Mayor, Nicole Minions. “Council looks forward to reviewing the conceptual design when it comes forward.”
Media Contact:
Gord Schreiner, Fire Chief
firehall@comox.ca
250-339-2432
