View Royal Fire Rescue has been battling the heat, responding to approximately 30 emergency and non-emergency calls last week.
Fire Chief Paul Hurst noted overdoses are still a regular occurrence, with the department responding to three alone last week. That brings View Royal’s yearly total to 30.
Crews also responded to a rescue at Thetis Lake, where they helped B.C. Ambulance Service transport a patient suffering from a minor medical condition out of the park.
With the recent heat wave, the local department has also been busy with brush, grass and ground fires. Hurst noted the three fires the department put out last week are a good reminder that conditions are drying out fast and if the heat keeps up it will soon push the town to extreme on the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. Right now the town – and the rest of the West Shore – has been classified by B.C. Forest Service as high risk.
