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Welcome to Nanaimo Fire Rescue

Coastal Fire Centre prohibitions and restrictions - Current for Nanaimo and Coastal Fire Centre from the Province of BC

FIRE HAZARD RATING FOR NANAIMO 

 

Category 1 Campfires.  Effective at 12:00 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, July 17, 2025, campfires will be prohibited.
Category 2 Fires (Class B) are prohibited. Fires burning debris in 1 pile smaller than 2 meters high by 3 meters wide.  Category 2 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre effective Friday May 30th 2025 – Oct 31 2025 
Category 3 (Class A) Fires are prohibited. Fires greater then Category 2 Permits required and a Mandatory site inspection. Contact the Fire Department to see if you qualify.
Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre effective Friday May 30th 2025 – Oct 31st 2025


About Nanaimo Fire Rescue

Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) provides services to preserve life, property, and the environment, contributing to the well-being of the community. With the addition of 20 new firefighters in 2025 as part of the Nanaimo Fire Rescue Master Plan implementation, NFR will have a total of 145 career personnel, including members of the International Association of Firefighters, CUPE, and management.

NFR responds to fires, wildfires, medical incidents, rescue operations, motor vehicle incidents, and specialized services such as hazardous materials, water rescue, ice rescue, and technical rescues. Community risk reduction is achieved through fire prevention programs and public education initiatives such as the smoke alarm installation program, FireSmart BC, Bystander CPR training, and emergency preparedness education.

NFR operates five fire stations: four are staffed by four platoons of 31 firefighters, and one station on Protection Island is operated by paid on-call volunteers who augment the career staff. NFR's core services include Administration, Fire Operations Division, Fire Loss Prevention Division (FLPD), Training Division, Vancouver Island Emergency Response Academy (VIERA), Preplanning, and Emergency Management.

FLPD comprises six Fire Prevention Officers (FPOs) responsible for administering and enforcing provincial fire safety legislation through inspections, fire investigations, and public education.

VIERA is an accredited learning institution that provides training and education to the fire service. It serves over 150 fire departments across British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. VIERA administers more than 30 programs, generating revenue for the City and offsetting operational costs.

The City of Nanaimo maintains an Emergency Program in accordance with its responsibilities under the Emergency Program Act and City Bylaw 7202. This program ensures readiness to identify, prepare for, respond to, and recover from local and regional hazards. It consists of three entities: the Local Authority represented by the Mayor and Council, the Emergency Management Committee, and the Emergency Program Manager.

911 dispatch services are provided through two entities: ECOMM Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) and Surrey Fire Dispatch.

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Nanaimo Fire Rescue FAQs

Contact Us

General Fire Information
666 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 3B5
250-753-7311
fire.info@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: July 17, 2025

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  • Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose.
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