Sooke Fire Rescue Service responded to three fires on Sept.16. The first was to a brush fire on a small island near Goodridge Peninsula. An area about 20 x 50 was on fire when crews arrived.
Due to location, all equipment had to be packed in by hand. The fire was caused by a campfire not properly extinguished.
Twelve firefighters worked on this for about two hours. Due to the rising tide, the access was cut off and the Sooke Coast Guard Auxiliary had to be called in to retrieve the firefighters and their gear. (FF Bob Bennett in the photo).
Call came in around 1:15 pm.
While still at this call, another grass fire was reported on Townsend Road (2:48 pm). This was caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette. Crews soaked down the area, but thanks to work of a neighbour with a long garden hose, the fire was controlled before FD arrival.
Then at 11:50 pm, 16 firefighters responded to a vehicle fire at the end of Goodridge Road.
The SUV was fully involved on arrival and is deemed suspicious as the RCMP reported the vehicle as stolen.
The investigation on this continues.
Steven Sorensen
Fire Chief / Emergency Operations Coordinator