Fire Services

Fire Restrictions & Hazards

July 23, 2020 -  Open Burning Ban

As per section 10(2) of "Fire Protection Bylaw 2008, Bylaw No. 3340", an open fire burning ban will be imposed for the entire Municipality of North Cowichan, effective at noon on July 24, 2020 and will remain in place until further notice. This includes:

 * Category 2 open fires 
 * Category 3 open fires 
 * Fires burning woody debris in outdoor stoves

 The use of:

  • Tiki Torches
  • Fireworks
  • Firecrackers
  • Sky Lanterns
  • Burning Barrels or Burning Cages of any size or Description
  • Binary Exploding Targets (E.G. for Rifle Target Practice)
  • Air Curtain Burners 

Note: This burning ban on Category 2 & 3 open fires does not affect campfires within supervised campgrounds and recreational fire pits.

This prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimeters.

 For more information, please contact:

 Fire & Bylaw Services
 250.746.3108

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.

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
Office: 250.746.3266
Email: martin.drakeley@northcowichan.ca 

Fire Hall

Physical 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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