Beginning January 1, 2026, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District will assume operations of the Field Fire Department, bringing the total number of CSRD fire departments to 15.
At the November 20 regular meeting, the CSRD Board voted to support a contribution agreement, which will see Parks Canada continuing to financially support structural fire protection in Yoho National Park.
As part of this agreement, there will be no current municipal tax changes for the residents of Field. All the operational and capital costs of providing the fire and rescue service will be paid to the CSRD through this contribution agreement with Parks Canada.
The three-year agreement will cover the cost of the CSRD delivering structural fire protection services within the Field and a specified surrounding area. Residents will receive the same level of structural fire protection service previously offered by the Parks Canada fire department.
The board’s decision to approve the agreement follows an Alternative Approval Process conducted in June and July, which saw no residents express opposition to the transfer of the department from Parks Canada to the CSRD.
As the CSRD’s Fire Services division already oversees 14 paid-on-call fire departments, the regional district is well-suited to provide the training and management of the Field Fire Department and its paid-on-call members.
“Parks Canada, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Field Fire Department continue to be key partners in public safety within Yoho National Park. Formalizing integration of the Field Fire Department into the CSRD’s protection services structure will bring modern, professional resources and fire-focused expertise to support the department,” said François Masse, Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit Superintendent, Parks Canada.
“We welcome this strengthened collaboration with CSRD and thank the dedicated volunteers of the Field Fire Department for their vital work in Yoho National Park,” he added.
The addition of the Field Fire Department will provide better support to the fire department, consistent with best practices in other similar-sized communities.
“We are well-positioned to support the Field Fire Department with the same high quality of emergency service, training and administration that the CSRD already provides for our other fire departments across the region, said Sean Coubrough, Regional Fire Chief.
