Hornby Island Fire Rescue

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

HIFR, in partnership with BC Wildfire Service, has been working on a Wildfire Risk Reduction project for the forests in the various crown leases at the corner of Central Rd and Sollans Rd. The area includes Joe King Ball Park, New Horizons, the medical center, Doris Savoie building, the Farmers’ Market, and the Art Center.

It is an area dense in community infrastructure and is vulnerable to a wildfire. There is a lot that can be done to reduce that risk. Come to the open house at the Community Hall on November 26 to see what is being planned.

The current date for the start of the 2024 chipping program is December 2. Make sure your pile is ready for chipping first thing on December 2. We don’t know which neighborhood they will start with. The program is the same as previous years. Here are some guidelines:

• Only material less than 10 cm diameter will be accepted
• Place the branches aligned in one direction.
• Branches must be shorter than 10m
• No invasive species, leaf piles, and construction debris.
• Your piles should be at the edge of the road but don’t interfere with bicycle and automobile traffic.

If you have any questions, please contact the firehall (250.335.2611) and we will be glad to help.

HIFR is thrilled to present this year’s Halloween fireworks show. The fuse will be lit at 8PM sharp on October 31. Once again, Outer Island B&B has graciously offered their field for the event.

The best spot for viewing the display will be on DePape Road, near the intersection of Porpoise, close to the water tank.

Effective noon on Wednesday, September 18, we will be lifting the ban on backyard burning. Burning yard waste can be divided into two categories:

• Category II: The pile is less than 3 meters in diameter and under 2 meters high. It contains material less than 10cm in diameter. You must have some handtools and a hose nearby. No permits are required and waiting for a good ventilation index is neighbourly thing to do.
• Category III: The pile is larger than 3 meters in diameter, build using a machine, or contains logs or stumps. You must have a machine standing by, a water source of at least 2000 litres, and a pump capabile of delivering 200 litres per minute. These piles always require a permit and a good ventilation index.

To report an illegal or dangerous campfire, please call the non-emergency number at the fire hall (250.335.2611) and you will have the option to be connected with a fire patrol member.