Enbridge contributes to BC municipality’s new fire hall and firefighters’ training
A striking new building now stands in the heart of Mackenzie, a northern B.C. town with less than 4,000 residents. The brand-new fire hall for the District of Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department features eight fire truck bays and fully equipped training rooms. It also serves as a secondary emergency operations centre.
But this new facility is more than just a hub for emergency response. It’s a symbol of resilience, pride, and community spirit.
After years of planning, fund raising and construction, the fire rescue team began operating out of the new fire hall in the fall of 2024, while final work on the surrounding pavement and landscaping continues. This new facility replaced the original fire hall built in 1971, shortly after the founding of the town.
On May 24, the department proudly hosted the grand opening of its new fire hall, with local officials, partners and community members in attendance.
“Our fire hall is the highlight of the community now. We haven’t had a new building like this in Mackenzie in 20 years,” says Luke Thorne, Deputy Fire Chief with the District of Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department.
As part of its ongoing commitment to community safety, Enbridge, an energy transportation company that operates a natural gas pipeline system near Mackenzie, made a $10,000 Fueling Futures grant toward the construction of the new fire hall. This reflects our longstanding relationship with the municipality and our dedication to strengthening the communities near our operations.
“Our natural gas system in BC has been part of this region for nearly 70 years, almost as long as the town of Mackenzie has existed. We’re proud to continue our partnership with the community to help build safer, more resilient communities where we live and work,” says Michaela Bjorseth, Enbridge’s Northwest Region Operations Director.
The District of Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department responds regularly to a wide variety of emergencies—from structure fires and highway rescues to wildfires and medical calls. Firefighters in Mackenzie respond to approximately 180 incidents each year—among them about 50 highway rescue incidents.
And the people answering those calls? A dedicated team of over 30 volunteer firefighters.
“We are very lucky to have local residents who invest their time to give back to our community. In return, we try to get the highest quality training for them,” says Thorne, who is one of just two paid staff at the department.
With a volunteer force making up the bulk of the department, training and certification are needed—including firefighting, first aid training and first responder training. To help defray costs, Enbridge contributed $10,000 to the team this year.
“The training expands our knowledge and our ability to provide for the citizens of Mackenzie. The more trained personnel we have, the better,” says Thorne. “So, if we can get grants from partners like Enbridge to help train our team and keep that service level high, it’s a win-win for all of us.”
