fire

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 firefighters mourn one of their own

Volunteer firefighter Lt. Ron Suits remembered as one who loved to help others

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)
Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lucas Banton pours water on a barn fire on McCoy Lake Road on July 16, 2020. Crews from four fire departments in the Alberni Valley worked through the night to extinguish the fire, which caught in a hay barn at Tooth Acres, owned by retired dentist Dr. Fritz Zens. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Vancouver Island firefighter dies at scene of barn blaze

The volunteer firefighter suffered a medical emergency after arriving to assist

Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lucas Banton pours water on a barn fire on McCoy Lake Road on July 16, 2020. Crews from four fire departments in the Alberni Valley worked through the night to extinguish the fire, which caught in a hay barn at Tooth Acres, owned by retired dentist Dr. Fritz Zens. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
All four Alberni Valley fire departments responded to a barn fire on McCoy Lake Road on Thursday, July 16. (SUSAN QUINN / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Fire destroys barn at Vancouver Island hobby farm

Fire started while farmers at the farm west of Port Alberni were cutting hay

All four Alberni Valley fire departments responded to a barn fire on McCoy Lake Road on Thursday, July 16. (SUSAN QUINN / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews are dealing with fire in the basement of the historic Bastion. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Suspicious fire quenched before reaching gunpowder in Nanaimo’s historic Bastion

Probe underway in basement blaze that erupted near where powder stored to fire signature cannons

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews are dealing with fire in the basement of the historic Bastion. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
The Saanich Fire Department is investigating an early morning fire at Strawberry Vale Elementary school that caused extensive damage to the roof. (Photo courtesy Tamara Pillipow)

UPDATED: Saanich firefighters investigate early morning fire at elementary school

Fire crews remain on scene at Strawberry Vale Elementary

The Saanich Fire Department is investigating an early morning fire at Strawberry Vale Elementary school that caused extensive damage to the roof. (Photo courtesy Tamara Pillipow)
Sidney emergency crews were called to a motorcycle fire in the 9300-block of Lochside Drive on July 2. (SidneyVFire/Twitter)

UPDATED: Motorcyclist escapes fire uninjured after onlookers sound alarm in Sidney

First ride of the season ends in flames for one motorcyclist

Sidney emergency crews were called to a motorcycle fire in the 9300-block of Lochside Drive on July 2. (SidneyVFire/Twitter)
The aftermath of the structure fire in Qualicum Beach on June 30. (Qualicum Beach Fire Department photo)

Vancouver Island homeowner douses blaze with garden hose

Fire officials say man’s quick actions resulted in relatively minor damage

The aftermath of the structure fire in Qualicum Beach on June 30. (Qualicum Beach Fire Department photo)
A white Dodge truck parked in a Saanich neighbourhood caught fire early on June 6 and it was later determined the fire was deliberately set. (Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers/Facebook)

Truck fire in Saanich neighbourhood ‘deliberately set,’ Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers says

Witnesses asked to come forward

A white Dodge truck parked in a Saanich neighbourhood caught fire early on June 6 and it was later determined the fire was deliberately set. (Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers/Facebook)
Maple Ridge firefighters have a long track record of rescuing animals in distress. But on Sunday, June 14, 2020, they were called to something out of the ordinary – a report of a puppy trapped inside a couch. (file)

B.C. firefighters rescue puppy from inside couch (yes, inside)

It’s a first, deputy fire chief says

Maple Ridge firefighters have a long track record of rescuing animals in distress. But on Sunday, June 14, 2020, they were called to something out of the ordinary – a report of a puppy trapped inside a couch. (file)
The cause of a Saturday morning truck fire in a Saanich neighbourhood remains under investigation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cause of truck fire in Saanich neighbourhood under investigation

Firefighters find gas can in truck bed

The cause of a Saturday morning truck fire in a Saanich neighbourhood remains under investigation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, here responding to a call outside the Landmark Building, have seen their calls drop in terms of numbers, but rise in terms of severity. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney fire responds to fewer but more severe calls during pandemic

Rise in severity linked to changes in routine during COVID-19 pandemic

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, here responding to a call outside the Landmark Building, have seen their calls drop in terms of numbers, but rise in terms of severity. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Crews say it is unclear if there were any injuries during a suspicious boat fire in the Gorge Waterway. (Black Press Media file photo)

Boat sinks during ‘suspicious fire’ on Gorge Waterway in Victoria

Police say it is unclear if there were injuries

Crews say it is unclear if there were any injuries during a suspicious boat fire in the Gorge Waterway. (Black Press Media file photo)
Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters work the scene of a structure fire that injured multiple firefighters, according to a fire department spokesman, Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

12 Los Angeles firefighters recovering after explosion

All injured firefighters are expected to survive

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters work the scene of a structure fire that injured multiple firefighters, according to a fire department spokesman, Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
A large plume of smoke was spotted by the North Saanich marina on Sunday afternoon. Resident Daria Wynder Muirhead said she heard an explosion and saw a fire by the docks. (Courtesy of Daria Wynder Muirhead)

UPDATED: One dead, two injured following a large fire at North Saanich Marina

One boat has sunk, nearby resident says they heard an explosion ‘sounding like a cannon’

A large plume of smoke was spotted by the North Saanich marina on Sunday afternoon. Resident Daria Wynder Muirhead said she heard an explosion and saw a fire by the docks. (Courtesy of Daria Wynder Muirhead)
Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters put out a fire inside the Circle K convenience store on Departure Bay Road on Saturday night. (Dylan Phillips photo)

Fire at Nanaimo convenience store starts after teen allegedly shoots flare at clerk

Incident happened just after 9 p.m. Saturday at Circle K on Departure Bay Road

Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters put out a fire inside the Circle K convenience store on Departure Bay Road on Saturday night. (Dylan Phillips photo)
Saanich firefighters were called for a minor garbage fire at the Hartland Landfill on Friday night. (Facebook/Capital Regional District)

Smouldering garbage pile at Hartland Landfill doused by Saanich firefighters Friday

Garbage fires routine at landfills as decomposing material can ignite, platoon captain says

Saanich firefighters were called for a minor garbage fire at the Hartland Landfill on Friday night. (Facebook/Capital Regional District)
Second fire in three days at Victoria heritage home

Second fire in three days at Victoria heritage home

Fire crews are back on scene for the second time since Tuesday

Second fire in three days at Victoria heritage home
Fire crews working to put out a fire in the 200-block of Robert Street that started at around 8:40 p.m. on April 28. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

No indication Vic West heritage house fire was suspicious

Approximately $500,000 in losses says Victoria Fire Department

Fire crews working to put out a fire in the 200-block of Robert Street that started at around 8:40 p.m. on April 28. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The charred remnants of the San Group building on Nuupts’ ikapis Way. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Fire crews battle industrial fire at San Group construction site in Port Alberni

Four fire depts. called out to help extinguish blaze at remanufacturing plant

The charred remnants of the San Group building on Nuupts’ ikapis Way. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney fire crews responded to a fire in the 6300-block of Central Saanich Road on April 16. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)

Two firefighters injured in late Thursday night fire in Central Saanich

At this time the fire is not believed to be suspicious

Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney fire crews responded to a fire in the 6300-block of Central Saanich Road on April 16. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)
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