By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

New North Oyster fire hall project breaks ground

May 4, 2018 | 1:41 PM

NANAIMO — Construction is underway to upgrade and expand the rural North Oyster Fire Station, south of Nanaimo.

A ground-breaking ceremony this week signaled the beginning of a new larger four-bay hall beside the current Yellow Point Rd. facility, which is anticipated to be complete by the spring of 2019.

North Oyster Volunteer Fire Dept. chief Jason Layman told NanaimoNewsNOW the overhaul will improve staff morale and help better serve the area.

“Right now we’re operating out of a three-bay facility built in the 60s. It’s too small for our current needs, our gear is stored in the same area as the trucks,” Layman said.

The current building will be renovated for administration, training purposes and to install showers.

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Layman said a vastly improved North Oyster Fire Station has been a long time coming.

“I joined in ’93 and the first report that said this facility needs to be upgraded came a few years after that, so we’re talking mid-90s.”

Layman said most of the money for the project had been set aside through the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s capital reserves.

The North Oyster Volunteer Fire Dept. serves more than 2,300 people within the Area H fire protection district.

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