Fire crews plan to be in place and ready to respond to emergencies from Salt Spring Island’s new fire hall starting May 1, according to officials — but the party will have to wait a week or two.
The island’s fire district trustees decided to postpone an official opening day celebration for the new hall on Lower Ganges Road, previously set for May 3, because while the building might be ready for firefighters, they might not be ready for the public.
“We could do it on the third,” project owner’s representative Hans Hazenboom told the board Monday night, Feb. 23. “The chief and I have been talking about it. But I’d like to see the building more ‘completed’ for an open house.”
Hazenboom said with plans for firefighters to move in — and be up and running — by May 1, having a public event two days later “would be a bit of a stretch for the crews there.”
Fire Chief Jamie Holmes agreed, confirming the plan for operational readiness and indicating the department could be flexible if necessary.
“We always say in the fire service, we’re used to taking a situation and making the best of it,” said Holmes. “[But] given more time, I think the result would be better.”
Trustees agreed to hold off on the celebration. The district’s communications committee plans to meet to pick a new date that works for the relevant island and regional “dignitaries,” as one trustee humorously put it, and would bring that back to the board for approval.
Meanwhile, Hazenboom said, the $13.7-million project, which will replace the old Fire Hall No. 1 in Ganges, was still on-schedule and within budget — and he was happy to report no safety issues since construction began.
“That’s really quite something, because on a large project where you have many people working, there’s always the potential for someone to get hurt,” said Hazenboom. “So far, we’re in good shape — and hopefully we can continue on this project until the finish without anybody getting injured in the project.”
Asked about the still-absent siding on the structure, Holmes said despite appearances, the exterior was “progressing along nicely” and that the new cladding had been set aside to avoid risking it getting damaged before installation.
“The trades are chasing themselves through the building,” said Holmes. “Outside, they’re working on every light socket, every outlet, every hose bib. When they’re ready and the siding goes up, it’s going to go up very quickly, because what takes time is all the details.”