firefighters

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews fight a fire at a warehouse on Selby Street on Monday, Oct. 10. (Nanaimo Fire Rescue image)

Nanaimo firefighters battle stubborn Thanksgiving Day warehouse blaze

Twenty-four firefighters worked for more than six hours to extinguish fire on Selby Street

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews fight a fire at a warehouse on Selby Street on Monday, Oct. 10. (Nanaimo Fire Rescue image)
A briefing document prepared for the deputy minister of Indigenous Services Canada says there is currently no way to enforce provincial or national building or fire codes for buildings on reserves. But Blaine Wiggins, senior director of the Indigenous Fire Marshals Service, seen in an undated handout photo, says that enforcement gap has “catastrophic” consequences. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada

No way to enforce fire codes on First Nations, and new law would be costly: document

House fires have long posed a major safety risk to those living on reserve,

A briefing document prepared for the deputy minister of Indigenous Services Canada says there is currently no way to enforce provincial or national building or fire codes for buildings on reserves. But Blaine Wiggins, senior director of the Indigenous Fire Marshals Service, seen in an undated handout photo, says that enforcement gap has “catastrophic” consequences. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada
Firefighters stand by with hoses to snuff out any possible fire originating from spilled fuel after a truck crashed through a house in Nanoose Bay on Monday, Oct. 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

UPDATE: Driver survives after transport truck crashes through house in Nanoose Bay

Rescuers take three hours to extricate driver, six residents not home at time of incident

Firefighters stand by with hoses to snuff out any possible fire originating from spilled fuel after a truck crashed through a house in Nanoose Bay on Monday, Oct. 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Multiple emergency services responded to Nanaimo Boat Basin after a man fell several metres down a rock face on Cameron Island on Friday, Sept. 16. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

First responders rescue man who fell several metres on rocky Nanaimo shore

Incident happened along Cameron Island, near the Nanaimo Boat Basin on Sept. 16

Multiple emergency services responded to Nanaimo Boat Basin after a man fell several metres down a rock face on Cameron Island on Friday, Sept. 16. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Kids try out a fire hose during an open house at the North Saanich Fire Department fire hall Saturday celebrating the department’s 50th anniversary. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Community gathering marks 50 years of North Saanich Fire Department

The department held an open house Saturday complete with firetruck rides and more

Kids try out a fire hose during an open house at the North Saanich Fire Department fire hall Saturday celebrating the department’s 50th anniversary. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Matt Barney prepares bags for the Santa Run in December 2015. Barney retired as deputy fire chief on Aug. 23. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke deputy fire chief retires after 26 years of service

Matt Barney also served as emergency program coordinator

Matt Barney prepares bags for the Santa Run in December 2015. Barney retired as deputy fire chief on Aug. 23. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The East Meadows Plateau wildfire is about 20 kilometres from the City of Kamloops. (Photo/BCWS Twitter)

Wildfire sparks just north of Kamloops

The fire is highly visible to Kamloops and the surrounding area

The East Meadows Plateau wildfire is about 20 kilometres from the City of Kamloops. (Photo/BCWS Twitter)
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

Westerly file photo
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)

Horse rescue all in a day’s work for Central Saanich firefighters

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

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)
Sooke Fire Rescue is recruiting process for paid-on-call (POC) firefighters. The department is holiding an information session on Aug. 23. (File - Shutterstock)

Sooke Fire Rescue looking for new recruits

Information session for recruits on Aug. 23

Sooke Fire Rescue is recruiting process for paid-on-call (POC) firefighters. The department is holiding an information session on Aug. 23. (File - Shutterstock)
The Central Saanich Fire Department and the surrounding community are mourning the loss of former Assistant Chief Forrest Owens. (Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association/Facebook)

‘A true legend’: Forrest Owens’ contributions remembered in Central Saanich

Memorial service for former assistant fire chief Aug. 14 at Saanich Fairgrounds

The Central Saanich Fire Department and the surrounding community are mourning the loss of former Assistant Chief Forrest Owens. (Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association/Facebook)
Women firefighters for the Mill Bay Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of Camrin Hillis)

More women finding the right fit inside Cowichan Valley fire halls

North Cowichan’s female contingent has grown from 2 to 6 in recent years

Women firefighters for the Mill Bay Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of Camrin Hillis)
North Saanich Fire Rescue is recruiting new volunteer firefighters. Orientation for successful candidates begins this fall. (North Saanich Fire Department/Facebook)

North Saanich looks to round up new volunteer firefighter recruits

Department looks after training for all new recruits

North Saanich Fire Rescue is recruiting new volunteer firefighters. Orientation for successful candidates begins this fall. (North Saanich Fire Department/Facebook)
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
Keremeos Creek fire was estimated at 437 hectares as of Sunday (July 31) morning (Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
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)
A Duke Street resident uses a garden hose to spray down a fire that started in Playfair Park late Thursday morning (July 28). He and a neighbour had the fire controlled by the time Saanich firefighters arrived a short time later. Afterward, the second resident dumped a bucket of water on a spot that had begun smoking after firefighters left. (Photo by Thomas Russell)

Saanich residents put the damper on park fire – twice

Playfair Park neighbours’ swift action, accessible hose make easier job for fire crew

A Duke Street resident uses a garden hose to spray down a fire that started in Playfair Park late Thursday morning (July 28). He and a neighbour had the fire controlled by the time Saanich firefighters arrived a short time later. Afterward, the second resident dumped a bucket of water on a spot that had begun smoking after firefighters left. (Photo by Thomas Russell)
Kyrie Parimi, 5, gets a turn in the driver seat of a Victoria firetruck when crews from local departments visited children at Victoria General Hospital on July 20. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Firefighters bring trucks, cheer, donation to kids at Victoria General Hospital

Firefighters’ foundation donated $25,000 for pediatric equipment

Kyrie Parimi, 5, gets a turn in the driver seat of a Victoria firetruck when crews from local departments visited children at Victoria General Hospital on July 20. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Rendering shows the southwest view and rear apron of the proposed new Saanich Fire Department No. 2 station at Royal Oak and Elk Lake drives. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich looks to the future, approves new $26.6-million Royal Oak fire hall

No. 2 station will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to be carbon neutral

Rendering shows the southwest view and rear apron of the proposed new Saanich Fire Department No. 2 station at Royal Oak and Elk Lake drives. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
Fire investigators are sifting through the remains of a house that burned down in north Nanaimo early Monday, July 11. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

House burns up on Nanaimo’s Metral Drive

Investigators now working to determine cause of blaze

Fire investigators are sifting through the remains of a house that burned down in north Nanaimo early Monday, July 11. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
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)