Frequently Asked Questions - about the Project
#1 why build a replacement fire hall #2 in Heriot Bay?
The Province of BC created the South Quadra Island Fire Protection District as an Improvement District in 1960 with the purpose of providing fire protection facilities and services to the area’s residents.
The Fire Protection District has a responsibility to maintain a fire hall that meets WorkSafe BC, BC Building Code, and Fire Code requirements, and that reflects industry best practices (e.g. National Fire Protection Association guidelines). The current Fire Hall #2 in Heriot Bay does not meet these requirements and must be either retrofitted and renovated, or replaced.
The Fire Protection District has been working for the past several years on a plan to address the issues with Fire Hall #2. After careful review of areas of concern, Fire Hall #2 stood out as very weak in regards to volunteer safety and compliance with WorkSafe BC, BC Building Code, and Fire Code requirements The trustees considered the option to retrofit and renovate the existing building. This option was voted down due to lack of water and septic on the site, the fact that the site is leased and not owned, the age and size of the building, the size of the lot, and seismic issues. The option to build a new structure on previously purchased land was voted as the best use of taxpayer funds as it would provide a safe building and address the list of ongoing concerns.
Please see the Project Page for more information on what is wrong with the current Fire Hall #2 and how the replacement Fire Hall will be different.
#2 What are the health and safety concerns with the current Fire Hall #2?
There are various health and safety concerns with the current Fire Hall #2 in Heriot Bay.
Firstly, it is a small, unheated garage with no exhaust system. The turn out gear (the clothes/equipment that firefighters put on to go to a call) is hung right behind where the fire trucks are parked as there is nowhere else to put it where it can be quickly accessed. When the fire trucks are started up to go to a call, and when they back into the Hall after a call, the exhaust empties onto the firefighters and their gear. Exposing firefighters and their clothing to all of this exhaust is very unhealthy. In the replacement Fire Hall #2 the exhaust will be properly vented to the outside as it is currently done in Fire Hall #1 in Quathiaski Cove.
Secondly, it has no water and no septic system, nor the ability to build them due to the limitations of the lot. This means that no cleaning can be done at the current Fire Hall #2. After a fire, firefighters must take a shower, put on clean clothes, and wash all of their gear. Currently, they must to go to Fire Hall #1 to do this. The replacement Fire Hall #2 will have showers, laundry facilities, and the proper space and equipment to decontaminate gear.
Thirdly, in the case of a major seismic event, or earthquake, the current Fire Hall #2 would likely crumble to the ground (as determined by 2015 study of the seismic stability of the building). Anyone in the Hall at the time would not be safe, and the trucks and all of the gear inside would be crushed. The replacement Fire Hall #2 will meet all current post-disaster standards and be able to withstand an earthquake. Indeed, it will be built to a higher standard than even Fire Hall #1 in Quathiaski Cove.
#3 Why does Quadra Island need two fire halls?
Besides the benefit of faster response times to emergencies when every second counts, each fire hall is geographically placed to provide reduced insurance costs to those properties that are within an 8 km radius of each hall.
#4 To what seismic standard will a replacement fire hall be built?
A new fire hall will be built to post-disaster standards, meaning that it will withstand significant seismic events. The existing fire hall was not even built to life-safety standards, meaning that it should allow people to escape from the building.
#5 How did you come up with the design?
The replacement Fire Hall #2 design is based on similar fire halls throughout Vancouver Island, which meet current building and seismic post-disaster standards while providing much needed space for firefighting apparatus (vehicles) and equipment.
#6 When will a replacement fire hall be completed?
If property owner approval to borrow is achieved by April 30 2025, construction is anticipated to be completed in 2027.
#7 How long will a replacement fire hall last?
A replacement fire hall will be designed to last a minimum of 50 years.
#8 How much will it cost?
The cost of building a replacement Fire Hall #2 is estimated to be $2,900,000 if we commence construction in 2025. This budget was created based on current market prices. If we wait, the cost is likely to increase.
#9 Why can’t you build a smaller, cheaper fire hall?
The design for the replacement fire hall is not fancy or frilly. Rather it just covers the basics required for modern day fire halls, while also considering the future needs of a growing population. We do not want to waste money by building something of poor quality that won’t last, or that is of a size that we will grow out of quickly.
#10 Who will pay?
The cost of building a replacement Fire Hall #2 will be covered by a loan. The loan will be repaid through property taxes. The properties within the South Quadra Island Fire Protection District will pay an estimated $23.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year. This will start in the month of July following the completion of construction, so not for a few years. The term of the loan will be a maximum of 20 years.
Property owners outside the Fire Protection District will not be impacted. To find out if the property you own is within the South Quadra Island Fire Protection District, click HERE.
#11 What happens if the project goes over budget?
Every effort has been made to create a realistic budget. However if more funding is needed, the South Quadra Island Fire Protection District will need to come back to the property owners in the District with a request to borrow more money or raise money through alternate methods such as a donation drive.
#12 Why can’t the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) pay for the replacement fire hall?.
The SRD does not pay for fire services. In order to fund fire services on Quadra Island, the Quadra Island Improvement District was established in 1960. Improvement Districts provide services such as water and fire protection services (also known as “objects”) for the benefit of landowners within their boundaries.
Improvement Districts are separate from Regional Districts and are funded through property taxes.
#13 Why don’t all Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Area C property owners pay?
When the Quadra Island Improvement District was established in 1960, Quadra Island fire protection boundaries were established at that time. Only the property owners within those boundaries receive and pay for fire protection services from the Quadra Island Fire Department.
#14 Why was the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) chosen?
The Local Government Act allows an Improvement District to use a Special Meeting, an Alternative Approval Process (AAP), or a Referendum in order to gain approval for an increase in taxation. The AAP was chosen by the Board of Trustees of the South Quadra Fire Protection District for several reasons.
Firstly, it will enable the Board of Trustees to reach the affected property owners in an efficient and inclusive way. In contrast to Special Meetings which are generally not very well attended and limit who can participate e.g. only those available and able to travel to the meeting location are in attendance.
Secondly, an AAP is less expensive to run than a Referendum.
Thirdly, an AAP was the process used in the past by the South Quadra Island Fire Protection District when seeking property owner approval to borrow funds. It has worked well in the past to gain approval in an efficient yet inclusive way.
For more information on the process for an AAP that is required for Improvement Districts please see the Improvement District Manual, specifically these pages.
#15 What do I do if I oppose the borrowing of funds to build a replacement Fire Hall #2 in Heriot Bay?
Any property owner within the Fire Protection District boundaries who is a Canadian citizen and over the age of 18 is eligible to register their opposition to the loan during the AAP period (February 20th to March 27th, 2025).
You can register your opposition by signing and sending in an Owner Response Form, by email or mail, by the deadline of March 27, 2025 at 12:00 midnight. Please see the Form for the correct address and email to send it to.
Starting on February 20th, 2025, hard copies of the Owner Response Forms will be available between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, Monday to Thursday (unless staff are responding to an emergency), at Fire Hall #1 at 844 Heriot Bay Rd in Quathiaski Cove.
Also starting on February 20th you will be able to download the Form HERE and print it at your convenience. (Note: please select “fit to page” on your printer if you are having trouble printing the Form. And then fill in the Form using dark ink. A scan or photo of the Form can be attached to an email as long as all info you have written is legible.)
#16 How many people need to oppose it for it not to pass?
If ten percent of the eligible property owners (167 people) reject the borrowing of funds by submitting Owner Response Forms, the Board of Trustees cannot proceed with borrowing the funds to build a replacement Fire Hall #2 in Heriot Bay.
If the borrowing of funds is not approved through the AAP, the Board of Trustees may proceed with holding a Referendum or a Special Meeting.
#17 How can I support the Fire Hall #2 Replacement Project?
Community support is essential for us to build a replacement Fire Hall #2. You can support this project by using your voice to tell others why you support a replacement Fire Hall #2 for the Quadra Island Fire Department and helping clarify any misinformation that you hear.
If you would like to make a donation to help offset the cost of construction of the replacement hall, you can mail a cheque to P.O. Box 80, Quathiaski Cove, BC, V0P 1N0 or drop it off at Hall #1, 844 Heriot Bay Road. We also accept cash donations.
Frequently Asked Questions - General
#18 What is an Improvement District?
The South Quadra Island Fire Protection District is an improvement district. Improvement districts are incorporated public local bodies governed by a board of elected trustees. Improvement districts provide services such as water and fire protection services (also known as “objects”) for the benefit of landowners within their boundary.
Improvement districts are not the same as municipalities or regional districts, as improvement districts may only provide the services authorized in their letters patent.
For more information about Improvement Districts, click HERE.
#19 What are the stats for the Quadra Island Fire Department’s recent call outs?
Stats
| TYPE OF CALL | 2023 | 2024 |
| First Responder/Ambulance assists | 160 | 156 |
| Alarm Activations/False alarms | 6 | 9 |
| Motor Vehicle Incidents (MVI) | 6 | 4 |
| Chimney Fires | 2 | 3 |
| Wildland/ Beach/Brush Fires | 4 | 1 |
| Hydro Trouble | 14 | 19 |
| Hazardous Materials | 0 | 2 |
| Structure Fire/Smoke in Building | 4 | 9 |
| Vehicle Fires | 0 | 0 |
| Marine Fire | 0 | 1 |
| Public Service/Auto launch | 5 | 2 |
| Assist Other Agency | 0 | 3 |
| Marine Incident | 1 | 1 |
| Duty Officer | 59 | 26 |
| Rescue | 0 | 5 |
| TOTAL | 261 | 241 |
Do you have a question for us?
Please get in touch.