Emergency calls

This photo shows the aftermath of an early Tuesday morning fire. A man arrested at the site is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP interrupt arson in downtown Sidney

Sidney, Central Saanich, North Saanich firefighters respond to downtown fire Tuesday

This photo shows the aftermath of an early Tuesday morning fire. A man arrested at the site is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Crews from Central Saanich and Sidney joined crews from North Saanich in responding to a structure fire in North Saanich Tuesday morning. (Central Saanich Fire Department/Twitter)

Firefighters from North Saanich, Central Saanich and Sidney respond to fire in middle of snow storm

Crews responded to a garage-outbuilding on Tatlow Road around 2 a.m.

Crews from Central Saanich and Sidney joined crews from North Saanich in responding to a structure fire in North Saanich Tuesday morning. (Central Saanich Fire Department/Twitter)
Multiple fake emergency calls have been sent out by Apple products in rural B.C. areas in the last couple of weeks. (Kimberley SAR/Special to The News)

B.C. search and rescue warns nature goers about relying on tech in the wilderness

Reminder comes amidst rise in false emergency calls being sent by Apple products

Multiple fake emergency calls have been sent out by Apple products in rural B.C. areas in the last couple of weeks. (Kimberley SAR/Special to The News)
From left to right: paramedic MJ Brownlee presented Greg and Tina Valliere and Greg Slobodin with the Vital Link Award at the Denman Island paramedic station Dec. 13 during a special award ceremony. Photo by Erin Haluscchak

Trio honoured for emergency roadside rescue on Denman Island

Vital Link Award presented to honour skillful actions of one or more bystanders

From left to right: paramedic MJ Brownlee presented Greg and Tina Valliere and Greg Slobodin with the Vital Link Award at the Denman Island paramedic station Dec. 13 during a special award ceremony. Photo by Erin Haluscchak
(E-Comm911/Facebook)

Can you order me a taxi? Nuisance 911 calls to Kelowna RCMP in 2022

Neighbours cutting grass, playing video games among nuisances

(E-Comm911/Facebook)
(Josh Berson photo)

Kelowna to have only 7 ambulances after BC Emergency Health Services cuts

The Union of Ambulance Paramedics in B.C. say Kelowna could experience longer wait times.

(Josh Berson photo)
Police vehicle outside the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Updated – Woman fine after fall in dumbwaiter lift at Chemainus Thrift Shop

WorkSafeBC looking into the incident to make recommendations

Police vehicle outside the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Rick Boehm, Thornhill and regional district fire chief, with the department’s new ladder truck. (File photo)

Remote northwest B.C. community left without a fire department due to volunteer shortage

Almost 200 homes in Dease Lake will have to fend for themselves in case of fire

Rick Boehm, Thornhill and regional district fire chief, with the department’s new ladder truck. (File photo)
Residents are urged to take note of the Urgent Care Centre hours and closures this month. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Urgent Care Centre hours limited in Chemainus in September

Complete closure occurs during nine days this month

Residents are urged to take note of the Urgent Care Centre hours and closures this month. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A firefighter returns to a truck after crews extinguished a 3-alarm fire at an apartment building in Burnaby, B.C., on Tuesday May 27, 2014. The union that represents E-Comm 911 emergency service dispatchers in British Columbia is calling for the agency to extend temporary compensation and psychological supports amid a “dire” staffing shortage.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Union for B.C. 911 dispatchers calls for extended supports amid staff shortage

Worker retention remains a major problem because of low wages and burnout

A firefighter returns to a truck after crews extinguished a 3-alarm fire at an apartment building in Burnaby, B.C., on Tuesday May 27, 2014. The union that represents E-Comm 911 emergency service dispatchers in British Columbia is calling for the agency to extend temporary compensation and psychological supports amid a “dire” staffing shortage.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier John Horgan pauses while speaking during a funding announcement for a planned middle-secondary school, in Coquitlam, B.C., on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Horgan cites ambulance ‘investment’ as he addresses Barriere infant death

Premier says the government is working with firefighters as well as the paramedics union

B.C. Premier John Horgan pauses while speaking during a funding announcement for a planned middle-secondary school, in Coquitlam, B.C., on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

‘Heartbreaking loss’: B.C. agency looks into ambulance call after infant death report

BC Emergency Health Services will work with patient care quality office to reach out to the family

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (Black Press file photo)

Emergency rooms close in B.C., paramedics union says ambulances unstaffed

Temporary ER closure in Merritt latest in a series due to staffing issues

The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (Black Press file photo)
(Black Press file photo).

B.C. municipality calls on province to help fund 911 services

Pitt Meadows puts resolution to UBCM calling for provincial action, money

(Black Press file photo).
A Cultus Lake Fire Department engine tries to thread the needle through traffic and parked cars on a busy day last weekend. (Cultus Lake FD screenshot)

VIDEO: Illegal parking at Cultus Lake causes problems for first responders

Cultus Lake Fire Department has to creep through traffic on Columbia Valley Highway

A Cultus Lake Fire Department engine tries to thread the needle through traffic and parked cars on a busy day last weekend. (Cultus Lake FD screenshot)
Tony Staffieri speaks at the Rogers annual general meeting in Toronto on Monday, April 23, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Matthew Sherwood

Rogers pursuing deal with competitors to juggle 911 calls in case of outage

July 8 outage left millions unable to use phone for emergency services

Tony Staffieri speaks at the Rogers annual general meeting in Toronto on Monday, April 23, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Matthew Sherwood
Kelly Titchenell sits on her porch in Mather, Pa., holding a photo of her mother Diania Kronk, and an urn containing her mother’s ashes, Thursday, July 7, 2022. A Greene County , Pa., detective last week filed charges against 911 operator Leon “Lee” Price, 50, of Waynesburg, in the July 2020 death of Diania Kronk, 54, based on Price’s reluctance to dispatch help without getting more assurance that Kronk would actually go to the hospital. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

911 dispatcher charged with involuntary manslaughter for failing to send ambulance

Pennsylvania woman died from internal bleeding one day later

Kelly Titchenell sits on her porch in Mather, Pa., holding a photo of her mother Diania Kronk, and an urn containing her mother’s ashes, Thursday, July 7, 2022. A Greene County , Pa., detective last week filed charges against 911 operator Leon “Lee” Price, 50, of Waynesburg, in the July 2020 death of Diania Kronk, 54, based on Price’s reluctance to dispatch help without getting more assurance that Kronk would actually go to the hospital. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(Facebook/E-Comm911)

E-Comm warns of critical staff shortages going into Canada Day long weekend

911 dispatchers may have to work forced overtime to meet minimum staffing levels

(Facebook/E-Comm911)
Chemainus fire rescue successfully pulled one person from the Chemainus River following an ATV accident Friday night. (File photo by Don Bodger)

Two people seriously injured in ATV accident near Chemainus

One person pulled from the Chemainus River and airlifted to hospital

Chemainus fire rescue successfully pulled one person from the Chemainus River following an ATV accident Friday night. (File photo by Don Bodger)
Firefighters at the Evergreen Centre fire in August 2013. Last week, the District of Sooke released its Fire Master Plan, a strategic report to guide the fire department over the next 10 to 15 years. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Fire Rescue’s race against clock hits staffing snag

Department struggles to hit response time targets overnight

Firefighters at the Evergreen Centre fire in August 2013. Last week, the District of Sooke released its Fire Master Plan, a strategic report to guide the fire department over the next 10 to 15 years. (File - Sooke News Mirror)