Fire Services

Fire Restrictions & Hazards

Sept 18, 2019: Ban for Category 2 Open Burning Rescinded

As per section 10(2) of the Fire Protection Bylaw the present ban on Category 2 Open Burning will be rescinded for the Municipality of North Cowichan, effective at noon on September 18, 2019.

Category 2 open fire - As defined in the Wildfire Regulation (s.1); an open fire, other than a campfire, that burns

(a) material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
(b) material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width, or
(c) stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha

Category 2 open fires as described above will be permitted, as well as the use of tiki torches, burn barrels, fireworks, and sky lanterns.

Campfire and Category 3 open fire restrictions were not implemented this year and remain open subject to the Fire Protection Bylaw requirements which can be found here.

Backyard Burning and Fire Pits

For Burning and Air Quality information, including Recreational Fire Regulations and links to the BC venting index, please visit our Air Quality page. Download the Backyard Burning brochure [PDF - 1 MB].

North Cowichan Fire Department

Fire protection in North Cowichan is provided by a trained and dedicated team of on-call paid firefighters. There are four fire halls throughout North Cowichan, namely: Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay, and South End. Each hall has its own Chief, Deputy Chief, Captains, Lieutenants, Secretary, Treasurer, and regular firefighters, all of whom are members of the North Cowichan Fire Department.

Would you like more information about becoming a firefighter?

North Cowichan has four paid-on-call fire halls: Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay and South End. Each hall does its own hiring, with the Human Resources Department assisting with the application process.

Paid-on-call firefighters are paid for attending practices, call-outs and duty weekends. Practices are held once a week and usually last a few hours. On duty weekends, which happen once every four weeks, you are expected to remain in the area and in a condition fit for work. You are also required to spend a half day at the hall cleaning and maintaining equipment as part of your duty weekend.

If you are interested in joining the North Cowichan Fire Department, you are required to meet with the Chief of your local hall first to find out more about the commitment required and to have your questions answered. 

Fire Halls

Fire Department Contact & Media Inquiries: 
Martin Drakeley, Manager, Fire and Bylaw Services
Cell: 250.510.0793
Office: 250.746.3108
Email: martin.drakeley@northcowichan.ca 

Fire Hall

Address

Non-Emergency
Phone Number
Chemainus

9901 Chemainus Road,
Chemainus, V0R 1K0

 250.746.3108
Crofton 1681 Robert Street,
Crofton, V0R 1R0		 250.746.3108
Maple Bay

1230 Maple Bay Road,

Duncan, V9L 5S1

 250.746.3108
South End

5851 Duncan Street,

Duncan, V9L 3W7

 250.746.3108

More Information

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