The Hall

History and Members over the Years

The Beginning

Our Department started its life in 1980 when a concerned group of citizens started to organize to create fire protection for the community

  • In 1983, the East Sooke Firefighters Society was officially formed.

  • With Chief John Kelly elected in as the first East Sooke Fire Chief.

Early Days

In the early days, East Sooke Fire was a fee-for-service department. What this meant was that only those who had paid their fee of $100 dollars a year to the fire department would have the department respond to. (By 1985, 127 homes had signed up for the service.) Those who paid were given a plywood fire mark placard to display on their driveway to show they were subscribing to the fire protection.

The first fire hall was opened at 1397 Copper Mine Road, with the first Fire truck in service being a used 1947 American LaFrance on a Ford chassis, purchased from the Richmond Fire Department.

1985 - 2015

In July of 1985 the East Sooke fire department on its third attempt bringing the vote to the community incorporated as a fire department. Allowing for the tax base to fund the department and provide service to all in East Sooke.

The hose and Hydrant logo was changed in 1991 to the “helping hands or Firefighters lift” Logo we still have on our crest today. To symbolize people coming together for the betterment of the community.

2015 - Present

East Sooke Fire Department had a new fire station built at 6071 East Sooke Rd and moved into the new location in 2015.

Around the time of moving into the new fire hall the Department logo was slightly redesigned to what we have today.

In July 2023 with growing demands on standards required by firefighters and fire departments, along with increased call volumes and administrative loads, the East Sooke Fire Department hired its first Professional Fire Chief with a paid salary. Chief Nathan Pocock.

Today we are located at 6071 East Sooke Rd. We have 6 Apparatus: 1 Command Truck, 2 Engines, 2 Tenders and 1 Rescue Truck, Approx. 22 Members currently. 160 to 170 Calls Annually – Ranging from Structure Fires, MVA’s, Medical Assist, Bush Fires, and anything else that our citizens need us for. We also provide automatic mutual aid to 3 other fire departments locally.

If you have information or photos relating to the history of the hall, please reach out via email to eastsookefirewebsite@gmail.com.

Past Chiefs and Years of Service Awards

Many people have donated their time and energy to the hall over the years, spending hours training, responding to calls, supporting community events. The time it takes to be a member of the department takes away from other areas in life, and this is a small acknowledgement to those members who led the hall as Chief and those who have been with the hall for a significant number of years. On behalf of the current membership and the community at large, thank you to those members, past and present, below.

Past Chiefs

Chief

1985 - 1988 John Kelly

1989 - 1992 Patrick Perry

1992 - 2007 Richard Moffett

2007 - 2008 Gordon Holliston

2009 - 2020 Roger Beck

2021 - 2023 Carl Neilson

2023 - 2024 Nathan Pocock

2025 - Present Fiona Larkin

Deputy Chief

1985 - 1988 Patrick Perry

1989 - 1992 Hans Stope

1992 - 1997 Murray Campbell

1997 - 2002 Philip England

2002 - 2005 Fabian Desgange

2005 - 2007 Gordon Holliston

2007 - 2009 Roger Beck

2009 - 2017 David Bigelow

2017 - 2020 Falk Wagenbach

2021-2022 Richard Moffett

2021 - 2023 Carl Neilson

2022 - 2023 Jason Humphries

Years of Service Awards

  • Dave Bigelow, 2001 - current

    Sonia Lambert, 2001 - current

    Carl Neilson, 2001 - current

  • Paul Jones, 1994 - current

This section is a work in progress that we wish to develop and grow. If you volunteered with the department or know someone who did, please email eastsookefirewebsite@gmail.com to share your experience so we can acknowledge those who have given their time over the years to our community.