firefighters

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and RCMP are investigating a fire in a community garden shed at John Barsby Secondary School and would like to speak with a person of interest who was seen in the area at the time of the fire. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo RCMP investigating suspicious fire in high school’s community garden

Shed burned on John Barsby Secondary School property

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and RCMP are investigating a fire in a community garden shed at John Barsby Secondary School and would like to speak with a person of interest who was seen in the area at the time of the fire. (Photo submitted)
Chief Darren Hughes retires this spring after 30 years with Oak Bay fire. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay fire chief cruises into retirement

Darren Hughes marks 30 years on his final day

Chief Darren Hughes retires this spring after 30 years with Oak Bay fire. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Oak Bay’s interim deputy fire chief Frank Macdonald takes over as chief April 1 after Fire Chief Darren Hughes retires. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Longtime Saanich firefighter takes over as Oak Bay chief

Interim deputy Frank Macdonald takes over April 1

Oak Bay’s interim deputy fire chief Frank Macdonald takes over as chief April 1 after Fire Chief Darren Hughes retires. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Oliver Lipinski, right, accepts a certificate as an official junior member of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department from fire chief Marc Norris. (Submitted photo)

Parksville Volunteer Fire Department recruits youngest-ever junior member

Oliver Lipinski, 3, walked up to 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)
Oak Bay Fire Chief Darren Hughes says there is a Plan B should the portable shelter not be ready in time for new ladder truck on order. (Black Press Media file photo)

A hall too small: Oak Bay fire plans portable storage for ladder truck

2023 ladder, pumper trucks on order for next year

Oak Bay Fire Chief Darren Hughes says there is a Plan B should the portable shelter not be ready in time for new ladder truck on order. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kade Johnson, left, Allan Nielsen and Derek Johnson, of Budget Glass, replace shattered windows following a suspicious fire set in a garbage bin in front of the Money Mart at Rock City Plaza shopping centre early Thursday. Nanaimo RCMP are investigating. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Suspicious fire blows out front window of Nanaimo Money Mart

Nanaimo RCMP investigating fire in trash bin at Rock City Plaza

Kade Johnson, left, Allan Nielsen and Derek Johnson, of Budget Glass, replace shattered windows following a suspicious fire set in a garbage bin in front of the Money Mart at Rock City Plaza shopping centre early Thursday. Nanaimo RCMP are investigating. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Then Saanich Fire Deputy Chief Frank Macdonald (left) and Chief Mike Burgess celebrate the chief’s retirement on Sept. 29, 2021. (File photo courtesy Mike Burgess)

Oak Bay names interim fire chief ahead of spring retirement

Frank Macdonald served with Saanich Fire for decades

Then Saanich Fire Deputy Chief Frank Macdonald (left) and Chief Mike Burgess celebrate the chief’s retirement on Sept. 29, 2021. (File photo courtesy Mike Burgess)
The fire at Town Park Apartments. (Dana Rufus Facebook photo)

Port Hardy Fire Rescue knocks down structure fire near apartment building

Fire was located in a detached garage and storage shed

The fire at Town Park Apartments. (Dana Rufus Facebook photo)
Members of Langford Fire Rescue, including former fire chief Bob Beckett (second from right) in Afghanistan in 2004. (Courtesy of Langford Fire Rescue)

Langford humanitarians working to help Afghan firefighters, families stay alive

Former fire chief Bob Beckett working to help colleagues in Afghanistan

Members of Langford Fire Rescue, including former fire chief Bob Beckett (second from right) in Afghanistan in 2004. (Courtesy of Langford Fire Rescue)
Firefighters Chris Bailey, left, and Nicole Pound hit the training ground in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: 3 new firefighters bring diverse knowledge, perspective to Oak Bay service

Fire department starts 2022 with handful of new faces

Firefighters Chris Bailey, left, and Nicole Pound hit the training ground in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
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)
Fred Parker, 88, has retired from Sooke Fire Rescue after nearly seven decades of fire service in Calgary, Sooke and as a private fire investigator in the U.S. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke firefighter retires after nearly seven decades of service

‘I had the best career,’ says Fred Parker, 88

Fred Parker, 88, has retired from Sooke Fire Rescue after nearly seven decades of fire service in Calgary, Sooke and as a private fire investigator in the U.S. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
Capt. Rob Kivell displays a hockey card showcasing his job before firefighting – on the ice with a Calgary Flames affiliate club. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Former Flame turned Oak Bay fire prevention officer chases third kidney transplant

Retiring Capt. Rob Kivell hands over duties to friend, coworker

Capt. Rob Kivell displays a hockey card showcasing his job before firefighting – on the ice with a Calgary Flames affiliate club. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
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)

Esquimalt fire donates engine to help train First Nation departments across B.C.

Truck to be used to build firefighters’ skills, enable better community protection in emergencies

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)
Municipal firefighters are trained and licensed to administer an enhanced level of emergency medical care to patients, including in the event of attending an overdose call. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke mayor worries for firefighters in opioid crisis, despite low call numbers

‘Our firefighters are put into many tragic circumstances,’ says Maja Tait

Municipal firefighters are trained and licensed to administer an enhanced level of emergency medical care to patients, including in the event of attending an overdose call. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Deer rescued after falling through ice on Nanaimo’s Westwood Lake

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and B.C. Conservation Officer Service respond to incident Tuesday, Jan. 25

A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
Firefighter Aidan Wells is the new executive director for the Oak Bay Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

New face leads firefighter fundraising in Oak Bay

Aidan Wells started as a teen volunteer with Metchosin Fire Department

Firefighter Aidan Wells is the new executive director for the Oak Bay Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Volunteer firefighters with North Cedar Volunteer Fire Department braved near-freezing waters to save a dog that was seen struggling for its life after falling through ice on Holden Lake in Hemer Park south of Nanaimo. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Dog rescued after falling through ice on lake in Cedar

Volunteer firefighters mount water rescue after dog seen struggling for its life in Hemer Park

Volunteer firefighters with North Cedar Volunteer Fire Department braved near-freezing waters to save a dog that was seen struggling for its life after falling through ice on Holden Lake in Hemer Park south of Nanaimo. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Nanaimo firefighters were called to Long Lake after a report of people walking on the lake’s frozen surface the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 9. Firefighters could see people walking on the far side of the lake but weren’t able to locate them after driving over there. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Firefighters called after people spotted walking on the ice on Long Lake in Nanaimo

Fire department warns against walking or skating on Nanaimo’s frozen lakes

Nanaimo firefighters were called to Long Lake after a report of people walking on the lake’s frozen surface the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 9. Firefighters could see people walking on the far side of the lake but weren’t able to locate them after driving over there. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)