Cortes Island Fire & Rescue
Serving the Cortes Island community through training,
prevention, and emergency response.
Live Updates
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WANTED: Island Legends (Some Assembly Required)
Are your Tuesday nights feeling a little too… Tuesday? Have you ever wanted to wear suspenders unironically, ride in a very large red truck, and finally have a great answer when someone asks, “So what do you do on Cortes?”
The Cortes Fire Department is looking for a few dedicated humans to join our crew. Yes, you. We can see you. You’re very visible in that hi-vis future of yours.
What’s in it for you?
- Brand-new skills: hoses, ladders, first aid, and the fine art of staying calm while everyone else panics
- A fabulous team who will quickly become your people
- A real way to protect the island you love from fire and other emergencies
- Occasional BBQs, because firefighters know a thing or two about heat
- An invitation to the exclusive (and frankly legendary) Firefighters’ Ball
- Access to a high-quality pool table for post-practice glory and trash talk
- Bragging rights that beat “I foraged a chanterelle once”
Orientation: Tuesday, Oct 6, 7:00–8:00 pm
Then: Regular Tuesday night practice, 7:00–9:00 pm weekly
Ready to suit up? Apply at form.jotform.com/240738591667267 Questions? Email chief@cortesfire.org
No cape required. We provide the helmet.
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Cortes Island Fire Department Passes Superior Tanker Shuttle Service Accreditation Test
CIFFA is proud to announce that on Saturday our department successfully completed testing for Superior Tanker Shuttle Service (STSS) accreditation through Fire Underwriters Survey. This is a significant milestone for fire protection on Cortes Island, and one that we have been working towards for many years.
For communities like ours without municipal hydrants, STSS accreditation is the recognized equivalent to hydrant protection. It certifies that our department can deliver water to a fire scene via tanker shuttle from an approved source at a rate that meets the same standard insurers use to grade hydrant-served communities. Passing this test meant proving we could move 200 Imperial gallons per minute within five minutes of arrival, sustain that supply without interruption, and do it reliably, not just once but as a documented, repeatable capability.
None of this happens without the people who show up. This accreditation reflects hundreds of hours of training and practice by our volunteer firefighters who gave up their evenings and weekends over the past year to build and prove out this capability, on top of everything else they already do for this community. It also reflects countless hours of work behind the scenes over many years: water supply planning, grant writing and fundraising, infrastructure and equipment upgrades, and the planning and coordination it takes to pull off a tanker shuttle operation under test conditions. We're grateful to everyone who has made this a reality, including support from the SRD, generous community donations, and to Ann Dewar for providing a site for the Sutil Pt Rd tanks.
What does this mean for residents? Properties within 8 km by road of either fire hall, and 5 km by road of one of the three approved tank sites (the two fire halls plus the tank site at 448 Sutil Pt Rd.) will now fall within the accredited protection area, and become eligible for improved property insurance rates. We want to be careful here: Fire Underwriters Survey doesn't set insurance rates directly, and individual insurers apply this information on their own timelines and in their own way. It will also still be 2 -3 months before the paperwork is completed, and new policies reflect the change. So while we're confident this will translate into substantial savings for many households in the protected area, we'd encourage residents to check with their own insurance provider to understand how it applies to their policy.
This accreditation is a credit to everyone who put in the work to get us here — and a reminder of what a small, dedicated volunteer department can accomplish. Thank you, Cortes Island, for your continued support of your fire department.
— Elijah McKenty, Chief, Cortes Island Fire Department
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Heads up, Cortes Island: Tomorrow, The Cortes Island Fire Department will be conducting an accreditation test for Superior Tanker Shuttle Service. You'll see more fire department truck traffic than usual on the roads as crews run timed evolutions from the Sutil pt. rd tanks to the Mansons Dock parking area. Passing this test is a big deal — we have been working towards it for many years, and it's expected to lower fire insurance rates for much of the island — but it depends on tight coordination and precise timing between trucks. If you see a fire truck that looks like it's trying to get past you, please find a safe spot to pull over and let it through. Thanks for your patience and for helping us get this done safely!
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Fire safety reminder: We are continuing to see warmer and dryer weather, with very little precipitation in the forecast. While we would prefer people avoid campfires at this time of year, they are still legally allowed on Cortes. If you're enjoying a campfire, please keep it to BC's Category 1 size limit — no larger than 0.5m high by 0.5m wide — and always check current provincial and local fire bans before lighting up, since Category 1 fires will likely prohibited in the near future. Build your fire on bare soil or in a proper fire pit, well clear of tents, shrubs, trees, and anything else flammable, and never leave it unattended — keep someone at the fire at all times with a shovel or at least 8 litres of water within reach. Before you leave or turn in for the night, fully extinguish it: douse with water, stir the ashes, douse again, and repeat until everything is cool to the touch. You can be held legally and financially responsible if your fire causes damage, and a few minutes of care will go a long way toward keeping our community and forests safe this summer!
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As of 10:12 on Saturday Aug 1 Bartholomew rd. is currently blocked by a tree and power lines. Please use the alternate route via Cortes Bay rd. and Seaford rd.
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Alerts & News
No Fire Ban in Effect
Coastal Fire Centre Enacts Campfire Prohibition PARKSVILLE – Effective on Friday, July 12, 2024 at noon Pacific Daylight Time, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, except for the Haida Gwaii Forest District. This prohibition is being...
Coastal Fire Centre to Enact a Category 2 & Category 3 Open Fire Prohibition
Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Friday, May 17, 2024, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. Category 2 and...
IESS Fire Protection Audit 2023
Integrated Emergency and Safety Services (IESS) was contracted to do a Fire Safety Audit by the Board of Directors of the Cortes Island Firefighters Association…
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Join Our Team!
Make a difference in our community
Cortes Island Fire Rescue volunteers participate in all of the functions of the department. This includes responding to incidents, public events, and training. The volunteers receive training in all aspects of firefighting, from fire suppression techniques to rescue operations and medical response.
Men and women over 18 are welcome to join. There is a place for everyone! The only requirement is that you participate when you are able and have a desire to serve our community. Every call, whether big or small, reinforces the importance of your role in protecting the lives and property of our community. Join us!
Community Resources
Local Fire Ban Information
Government Website
View all bans and restrictions for the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes the Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky, Vancouver Island, Central Coast and Haida Gwaii…
B.C. Firesmart Manual
PDF Download
Reduce the Potential Impacts of Fire on Your Home. You and your neighbours can reduce wildfire hazards by following simple, preventative steps.
B.C. Wildfire Information
Government Website
View a map with the location and details of all active wildfires in B.C., current wildfire statistics and additional resources…
