The Village of Pemberton (VOP) and Pemberton Fire Rescue have officially opened the area’s new state of the art training facility. A well-attended grand opening ceremony on July 19 included a traditional welcome blessing, a ribbon-cutting and tours of the facility at 100-1850 Airport Rd. MP Patrick Weiler also attended the event.
The three-storey burn structure with a propane fire simulator came with a price tag of approximately $450,000.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District allocated up to $110,000 for the project. The remaining $340,000 was provided through a provincial grant through the VOP. The facility will also allow for training to take place for other fire departments in the region and beyond.
Before this, Pemberton Fire Rescue used a retired train car to train with any live fire—an outdated steel structure not up to standards for certification, meaning members had to go elsewhere for training at significant cost. The new facility is designed to enhance the skills, readiness, and safety of firefighters in the region.
Maxine Joseph Bruce and Lil’wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson brought their hand drums to the momentous occasion and did the traditional welcome blessing. Lil’wat Nation’s firefighters were present at the event and will also use the facility for training purposes. Nelson thanked the firefighters for the brave work they do. “Thank you for this partnership,” he said.
Chief of Pemberton Fire Rescue, Cameron Adams, was thrilled to show community members the finished project. “This new three-storey facility is state-of-the-art,” he said. “It includes a propane-powered live fire simulator, forceable entry doors and a roof prop for roof operations. These advanced features provide us with safe, realistic training environments for our department and other departments.”
Adams said in his speech the centre can be updated to cater to Pemberton’s future needs.
“One key aspect of this facility is that it’s designed for future growth,” he said. “It’s built to evolve with our training and our community as well. It will ensure that we remain at the forefront of firefighting techniques and training. This facility is not just for our department—it will also serve as a valuable training hub for regional departments. It fosters collaboration and elevates the preparedness of firefighting teams across our region.”
The fire chief told Pique the centre means training firefighters will be safer than ever before.
“Instead of burning wood inside the training centre, we are using propane as fuel,” said Adams. “There are a whole bunch of safety features included like a lower explosive limit detector and heat detectors. They are designed to shut it off before it gets dangerous for the firefighters in there. You can fully put out a fire and then start it right up again.”
There is also a mock kitchen in the facility that allows firefighters to train for one of the most common fires. “We had multiple props to choose from when we designed this. We decided to go with the kitchen prop,” said Adams.
Mayor Mike Richman said the opening was a milestone for local and regional firefighters. “Our fire rescue team has been performing and punching well above its weight class,” he said. “There is a culture within Pemberton Fire Rescue that brings out an amazing level of dedication and an amazing level of professionalism. It sets a standard in the province.”
