Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department crews recently moved into their new hall located just off Hwy. 19A on Hobbs Rd. (RDN)

By Ian Holmes

new fire hall

New rural Qualicum Beach fire hall opens following extended planning process

Jun 14, 2025 | 7:15 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — While it wasn’t a smooth process, a modernized new firehall is now serving a rural area north of Qualicum Beach.

Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) members recently moved into its new Hobbs Rd. facility, replacing an aging hall on the same site.

According to the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), The $7.3 million building includes two drive-through bays for up to four trucks, separate areas for radio communications, training, offices, gear, storage, and laundry among other features non-existent in the prior hall.

“The new fire hall design is based on a collaboration between the RDN and DVFD and meets current building and seismic standards while providing an improved layout for training and maintaining equipment,” stated an RDN news release.

Two drive-through bays have enough room for four fire engines (RDN)

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

12h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

About $6.2 million is being borrowed from local area taxpayers to cover capital costs for the hall located just off Hwy. 19A, with the RDN noting only certain properties in Electoral Areas F, G and H are funding it.

Participating users living in a home with a 2025 assessed value of $600,000 will be required to pay nearly $280 in annual long-term borrowing, based on data supplied by the RDN to NanaimoNewsNOW.

Future borrowing rates are subject to change based on existing interest rates.

There are two fire departments in the sprawling DVFD catchment area, with the other serving the meadowood neighbourhood.

According to the RDN, the DVFD serves approximately 4,000 people living over more than 130 square kilometers.

Building a new hall for the DVFD was originally approved in 2019 with $4 million to be borrowed, however detailed design estimates came in well over budget and the project was shelved.

In the fall of 2022, a nearly $5.9 million construction tender was approved, with final costs ultimately rising by nearly $1.5 million.

The original Dashwood fire hall was built in 1985 and was expanded about a decade later.

Several new amenities includes space for gear storage. Other features includes a pubic entrance with administration area, fitness space, washrooms, and workshop for gear maintenance. (RDN)

Subscribe to our daily news wrap. Local news delivered to your email inbox every evening. Stay up to date on everything Nanaimo and Oceanside.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook