It’s been said in a number of places, but it needs to be said again. We, at the Sooke News Mirror, want to publicly thank the scores of firefighters who came to the fire which destroyed our building. The firefighters from all of the outlying areas, through the district’s mutual aid agreement, didn’t fail us.
Which brings about the whole mutual aid premise, and it’s a good one. This allows smaller communities the ability to afford their fire departments and because large fires happen infrequently, each department does not need every single piece of equipment which may be required. This is a good thing and it works.
But most of all, the local fire department, under the direction of Fire Chief Steve Sorensen, did a remarkable job of not only fighting the fire but of helping out before and after the flames were out. This is what happens in a small community where people matter.
So, when the councils in the future start to question every single line item in the fire department budget, perhaps they should remember what these people do in our community. They risk life and limb to help others and most do so voluntarily. It’s never a pleasant job but it is a necessary one.
The businesses that were impacted by the fire will survive. While rental premises are scarce in Sooke, each one will probably find space somewhere. Our office is now located at the Seaview Business Centre at 6631 Sooke Road.
This is our first issue since the fire and we have managed to pull it off even though we don’t yet have phones, didn’t have any Internet for awhile and barely found a pen or pencil. But, like the postal service, the paper must get out. Thank you to all who helped make our ‘transition’ easier.