firefighters

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Nanaimo firefighters rescue dog from 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)
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)
New recruits and management of the Saanich Fire Department gathered for a photo recently outside the number 1 hall. The new hires will bring full-time staffing up to six at the department’s No. 3 station on McKenzie Avenue. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Fire protection in Saanich east boosted with addition of 10 firefighters

Extra staffing gives hall 2 more 24/7 firefighters, aims to improve response times

New recruits and management of the Saanich Fire Department gathered for a photo recently outside the number 1 hall. The new hires will bring full-time staffing up to six at the department’s No. 3 station on McKenzie Avenue. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A section of Hammond Bay Road was closed for several hours Wednesday, June 22, after a crane truck became entangled in communication lines and rolled on its side. There were no injuries reported. (Photo: Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Crane truck flips after tangling in communications wire in Nanaimo

No injuries, but incident blocked north Nanaimo road for seven hours

A section of Hammond Bay Road was closed for several hours Wednesday, June 22, after a crane truck became entangled in communication lines and rolled on its side. There were no injuries reported. (Photo: Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
The two-bay Saanich Fire Station No. 2, in operation since 1978 on Elk Lake Drive at Royal Oak Drive, is up for replacement. The municipality aims to build an eight-bay hall on adjacent land. A public hearing related to the project will likely happen this summer. (Google Streetview)

Tree removal an issue, but Saanich council sends fire hall project to public hearing

Elk Lake Drive hall would keep operating while new hall is constructed next door

The two-bay Saanich Fire Station No. 2, in operation since 1978 on Elk Lake Drive at Royal Oak Drive, is up for replacement. The municipality aims to build an eight-bay hall on adjacent land. A public hearing related to the project will likely happen this summer. (Google Streetview)
Firefighters aim their hose to knock down a target during the 38th Indigenous Firefighting Competition held in Esquimalt Saturday June 4. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

VIDEO: Indigenous firefighters from across B.C. gather in Esquimalt for annual competition

The 38th Indigenous Firefighting Competition served as a fun way to build skills and camaraderie

Firefighters aim their hose to knock down a target during the 38th Indigenous Firefighting Competition held in Esquimalt Saturday June 4. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
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 East Wellington in Nanaimo

Incident happened on Munroe Road 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 coming in with expertise in 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)
Fire gear that was donated to Ukraine. (Port Hardy Fire Rescue photo)

Port Hardy donates firefighter gear to help out Ukraine

The District of Port Hardy quickly and proudly stepped up to answer the call

Fire gear that was donated to Ukraine. (Port Hardy Fire Rescue photo)
Members of the Saanich Fire Department stand with one of the new reflective address signs being made available to residents. The highly visible signs help emergency crews more quickly locate a home. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)

Help yourself be more findable in an emergency, says Saanich Fire Department

Department’s new reflective signs designed to save valuable response time

Members of the Saanich Fire Department stand with one of the new reflective address signs being made available to residents. The highly visible signs help emergency crews more quickly locate a home. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)
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)
A new District of Sooke recruitment and retention program includes boosts in pay and a goal of supporting firefighters and their families. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Pay boost, other supports part of Sooke plan to recruit and retain firefighters

District program includes a goal of supporting firefighters and their families

A new District of Sooke recruitment and retention program includes boosts in pay and a goal of supporting firefighters and their families. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
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 in Nanoose Bay

Two people taken to hospital for observation after incident 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)
Edwin Grieve, Area C director of the CVRD, is all smiles as he stands next to the new Merville Fire Truck. He was also smiling at the April 12 board meeting when it was announced that a fire hall will be constructed at Mt. Washington. Photo supplied

Construction of Mount Washington’s first fire hall approved

Just seven petition received against ski resort project, three of them ruled ineligible

Edwin Grieve, Area C director of the CVRD, is all smiles as he stands next to the new Merville Fire Truck. He was also smiling at the April 12 board meeting when it was announced that a fire hall will be constructed at Mt. Washington. Photo supplied
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)
North Cedar Fire Department responded to boat on fire and adrift near Round Island, south of Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file)

Firefighters, RCMP, Coast Guard called to boat fire near Cedar

Pleasure craft of unknown type or origin burns to waterline while adrift near Cedar Boat Ramp

North Cedar Fire Department responded to boat on fire and adrift near Round Island, south of Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file)
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)