The Mill Bay Fire Department, like many others on the West Coast, traces its origins to the early 1940s when it operated as a Civil Defense Guild Fire Hall—specifically, Guild Hall No. 30.

Officially established in 1948, the department’s early leadership included Fire Chiefs John Gardom and Fred Bartneck. However, there is limited historical information available regarding the transition from the Guild system to a formal fire department.

In 1950, Gordon Hayes became Fire Chief and played a key role in organizing the Mill Bay Volunteer Fire Department under the Mill Bay Community League. Other notable chiefs during this period included Charlie Fitt and George Hauk.

The Mill Bay Fire Protection District was formally incorporated in 1963 under the Water Act by Letters Patent. In 1973, jurisdictional authority shifted to the Department of Municipal Affairs following changes to the Act. The first Fire Chief under the new protection district was Bob Trousdale (1963–1968), followed by:

• Bill Peters (1968–1975)
• John Anderson (1975–1980)
• Dave Atkinson (1980–1988)
• Darwin Generous (briefly in 1988)
• Dave Garnett (1988–1990)
• Lloyd Rigler (1990–1991)
• Pete Balding (1991–2002)
• Don Sparks (2003)
• Terry Culp (2004–2011)
• Ron Beck (2011–2022)
• Chris McInerney (2022–present)

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Today, the Mill Bay Fire Department responds to over 400 calls for service each year and maintains mutual aid agreements with neighbouring fire departments.