The all-day event will include free tours of the facility, which is the first combined fire hall and ambulance station in a major urban centre in B.C.
“The opening of the Cambie Fire Hall marks a key milestone in the City of Richmond’s continuing campaign to upgrade our public safety infrastructure,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “It is the fourth of five new Richmond fire halls built within just over a decade, which represents a major investment in ensuring we remain a safe community. We’re also delighted to share this facility with BC Emergency Health Services as it will further enhance public safety in Richmond.”
“This modern facility will support the critical role BCEHS paramedics play in providing patient care to the community, and enhance our working relationship with Richmond Fire-Rescue,” said Linda Lupini, executive vice president of BCEHS. “The increased space also makes this one of the largest ambulance stations in the Lower Mainland, providing large new crew quarters and a quiet room that will help paramedics decompress after responding to a call.”
The public is invited to the grand opening, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 14 at 9680 Cambie Road.
Attendees will be able to take part in self-guided tours, take part in fun family activities, enjoy free safety demonstrations by fire fighters and paramedics, explore a variety of fire and ambulance vehicles, meet members of the BCEHS paramedic bike squad, and view Richmond Fire-Rescue’s on-site training facility and specialized mechanics shop. A brief official opening ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., followed by dedication of the public art installation created by artist Daniel Laskarin.
Parking is limited so event attendees are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transit to the event.
About the new facility:
- The new Cambie Fire Hall No. 3 and Richmond North Ambulance Station will be the first facility in a major B.C. city that has combined Fire and Ambulance services in one building.
- The 26,000 square foot facility is sustainably designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards and will be post-disaster rated to ensure it remains operable in an emergency.
- Unique features in the new facility include state-of-the art rapid opening bay doors to help speed response in emergencies.
- The City of Richmond has signed a 20-year lease with BCEHS to co-locate the Richmond North Ambulance Station (#250) with the fire hall. Locating the two agencies in a single purpose-built facility and co-sharing of some common spaces, provides a number of operational and financial efficiencies. In addition, it provides the potential for joint training activities and will help further strengthen collaboration and the working relationship between our two agencies.
- The ambulance bay has space for up to six ambulances making it one of the biggest ambulance stations in the Lower Mainland.
- The ambulance station includes large crew quarters and a quiet room where paramedics can decompress or talk to someone privately after a call.
- The new facility includes a public art installation that literally reflects the purposes of the Cambie Fire Hall No. 3 and Richmond North Ambulance Station and its relationship to the community it serves. Based on the “Fire Triangle”, the installation by artist Daniel Laskarin is comprised of three interleaved/interlocked triangular panels standing on a raised circular platform. The three panels form a three-sided pyramidal form, each perforated with water-jet cut text: FIRE-RESCUE, AMBULANCE and COMMUNITY.
