Fire Services

Fire Services

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Fire protection in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is a shared effort across municipalities, societies, improvement districts and federal government. It includes 15 fire departments and 24 fire halls across the RDN. These departments serve the municipalities of City of Nanaimo, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach, and District of Lantzville, as well as most rural areas throughout the region. Collaborative efforts keep our communities safe through:

  • RDN-Managed Fire Departments: The RDN directly oversees and funds two departments — Nanoose Bay Fire Dept. and Coombs-Hilliers Fire Dept. — including capital projects, staffing, equipment, training, and operations.
  • Volunteer Fire Department Societies: Four departments are run by volunteer societies serving parts of RDN Electoral Areas C, F, G, and H. The RDN supports these departments by collecting property taxes, managing capital projects and providing funding for their operations and equipment, while the societies manage day-to-day activities and training.
  • Independently Managed Fire Departments: Nine departments are operated independently by municipalities or improvement districts.

The Role of RDN Fire Services

The RDN Fire Services team coordinates and supports fire protection across the region. This includes:

  • Managing the two RDN-operated fire departments.
  • Administering service agreements and funding for fire department societies.
  • Supporting training, emergency planning, and strategic initiatives.
  • Managing asset acquisition, construction, maintenance, disposal of equipment, apparatus and facilities.
  • Collaborating with municipal, provincial, and federal partners to strengthen fire protection and emergency response.

Volunteer and paid on-call firefighters are the heart of many of these community fire departments. They respond to emergencies at all hours, often stepping away from work or family to help neighbours in need. Their commitment is a cornerstone of public safety in the RDN.

To find out which fire department provides service to your RDN Fire Protection Area, visit the RDN Fire Protection interactive map.