Prevention & Education
We aim to keep everyone who lives and works in our community safe.
• We provide fire and life safety education through programs like Safety Smart with Timon and Pumbaa, Learn Not to Burn, A Working Smoke Alarm in Every Home and Fire Prevention Week.
• We attend community events and deliver programs and presentations to the public, groups and businesses.
• We inspect commercial and residential occupancies and review construction plans to make sure they comply with fire safety regulations and bylaws.
• We investigate how a fire started.
• We host an Annual Open House at the View Royal Fire Department where everyone is welcome.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke Alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan and your best line of defense against fire. A working smoke alarm doubles your chances of surviving a fire by giving you an early warning so you can get outside quickly. Most fatal home fires happen at night when people are sleeping. A working smoke alarm can save your life.
The best way to protect your family and home from fire is to install, maintain, and test household smoke alarms.
How to Install a Smoke Alarm
If possible, install smoke alarms that are hardwired with a battery backup and are interconnected. With this, when one smoke alarm sounds other smoke alarms in the house will sound.
Install smoke alarms on each floor including the basement. On floors with bedrooms, install smoke alarms in eary bedroom and outside of each sleeping area. On floors without bedrooms, install smoke alarms in or near living areas such as living rooms and dens. Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high on a wall.
Smoke alarms are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms, or garages, where cooking fumes, steam, or exhaust fumes could set off false alarms. Smoke alarms are also not recommended for attics and other unheated spaces where humidity and temperature changes might affect a unit’s operation.
Test Your Smoke Alarms - Every Month
Smoke alarms save lives. But a smoke alarm can’t save your life if it isn’t working.
Test your alarm by pressing the button on your smoke alarm and keeping it pressed down; the alarm should sound. If your alarm has no button, it is outdated and must be replaced.
Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries - Every 6 Months
Change the batteries in all smoke alarms. A good time is when you change your clocks in the fall and spring. Change your clocks; change your batteries.
Replace Your Smoke Alarms - Every 10 Years
Smoke alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years. Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years (some models last as little as five years). Be sure to check the expiry on the smoke alarm unit.
If Your Smoke Alarm is Not Working
Replace the battery. Most smoke alarm batteries “chirp” to alert you when their battery power is low. When you hear a warning, replace the batteries. DO NOT disconnect the unit. When you take out the alarm battery, always replace it with another one immediately.
Clean your smoke alarm using a vacuum cleaner without removing the units cover.
Check fuses and circuit-breakers. There may be an electrical problem in your home. Call an electrician.
If these steps do not help, the alarm may be defective. Replace it immediately.
Do you need assistance? Call our department at (250) 479-7322 and we would be happy to assist.
Fireworks Education and Safety Tips
Fireworks sales are banned in the Capital Region, including all West Shore communities.
Discharges of consumer (“family fireworks”) are allowed only under permit on October 31 between 5:00pm and 10:00pm. Call us at (250) 479-7322 or email us at firerescue@viewroyal.ca for permit and annual Fireworks Safety Course information.
Fireworks Safety Course:
Completion of the West Shore Fireworks Safety Course (West Shore Residents Only) is required for those wishing to obtain a consumer (“family fireworks”) permit.
The certificate of completion for the West Shore Fireworks Safety Course is valid for three years. If you took the course in 2021 you are required to take it again. If you took the course in 2022 or 2023 you may want to take it again to refresh your safety knowledge, but you do not need to repeat the course in order to apply for a permit.
To Obtain a Permit:
Once the online West Shore Fireworks Safety Course has been completed and passed (minimum 10/12), a Fireworks Permit can be obtained from the persons respective Municipal Hall.
• City of Langford, 877 Goldstream Avenue, (250) 478-7882
• City of Colwood, 3300 Wishart Road, (250) 478-5999
• Town of View Royal, 333 Island Highway, (250) 479-7322
• District of Highlands, 1980 Millstream Road, (250) 474-1773
Permits must be obtained before 12:00 pm (noon) on October 30, of the current year.
• Everyone must have a permit to possess or discharge any fireworks;
• Permits are issued only to persons 18 years of age and older;
• No fireworks or firecrackers may be sold or traded in these municipalities; and
• The issuance of fireworks permits will be contingent on current fire conditions.
Types of Permits:
1. Consumer (family) and Display Fireworks Permit – Valid only on October 31st
2. Pyrotechnic Fireworks Permit – Community Events
Consult the complete bylaw for full information – including permit costs and other requirements – before planning your event.
Visit the CRD Website for animal-related (dogs and horses) Halloween/fireworks tips.
Child Passenger Safety Seats
Book a FREE, one-on-one information session offered by View Royal Fire Rescue to ensure you know how to safely install your child passenger safety seat.
What You will Learn
• Life-saving information on the installation of your child’s passenger safety seat
• Which vehicle seats to use and when, according to your child’s weight and height
• How to check child passenger safety seats for defects
• About recent recalls on child passenger safety seats
Please Note: Any required anchoring systems must be installed in your vehicle before the session. Please bring the child passenger safety seat and vehicle manual with you.
How to Book a Session
To book an appointment, call us at (250) 479-7322 or email us at firerescue@viewroyal.ca.
Fire Hall Tours
Fire hall tours are available at the View Royal Public Safety Building located at 333 Island Highway, Victoria, BC.
• Tours are approximately 1 hour and held between 10:00am - 11:00am or 1:30pm - 2:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for groups in View Royal only.
• A maximum of 22 children are allowed per tour.
• For children kindergarten age or younger, there should be 1 supervising adult for every 3 children.
• For school age children, there should be 1 supervising adult for every 5 children.
• Adult supervisors must remain with their children at all times and are responsible for their discipline.
• This is a working fire station, and the firefighters may be called to an emergency during your tour. If the tour must be cancelled it can be rescheduled.
Tour Activities
• Fire safety video (geared to the appropriate age)
• Man in the mask
• A tour of the fire trucks and equipment
• Fire hose activity
Code of Conduct
Visitors are required to follow all direction given by Fire Department staff. Please review behavior expectations for these tours with your children.
The following conduct is not acceptable:
• Loud or inappropriate language
• Disrespectful or physically aggressive behavior
• Conduct which is harmful to the equipment or disruptive to other visitors
Parking
Public parking is located to the right of the building. Follow the driveway up and you will find parking lots B & C. There is a stairway down to the main level from lot B.
Waiver of Liability
Everyone, children and adults, participating in a tour will be required to complete a waiver. The waiver will be sent to the group leader with our information package. All completed waivers must be presented to the Fire Department on the day of the tour. Unfortunately, no signed waiver, no tour.
How to Book a Tour
To book an tour, call us at (250) 479-7322 or email us at firerescue@viewroyal.ca.
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