firefighters

Westerly file photo

Tofino firefighters respond to two cigarette-caused fires

Dry conditions axe campfires and led to two separate cigarette-caused fires on Island’s west coast

 

A horse that had slipped into a ditch sometime overnight Thursday was on the road again Friday morning, thanks to the efforts of volunteers and Central Saanich firefighters. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)

Firefighters use hose to lift stranded horse from Central Saanich ditch

Animal had slipped into a ditch, but was pulled out safe and sound

 

Keremeos Creek fire was estimated at 437 hectares as of Sunday (July 31) morning (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Minimal overnight growth at Keremeos Creek fire in South Okanagan

Saturday’s evacuation and air quality alerts remain in effect

  • Jul 31, 2022

 

Cranberry and North Cedar volunteer fire departments responded to two rollover crashes on the Trans-Canada Highway south of Nanaimo the afternoon of Thursday, July 28, including one in which an SUV caught fire. (Nanaimo News Bulletin file)

Vehicle rolls over and catches fire along the highway south of Nanaimo

Cranberry fire chief credits water truck driver with knocking down flames and limiting fire damage

Cranberry and North Cedar volunteer fire departments responded to two rollover crashes on the Trans-Canada Highway south of Nanaimo the afternoon of Thursday, July 28, including one in which an SUV caught fire. (Nanaimo News Bulletin file)
(Facebook/E-Comm911)

EDITORIAL: 911 system a vital, invisible resource

Supporting our E-Comm system is vital to all emergency response

  • Jul 29, 2022
(Facebook/E-Comm911)
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

B.C. firefighters rescue dog trapped in drain pipe after ‘yelp for help’

Firefighters fasten blanket to fire hose to create ‘Q-tip’ to pull out panicked pooch

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
An East Wellington Volunteer Fire Department firefighter hurried to a crash scene and vehicle fire close to his house and may have saved the life of a driver Saturday, June 4. (News Bulletin file photo)

Firefighter rescues driver from burning car after crash in Nanaimo

Incident happened in East Wellington in the early-morning hours Saturday, June 4

An East Wellington Volunteer Fire Department firefighter hurried to a crash scene and vehicle fire close to his house and may have saved the life of a driver Saturday, June 4. (News Bulletin file photo)
Aerial view of the Village of Zeballos. (Village of Zeballos Facebook photo)

Zeballos temporarily suspends volunteer fire department due to liability concerns

Residents told to continue to call 911, consultants will be brought in to revamp local fire services

Aerial view of the Village of Zeballos. (Village of Zeballos Facebook photo)
Thirteen people have been displaced but are uninjured after fleeing a fire that destroyed their home in Nanaimo on Tuesday, May 17. (Kaajal Manhas photo)

13 people displaced by house fire in Nanaimo

Residents, including 8 children, escaped unharmed from fire on Doric Avenue

Thirteen people have been displaced but are uninjured after fleeing a fire that destroyed their home in Nanaimo on Tuesday, May 17. (Kaajal Manhas photo)
Firefighters-Cancer 20220505 Vancouver firefighter Jenn Dawkins, shown in a handout photo, lobbied for breast cancer to be included in British Columbia’s legislation as a presumed occupational illness covered by the province’s health and safety agency for workers. Three years later, she would be diagnosed with the disease that is a top killer of firefighters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-David Harcus

Firefighters say recognition of their cancer risk is tough battle across Canada

British Columbia recently amended the Workers Compensation Act to include three more cancers

Firefighters-Cancer 20220505 Vancouver firefighter Jenn Dawkins, shown in a handout photo, lobbied for breast cancer to be included in British Columbia’s legislation as a presumed occupational illness covered by the province’s health and safety agency for workers. Three years later, she would be diagnosed with the disease that is a top killer of firefighters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-David Harcus
Smoke is seen coming from the upstairs window of an unoccupied house that sustained damage from a suspicious fire on the weekend. Nanaimo RCMP are investigating. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo RCMP investigating fire set in house next to the one that exploded

Fire burned through kitchen floor at house that’s been boarded up since explosion two months ago

Smoke is seen coming from the upstairs window of an unoccupied house that sustained damage from a suspicious fire on the weekend. Nanaimo RCMP are investigating. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Vaccine policy to remain in place for B.C. Wildfire Service

All B.C. government employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  • Apr 28, 2022
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Firefighters with Nanaimo Volunteer Fire Department work a crash scene after a car went over an embankment next to the Island Highway on Monday, April 18. Both people in the car were taken to hospital for observation. (Photo courtesy Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department)

Car goes off Island Highway and down embankment north of Nanaimo

Two people taken to hospital for observation after incident in Nanoose Bay on Monday, April 18

Firefighters with Nanaimo Volunteer Fire Department work a crash scene after a car went over an embankment next to the Island Highway on Monday, April 18. Both people in the car were taken to hospital for observation. (Photo courtesy Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department)
A man was airlifted to hospital with head injuries after falling from a cliff at Pipers Lagoon Park in Nanaimo on Monday, April 11. (News Bulletin file photo)

Senior airlifted to hospital after falling off cliff at Nanaimo’s Pipers Lagoon

Man fell 18 metres onto rocks, firefighters conducted rope rescue

A man was airlifted to hospital with head injuries after falling from a cliff at Pipers Lagoon Park in Nanaimo on Monday, April 11. (News Bulletin file photo)
The under-construction Water’s Edge building on Truswell Road in Kelowna engulfed in flames moments before it collapsed on July 8, 2017. (File)

‘Brutally understaffed’ to combat high-rise blazes: Retired Kelowna firefighter

‘We have 120 firefighters on staff, but a minimum of 23 on shift,’ said Kelowna Fire Chief Travis Whiting

The under-construction Water’s Edge building on Truswell Road in Kelowna engulfed in flames moments before it collapsed on July 8, 2017. (File)
Oliver Lipinski, right, accepts a certificate as an official junior member of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department from fire chief Marc Norris. (Submitted photo)

Highly-motivated preschooler becomes Island fire department’s youngest-ever recruit

Oliver Lipinski, 3, walked up to Parksville fire hall door with resume in hand

Oliver Lipinski, right, accepts a certificate as an official junior member of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department from fire chief Marc Norris. (Submitted photo)
Martyka Sutor, her partner Steven, son Arlo and newborn daughter Maia pose for a photo with firefighters from Surrey’s Hall 17. (Contributed photo)

‘There was no stopping her’: Firefighters deliver baby in B.C. couple’s home

‘It was a day we will never forget’ says South Surrey mother

Martyka Sutor, her partner Steven, son Arlo and newborn daughter Maia pose for a photo with firefighters from Surrey’s Hall 17. (Contributed photo)
Courtesy photo

‘Should be an alarm bell’: Calls for action after fatal fires on First Nations

Study found First Nations people living on reserves were 10 times more likely to die in a fire

Courtesy photo
Benny Hanson, who turned 90 on Feb. 1, 2022, is a pump operator with the Celista Fire Department. (Celista Fire Department image)

90-year-old B.C. firefighter has always been one to keep busy

Benny Hanson said his philosophy was ‘change jobs every four years’

Benny Hanson, who turned 90 on Feb. 1, 2022, is a pump operator with the Celista Fire Department. (Celista Fire Department image)
First Nations’ Emergency Services Society members Dean Colthorp, left, and Reo Jerome pose beside the truck donated to the society Feb. 1 by Esquimalt Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Steve Serbic stands on the engine. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Donated fire truck will help train remote First Nations departments across B.C.

Former Esquimalt truck to be used to build skills, enable better community protection

First Nations’ Emergency Services Society members Dean Colthorp, left, and Reo Jerome pose beside the truck donated to the society Feb. 1 by Esquimalt Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Steve Serbic stands on the engine. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)