firefighters

Saanich fire Capt. Carl Trepels is reminding residents to be cautious as the forest fire risk in Greater Victoria has been upgraded to ‘extreme’ – as indicated on the sign outside Fire Hall #1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Greater Victoria forest fire risk upgraded to ‘extreme’

Residents reminded to be cautious with smoking material, avoid all outdoor burning

Saanich fire Capt. Carl Trepels is reminding residents to be cautious as the forest fire risk in Greater Victoria has been upgraded to ‘extreme’ – as indicated on the sign outside Fire Hall #1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Work is underway on the Saanich Fire Department’s new memorial plaza outside Station #1 on Vernon Avenue. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Plaza memorializing fallen Saanich firefighters takes shape outside Station #1

Construction set to be completed ahead of Firefighters’ National Memorial Day

Work is underway on the Saanich Fire Department’s new memorial plaza outside Station #1 on Vernon Avenue. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich firefighters worked quickly to tackle a medium-sized grass fire in the 4800-block of Scarborough Road on Aug. 13. (Google Maps)

Firefighters tackle medium-sized grass fire on rural Saanich property

Saanich Fire Department issues warm weather fire safety reminder

Saanich firefighters worked quickly to tackle a medium-sized grass fire in the 4800-block of Scarborough Road on Aug. 13. (Google Maps)
BC Hydro crews worked to restore power and replace a hydro pole and underground cable after a pole-top fire on Stamboul Street in Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)

Electrical fault results in Saanich hydro pole fire

BC Hydro crews on scene repairing damage well into the early morning hours

BC Hydro crews worked to restore power and replace a hydro pole and underground cable after a pole-top fire on Stamboul Street in Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)
Lieutenant Ron Suits was a firefighter with Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department for four and a half years until he died while working a fire on July 16, 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY SPROAT LAKE VFD)

Vancouver Island fire departments to hold service for fallen firefighter

Sproat Lake volunteer firefighter Lt. Ron Suits died at the scene of a barn fire on July 16

Lieutenant Ron Suits was a firefighter with Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department for four and a half years until he died while working a fire on July 16, 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY SPROAT LAKE VFD)
Saanich police arrested a suspect in connection to a hydraulic rescue pump stolen from a Saanich fire engine outside the Pearkes Rec Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Arrest made after hydraulic rescue pump stolen from temporary Saanich fire hall

VicPD K-9 unit called in to help locate suspect, stolen equipment

Saanich police arrested a suspect in connection to a hydraulic rescue pump stolen from a Saanich fire engine outside the Pearkes Rec Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
Assistant Deputy Chief Rob Heppell of the Saanich Fire Department stands with members of the SportsCardiologyBC. (Photo courtesy Rob Heppell)

Nearly 100 Saanich firefighters join heart health study for first responders

About half of on-duty fatalities caused by cardiac incidents, firefighter says

Assistant Deputy Chief Rob Heppell of the Saanich Fire Department stands with members of the SportsCardiologyBC. (Photo courtesy Rob Heppell)
The Saanich Fire Department has helped 100 local kids celebrate their birthdays in style amid the pandemic. (Saanich Fire/Twitter)

Saanich firefighters mark 100 drive-by birthdays for kids amid the pandemic

Drive-by birthday program ends June 30

The Saanich Fire Department has helped 100 local kids celebrate their birthdays in style amid the pandemic. (Saanich Fire/Twitter)
Trent Frankel, the Oak Bay Firefighters Charitable Foundation executive director, is among the firefighters participating in a 24-hour relay fundraiser June 27. (Nina Grossman/Black Press)

Greater Victoria firefighters lap up new fundraising opportunity

Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt crews hit the track in 24-hour relay June 27

Trent Frankel, the Oak Bay Firefighters Charitable Foundation executive director, is among the firefighters participating in a 24-hour relay fundraiser June 27. (Nina Grossman/Black Press)
The Saanich Fire Department was called to a barbecue fire likely caused by faulty fuel lines in mid-May. (Photo courtesy Capt. Carl Trepels)

Welcome to grilling season: Saanich firefighter talks barbecue safety tips

Grills should be cleaned, serviced prior to use, firefighter says

The Saanich Fire Department was called to a barbecue fire likely caused by faulty fuel lines in mid-May. (Photo courtesy Capt. Carl Trepels)
Dave Spencer of the North Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association and Stacey Lee of the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association each present Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Food Bank, with a cheque for $1,000. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Firefighter donations shine light on Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank’s need

Associations representing Central Saanich and North Saanich firefighters each donate $1,000

Dave Spencer of the North Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association and Stacey Lee of the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Association each present Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Food Bank, with a cheque for $1,000. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Many disposable masks have a metal nose wire or staples holding the straps which can cause sparks or a fire when heated. (Pixabay photo)

Don’t use microwave to sterilize COVID-19 masks: Ontario fire marshal

Jon Pegg says there have been 51 fire fatalities in Ontario between Jan. 1 and May 4

Many disposable masks have a metal nose wire or staples holding the straps which can cause sparks or a fire when heated. (Pixabay photo)
The first responder dispatch protocol was also rolled out during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. firefighters only responding to most life-threatening calls during COVID-19 pandemic

The directive comes after province spoke with paramedics, fire services, according to top doctor

The first responder dispatch protocol was also rolled out during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. (Black Press Media files)
Fire Departments across Greater Victoria, including the Victoria fire department (pictured) are scaling back their duties to reduce exposure to COVID-19.(Black Press Media File Photo)

Greater Victoria fire departments restrict duties in light of COVID-19

Fire inspections, education seminars and more cancelled to limit exposure to coronavirus

Fire Departments across Greater Victoria, including the Victoria fire department (pictured) are scaling back their duties to reduce exposure to COVID-19.(Black Press Media File Photo)
Every year, members of the St. Catharines Fire Combat Team strip down and flex their muscles for a good cause with proceeds going to charity. (St. Catharines Fire Department photo)

No shirts, no city services: Firefighter calendar too steamy for Ontario officials

The city has never funded the calendars, but has OK’d photoshoots at city-owned properties

Every year, members of the St. Catharines Fire Combat Team strip down and flex their muscles for a good cause with proceeds going to charity. (St. Catharines Fire Department photo)
The owners of Island Outfitters have taken to social media to share photos of the damage a month after a fire ravaged the store. (Island Outfitters/Facebook)

Island Outfitters owners share photos of damage caused by fire that ravaged store

Charred walls and melted inventory are what’s left of the Saanich outdoor store

The owners of Island Outfitters have taken to social media to share photos of the damage a month after a fire ravaged the store. (Island Outfitters/Facebook)
A group of firefighters from the Colwood and View Royal fire departments will be heading to Vancouver to climb all 48 storeys of stairs at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in support of the B.C. Lung Association. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

View Royal, Colwood firefighters to climb 48 storeys in full gear to support B.C. Lung Association

A healthy rivalry between the two departments will see who gets to the top first

A group of firefighters from the Colwood and View Royal fire departments will be heading to Vancouver to climb all 48 storeys of stairs at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in support of the B.C. Lung Association. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)

‘We could see fire all over the landscape’: Vancouver Island man recounts helping crews in Australia

Kevin Cochrane of the Coastal Fire Centre spent 38 days Down Under

The first group of Canadians that went over to fight the country’s 2019-2020 wildfires were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and various federal parks. (Courtesy of Kevin Cochrane)
Victoria Fire Department Platoon Captain Oscar Pohl speaks at the ceremony for the Memorial Bell. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Victoria Fire Department honours fallen firefighters with new memorial bell and plaque

The most recent death was Retired Fire Chief Richard Couch in 2018

Victoria Fire Department Platoon Captain Oscar Pohl speaks at the ceremony for the Memorial Bell. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
The Saanich Fire Department is warning people of a new phone scam. (Black Press Media files)

Saanich Fire Department warns public of new phone scam

Someone is posing as a fire fighter and asking for donations to the burn fund

The Saanich Fire Department is warning people of a new phone scam. (Black Press Media files)