The new Crofton fire hall is now complete, marking the end of a project designed to address critical safety needs and prepare the community for future growth.
The new facility replaces the aging 1964 fire hall, which required immediate and significant seismic upgrades and repairs. Due to the high cost of these upgrades, the decision was made to demolish the old hall and rebuild on the same site.
The decision to rebuild the fire hall was driven by structural concerns and the need for a modern, purpose-built facility. A $3.8 million budget was originally discussed in 2020, but rising construction costs led to an increase, with the final price tag reaching $4.8 million.
Concerns about rising costs sparked debates among North Cowichan council members in 2022 with some calling for more a detailed financial analysis before approving the rebuild. Ultimately, council prioritized the project, recognizing the importance of maintaining a reliable and modern emergency response infrastructure in Crofton.
The Municipality of North Cowichan secured funding through a loan authorization bylaw approved via an Alternative Approval Process in August 2022. Under an AAP, at least 10 per cent of voters must oppose the project in order to halt the borrowing process.
The original fire hall’s apparatus bays, constructed in 2002, were retained and integrated into the new building as they were not in need of repair. The new construction added 3,600 square feet of training, administrative and equipment storage spaces.
Construction was temporarily delayed in 2023 due to asbestos abatement and concerns about soil contamination at the site. Work resumed after environmental assessments confirmed the land was safe but the project continued to struggle with construction crew shortages. Despite these hurdles and inflationary pressures, the project was successfully completed within budget.
The new fire hall now serves as a critical hub for Crofton’s team of around 25 paid on-call firefighters who are part of the North Cowichan Fire Department’s 113-member force. It enhances the department’s ability to provide timely, effective service to the community and surrounding areas.
Members of North Cowichan’s Crofton fire hall had been without adequate training space since 2019 when the second floor was closed due to load-bearing issues. This saw firefighters squeezing chairs into the apparatus bays or training outdoors for several years. The new, state-of-the-art training room solves this issue and can also double as an emergency operations centre in emergency situations.
The updated hall also houses a dedicated lounge area for members of the Crofton Firefights Association. Firefighters face significant stress and trauma in the course of their jobs, responding to life-threatening situations and witnessing tragic events. A dedicated space provides a refuge for firefighters to relax, recover and connect while fostering team morale and cohesion. North Cowichan Fire Chief Ron French said this is critically important for the mental health, physical well-being and overall effectiveness of firefighters.
“It’s important for after bad calls, or after any call, to be able to come down here and just hang out and decompress away from the public eye,” French said.
Crofton firefighters are paid, on-call workers who balance these duties with their regular jobs. Recruitment and retention is an ongoing challenge, making firefighter well-being and resilience a top priority for French and Crofton Station Chief Matt Ludvigson.
“It’s different than just going to work somewhere,” French said. “[Firefighters] are putting their effort in here on their own time. So we’ve got to put the extra effort in to make them feel they have a place to come to.”
The updated fire hall is built to serve and safeguard the community for the next 50 years.
