About the Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue Association

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Mt. Washington Fire Services

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Merville Fire Protection Services

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Message from the Chief

The Deputy Chief and I are the only full-time members of Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue (ORFR) and employees of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). It gives me great pleasure welcome readers to our official web site on behalf of our members.
The Department continually strives to improve the services we provide to visitors and residents of the communities within our fire protection area boundaries.
The ORFR fire protection area covers nearly 200 square kilometers where we answer 250 calls each year to serve approximately 8000 people.
Our equipment includes the following vehicles:

#41—rescue/engine
#42—pumper/engine
#44—4000 gallon tender
#43—duty officer vehicle
#45—chief's vehicle
#46—engine (Mt. Washington)

Our professional team of 35 volunteer firefighters trains to meet the National Fire Protection Association Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications and certification by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
ORFR is a Full Service Operations Fire Department according to the British Columbia Fire Service Minimum Training Standards.

Since the spring of 2013, the Oyster River Fire Hall has been participating in a program to reduce its use of hydroelectric power through the use of solar panels. The panels, installed on the roof of the fire hall, produce electricity that supplements the feed from BC Hydro.

This chart will provide you with an overview of how we're doing at saving energy.

ORVFRA Background

Following several serious fires, including a fatality in the mid 1970s, a dedicated group of local citizens worked with the Comox Strathcona Regional District to establish a volunteer fire department for the Oyster River area.

With a new two-bay hall on Regent Road, a new pumper, a very used tanker, and 30 dedicated volunteers the Oyster River Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1976.

In 2006, the department moved to new quarters at 2241 Catherwood Road. With three double bays, two pumpers, a 14,000-litre tandem tender (tanker), a rescue truck, and thirty-six volunteers, the department now responds to over 200 emergency calls each year.

Since its inception, the department has evolved and has continually upgraded its equipment. In 1994, the members conducted a successful fund raising effort to purchase jaws-of-life auto-extrication equipment. The equipment was in place and in service just before Christmas of that year. The department subsequently updated its name to the Oyster River Volunteer Fire/Rescue Association (ORFR)to reflect its expanded capabilities.

The Oyster River Volunteer Fire/Rescue Association provides fire protection, rescue, extrication from motor vehicle accidents, and emergency first responder service in the Black Creek, Oyster Bay, and York Road areas.

Volunteers, Training, and Activities

The department welcomes applications from physically fit individuals who want to serve the community, appreciate training opportunities, and enjoy the camaraderie of working as a team to serve the community.

Fire fighting and rescue are hazardous tasks. The training required has increased dramatically since 1976. Firefighters train regularly on Wednesday evenings between 1900 and 2100 hours.

Much additional training is conducted on weekends to achieve the knowledge required to operate safely and provide the skills necessary to effectively serve the community.

Training for new volunteers starts in September.

The ORVFRA also enjoys a number of social events over the year such as a golf tournament, dances, and a banquet help to build the fabric of a working team.