Chief: Bruce Green
Deputy Chief Operations: Chris Murray
Deputy Chief Training: Martyn (Tommy) Thomas
Office Hours: 0800 to 1630 Monday to Friday.
We suggest that you call (250-337-8121) before visiting.
Duty Officer/After Hours: 250-830-7155





Open Burning

Effective at noon on Wednesday, 27 September 2023, open burning will be permitted within the following fire protection areas:

Permits

Permits are required for all fires over 2 metres in diameter.
Permits can be obtained by emailing permits@oysterriverfire.ca and providing your name, address, phone number and what you are going to burn.
Your application for a Burn Permit indicates that you agree to read the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation and confirm that the Ventilation Index for Central Vancouver Island (CNTRL VAN ISLD) is at the appropriate level for for the day you intend to carry out open burning.

Fire Categories

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available here.

Authorized burning includes the following:

Questions

Contact the ORFR Duty Officer at 250-830-7155 with questions or concerns.

Wildfire—Learn to be FireSmart

FireSmart standards are aimed at helping interface residents to prevent interface fires. Follow this link to download the current BC FireSmart manual.

Visit BC Wildfire Service for more details.

Wildfire Preparedness Guide

Click here to download a copy of PreparedBC's Wildfire Preparedness Guide.

Good News for Rural Home Owners

Oyster River Fire Rescue has successfully passed the Superior Tanker Shuttle Service. This means that Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue can supply enough water to have some areas without fire hydrants qualify as having a fire hydrant within 300 meters of their house. Fire Chief Bruce Green says "Now that this achievement is in place, residential property owners in the Black Creek—Oyster Bay and Merville Fire Protection Areas and the should know that they can contact their insurance provider to discuss if their property qualifies for any benefit on their premium of the fire portion of their residential policy."

Click on the image to download a full size copy of the appropriate certificate to provide to your insurance broker.


Fire Protection Bylaw Updates

Comox Valley Regional District bylaws relating to fire protection have recently been amended.
Review the amended bylaws by following these links:

Dealing with Opiod Overdose

Use Naloxone to Save a Life

Naloxone is a life-saving drug that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Within 1 to 5 minutes, Naloxone can reverse slowed breathing. Naloxone should be given to an unresponsive person, particularly if they are breathing slowly or not at all.

Read this information from BC College of Pharmacists.

If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away and follow the SAVE ME protocol while waiting for first responders, and administer Naloxone if available.

Have a Naloxone Kit Ready

BC has a Take Home Naloxone program in place to reduce the harm and deaths associated with opioid overdoses. The program provides training in overdose prevention, recognition, and first aid response.

You are eligible to receive a FREE Naloxone kit if you:

Find a pharmacy near you to obtain this life-saving kit.

Become an Opiod Harm Reduction Champion

The Red Cross offers free, 30-minute, on-line training to anyone interested in reducing stigma, changing attitudes towards opioid use, and increasing knowledge of how harm reduction works to help during an opioid poisoning emergency.


Personal Emergency Preparedness

Oyster River Fire Department and the Comox Valley Emergency Program (CVEP) offer Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) training free of charge to local residents.

Sessions are held at the Oyster River Fire Department hall on a regular basis. Please watch this space for future dates and times.

To register and place your name on a wait list, please call Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue at 250-337-8121.


Help Us Help You—Use

Reflective Address Signs

Firefighters and First Responders can find your residence only if your address number is well marked. Reflective address signs can make a difference that might save lives.