firefighters

Tim Doyle, Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s deputy chief of administration, will fill in as the city’s acting fire chief until a replacement is found for former fire chief Karen Fry, who is now chief of Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. (News Bulletin file photo)

Deputy fire chief steps in as Nanaimo’s acting chief

Tim Doyle, deputy chief of administration, will fill leadership role until new chief named

 

Nanaimo Fire Rescue Chief Karen Fry was presented with Canada’s Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal at Monday’s city council meeting. (Photo courtesy City of Nanaimo)

Nanaimo fire chief awarded national Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal

Departing chief Karen Fry recognized for 20 years of service

 

The Saanich Fire Department is calling for residents to be fire smart as they deck the halls for the holidays. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island firefighters offer safety tips to avoid holiday fires

Candles, damaged lights, dry trees and smoking can all lead to house fires

 

Lieut. Orphée Bernard takes a twirl on his Movember moustache as Lieut. Jeff Allan, back left, firefighters Andrew Mills and Layne Polnick and Capt. Troy Libbus display an oversized cheque showing the amount of cash raised from the profits of custom-embroidered T-shirt sales. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo firefighters raise moustache cash

Firefighters support Movember Canada through T-shirt sale fundraiser

Lieut. Orphée Bernard takes a twirl on his Movember moustache as Lieut. Jeff Allan, back left, firefighters Andrew Mills and Layne Polnick and Capt. Troy Libbus display an oversized cheque showing the amount of cash raised from the profits of custom-embroidered T-shirt sales. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Nanaimo Fire Rescue Chief Karen Fry will become the next fire chief of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in the new year. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s fire chief hired to become Vancouver’s fire chief

Karen Fry calls the move a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity

Nanaimo Fire Rescue Chief Karen Fry will become the next fire chief of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in the new year. (News Bulletin file photo)
A fire structure protection unit responds to a call in Campbell River. Mayors from smaller communities are voicing their need for more provincial funding to cope with the rising cost of fire services and equipment. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror.

B.C.’s smaller communities want a better solution for funding fire protection

Rural mayors asking the province for help with the rising cost of equipment and training

A fire structure protection unit responds to a call in Campbell River. Mayors from smaller communities are voicing their need for more provincial funding to cope with the rising cost of fire services and equipment. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror.
Lieut. Blair Pinker, left, Brad Terragni, fire prevention officer, firefighter Jared MacLeod and the rest of Nanaimo’s firefighters are asking the public to pitch in to fight muscular dystrophy this weekend by donating to the Boot Drive. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo firefighters are out to give muscular dystrophy the boot this weekend

Boot Drive will take place at Save-On-Foods Country Club Centre on Saturday, Nov. 21

Lieut. Blair Pinker, left, Brad Terragni, fire prevention officer, firefighter Jared MacLeod and the rest of Nanaimo’s firefighters are asking the public to pitch in to fight muscular dystrophy this weekend by donating to the Boot Drive. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
This photo provided by the Unified Fire Authority shows a Utah fire crew member on the scene working to protect the town of Butte Falls in southern Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 13. 2020. This year’s fires have taxed the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire fighting forces to a degree that few past blazes did. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought, and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with other factors to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. (Matthew McFarland/Unified Fire Authority via AP)

B.C., Alberta sending nearly 300 fire personnel by Friday to help battle wildfires in Oregon

Some 230 firefighters, most from British Columbia but including a number from Alberta, will be deployed Friday

This photo provided by the Unified Fire Authority shows a Utah fire crew member on the scene working to protect the town of Butte Falls in southern Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 13. 2020. This year’s fires have taxed the human, mechanical and financial resources of the nation’s wildfire fighting forces to a degree that few past blazes did. And half of the fire season is yet to come. Heat, drought, and a strategic decision to attack the flames early combined with other factors to put a historically heavy burden on fire teams. (Matthew McFarland/Unified Fire Authority via AP)
Umesh Lal, Nanaimo Fire rescue fire prevention officer, middle, starts a water fight with firefighters Greg Finstad, left, and Jason Lynch in a video shot for the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund Burn Camp, which was held virtually in July. (Image submitted)

Nanaimo firefighters’ burn fund video wins people’s choice award

Firefighters film gag video based on a burn camp water fight tradition

Umesh Lal, Nanaimo Fire rescue fire prevention officer, middle, starts a water fight with firefighters Greg Finstad, left, and Jason Lynch in a video shot for the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund Burn Camp, which was held virtually in July. (Image submitted)
Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog takes the controls of a backhoe to turn the turf at a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s new Fire Station No. 1 on Wednesday. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Ground-breaking ceremony held for Nanaimo’s new Fire Station No. 1

Construction to be complete in fall 2022 for new seismically safe multi-service facility

Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog takes the controls of a backhoe to turn the turf at a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s new Fire Station No. 1 on Wednesday. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
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)
A lithium-ion polymer battery for a radio-controlled vehicle burst into flame while it was being charged Tuesday and caused extensive damage to the living of a suite in a home on Kamp Place in Nanaimo. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Lithium-ion battery fire damages suite in Nanaimo

One man displaced from home after battery for radio-controlled toy bursts into flame while charging

A lithium-ion polymer battery for a radio-controlled vehicle burst into flame while it was being charged Tuesday and caused extensive damage to the living of a suite in a home on Kamp Place in Nanaimo. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
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)
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 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)
A firefighter salutes the commemorative statue behind the BC Legislature during the BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ memorial, with B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association executive director, Gord Ditchburn, on the left and B.C. Premier John Horgan on the right (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Hundreds gather in Victoria to honour fallen firefighters

The BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ Memorial honours those who have died in the line of duty

A firefighter salutes the commemorative statue behind the BC Legislature during the BC Fallen Fire Fighters’ memorial, with B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association executive director, Gord Ditchburn, on the left and B.C. Premier John Horgan on the right (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Fire fighters battled a fire at a multi-family home on the 800 block of Fulton Street on June 6, 2017. (Matthew Allen / The Northern View)

Why cancer is deadlier than fire for firefighters in B.C.

The silent threat that is killing firefighters and how the profession is fighting back

Fire fighters battled a fire at a multi-family home on the 800 block of Fulton Street on June 6, 2017. (Matthew Allen / The Northern View)