Hornby Island Fire Rescue

In a classic, “Well THAT escalated quickly” moment, we will be instituting the “High Risk Activity” restrictions that seem to come almost every year. After all, it was only yesterday that we stopped campfires. Unless there is a drop in the fire hazard, the restrictions will go into effect on Monday, July 21 at noon. Here is a list of the most common activities that are temporarily suspended:

• mechanical brushing;
• using fire- or spark-producing tools, including cutting tools;
• using or preparing fireworks or pyrotechnics;
• grinding, including rail grinding;
• mechanical land clearing;
• clearing and maintaining rights of way, excluding residential lawn mowing
• operating a power saw (chainsaw);
• welding;
• portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing;

Residential lawn mowing is not banned, but it should be accompanied by a working garden hose that can reach the entire area and a minimum 1-hour fire watch afterwards.

We understand that this creates a hardship on anyone who makes their living in the tree business. We also know it throws a kink into the plans of anyone who is working on getting their firewood ready for the fall. Implementing these restrictions is not something I take lightly, but considering our remoteness, I feel it is time.

Please call the firehall at 250.335.2611 if you have any questions.

The Coastal Fire Center of the BC Wildfire Service has put a campfire ban in effect beginning Thursday, July 17 at noon.

CSA and UL-certified propane fire rings are permitted. They can be identified by their lack of smoke, no sparks, and a consistent flame. If you see a fire on the island, and you are confident it isn’t a propane ring, please call 911 and ask for a duty officer investigation.

Miranda Johnson, Internal Communications Officer for the Ministry of Forests, wrote an excellent article about the Wildfire Risk Reduction project we conducted here on Hornby Island. She interviewed most of the people who were involved and did a great job of capturing what we were trying to accomplish.

“The success of the Hornby Island project stands as a testament not only to its innovative and climate-conscious approach to wildfire resilience but also to the power of value-driven collaboration with local leadership and the community.”

I’m proud of how the project turned out, and I believe it is an example of how to do this type of work on Hornby and in other coastal communities.

The Province has banned all category 2 and category 3 burning until further notice. Campfires of less than half meter in diameter (category 1) are currently still allowed.

The “wetting down” ceremony is a long-standing tradition dating back to the days of horse-drawn fire trucks. In those days, the firefighters would unhook the truck from the horses, wash it, and then push it into the garage by hand. It became a tradition that fire departments follow whenever a new apparatus arrives.

After a two-year process, Hornby Island’s new fire truck is ready to go into service, and we are inviting the community to come and watch the ceremony. It will take place at the beginning of our regular Thursday evening training on May 29 at 1930 sharp. We expect it to take about 20 – 30 minutes, after which we will be off to a simulated trail rescue drill.

If you have a few minutes to come see the new rig, we would love to see you there. The chief and probably a few others will be there from 1830 to show off our newest apparatus.

Considering the drying conditions and the prospect of a nasty fire season, we will soon be requiring permits for all burns bigger than a campfire. Permits are free and can be obtained by calling the fire hall at 250.335.2611. Someone will come to inspect your burn pile on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

The HIFR member who comes to see your backyard burn pile will want to see the following:

• A water source
• Hand tools for extinguishing
• 3m clearance to buildings, tall grass, or standing timber.

Any burn piles containing logs or stumps are considered category III piles and require:

• A provincial burn number
• 250 gallons of water and a pump capable of delivering 50GPM
• a good vent index
• at least 1km from the school
• more than 500m from the closest residence

What: Cadet Camp 2025 is a day-long event filled with fun and education.

Who: Anyone aged 10-14

When: March 27, 2024 from 1000 to 1530 and 1930-2030

Where: Hornby Island Fire Hall

How: Call the firehall (250.335.2611) or fill out this form. More information can be found here.

The weather forecast suggests clouds and a small chance of showers, but it’ll be a warm 5 degrees for the 2025 edition of the Hornby Island Polar Bear Swim on New Years Day. HIFR will be at Grassy Point beach with trucks, hot dogs, chai and a big bonfire in anticipation of the swimmers hitting the water at noon sharp.

This is a great family event with everyone from 6 years old to those in their 80s swimming or just watching the spectacle.

Pro tips:
1) Bring a mug for the hot chai to avoid a single-use cup.
2) Wear water shoes because the pebbles can be hard on your feet.

Job Summary

The Administrative Assistant will provide essential support to our team by performing various administrative tasks, including data entry, report generation, filing, and other clerical duties. The ideal candidate will be proficient in records management software, know their way around a desktop computer, be able to craft a business letter and have the ability to operate in a highly confidential environment.

Responsibilities

• Data Entry: Accurately enter training, inventory, and incident data into our records management system.
• Report Generation: Generate reports using established templates and formats.
• Filing: Maintain organized filing systems for both physical and electronic documents.
• Other Administrative Tasks: Provide general administrative support, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and preparing correspondence.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in office software (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, etc).
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work on their own.

Benefits

• Flexible hours.
• Initially, it will be around 12hrs / month but will likely expand if more duties can be handled.
• Current wage range $25-$30 / hour.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to chief@hifd.org. 

Got questions?  You can send them to chief@hifd.org or call the office at 250.335.2611