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THETIS ISLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, British Columbia, Canada
 
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DIAL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
For non-emergency calls: 250-246-4834
For Fire Permits, see the Fire Permits page

FIRE PERMITS REQUIRED FROM APRIL 1st TO OCTOBER 31st
THETIS ISLAND FIRE HAZARD:

LOW HAZARD RATING

Low: Fires may start easily and spread quickly but there will be minimal involvement of deeper fuel layers or larger fuels. Fire Permits are required on Thetis Island for open burning, including incinerators and campfires between April 1 and October 31 unless otherwise restricted.

For more detail on what the different hazard ratings mean and when permits are or are not required, click on the hazard rating image.

Section 3 of the Wildfire Act - Mishandling burning Substances, and Section 204 of the Motor Vehicle Act - Depositing Articles on Highway, make it an offence to toss butts onto the road. Call *5555 or 911 to report offenders.

Community Updates from the TIVFD

First Responders & Medical Aid
The Thetis Island Fire Dept. responds to all medical aid requests through the 9-1-1 system.  If you are unsure you require emergency aid and evacuation to the hospital, dial 8-1-1 to speak to the BC Health Link nurse for advice.  TIVFD personnel are trained, certified and Provincially licensed medical First Responders and we assess and evacuate you to the Community Dock in our Rescue Vehicle that is outfitted similarly to a BCEHS ambulance, where your care will be turned over to paramedics arriving on the marine ambulance.  Additionally, if you require helicopter evacuation we have a designated landing zone at Capernwray Harbour Bible School.  Our medical response service operates 24/7 when you state “ambulance” to the 9-1-1 operator.

 

Most recent community updates from the TIVFD

September 12, 2024

Moving down to MODERATE DANGER

That little dump of rain overnight has moved the fire hazard index down to MODERATE DANGER once again. Early Shift for High Hazard Activities is cancelled.

Campfires are still the only outdoor burning allowed by the Province at this time.  

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck,
Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.


July 26, 2024

Campfire Ban Lifted on Thetis Island August 30

The campfire prohibition will be lifted in all regions of the Coastal Fire Centre area beginning 12:00 noon, Pacific Standard Time (PST), on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. ON THETIS ISLAND IT WILL BE LIFTED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH.

Although the fire danger has declined in the Coastal Fire Centre due to recent rainfall and cooler, more seasonal temperatures, the public is strongly encouraged to continue exercising extreme caution with any campfire. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations.

While campfires will be allowed in the Coastal Fire Centre, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited, including the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels, burn cages and air curtain burners. These restrictions will remain in place until October 31, 2024, or until the Order is rescinded.

Thetis Island campfires must have a Fire Permit in place. Go to www.thetisislandfire.ca and follow the link to Fire Permits to apply for a Fire Permit for campfires only.

Coastal Fire Centre
Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.


July 26, 2024

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

By subscribing to receive emergency alerts, users will get more immediate information to protect themselves and their family. Cowichan Alert is used to alert people in an affected area (anywhere is the Cowichan region, including Thetis Island) of the following types of incidents when they occur or likely to occur imminently:

  • Wildfires (particularly for evacuation alerts and orders)
  • Flooding
  • Hazardous Material release
  • Landslide / post-earthquake hazards
  • Severe weather events (Environment Canada Alerts come through the system, these are usually advisories)
  • Significant road closures/disruptions (Drive BC Alerts come through the system, these are just advisories not life threatening)
  • Boil Water Alerts
  • Use this link for more information and to sign up:
    https://cvrd.ca/3369/Emergency-Alert-System

    Fire Chief J. Caldbeck
    Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.


    June 22, 2024

    Should I Call 9-1-1?

    Norm Kasting, a member of the TIVFD, published an excellent article in the latest issue of The Quarterly titled, “Should I Call 9-1-1 ?” . For those of you who unfortunately don’t receive The Quarterly magazine, published by TICA, this is a reminder that by calling 911 early you will get the trained volunteers arriving at the issue sooner.

    Recently we had a question about an alarm sounding at the neighbours’ house where no one was at home. They wandered over, looked in windows, saw nothing amiss, and left. They were able to contact the neighbours the next day, but also wondered if they should have done something differently.

    The answer is a resounding YES! There are many reasons a fire/smoke alarm might go off unexpectedly and the luckiest reason is that the alarm malfunctioned. But the other reasons are more serious and could have dire consequences and quite often there will be no indication from the outside of a building as to what is happening inside. Please call 911 if you hear an alarm going off in a house. The TIVFD trains for all types of emergency events including “alarms activated”.

    Please don’t hesitate to call 911. The TIVFD would very much rather come out early to what turns out to be a minor event or a false alarm instead of an event that has already become a serious emergency response.

    Fire Chief J. Caldbeck
    Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.


    September 27, 2023

    A handy reminder about campfires

    Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.


    For more detailed information about burning regulations and safety requirements, go to the links on the left for "Fire Permits" and "Fire Safety".

    Site last updated: 2024-09-14