Groundbreaking at the site of the new Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade station on Oct. 18, 2025. (Image Credit: Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade/Facebook)

By Victor Kaisar

New Fire Station

Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade fundraising for new fire station after unsuccessful grant application

Jan 24, 2026 | 3:05 PM

CLEARWATER, B.C. — The Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade (UCVFB) is hoping to raise at least $200,000 so it can complete work on a new fire station.

President Cathy Armstrong told CFJC that work on a new permanent base of operations is underway following a groundbreaking last October. She said the fire brigade has already ordered the prefabricated steel building that will become the new fire station.

“It will be stored until we can raise the funds,” Armstrong said, noting an unsuccessful application for provincial grant money has left the fire brigade about half way to its fundraising goal.

“We’re going to the community now and to local families and businesses in the Clearwater area looking for support so that we can get that building up this summer and not have to store it for another year of fundraising.”

Armstrong said Anne and Roland Neave of Wells Gray Tours have agreed to match all donations made to the UCVFB until the end of February to a maximum of $75,000.

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“That doubles your impact,” Armstrong said, noting people interested in making a donation should reach out via Facebook. “We also now have charitable status, so we can issue tax receipts to anyone who donates $50 or more.”

Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Area ‘A’ Director Usoff Tsao mentioned the unsuccessful grant application at Thursday’s (Jan. 22) board meeting. He said people who know of funding sources can contact him as well.

A rendering of the new Upper Clearwater fire station building. (Image Credit: Upper Clearwater Volunteer Fire Brigade)

The new fire station is set to rise at 5673 Clearwater Valley Road. It’ll be called Schaer Hall, after local residents Ursula and Fritz Schaer, who donated 10 acres of land to the fire brigade.

“This isn’t like you would imagine a fire hall to be…but the building will fit our three vehicles and equipment,” Armstrong said in October. “It will certainly be secure and it would become potentially useful for any kind of emergency evacuation, fire, earthquake or any kind of natural disaster.”

Armstrong noted all of the UCVFB’s operational costs are covered by donations and grants as residents in the Upper Clearwater Valley do not pay taxes towards fire protection, unlike other volunteer fire departments in the

“We’re going in all directions to try and raise money,” Armstrong added. “Our MLA Ward Stamer and his office have been working on finding avenues for us for other provincial grants. We’ve been talking with MP Frank Caputo to find federal opportunities and we’re going to businesses locally here as well.”

“The TNRD has helped us with some funds towards upgrading the building as well, and so we’re looking to see if people have other ideas in mind.”

Armstrong said the UCVFB is the first line of defence for Wells Gray Park as she referenced an August 2025 incident where a car rolled off the road and burst into flames. Volunteers were the first on scene, and Armstrong said they prevented flames from getting out of hand, in an area at high risk of fire.

“We protecting that whole corridor from the District of Clearwater all the way up to the park,” Armstrong said. “We work with the BC Wildfire Service but we’re the first line of defence and we also give eyes and ears to other supports in the province.”