Loon Lake’s Firefighters are all Suited Up for a Safer Future

Funding provided through the Canada Community-Building Fund.

After six years of operating out of a temporary facility, the Loon Lake community in British Columbia can now count on improved fire protection, thanks to federal funding that helped construct a new firehall.

The devastating Elephant Hill fire of 2017 left Loon Lake without a proper firehall. For the next several years, the local fire department operated out of a small, temporary facility with space for two fire trucks that was neither suitable for year-round operations nor met the needs of the department to be a primary firehall. Now, with the completion of the new firehall, the Loon Lake Fire Department has the resources it needs to keep the community safe.

Daryl Hart, Loon Lake Fire Chief, commented on the challenges faced while operating out of the temporary facility after the 2017 fire:

“We have had to utilize bottled water, porta-potties, and have cold lunches during our monthly, day-long training sessions. On colder, winter days, we cannot train as we have to pull the trucks out of the hall, risking damage from freezing. These are hurdles we have had to deal with.”

The new firehall, with a heated three-bay garage, designated gear rooms, washrooms with showers, a training room, and an office for the Fire Chief, ensures the fire department is well-equipped for emergencies. Wildfires in Canada are increasingly large-scale events that threaten the health, safety, and economic stability of Canadians; this new, modern building that allows for year-round training and quicker response times is supporting a safer and more resilient community.

This project exemplifies how federal infrastructure investments contribute to safer, more resilient communities across Canada. The new Loon Lake firehall is more than a building—it’s an important resource that will protect residents, homes, and businesses for years to come.

Quick facts:

• The new Loon Lake Firehall No. 1 is 433-square-metres, with a heated three-bay garage and modern facilities to support year-round operations.
• The community helped raise funding for the new firehall through the 10 Cents at a Time campaign, where volunteers collected and recycled bottles to support the project.
• Across Canada, the federal government is renewing the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) and is investing $26.7 billion over the next ten years (2024-2034) to support core infrastructure projects.
• Between 2014-2024, the CCBF invested more than $26.2 billion through 19 different project categories in over 3,600 communities across the country, such as public transit, water infrastructure, solid waste management, highways, roads, and bridges.

For more information, visit:

• The Canada Community-Building Fund
• News Release: Loon Lake Firehall Rebuild Supports Community Safety
• Housing and Infrastructure Project Map