The Fernie Fire Hall Replacement Project planning has reached a key milestone, with the City of Fernie confirming that final design work and construction contracting requirements are now complete for the new fire hall.
The project is intended to replace Fernie Fire Rescue’s current facility with a purpose-built fire hall designed for emergency response, firefighter health and safety, training, and long-term operational flexibility.
The proposed fire hall is planned for 1500 5th Avenue, on Servello Field in Prentice Park. The City is still awaiting a decision connected to a petition before the Supreme Court of British Columbia regarding the site. That decision must be resolved before construction can proceed.
In the meantime, the City says preparatory work needed to advance the project has been completed, including coordination with minor and adult ball groups and other Prentice Park user groups.
The final fixed-price construction contract has come in at just over $15 million. The City says that leaves sufficient funds within the approved $16 million project budget for a five per cent contingency and planned upgrades to a ball diamond at James White Park.
The new 15,919-square-foot fire hall design includes four pull-through, double-loaded apparatus bays, an integrated hose tower, and a 40-seat multipurpose room that will support firefighter training and emergency operations centre use. The room is also expected to be available for public bookings.
The site plan includes driveway access from 5th Avenue, 20 staff parking spaces, 12 public parking spaces, a paved parking and training yard, an extended gravel training area, and gravel laneway access to nearby park amenities, including the pavilion and washrooms.
The construction schedule is planned around the 2026 building season, with work expected to begin in May if the contract award and legal process allow the project to proceed. The City’s current schedule anticipates mobilization and site preparation in May 2026, excavation, civil work and foundations by August 2026, structure and building envelope work by February 2027, mechanical, electrical and interior finishing by June 2027, and commissioning and handover in August 2027.
The legal challenge remains the key uncertainty. The Prentice Park Society’s challenge could determine whether the fire hall proceeds on Servello Field, with the long-term future of that recreation space still unresolved pending the court’s decision.
For Fernie Fire Rescue, the project represents a long-awaited move toward a modern, purpose-built facility. For Prentice Park users, the next step is clarity from the legal process on how the fire hall project and existing recreation space will move forward.
Images: COF
