The new main firehall has been designed by Johnston Davidson Architecture and Planning Inc. The plans are based on an award-winning firehall design used by two other fire departments in BC. It will be built to minimum LEED Canada Silver Certification standards, using regional materials where possible and exposed structure design, resulting in an attractive, functional, energy efficient building. Site improvements will ensure that drainage issues which have been a challenge in the past will be addressed, and additional landscaping measures will screen the building from its neighbours.

The Fire Station Location Review studied response times data for the department from 2001 forward. The majority of all calls were concentrated in three distinct areas – Brentwood Bay, Saanichton, and the south-east corner (Tanner Ridge area) of the District. The response times for both Brentwood Bay and the south-east corner were well outside accepted standards and the review recommended that a two-hall model be adopted, with a new main firehall in the southern half of the District and a smaller satellite station kept in Saanichton. The analysis indicated that the satellite station would be able to continue to respond to all the anticipated calls in the north half of the district within acceptable levels.

The proposed new main firehall location now known as 1512 Keating Cross Road will assist in improving travel times to most locations within the southern half of the District (which equates to a 10 minute response time), a large improvement from the current level. In addition, based on the home locations of the volunteer fire fighters, the new location means that half of the volunteer force will be able to arrive at the station 50% faster than they do now. This will also reduce the overall response time for emergency calls. The new location is also on the edge of the District’s business/industrial Park, and will provide a quicker response time to a major event at a business facility and may improve the odds of limiting overall damage.