Rooted In A Coastal Community
For Fire Chief Jason Shand, service to the Woods Harbour Shag Harbour Volunteer Fire Department is inseparable from service to home. A lifelong resident of the area, Shand helps protect a rural fishing community of just under 2,000 people spread across Woods Harbour, Shag Harbour, and the surrounding coastline. At 49, he has spent more than three decades in the department he now leads, having joined at 16, served as Deputy Chief since 1999, and stepped into the role of Fire Chief in 2024.
Leading A Modern Volunteer Department
As a volunteer chief, Shand’s days range from quiet stretches of behind‑the‑scenes administration to busy periods driven by emergency calls and training. Much of his work happens out of the spotlight, ensuring that policies, people, and apparatus are ready so that when the tones drop, the department can respond with confidence and consistency. His goal, he says, is straightforward: to have a positive impact on a close‑knit community that relies on its volunteers when it matters most.
Two Departments, One Stronger Service
The Woods Harbour Shag Harbour Volunteer Fire Department, as it exists today, is relatively new. It was incorporated in 2012 through the amalgamation of the former Woods Harbour Volunteer Fire Department and the Shag Harbour Bear Point Volunteer Fire Department, a move driven by tightening budgets and the desire to invest in better equipment and trucks. By combining efforts, the departments eliminated duplicated costs and created a single organization better positioned to purchase modern apparatus and support a higher level of training
Investing In Youth And Training
Like many rural departments, attracting and retaining young members is a constant concern, but in Woods Harbour and Shag Harbour, the story is a hopeful one. Today, close to half of the department’s membership is under the age of 25, with many volunteers joining before they graduate high school. A key driver is Nova Scotia’s Firefighter Level 1 program, now offered as a high school credit, which the department runs in‑house every fall over weeknight sessions and a series of weekends. By keeping the training local, structured, and accessible, Shand and his team make it easier for young people—busy with school, sports, and work—to discover that they belong in the fire service.
Built For Their Coastline
Metalfab fire trucks have been part of the department’s story longer than Shand has worn a pager. Since the amalgamation, Woods Harbour Shag Harbour has purchased two new custom-chassis Metalfab trucks, both designed with firefighter safety in mind and tailored to the department’s specific coastal needs. Those units are complemented by a 1996 Metalfab truck that remains in frontline service today, proof of both build quality and the care the department invests in its apparatus. In a salt‑air fishing community where corrosion and harsh conditions are a daily reality, that combination of durability, smart design, and local commitment helps ensure the trucks are ready for every call, year after year.
