Background:

There are various residential locations around our Beautiful Island of Salt Spring that are beyond 8Km from one of our 3 Fire Halls. One area in particular is Sunset Drive, North from West Eagle Drive to Southey Pt and around the North End on North End Rd to just past Epron Rd.

In December 2023 a number of Ratepayers from that area came to me as a Fire Board Trustee and asked if I could help mitigate the cost of their current Fire Insurance Premiums. Some Ratepayers are paying upwards of $2000/Yr or more in increased premiums for fire insurance for being beyond the 8Km distance criteria.

As we continue to move forward with the effects of Climate Change, the costs of not being Fully Fire Protected will continue to increase, perhaps exponentially. The potential for being denied Fire Insurance altogether from the Insurance Underwriters is definitely a potential threat in the coming years. Once our New Fire Hall No. 1, across from Foxglove Farm on Lower Ganges Rd is complete towards the end of 2026. At that point Fire Hall No. 3 at Central Hall basically becomes redundant due to its close proximity 1.8Km and 2 minutes away. Wth the New Fire Hall being crewed by Career Firefighters 24/7/365 days of the year, call outs will be addressed in most cases from the New Fire Hall, with the Central Fire Hall used only as a backup on rare emergency occasions.

The potential cost effective way forward for all 8400 Ratepayers but more importantly the 172 Ratepayers who will benefit most from proper Fire Protection on the North End of the Island: In January of 2024 I met a potential Benefactor/Donor of land on Sunset Drive and they graciously came forward with intent to donate land for a New Satellite Fire Hall. Not only is the property strategically located to provide 172 Residents with Full Fire Protection, the Donor has offered their ponds as an alternate source of water for firefighting. This location basically ticks all the boxes as the perfect location. In other words it’s a “Golden Opportunity” for 172 Ratepayers and a cost neutral option for all 8400 Ratepayers.

Unfortunately this Golden Opportunity has garnered little interest by the Chair, my fellow Board of Trustees and the CAO of the Fire Improvement District. The standard comment is - “One Fire Hall at a time, we are currently engaged with the New Fire Hall Project”. The Chair and CAO seem to be amenable to the idea of the Land Donation but I think it’s fair to say they are not even remotely interested in building a straight forward Rural Fire Hall for another 5 to 10 years. Their current cost projections for the build are simply unrealistic.

With the help of 172 Ratepayers in the North End & Channel Ridge, along with the support of the remaining 8200 Ratepayers, join us in presenting the “Sunset Community Fire Hall No. 3 Concept”.

1. We potentially have the gracious offer of a Land Donation, in the perfect strategic location.

2. Financing the Project would come from the Sale of Central Fire Hall and the potential Lease Back of the facility in its current operational state from the Purchaser until the Sunset Community Fire Hall location is ready for occupancy. Are there potential Purchasers out there under these terms, we believe the answer is - YES. Current build projection is 12 - 18 months from start to finish. Another financing option is for Ratepayers to finance the build and then turn it over to the Fire Improvement District when complete, with the costs re-paid from the sale of Central Fire Hall by the Fire District.

3. The Satellite Fire Hall Building itself is a 2 Bay Pre Engineered Steel Building - 2500 square feet which is approximately 700 square feet larger than the current Central Fire Hall. The new facility would be built to post disaster, seismic building code standards.

4. Site Prep - Civil works and excavation costs, including concrete slab to post disaster seismic building code, electrical, water, plumbing, septic system and landscaping will all be done by our Local Contractors.

5. Valuation of the Central Fire Hall facility, equates approximately to the build costs. That means this concept is especially unique from the standpoint its cost neutral to all 8400 Ratepayers. No Referendum, No AAP – Alternate Approval Process required. The only requirement is to have the fortitude to get it done, cost effectively and in a timely fashion with the help the of Our Community and Contractors.

Where does the Fire Improvement District fit into this Community Fire Hall Concept?

Our concept is the Community of 172 Ratepayers, with the support of 8200 other Ratepayers, using Local Contractors wherever possible to take on the build and meet the Specifications of the New Building Code, Our Fire Chief and the Community of 172 Ratepayers it will directly serve at the North End of the Island and the enhanced Fire Protection it will provide to the Channel Ridge Residents/Ratepayers.

The Fire Improvement District deals with the paperwork, approvals and the funding through the sale of Central Fire Hall. Approvals from the ALC, Islands Trust and Building Inspection will be required. Join us and Petition the Chair and Board of Trustees of the Salt Spring Island Fire Improvement District by adding your name to this Petition as one of the 8400 Ratepayers of Salt Spring Fire Improvement District.

Thank you for your support on behalf of 172 Ratepayers who live in the North End on Salt Spring Island and to the other ~8200 Ratepayers, who see the cost neutral value in this concept.
SSIFID AGM - Monday, April 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM – Downtown Fire Hall.
Please consider attending in person or via online.
Thank you, SSIFID Trustee - David Courtney.
Email – letsdoitfirehall3@gmail.com