Lumby Fire Protection District

Talks started early in 1952 to form a Fire Protection District. When the Fire Protection District was approved this allowed the Lumby District to borrow $20,000 to cover purchase of a fire truck and to built a fire hall.The 1952 fire truck is still present at the hall.

A lease was obtained from Lumby Timber Co. to built a hall on their property. This property is now part of the North Okanagan Regional District. Most of the lumber used to built the fire hall was donated by Lumby Timber Co.

When the first truck arrived in the fall of 1952 the Lumby Volunteer Fire Department was already organised. The upstairs of the fire hall completed by the volunteer fireman. To start with each fireman was asked by Chief to donate a chair. The desk was donated by Bell Pole Co. of Lumby.

In 1953 the trustees of the Lumby Fire Protection District approved a grant of $200.000 per year to the Brigade.This grant, and monies raised by fund raising activities helped purchase fire fighting equipment as well as hard hats and rubber boots.

There were no fire hydrants in Lumby in those years so water used for fire fighting and practices had to be pumped from the creek which flows through the village. This water was pumped into the pumper truck and then onto the fire.

In 1953 $3,500 was borrowed to cover operating coasts for the year. The money borrowed was repaid to the government by property taxation within Lumby.

The first major fire was the former Bloom and Sigalet Garage, on June 19, 1955 at 10:30 a. m. The building was partially destroyed by fire. Later on, over the years, the fire damage area was rebuilt and is still being used at the present time by Frieda's Pizza and has been used over the years by numerous businesses.

The Lumby Volunteer Fire department has,over the years, expanded the hall and now has increased to five fire trucks, plus the old 1952 truck, as well as a rescue vehicle. At the present time there are over 25 volunteer fireman. The hall and equipment are now under the jurisdiction of the North Okanagan Regional District.