firefighters

A vehicle that was driven through the wall of a parkade at Uptown Shopping Centre and into the nearby Walmart on April 9 was removed through another hole in the wall later that night. (Photo via Saanich Police Department and Ayush Kakkar)

Vehicle launched into B.C. Walmart removed following rescue of trapped workers

Crews cut new hole in parkade wall to remove vehicle safely

 

Bean, a small dog, got her head stuck in the reclining mechanism of a couch on Wednesday night. (Facebook/Kamloops Fire Rescue)

Kamloops fire crews free Bean the pup trapped in reclining chair

‘We don’t rescue cats out of trees anymore… but we do occasionally rescue dogs out of reclining couches!’

 

Members of the Saanich Fire Department can be seen working to put out a fire in the 4500-block of Chattertown Way on Jan. 26. (Saanich Fire/Twitter)

One cat killed, another resuscitated following blaze in Saanich townhouse

Neighbours evacuated following fire on Chatterton Way, third cat still missing

 

The Saanich Fire Department is calling for residents to be fire smart as they deck the halls for the holidays. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island firefighters offer safety tips to avoid holiday fires

Candles, damaged lights, dry trees and smoking can all lead to house fires

The Saanich Fire Department is calling for residents to be fire smart as they deck the halls for the holidays. (Black Press Media file photo)
Manager of protective services Mike Williamson holds up his new bar for 45 years of fire service during a recent Zoom meeting of Cumberland council. Image, screenshot

Cumberland fire chief honoured for 45 years

Mike Williamson joined as junior firefighter at age 16

Manager of protective services Mike Williamson holds up his new bar for 45 years of fire service during a recent Zoom meeting of Cumberland council. Image, screenshot
A fire structure protection unit responds to a call in Campbell River. Mayors from smaller communities are voicing their need for more provincial funding to cope with the rising cost of fire services and equipment. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror.

B.C.’s smaller communities want a better solution for funding fire protection

Rural mayors asking the province for help with the rising cost of equipment and training

A fire structure protection unit responds to a call in Campbell River. Mayors from smaller communities are voicing their need for more provincial funding to cope with the rising cost of fire services and equipment. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror.
If you order a Domino’s Pizza on Saturday, Oct. 10, it may arrive via the Courtenay Fire Department. Photo supplied.

Courtenay firefighters to serve double duty as pizza deliverers Saturday

Get dinner and your smoke alarms tested all at once

  • Oct 7, 2020
If you order a Domino’s Pizza on Saturday, Oct. 10, it may arrive via the Courtenay Fire Department. Photo supplied.
This photo provided by the Unified Fire Authority shows a Utah fire crew member on the scene working to protect the town of Butte Falls in southern Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 13. 2020. This year’s fires have taxed the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire fighting forces to a degree that few past blazes did. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought, and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with other factors to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. (Matthew McFarland/Unified Fire Authority via AP)

B.C., Alberta sending nearly 300 fire personnel by Friday to help battle wildfires in Oregon

Some 230 firefighters, most from British Columbia but including a number from Alberta, will be deployed Friday

This photo provided by the Unified Fire Authority shows a Utah fire crew member on the scene working to protect the town of Butte Falls in southern Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 13. 2020. This year’s fires have taxed the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire fighting forces to a degree that few past blazes did. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought, and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with other factors to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. (Matthew McFarland/Unified Fire Authority via AP)
Lieutenant Ron Suits was a firefighter with Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department for four and a half years until he died while working a fire on July 16, 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY SPROAT LAKE VFD)

Vancouver Island fire departments to hold service for fallen firefighter

Sproat Lake volunteer firefighter Lt. Ron Suits died at the scene of a barn fire on July 16

Lieutenant Ron Suits was a firefighter with Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department for four and a half years until he died while working a fire on July 16, 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY SPROAT LAKE VFD)
Many disposable masks have a metal nose wire or staples holding the straps which can cause sparks or a fire when heated. (Pixabay photo)

Don’t use microwave to sterilize COVID-19 masks: Ontario fire marshal

Jon Pegg says there have been 51 fire fatalities in Ontario between Jan. 1 and May 4

Many disposable masks have a metal nose wire or staples holding the straps which can cause sparks or a fire when heated. (Pixabay photo)
The first responder dispatch protocol was also rolled out during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. firefighters only responding to most life-threatening calls during COVID-19 pandemic

The directive comes after province spoke with paramedics, fire services, according to top doctor

The first responder dispatch protocol was also rolled out during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. (Black Press Media files)
The Courtenay fire station has closed to the public during the coronavirus situation. File photo

Fires, accidents down in Courtenay during coronavirus pandemic

The Courtenay Fire Department has dealt with fewer fires and fewer car…

The Courtenay fire station has closed to the public during the coronavirus situation. File photo
Every year, members of the St. Catharines Fire Combat Team strip down and flex their muscles for a good cause with proceeds going to charity. (St. Catharines Fire Department photo)

No shirts, no city services: Firefighter calendar too steamy for Ontario officials

The city has never funded the calendars, but has OK’d photoshoots at city-owned properties

Every year, members of the St. Catharines Fire Combat Team strip down and flex their muscles for a good cause with proceeds going to charity. (St. Catharines Fire Department photo)
The Oyster River Fire Department fights a fire that caught at Pacific Playgrounds early Saturday. Photo supplied

Oyster River Fire Rescue battles RV fires

Fire started in one RV and spread to another in the Saratoga Beach area

The Oyster River Fire Department fights a fire that caught at Pacific Playgrounds early Saturday. Photo supplied
Strathcona Regional District Area D director Brenda Leigh presenting Fire Officer 1 certificates to Chris Chambers and Amanda Voeltz.

PHOTOS: Oyster River Fire Department hands out awards

Oyster River Fire Rescue held its 2019 Annual Awards Banquet on Jan.…

  • Jan 29, 2020
Strathcona Regional District Area D director Brenda Leigh presenting Fire Officer 1 certificates to Chris Chambers and Amanda Voeltz.
The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)

‘We could see fire all over the landscape’: Vancouver Island man recounts helping crews in Australia

Kevin Cochrane of the Coastal Fire Centre spent 38 days Down Under

The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)
A firefighter salutes the commemorative statue behind the BC Legislature during the BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ memorial, with B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association executive director, Gord Ditchburn, on the left and B.C. Premier John Horgan on the right (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Hundreds gather in Victoria to honour fallen firefighters

The BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ Memorial honours those who have died in the line of duty

A firefighter salutes the commemorative statue behind the BC Legislature during the BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ memorial, with B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association executive director, Gord Ditchburn, on the left and B.C. Premier John Horgan on the right (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Fire fighters battled a fire at a multi-family home on the 800 block of Fulton Street on June 6, 2017. (Matthew Allen / The Northern View)

Why cancer is deadlier than fire for firefighters in B.C.

The silent threat that is killing firefighters and how the profession is fighting back

Fire fighters battled a fire at a multi-family home on the 800 block of Fulton Street on June 6, 2017. (Matthew Allen / The Northern View)