firefighters

A vehicle that was driven through the wall of a parkade at Uptown Shopping Centre and into the nearby Walmart on April 9 was removed through another hole in the wall later that night. (Photo via Saanich Police Department and Ayush Kakkar)

PHOTOS: Vehicle driven into Saanich Walmart removed after two trapped workers rescued

Crews cut new hole in parkade wall to remove vehicle safely

 

Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Name three parts of a ladder among the 40 questions Saanich’s 1940s firefighter recruit exam

1949 firefighter recruit exam no match for modern-day assessments

 

Bean, a small dog, got her head stuck in the reclining mechanism of a couch on Wednesday night. (Facebook/Kamloops Fire Rescue)

Kamloops fire crews free Bean the pup trapped in reclining chair

‘We don’t rescue cats out of trees anymore… but we do occasionally rescue dogs out of reclining couches!’

 

In 2020, Saanich firefighters responded to 438 fires, 1288 medical calls and prevented more than $150 million in damage. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Pandemic meant more blazes, fewer calls for Saanich firefighters in 2020

Department reports preventing $151-million in property damage

In 2020, Saanich firefighters responded to 438 fires, 1288 medical calls and prevented more than $150 million in damage. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Gas leak in Saanich neighbourhood fills home through sewer lines

Firefighters, Fortis BC responded quickly, no injuries reported

(Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay fire reach ‘modern’ service agreement

Negotiations to update 1980 firefighting agreement began in 2015, stalled in 2020

(Black Press Media file photo)
Members of the Saanich Fire Department can be seen working to put out a fire in the 4500-block of Chattertown Way on Jan. 26. (Saanich Fire/Twitter)

UPDATED: One cat killed, another resuscitated following blaze in Saanich townhouse

Neighbours evacuated following fire on Chatterton Way, third cat still missing

Members of the Saanich Fire Department can be seen working to put out a fire in the 4500-block of Chattertown Way on Jan. 26. (Saanich Fire/Twitter)
(File photo)

‘Very lucky’: Two passengers, dog escape rollover crash in Saanich unscathed

Vehicle flips on Trans Canada Highway after hitting median, possibly due to ice, firefighter says

(File photo)
A single-vehicle collision involving a driver who struck the median on McKenzie Avenue at Carey Road interrupted morning traffic on Jan. 21. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

UPDATED: Morning traffic in Saanich interrupted after driver crashes into centre median, retaining wall

No serious injuries reported, driver not impaired, police say

A single-vehicle collision involving a driver who struck the median on McKenzie Avenue at Carey Road interrupted morning traffic on Jan. 21. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning left one man displaced. Jan. 14, 2021 (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Early morning fire claims one shelter at encampment between Pat Bay Highway, McKenzie Avenue

One man displaced, no injuries reported

A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning left one man displaced. Jan. 14, 2021 (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
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)

Saanich firefighters offer safety tips to avoid holiday fires

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

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)
Representative from the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and Sooke’s IAFF Local 4841 presented the Sooke Food Bank with a cheque for over $36,000 on Dec. 17. The funds raised will go towards feeding those in need across the Sooke region. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke Christmas Bureau gifted with $36,000 donation by firefighters

Santa Run raised over $11,000 in a single night

Representative from the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and Sooke’s IAFF Local 4841 presented the Sooke Food Bank with a cheque for over $36,000 on Dec. 17. The funds raised will go towards feeding those in need across the Sooke region. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Grade 8 students Ava Piasta and Luke Housden won the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund annual Fire Prevention Week art contest. Piasta, first, gets a new iPad and Housden, second, a $75 gift certificate. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Two Saanich students nab top prizes in province-wide fire safety poster contest

Glanford Middle School, Saanich Fire Department help mark students’ big win

Grade 8 students Ava Piasta and Luke Housden won the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund annual Fire Prevention Week art contest. Piasta, first, gets a new iPad and Housden, second, a $75 gift certificate. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
The Sooke Santa Run will feature their youngest members as Santas, an annual tradition for the firefighters in Sooke, East Sooke, Shirley and Otter Point. The drive-by event takes place throughout the Sooke neighbourhood on Dec. 12. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

No one outside fire hall allowed to help volunteer for Sooke Santa Run

Drive-by event takes place on Dec. 12, with goal to raise $15,000

The Sooke Santa Run will feature their youngest members as Santas, an annual tradition for the firefighters in Sooke, East Sooke, Shirley and Otter Point. The drive-by event takes place throughout the Sooke neighbourhood on Dec. 12. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Saanich Fire Department Station #2 C-Battalion members (left to right) firefighter Clayton Tilon, firefighter Bonnie Fiala, firefighter Zay Hamilton, Capt. Dawrin Schellenberg and firefighter Charlie Rivers show off their BC Emergency Health Servicecs Vital Link Award. (Photo courtesy Darwin Schellenberg)

Saanich firefighters receive Vital Link Award from paramedics for life-saving CPR

Award issued to C-Battalion, civilian for help saving cardiac arrest patient in June

The Saanich Fire Department Station #2 C-Battalion members (left to right) firefighter Clayton Tilon, firefighter Bonnie Fiala, firefighter Zay Hamilton, Capt. Dawrin Schellenberg and firefighter Charlie Rivers show off their BC Emergency Health Servicecs Vital Link Award. (Photo courtesy Darwin Schellenberg)
The Saanich Fire Department’s C platoon worked quickly to douse a fire in an apartment building in the 1500-block of Arrow Road after 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 20. (Rob Heppell/Twitter)

One person taken to hospital following fire in Saanich apartment building

Suite contents ‘heavily damaged,’ building residents evacuated, firefighter says

The Saanich Fire Department’s C platoon worked quickly to douse a fire in an apartment building in the 1500-block of Arrow Road after 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 20. (Rob Heppell/Twitter)
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.
Saanich firefighters were called to the public works yard on McKenzie Avenue on Nov. 18 to manage a gas leak in a propane storage unit on site. (Black Press Media file photo)

Worn pipe cause of gas leak at Saanich’s public works yard

Minor gas leak a good reminder of what to do, deputy fire chief says

Saanich firefighters were called to the public works yard on McKenzie Avenue on Nov. 18 to manage a gas leak in a propane storage unit on site. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Left to right) Firefighters Drew Coleman, Allistair Davy-Saxl, Jaskarn Johal, Fire Chief Mike Burgess, Paul Lance and Capt. Erin Stockhill stand outside Station #1 after the declaration of duty ceremony. (Mike Burgess/Twitter)

Saanich welcomes four new firefighters, Emergency Program coordinator

Next round of recruiting for ‘best job in the world’ begins in December

(Left to right) Firefighters Drew Coleman, Allistair Davy-Saxl, Jaskarn Johal, Fire Chief Mike Burgess, Paul Lance and Capt. Erin Stockhill stand outside Station #1 after the declaration of duty ceremony. (Mike Burgess/Twitter)
The Saanich Fire Department is reminding rural Saanich residents to be safe and follow the guidelines when the open-air burning season resumes Oct. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)

Open-air burning season resumes Oct. 16 in rural Saanich

Saanich firefighter talks outdoor burning guidelines, fire safety

The Saanich Fire Department is reminding rural Saanich residents to be safe and follow the guidelines when the open-air burning season resumes Oct. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)