Sahtlam Fire Department

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Duncan, BC
Sahtlam Fire Department

Sahtlam Fire Department has proudly provided emergency response and public assistance to the residents of Sahtlam since our department's inception in 1970.

For emergencies, always call 911. For all other inquiries call 250-748-1242 or contact us online.

05/30/2026

A glitch in the matrix prompted our station siren to activate after hours last Saturday night🚨

*Very* after hours😵‍💫

While we apologize for the late disturbance, the noise brought forth inquiries🤔

So, for the whats, whys, and whens of it all, we'd be happy to explain💁

Though not as loud as its manually-operated predecessor, our current rooftop siren is an automated alert system🔉 When the department is paged for an emergency, the siren activates simultaneously⏱️

While the one-kilometre broadcast radius may alert nearby firefighters of an emergency, it serves a more important purpose: simply alerting the nearby public that emergency vehicles, including ambulances and police from town, will be travelling through shortly🚒🚓🚑

Take this as an opportunity to ensure your children and pets are out of the way. If you have a reactive dog, or a skittish horse🐎 Find a place off the road to keep them momentarily while sirens pierce the air📢

The siren is programmed to activate between the hours of 8am and 8pm🕰️
At night there is considered to be less foot and pet traffic on the roads, so less necessity for alerting the entire community to an emergency unrelated to the majority of the neighbourhood🏘️

In such a case where there be other immediate action required of members of the nearby public, the system also includes public announcement capabilities which may be used in conjunction with loudspeakers on our fire trucks📣
Larger emergency alerts are broadcast through the local and provincial emergency alert systems📲

Should you be interested in observing our siren in action👀 it activates every Wednesday evening at or about 6:45pm, with our weekly test page🎙️

05/28/2026

We can boast many seasons here on Vancouver Island🌻

We have slippery road season❄️

Backyard burning season🪵

School-zones-return-tomorrow season🚌

The season where people put their old gym equipment on the curb - not sure what to call that one yet🤔😜

We also have motorcycle season🏍️ That one seems to stick around for a while, and we've noticed that it has indeed landed🚦

In order to keep everyone wheels-down and safe this season, here are a few things to keep in mind when sharing the road with our two-wheeled motorists🚘

Double-check your mirrors, and look twice before pulling off the stop line or changing lanes🚙
Motorcycles are small and harder to spot, so take an extra moment and watch out👀

Give motorcyclists extra space, leave room for maneuvering and in case of loss of control, keep your distance for everyone's safety🫸

Be patient, taking an extra moment may save a life, and won't break your schedule🏎️

Riders, be aware of your surroundings🚚🚜 Visibility over fashion🦺 Dress for the slide, not for the ride⛑️

Everyone get home safe🏠

05/27/2026

Phil from Mosaic's Wildfire Response Branch was in to help us dial in the portable pumps and update our wildfire suppression training last Wednesday🌲

As with everything we do, we hope for the best, but prepare for the worst🔥

Check out Emergency Management Cowichan's FireSmart page at the link below to see how you can prepare too👇

https://emcowichan.ca/programs-resources/fire-smart/

05/22/2026

Our resident fire dogs have had a meeting and all are in agreement: it's getting toasty outside and when we're out in the fire trucks, they're electing to stay here at the fire hall where it's cooler❄️

Further, they want to remind all pet parents out there that their furry family members should not be left in the car for ANY period of time whilst the engine is off and the car becomes an oven🥵
During periods of hot weather, pets should be left at home where it's cool, and they have access to water🌊
Leaving your pet in the car in warm weather, even on cloudy days or with the windows cracked, can be a death sentence for your four-legged friends, as their bodies don't cool themselves in the same way ours do, and hot conditions can do irreversible and fatal damage to their organs😞

Make the right choice and leave Fido at home, or find a friend or daycare to keep them safe while you run your errands🚘

The Sahtlam K-9 Squad sends their thanks for keeping their pals safe this summer!🐶

05/21/2026

It's Paramedic Services Week🚑 and we'd be remiss were we not to recognize our own two paramedics, Aly and Austin, who number amongst the legions of paramedics providing medical care to the people of the Cowichan Valley and beyond🩺
If anyone were to come close to performing magic, it's the people with *ecnalubma* written across their hoods, rushing from place to place, working 12 hour days⏳ often with no breaks🥱

Even if you've never needed assistance of any kind from a paramedic, tomorrow you may, so we'd like to thank all of the amazing men and women who answer the call when it comes, and keep all of us alive as best they can on our way to higher-level care🏥

If you spot a paramedic, give them a wave, say thanks, even buy them a coffee if you have the opportunity☕️ They can always use the encouragement☺️

05/17/2026

When you think it's just going to be another conference, and then you meet your social media hero from the legendary Pender Island Fire Rescue😃

Thanks for the picture Captain Jon Grelik! As is quite apparent, you made Firefighter LeBlanc's week!🚒

05/14/2026

Steer clear of Highway 18 as Lake Cowichan Fire Department responds to a motor vehicle incident near Skutz Falls Road.
Take an alternate route and avoid the area if you can.

Sahtlam Fire is redirecting traffic on the east end of the incident at this time.

Thank you

05/13/2026

Effective Friday May 15th at noon, the Coastal Fire Centre will lift the campfire prohibition, following some anticipated cooler weather and precipitation🌧️

ALL other fires remain prohibited in the Coastal Fire jurisdiction, which includes all of Vancouver Island and much of the coast of British Columbia⛰️

A campfire is defined as a half-meter high by a half-meter wide🔥 Anything larger is considered a category 2 fire, and remains prohibited at this time🚫

For more information, visit the link below, and please burn safely🚒

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

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there today, and thanks to over 150 people who attended our 100th annual (give or take a few decades😜) Mother's Day pancake breakfast!🥞
Our busiest breakfast ever, it was an egg-smashing, bacon-wrapped success 🥓 and now the dishes are done and the floors are swept🧹 we're already looking forward to next year!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and call your mom!💛

05/08/2026

May-be it's just us, but some of these afternoons are feeling a bit more like July these days!🥵

Hot weather is no joke, and staying safe should be a top priority ☀️🌡️
When temperatures rise, remember to:
💧 Drink plenty of water (even if you don’t feel thirsty)
🧢 Wear light, breathable clothing and protect your head
🌳 Take breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces
🚫 Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat hours
👀 Check in on kids, older adults, and pets, they’re more vulnerable
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can happen quickly, but they’re preventable with a few simple steps. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and look out for each other 🚒

For more information on keeping you and your family safe this summer, stop in and pick up your free copy of PreparedBC's Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide📖

Address

4384 Cowichan Lake Road
Duncan, BC
V9L6J7

Telephone

250-748-1242

Website

https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/dashboard, https://cvrd.ca/services/fire-services/burning-restrictions/, https:/

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