Not much it known about Cowichan Bay
Fire Department Pre-1950's as that most of the original members
have passed away or have moved, But if anyone out there knows of
some pictures or old news paper clippings you can e-mail us at
info@cbvfr.com
The Cowichan Bay Fire
Department (as it was known then) was started in 1947 with an
old ARP (Air Raid Protection) unit pump and some lengths of 1½"
hose and was stationed out of a local gas station at Cowichan
Bay and Wilmont road, the departments first piece of apparatus
was a 3 ton Dodge truck purchased from Shell Oil inc. Converted
in to the departments first tanker, it carried a 500 gallon
water tank and a McCulloch fire pump. The departments first
pumper truck was a 1938 Bickles Seagrave purchased from the Oak
Bay Fire Department for $2500, the truck was equipped with a
200 gallon tank and a 625 gpm pump and carried 300 feet of 2
1/2 inch hose and 1,000 feet of 2 inch hose.
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 In 1967 Cowichan Bay finally replaced its outdated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
TIn 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.