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Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre

In February 2022, we began constructing the Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre on the recently remediated site of the former road construction waste landfill on Dollarton Highway.

The new 45,000-sq.-ft. facility will enhance fire protective and emergency services for the District and improve response times.

Facility features

The sustainable, energy-efficient facility is being built for the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services on District-owned land. The fire and rescue centre will be made to post-disaster standards in order to maintain services in emergencies such as power outages and earthquakes. The new building is anticipated to have a 71% reduction in energy use and a 92% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the existing buildings being replaced.

Shared location

MFRC will consolidate and replace the aging Fire Hall #2 on Mountain Highway, the training centre located on St. Denis Avenue, and the administrative offices currently housed at Fire Hall #1 on Lynn Valley Road. The shared location of the administrative, training, and operational functions will create efficiencies and help deploy resources more effectively across the District.

Environmental protection

With its network of wetlands, wildlife corridors, and the neighbouring Wild Bird Trust Conservation Area, Maplewood is an important ecological area.

As we continue to remediate the site and build the new fire and training centre, all requirements for streamside protection, protection of the natural environment and wildlife hazards are strictly followed.

The wetlands found in and around this project site are critical ecological features that contribute to the area's biodiversity. They are home to a diverse group of plants and animals. The post-construction phases of this project include enhancing soil quality and planting native shrubs and trees to improve wildlife habitats in the surrounding project areas. In addition, essential habitat corridors have been designed into this project to protect and secure important wildlife habitats in the future.

As we are constantly seeking to protect our community from the impact of wildfires, carefully selected plant species will reduce the risk to structures from wildfires while providing essential wildlife habitats.

Project updates

March 8, 2024 — New facility nearing completion  

The Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre is nearing completion. Interior finishing is underway and preparations for paving outside the building are nearly ready.

The artwork now visible over the fire engine bay doors and on the narrow vertical windows is by Tsleil-Waututh Nation artist Olivia George and includes representations of birds and animals.

The new facility is set to open this summer.

October 24, 2023 — Construction progress

The new Fire and Rescue Centre building is progressing well, with the roof and windows near completion and the exterior siding underway. Inside, the building systems are being installed, and the interior partitions are taking shape. Exterior concrete pads, curbs and walkways are progressing, and asphalt paving will be coming soon.

October 2023 - Southwest corner

March 24, 2023 — Building structural frame in place

The steel and wood structural skeleton of the building is now standing and concrete slabs for the second and third floors and roof structure are in progress, as are the firefighter training structures. Underground services on site will be completed this spring.

Construction progress March 22, 2023

November 2022 — Structural steel work underway 

Foundations have been completed, and large sections of the main building's concrete slab are in place. The steel skeleton of the building has begun to be installed. The structural steel for the building has been brought to the site and is being assembled and installed on the building foundations. Look for this stage of the work to go on until early 2023.

August 2022 — Foundations complete

Site preparations have progressed well and crews are in the process of completing the foundation for the new Fire and Rescue Centre building. The building is designed to be operational after a major disaster. Additional foundation structures, such as grout piles and stone columns, are being constructed to meet this higher standard of construction.

February 2022 — Construction start 

Construction of the Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre is expected to begin in February 2022. The new facility is expected to be operational in 2024.

August 2021 — Clean-up completed

 Environmental clean-up of the Dollarton Highway site was completed on August 6, 2021.

January 18, 2021 — Site remediation 

Site remediation and excavation is set to begin on January 18, 2021. Read our news release about this project.

December 9, 2020 — Updated site plan

The new site plan achieves key goals expressed by Council for improved ecological, environmental and wildlife interests. 

Download the information report to council

See more details in the Site Plan tab. 

June 24, 2019 — Council direction to staff

Council directed staff to consider design changes to the site layout and building design at the Council meeting on June 24. You can view the meeting video and Council resolution in the 'Documents and related web content' tab.

May 15, 2019 — Public open house

Fire and Rescue Services and District staff hosted a public open house to learn more about the proposal and share input.

The open house presentation and summary of input received can be downloaded in the ‘Documents and links’ section.

April 15, 2019 — Update to Council

Fire Chief Hutchinson briefed Council on progress with this project. You can download his presentation or view the video of the Council meeting in the 'Documents and related web content' tab.

April - June, 2018 — Schematic design

December, 2018 — Detailed permit application

Staff received the detailed permit application, and started reviewing it.

April, 2016 - January, 2018 — Maplewood Village Centre planning

Public input for this project was requested and considered as part of the Maplewood Village Centre planning and engagement process.

Learn more about the process

Background and details

Facility overview

Due to their age, the three facilities that currently house management and administrative staff, training, and Firehall #2 response all have physical, functional, and capacity issues that must be addressed with a new facility.

The new facility will be approximately 39,000 square feet, and occupy approximately four acres of land. It will house: 

  • Firehall — Includes four double apparatus (fire truck) bays, live/work quarters, and support spaces for 7-15 fire fighters
  • Department headquarters — Includes offices, workspaces, and support areas for 19 full- and part-time management and administrative DNV Fire and Rescue Services staff
  • Indoor training facility — For required classroom training, certification, lectures, and support offices, etc
  • Outdoor training area — For live fire training, vehicle operation, hose training, rescue (rope, swift water, vehicle extraction, etc.)

There will be parking facilities for associated fire vehicles, plus approximately 67 spaces for staff and visitors. Access will be from Dollarton Highway.

Site overview

The facility will be located at the site of an overgrown former landfill, chosen to improve response times for Maplewood and the surrounding area.

Living near the new facility

The new centre will be more than 150 metres away from existing residences, and there is a buffer of trees between the centre and homes. 

Noise and other disruptions

During an emergency, vehicles will respond with only lights until they reach a major thoroughfare, at which point they will use their sirens. This will help limit noise as fire trucks pass local homes.

In addition, any noise produced during training exercises will be limited to hours allowed by the District's noise bylaw.

Public safety

During live fire training exercises, some smoke and fire will be created. The smoke will be created using a safe, water-based fog fluid (commonly used on  movie sets), and training fires will be made using clean combustibles only (no plastic, rubber, or synthetics) similar to campfires.

Smoke and fire will only be used under controlled circumstances when conditions are favourable. Environmental and public safety conditions will be carefully considered, and any related smoke and water will be managed in accordance with industry best practices.

Sustainability and environmental protection

We are committed to sustainability, and will ensure that the design of the new facility exceeds our green building policy for corporate buildings, and is guided by high standards for energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, construction practices, and building materials.

A number of environmental studies have been conducted to ensure that development on the site enhances the natural environment, respects the riparian setbacks, and protects or enhances the quality and biodiversity of the wetlands.

Development application requirements

The Official Community Plan (OCP) designates this site as Light Industrial Commercial Mixed Use (LICMU).

The project will require a development permit for:

  • slope hazard
  • creek hazard
  • natural environment
  • streamside protection
  • wildfire hazard
  • energy/water conservation

A development permit application was submitted in December, 2018.

Schedule

Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin in February 2022.

Site plan & renderings

Select an image to view a larger size or scroll through all the images.

 

Documents & links

Public meetings

May 15, 2019 — Public open house

Members of Fire and Rescue and District staff held a public open house to provide more information about this proposal and hear from residents.

Council meetings

June 24, 2019 — Council direction to staff

Council provided direction to staff to consider design changes to the site layout and building design.

April 15, 2019 — Presentation to Council

Fire Chief Hutchinson briefed Council on progress with this project.

Maplewood Village Centre

Maplewood Village Centre Plan

Development process and general land use

Development permit areas (DPAs)

Official Community Plan (OCP)

OCP land use map

Other relevant policies

Noise regulation bylaw

Public information meetings - District fire halls and fire training centres

Green building policy - Municipal buildings

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