The Victoria Fire Department is committed to educating and empowering residents on fire safety and emergency preparedness. There are programs, tours and workshops available to help keep the community safe and educated.
Outdoor Fires in Victoria
Are fires allowed in Victoria parks, on beaches or boulevards? Are you allowed to have a wood-burning fire outdoors? Check out this helpful information sheet for what you need to know.
Fire Station Tours
The Victoria Fire Department offers free tours of its headquarters at 1025 Johnson Street for groups of all ages.
Tours take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:30-2 p.m. and can be scheduled year-round.
A ratio of one adult to five children is required. School children will receive a colouring book and crayons.
The Fire Department headquarters is a working fire station where regular job duties, training sessions and emergency responses are ongoing, so tours disruptions are possible.
Please provide at least two weeks notice for all tour requests.
Free Home Smoke Alarms and Visits
The Victoria Fire Department offers free smoke alarms to those who need one to ensure every home has a working smoke alarm. In addition, residents can arrange for a free home visit by a Fire Prevention Officer. They will determine the best locations for smoke alarms and test existing ones. If a resident requires a new smoke alarm, they will provide one free of charge.
To arrange for a free smoke alarm visit, contact the Victoria Fire Department at 250.920.3360 or email vfd@victoria.ca.
Juvenile Firesetters Program
If you are concerned because your child has experimented with fire, the Juvenile Firesetters Program can help.
Juvenile firesetting is a serious problem, regardless of the child’s motivation to start fires. Firesetting can begin at a very early age and may continue into adulthood. Taking appropriate corrective measures can greatly reduce the risk of future firesetting incidences. Prevention, education and intervention are keys to reducing the problem.
This program includes:
- a pre-interview via telephone or in-person
- an interview with the child
- an interview with the parents/guardians
- an age specific educational presentation based on interview
- if necessary, a referral to an appropriate social agency
For more information, contact the Fire Prevention Office at 250.920.3360 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Contact 250.391.6624 on evenings and weekends.
Child Passenger Seat Instruction
Ensure you know how to safely install your child passenger seat by attending a free, one-to-one information session. During this session with the Victoria Fire Department, you will learn:
- life-saving information on the installation of your child’s passenger seat
- which seats to use and when, according to your child’s weight and height
- how to check safety seats for defects
- about recent recalls on child safety seats
Your information session will take place at Fire Station 1 at 1025 Johnson Street.
Please note: Any required anchoring system must be installed in your vehicle before the information session. Please bring the child seat and vehicle manual with you. If you require installation services, please contact BCAA at 1.877.247.5551.
Request an Information Session
For more information about infant and child passenger safety seats, visit Transport Canada, ICBC Road Safety, or BCAA.
Emergency Preparedness Workshops
Free emergency preparedness workshops will teach you:
- about the hazards that can affect Victoria
- what to include in your home and vehicle emergency kit
- what you can do to protect your home from an earthquake
- how to reunite with your loved ones after a disaster
Hoarding Peer Support Group
The Hoarding Education and Action Team (HEAT) provides services to increase safety for those affected and impacted by hoarding.
Estimates show that one in 25 people in Greater Victoria is affected by excessive clutter behaviour, including hoarding. Hoarding is defined as the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them.
The HEAT partnership includes:
- Victoria and Saanich Fire Departments
- Island Health
- SPCA
- municipal services
- concerned non-profit organizations
- landlords
- volunteers
- private decluttering services
Local fire departments are often the first point of contact for hoarding issues. However, effective help can be hampered by the complexity of hoarding situations.
HEAT services are voluntary. They require the consent and participation of the individual struggling with the clutter or hoarding behaviours. HEAT recognizes that hoarding exists in our community and represents a significant health and safety risk for individuals, their families, first responders and the community. Safety is the main goal, followed by:
- supporting clients in learning and applying decluttering strategies
- connecting clients with resources and supports
- maintaining ongoing support
- keeping people in their homes
HEAT provides a number of services to help those affected by clutter behaviour and hoarding.