Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue - Serving The Public Since 1947

COWICHAN BAY FIRE RESCUE
4461 Trans-Canada Highway
Cowichan Bay British Columbia, Canada
V0R 1N0

Emergency Dial 911
Non-Emergency Phone: (250) 743-7111
Fax: (250) 743-7113
E-mail: cowbayfd@cbvfr.com

Office Hours:
Monday Nights: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday Mornings: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

CURRENT BURNING STATUS

Hotel fire quickly doused	By: Ryan Smith
Staff and guests were smoked out of the hotel at the Oceanfront Grand Resort & Marina Sunday around 6:30 p.m. North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP Cst. Susan Boyes said police were on the scene to help direct traffic around the emergency vehicles in the cozy community but that was all they did as the fire was not considered suspicious. "The cause was determined to be something in the restaurant dryer," said Boyes. Cowichan Bay Fire Chief Dave Ferguson wasn't in town when his crew got the call but after a debriefing with Deputy Chief Ken Bulcock, was well-versed in just what happened that evening. "It wasn't much of a fire but there was considerable smoke," he said. Ferguson confirmed it was a dryer fire that occurred on the second floor. One hotel employee was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation but was later released. The building was evacuated while the smoke cleared but guests and employees alike were all allowed back into the building later. "I'm happy to say that it was minimal damage and I think they were back in business as of (Monday)," said Ferguson. "Our normal procedure is to advise the hotel that they should check air quality to ensure of that before they possibly go back into business. It's just a safety issue." The Fire Chief said he couldn't speak to the volume of smoke because he wasn't at the scene but said his Deputy told him it was significant. "He exercised the right judgement in assuring that everybody inside was accounted for on the outside and nobody was subjected to any more smoke than was necessary." The Duncan Volunteer Fire Department were also called to the scene but that call was just in case, said Ferguson. "Whenever you have a structure fire on a significant building we choose to roll some mutual aid assistance just to make sure we have the resources we need to deal with it, particularly on a weekend when we have minimal staffing and are just erring on (cont...)
	Date: 24/Apr/2008 15:37 EDT

Firefighters put the boot to MD in record numbers	By: Ryan Smith
Valley firefighters deserve a round of applause for raising a record number of loonies for those who can’t put their hands together. “This is just amazing, this is more than we’ve ever done,” said Dave Ferguson, fire chief of Cowichan Bay’s squad, one of five volunteer halls that spent their time asking for cash during last weekend’s annual three-day muscular dystrophy Boot Drive. “Between all the departments, we raised $20,001,” he said. During the last 22 years, the yearly Valley campaign has donated a total of more the $250,000 to charity. And every year Ferguson thinks the bottom may drop out. “I keep thinking this will be the year it tails off,” he said, while happily admitting he was wrong. “The Valley has to be one of the most generous places in Canada.” Money raised go to help those in B.C. suffering the effects of MS. Cowichan News Leader
	Date: 13/Dec/2007 11:34 EST

Monday house fire extinguished	By: Ryan Smith
About 40 firefighters from Cowichan Bay and Duncan fire halls battled a house blaze on Cowichan Bay Road about 4:30 p.m. Monday. Gina Talbot was with her parents in a vehicle when the family noticed smoke coming from the home near the Cowichan Lawn and Tennis Club. The family called 911 and raced to the scene to make sure no one was inside the two-storey home. “There wasn’t anyone inside, but we moved a bunch of combustibles, like gas cans, away from the home,” Talbot said. Talbot said the fire appeared to start near the chimney. “When we looked inside the house, we saw flames between the wall and the chimney,” she said. Cowichan Bay fire chief Dave Ferguson was not available for comment about the fire and the possible cause before press time. Cowichan News Leader - Oct 24th 2007
	Date: 24/Oct/2007 11:50 EDT

Busy Night For Cowichan Bay Firefighters	By: Ryan Smith
It was a busy Monday night for Cowichan Bay Firefighters, at 4:30PM Cowichan Bay Firefighters were alerted to a working structure fire in the 2200 Block of Cowichan Bay Road, upon the arrival of the Deputy Chief it was noted that the was a 2 story wood frame structure with heavy smoke, it was at that time that Duncan Fire Department was requested to attend with a Tender and Engine, crew operated on Scene for approximately 4 hours before clearing scene to return to quarters. Shortly after returning to quarters Firefighters were alerted to a working car fire on the TCH North of the Fire Hall, upon arrival it was noted that there was a fully involved van, firefighters quickly knocked the fire down and returned to quarters. Cause of both fires has not be determined. # 2007-175 2007-22-10 16:45 Structure Fire Heavy Smoke/Fire CBFR Units: E41, T42, R43, E44, T45, E46, U47 DFD Units: U3, E4, T8 Ambulance: 52A1 # 2007-176 2007-22-10 16:45 Structure Fire Heavy Smoke/Fire CBFR Units: T42, R43, E44, E46, U47
	Date: 23/Oct/2007 11:23 EDT

Bale Wagon Fire	By: Ryan Smith
At 3:30 Monday afternoon Cowichan Bay Firefighters we alerted to a bale wagon fire at a Farm on Cowichan Bay Road, upon arrival of the Deputy chief it was noted that there was a bale wagon well involved with approximately 120 bales of hay on board, Cowichan Bay Engine 44 arrived shortly after and had a quick knock down before the fire could spread in the ajoined field. Firefighters operated on scene for about 1 hour before clearing. Units Responding: Tender 42, Engine 44, Utility 47
	Date: 30/Aug/2007 12:23 EDT

New Tender 45 Almost Ready	By: Ryan Smith
Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue took delivery of thier new 2007 Kenworth T800 tender, manufactured by Hub Fire Trucks from Abottsford, BC. The Tender is now ready to be sent for paint & decals in Duncan as well as installing the remaining lighting and siren package. Tender 45 should be available for full service with in a month, at which time the current Tender 45 a 1985 Western Star will be retired from service, pictures to follow soon.
	Date: 27/Aug/2007 14:48 EDT

Category 3 Open Fire Ban	By: Ryan Smith
PARKSVILLE – Effective at noon on Wednesday August 1, 2007 and until further notice, Category 3 open fire is banned throughout the Coastal Fire Centre. A Category 3 open fire means an open fire that burns material in piles larger than two metres high and three metres wide, windrows, or grass over an area larger than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size. This open fire ban is in effect to protect public safety and to limit the risk of person-caused wildfires. This restriction on Category 3 open fire is in addition to the Category 1 (not including campfires) and Category 2 open fire restrictions implemented July 9, 2007 throughout the Coastal Fire Centre until further notice. The Coastal Fire Centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain range from the U.S./Canada border at Manning Park to Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the lower mainland, all of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
	Date: 02/Aug/2007 14:12 EDT