Welcome to the 2023 Fire Protection Master Plan (formerly referred to as our Fire Services Strategic Plan) project page! Our new Fire Protection Master Plan will guide the sustainable delivery of essential fire services over the next 15 years.
On May 22, our public Fire Protection Master Plan Survey closed. We are happy to report that we received 216 responses! Thank you to all who submitted their feedback. The results are being reviewed by our team and will be used to shape future engagement with the community.
On July 25, Council adopted the 2023 Fire Protection Master Plan and directed staff to develop the implementation plan for Council’s consideration.
Background
Maple Ridge is growing and changing rapidly. The existing Fire Master Plan was adopted in 2003 to serve a largely rural community with mostly single-family neighborhoods and a smaller urban footprint. Today, Maple Ridge is a vibrant community that balances its rural roots with urban-style development and growth areas across the City. Maple Ridge Fire has achieved many milestones over the years including:
- transition to a composite staffing model with both career and paid-on-call firefighters
- updated fire stations
- improved training programs
- leading practice fleet and equipment programs
However, Maple Ridge Fire's staffing and response model have remained relatively unchanged amid the community’s ongoing growth, changing neighborhoods, and evolving service demands.
Objectives
The new Fire Protection Master Plan will be a roadmap to guide Maple Ridge into the future, keeping the best of the current fire protection system and enhancing it with strategic investments to meet current and future service demands.
What to Expect
This project involves staff input, consultation with interested parties, performance assessment, data collection and assessment, modeling of future demand, and consideration of industry standards, best practices, City planning documents, and Council strategic priorities.
Service-drivers being considered during the plan development include:
- Population growth, with projections ranging from 118,000 and 135,000 people by 2041 (2021 Census: 90,990);
- More development density in the Town Centre and residential neighborhoods, with a shift toward smaller lots and yards and more multi-family housing;
- Increasing growth in Albion, Silver Valley, and southeast Maple Ridge;
- Potential industrial growth toward the east, including the 256 Street industrial area, Thornhill Urban Reserve, and Yennadon Lands;
- Rising demand for medical aid from vulnerable populations, including unhoused people and more elderly people living at home;
- Climate change impacts including growing risk of wildfires, floods, and major storms; and
- Increasing tourism at Golden Ears Provincial Park and elsewhere.
Outcome
On July 25, Council adopted the 2023 Fire Protection Master Plan and directed staff to develop the implementation plan for Council’s consideration.
The new Fire Protection Master Plan is a comprehensive document that reflects the community's needs and ensures Maple Ridge is prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
For more information, please explore the additional background documents on this page or contact mvandop@mapleridge.ca.
