Sahtlam Fire Department

09/07/2026

Don't forget, children return to school across the Cowichan Valley and beyond tomorrow🚌

School zone speeds will be in effect and doubtless monitored by our friends at the RCMP🚔

Watch for kids crossing the road and hurrying for the bus, even in rural areas such as our own🌲

Best of luck to everyone returning to school tomorrow, school staff and students, have a great first day!!🎓

09/03/2026

As of 12 noon tomorrow, Thursday September 3rd, campfires will once again be permitted in the Coastal Fire Centre🗺️ This area includes Vancouver Island and much of the coast of British Columbia⛰️

The BC Wildfire Service has lifted the prohibition due to increased moisture recovery and rain in the forecast☔️

Campfires are defined as a half-meter tall by a half-meter wide📐

All fires larger than this remain prohibited🚫

Ensure you check local legislation prior to lighting any fire, as some communities may set their own fire restrictions🔥

For more information, see the Coastal Fire Centre website at the link below👇

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/coastal-fire-centre-bans

PLEASE burn responsibly🚒

09/01/2026

Our friend Adrian Beaudin, from Maple Bay Fire Department stopped by the other day with a gift for our firefighters.

As he travels for work, he visits the numerous fallen firefighter memorials around North America, including the monument in Ottawa, which bears the name of our own fallen firefighter, Dustin Engel.

Dustin lost his life on the road while responding to an incident in June 2004. His name appears amongst those Canadian firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Adrian spotted Dustin's name and photographed it, along with two other features of the memorial, and he was kind enough to frame these photos and bring them to us, not only as a way for us to continue to remember Dustin and his loss, but also a gesture of goodwill between fire departments. We are very grateful to him, and applaud his work to create stronger bonds across the fire service🤝

Adrian's photos now appear next to our poster of Dustin on the wall in the firefighters' lounge. Dustin's is a difficult story, but it must always be remembered.

Rest in peace as always, Firefighter Dustin Engel.

08/28/2026

Did you know that, upon one year of service with Sahtlam Fire, firefighters receive a blue all-weather jacket, emblazoned on the front with their name and on the back with ours🙌?

Upon twelve months of satisfactory attendance and training, a firefighter is inducted into the Sahtlam Firefighter's Association, the entity that governs non-fire-related operations within the walls of the fire hall, such as community events🎃 fundraising for projects like Currie Park🛝 and historical preservation🛡️

With membership in the association comes the jacket, amongst other things🎁

Junior Firefighter Patrick Watt still remains under the age of 19, requisite for association membership and voting privileges🗳️ However, as this month marks his completion of his first year with us, he has nevertheless been granted his shiny new blue jacket, recognizing all he's accomplished throughout the year!🚒

Looking good Patrick😎 Thanks for all your help and best of luck as you head back to school next month!🏫Congratulations on an awesome milestone!

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

Holy thunder and lightning Batman!!⛈️

We seem to have quite a storm hovering overhead!🌩️ Fortunately, with the thunder, and copious lightning, comes heavy rain, which should moisten things a bit and mitigate the potential for any fires caused by lightning strikes🔥

Stay inside, keep a flashlight handy, and sit tight🔦

However, in the morning we'd appreciate YOUR help🤝 Go outside, and survey your property for signs of fire, and keep your senses on high alert for any smoke in the air👃 Should you detect anything of a fire-related nature, call 911, and we'll come take care of it🚒

Although we've seen heavy rain tonight, all fires remain prohibited and carry fines until further notice🗓️

Summer's nearly over folks🌤️ Thanks for your continued efforts to keep our community fire safe💛

08/22/2026

Good evening folks,

We are indeed aware of the heavy blanket of smoke enveloping the area this afternoon.

To our knowledge, it is part of a large accumulation of smoke effecting the Cowichan Valley, likely traveling across from the mainland🗺️

While there is no need for concern, it is a good idea to take precautions against the poor air quality we are currently experiencing😷

Stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut🚪🪟 Use proper air filtration systems to move clean air throughout your home🏠

If you must go outside, avoid strenuous work, and take breaks often, moving inside if possible🏡

While driving, use your vehicle's recirculation setting to recirculate clean air inside your passenger compartment to minimize inflow of contaminants, and keep the air in your vehicle safe to breathe♻️

Individuals with respiratory issues should avoid exposure to smoky environments💨

Should you experience any respiratory or other distress, stop what you are doing, and if the symptoms don't subside, seek medical help🏥 If respiratory issues develop into an emergency, call 911🚑

Should you detect smoke that seems unrelated to that which has currently settled in the region, call 911 immediately, and appropriate resources will be dispatched to investigate🚒

Monitor air quality through various online sources, including those below👇

https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html

Stay safe folks, hopefully it'll blow over soon🚒

08/20/2026

Our own firefighter Shane Kaila finds himself in the Province of Quebec this week for a very well-deserved vacation✈️
Naturally he had to stop by Quebec City Fire Station One for a tour from Firefighter Oliver, who was only too happy to show him around and pose for a picture in front of their shiny red engine📸

Shane will be back with us in another few days, and we'll look forward to hearing about how they do things in La Belle Province🚒

Safe flight Shane, enjoy your holiday!🗺️

08/18/2026

One of our old trucks was spotted out in the wild a few days ago🚒 still looking as good as the day it departed Sahtlam for the last time in September 2017🗓️

Our old Engine 56 is a 1984 Ford cab-over, the first fire truck Sahtlam ever bought new, and built to the specifications of the day by Anderson Engineering📐
Legend says Mr. Anderson delivered it himself📦

Under the cab rests a 429 cubic inch gas-powered monster of an engine, which propelled our firefighters to, and pumped water at, countless fires throughout 33 years of service🏅

In 2016 it was replaced by our current Engine/Tender 56, and waited in the wings as an auxiliary tender until it was donated and moved under its own power to Penelakut Island Fire Department the following year⏳

Looks like it remains in service, and well taken care of today😃 Still sporting our name on the side, which is pretty cool!😎

Long may it serve and protect the people of Penelakut!🚒

Thanks to our friend Florian for the photo📸

08/16/2026

A surprise arrived in the mail on Friday, all the way from North Carolina🗺️

The outrageously humorous social media geniuses down at the Greensboro Police Department have graciously mailed us one of their highly prized shoulder insignias in exchange for one of ours we sent along a few weeks ago📬

Despite what you may have heard, police and fire do get along quite well🚓🚒 We've got each other's backs, and NOW we've got each other's crests on the wall too😎

Stay classy, stay funny, stay safe Greensboro, and thanks for the trade!!🤩

If you haven't had the pleasure of sampling their delightfully lighthearted take on their otherwise difficult job, click their name above and have a wander through, it's worth the visit📲