The idea for Cherry Creek Fire Department came about in the late 1950’s when there were a few house fires in the Cherry Creek area. Cherry Creek was just finishing their new water system but had no fire protection. The most suitable area for a fire hall in Cherry Creek is where the hall is now, in the middle of the district. Charlie Haggard thought this a great location for a fire hall and went to the insurance companies to found out how much each homeowner would save if the area had fire insurance. He also secured some government funding to help build the hall. He then went on to sell the idea to the residence. The property was then purchased from the Victor Andreef family.
The original members of Cherry Creek fire department started training
in 1961. They went to the City of Port Alberni and were taught by the
members of the Port Alberni Volunteer Fire Department. The members were
then certified and the hall had its first meeting on June 26 1962. The
first fire came on July 27 1962, although not much was written about the
fire. The second fire, a grass fire, did not come until August 25,
1962. In 1962 the hall had two fire trucks, the first truck was a used
1941 Ford Pumper truck purchased from the city of Port Alberni.
The second one being the first brand new fire truck to the valley. This truck was a 1962 American LaFrance which two members traveled to the plant to pick up and drive back to the hall.
On November 1962 eighteen members of the Cherry Creek Fire department received their certificates from the BC Fire Marshalls for their training in firefighting. Early in 1963 the members of the department took their first aid course. When the hall started the members were dispatched out by the city fire department. The city would activate the siren on top of the hall (the siren is still in use today) and then start to phone some of the members. After the first truck was full the next member that showed up would have to start phoning the rest of the members of the hall as there were no pagers at this time. The hall had only four sets of turnout coats and boots, so those that showed up later had no gear to wear.
1st Chief: Charlie Haggard was the first Fire Chief of the Cherry Creek fire department and presided over the department until September 1965 when he decided to step down.
2nd Chief: John Patterson became the second Fire Chief serving twelve years until his retirement in 1977.
3rd Chief: The third Fire Chief was Tony Maten and served the department from 1977 until May, 1983.
4th Chief: Fourth Fire Chief was John Gaetz. John was instrumental in getting a new pumper for the department. The old pumper, which was now over 25 years old, was past its useful life and according to the Fire Underwriters meant the area did not have proper fire protection. The department had to go to a referendum to order a new one, as there was not enough reserve money to buy a new truck, and each property owner was charged a set amount. In 1982, the brand new fire truck arrived, which served the community until its retirement in 2010. John Gaetz retired as chief in 1988.
5th Chief: Gordon Porter was the fifth Fire Chief and served eleven years before retiring in May 1999. Gordon ordered the 1997 Freightliner front line pumper truck, which was one of the first to have a PTO Compressed Air Foam System, and is still in service today.
6th Fire Chief:The sixth Fire Chief was Gene Jeffery serving from May 1999 until November 2004.
7th Fire Chief: The seventh Fire Chief was Mike Sparrow. In late 2005 the department took on the First Responder program in response to helping the needs of the residents of the area. Chief Sparrow purchased a 2005 Freightliner Tender (T 34) and a 2010 Pierce Contender (E 31)
8th Fire Chief: The eighth and present Fire Chief is Lucas Banton. Chief Banton has guided the department through two of BC worst forest fire seasons to date. The Cherry Creek Fire Department and its members were employed by the province of BC as well as the OFC to assist with wildland fires in 2017 and 2018. Chief Banton has also ordered 3 of the departments newest assets, Engine 33, Truck 32 and the Duty Officer Truck 30.
Cherry Creek Fire Department now responds to calls for assistance from the public in an area that stretches from the brake check at the top of the hump to the historical Mclean Mill sawmill.
The department can have a membership of thirty members which is the maximum that is allowed by the governing body, the Water Board.
The fire hall now boasts six fire apparatus:
1941 Ford Pumper
1962 American La France
1962 American La France
1997 Freightliner (E 33 Reserve)
2005 Freightliner Tender (T 34)
2010 Pierce Contender (E 31)
2018 Ram 5500 Chasis Cab ITB Walk-In (T 32)
2019 Ram 3500 (T 30)
2024 Freightliner Fort Gary Crusader (E 33)