The Cowichan Bay Improvement District (CBID) and Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue (CBFR) are served entirely by volunteers.
CBID is focused on providing local fire protection services through the CBFR, rather than general governance or land use planning. These services are financed by taxation. CBID is governed by a board of five elected trustees (elected by area property owners) one of whom acts as chair. The powers exercised by the trustees (to enact and enforce its regulations and charges, to assess and collect taxes, to acquire, hold and dispose of assets and to borrow money) flow from the improvement district’s bylaws, the Local Government Act and other applicable provincial statutes.
The Growing Years: 1963-1976
In 1963 the members of the Fire Department realized that they needed a permanent facility, thus they created the Cowichan Bay District Fire Society and started to fund raise for a new facility to house the growing department. On Saturday March 13th 1963 the Cowichan Bay Fire Hall was officially opened by Mrs. Myrna Ricketts who was the president of the Cowichan Bay Ladies Auxiliary. This new hall only 50 by 30′ was placed at the corner of Wilmot and Prichard Roads which gave a 4 way access to anywhere in the protection district. In 1967 Cowichan Bay finally replaced its outdated Bickles Seagrave and replaced it with a 1968 Ford Pumper to be designated Truck 41. This new truck was superior to any other piece of equipment the department had in operation since 1947.
1976 brought the department more equipment as it received a brand new 1500 Gallon 1976 Ford cab-over tanker truck to be designated Truck 42, this truck was equipped with a Briggs & Stratton portable pump, two 1000 gallon drop tanks, and two 2″ hard suction hoses.
The New Era: 1976 – 1990
By the 1970’s the Fire Department realized that it needed a new hall. With a new truck arriving soon the department would not have room for its 4 piece’s of apparatus. The departments response area had grown by 7 times its original size and covered over 64 square miles, thus they started a new campaign for a new hall and in 1979 the New Cowichan Bay Fire Hall was officially opened. The new hall, which was strategically place on the Trans-Canada-Hwy and Wilmot road in the center of the response area and is still in use today. Along with the new hall came a 1977 International Hub Fire Engine designated Truck 44, this truck is now in use by the Nitnat Fire Department.
The hall currently houses the departments 8 pieces of apparatus in a 6 bay fire hall and 2 bay satellite hall directly behind the hall. The current hall also has many more facility’s than the old station such as Chief offices, Equipment Officer’s area, radio room, equipment storage, training rooms, various games, banquet hall and a full service kitchen.
Into the New Millennium: 1991 – Current
In 1963 the members of the Fire Department realized that they needed a permanent facility, thus they created the Cowichan Bay District Fire Society and started to fund raise for a new facility to house the growing department. On Saturday March 13th 1963 the Cowichan Bay Fire Hall was officially opened by Mrs. Myrna Ricketts who was the president of the Cowichan Bay Ladies Auxiliary. This new hall only 50 by 30′ was placed at the corner of Wilmot and Prichard Roads which gave a 4 way access to anywhere in the protection district. In 1967 Cowichan Bay finally replaced its outdated Bickles Seagrave and replaced it with a 1968 Ford Pumper to be designated Truck 41. This new truck was superior to any other piece of equipment the department had in operation since 1947.