Burnaby celebrates grand opening of new fire hall at SFU campus

The City of Burnaby celebrated the grand opening of its new fire hall on the Simon Fraser University campus Saturday, inviting the local community to tour the facility. (CTV News)

The City of Burnaby celebrated the grand opening of its new fire hall on the Simon Fraser University campus Saturday, inviting the local community to tour the facility.

“It’s very, very exciting for us,” said Mayor Mike Hurley, who was a Burnaby firefighter for 30 years.

“We’ve been discussing this fire hall for a long time and the residents up at SFU have been asking for this hall for a long time.”

Built for approximately $25 million and operated with $30 million in federal funding over the next 15 years, Station 8 is tailored toward the unique needs of the Burnaby Mountain community.

Before the new station opened, a fire at SFU meant crews and trucks had to make their way up Burnaby Mountain from elsewhere in the city. Station 8 reduces response times, which can limit damage and potentially save lives.

The new facility is also equipped for wildland firefighting, allowing Burnaby crews to provide early response if a wildfire breaks out in the mountain’s large forested area.

“SFU is grateful for the City of Burnaby’s ongoing collaboration and commitment to the safety of students, faculty, staff and UniverCity residents,” said university president Joy Johnson in a news release ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony.

“Fire Station 8 is an exciting addition to the emergency response support on Burnaby Mountain.”

Both Hurley and fire officials touted collaboration – with SFU, the federal government, the city and local First Nations all involved in planning the new hall – as a key component of the project.

“It’s a considerable investment, but it’s a very needed investment in this area,” Hurley said.