SS Coast Initial Attack Crew – Coastal Fire Centre



Location

Sunshine Coast Forest District

Established

1993

Current Photo

Crew History

Before 1993, Regional Helitack Services were provided under contract. Regional initial attack crews were based in Campbell River, Nanaimo, Duncan, Pemberton and Hope. In 1994, contracted Helitack Services were cancelled and the ministry incorporated Helitack crews into the region.  Regional Helitack bases were established in Pemberton, Qualicum Beach and Hope. All initial attack crews were rebranded to Vancouver Initial Fire Attack Crews (VIFAC). 

The Sunshine Coast Zone set up its first full-time initial attack crew in 1993. This crew worked from the Sunshine Coast Forest District office in Sechelt. Today, that building is home to the Sunshine Coast Regional District. Prior to 1993, Forest District staff and seasonal emergency firefighters (EFFs) managed wildland firefighting in the Sunshine Coast Zone.

In 1997, a new fire base opened in Powell River. It was staffed with an additional initial attack crew, Powell River Initial Attack Crew.

In 2002, the naming convention changed to the current format. Sechelt Initial Attack Crew was renamed to Coast Hotel and Powell River Initial Attack Crew became Coast India.

In the early 2000s, the Sechelt Fire Base was established in its current location, and staff moved out of the Forest District.

In 2007, the Sechelt Fire Base gained Coast Whiskey, an additional initial attack crew. In 2023, Coast X-Ray became the newest crew added to the Powell River base, bringing the total crew numbers in the Sunshine Coast Fire Zone to four.

Patches

Crew Supervisor

P. Milner – 2024 – Current

G. Blais – 2022 – 2024