On Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. a large-scale wildfire exercise will occur in the Cowichan Bay area. This will involve many Cowichan Valley fire departments – Shawnigan Lake, Malahat, Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Duncan, Sahtlam, Ladysmith, and North Oyster as well as BC Wildfire Services working, practicing and learning together to help be aligned, prepared and keep our communities safe.

The exercise will be a wildland interface scenario which is a forest fire that threatens developed areas or communities. Residents may notice emergency vehicles, personnel, traffic cones, and wildfire response activities in the following areas within Cowichan Bay during this time: Falcon Crescent, Wilmot Rd, Galdwell Rd, Rondeault Rd and Hillbank Rd.

With the threat of wildfire growing yearly it is imperative that our local fire departments work with BC Wildfire to ensure that their procedures are standardized through large scale exercises. Through training, relationships are solidified between the fire departments, the BC Wildfire Service and other coordinating organizations like Emergency Management Cowichan, a regional service administered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), so that when something happens, we are ready to respond together.

Please do not be alarmed and help ensure crews can safely complete their training by obeying signage and giving personnel and equipment plenty of space. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support as responders continue to train for wildfire preparedness in our communities.
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