firefighters

Firefighters from all across the province march along Menzies Street to the south lawn of the legislature in Victoria to honour those who died in the line of duty Monday (March 6). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: B.C. firefighters honour fallen colleagues with cancer warning

The same gear that’s supposed to protect first responders is also killing them due to cancer, says firefighter

Firefighters from all across the province march along Menzies Street to the south lawn of the legislature in Victoria to honour those who died in the line of duty Monday (March 6). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Cameron St. Amand (left) competed as a finalist in the 2023 World’s Strongest Firefighter Contest, which involved doing a sandbag carry. (Special to The News)

B.C. firefighter competes in World’s Strongest Firefighter Contest

Cameron St. Amand was one of only two Canadian finalists in the competition

Cameron St. Amand (left) competed as a finalist in the 2023 World’s Strongest Firefighter Contest, which involved doing a sandbag carry. (Special to The News)
White Rock deputy fire Chief Norm MacLeod travelled to Turkey with Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue, following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on Feb. 6, 2023. (Contributed photo)

B.C. deputy fire chief recalls Turkey rescue efforts, ‘amazing’ resilience of those impacted

Norm MacLeod reflects on week in earthquake-ravaged Adiyaman

White Rock deputy fire Chief Norm MacLeod travelled to Turkey with Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue, following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on Feb. 6, 2023. (Contributed photo)
The newly built Nelson fire hall in 1913, with firefighting equipment powered by horses. Photo: Nelson Fire and Rescue

Nelson to replace B.C.’s oldest working fire hall made famous by Roxanne

The 110-year-old facility no longer meets standards

The newly built Nelson fire hall in 1913, with firefighting equipment powered by horses. Photo: Nelson Fire and Rescue
At least eight Langley RCMP vehicles were in the area of 201st Street and 96th Avenue early in the afternoon Wednesday, Feb. 8. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
At least eight Langley RCMP vehicles were in the area of 201st Street and 96th Avenue early in the afternoon Wednesday, Feb. 8. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the remains of destroyed buildings in a city in southern Turkey, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. White Rock deputy fire Chief Norm MacLeod has joined efforts to assist in the devastated country, as part of a Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue team. (Photo by Khalil Hamra, the Canadian Press/Ap)

White Rock deputy fire chief joins disaster-aid efforts in Turkey

Norm MacLeod part of Burnaby Urban Search & Rescue team that flew out Feb. 7

A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the remains of destroyed buildings in a city in southern Turkey, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. White Rock deputy fire Chief Norm MacLeod has joined efforts to assist in the devastated country, as part of a Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue team. (Photo by Khalil Hamra, the Canadian Press/Ap)
One person has reportedly died in a mobile trailer fire that broke out early January in Hope. (Google Maps)

Firefighters discover human remains following trailer fire in Hope

Fire department says person was said to be home in the evening prior to early-morning blaze

One person has reportedly died in a mobile trailer fire that broke out early January in Hope. (Google Maps)
Kirby Booker puts out a grass fire. (Karen Powell file photo)

Female firefighters extinguishing stereotypes in B.C.’s cariboo

Barb Bachmeier got her start on the fire brigades in Barkerville and Wells in 1994

Kirby Booker puts out a grass fire. (Karen Powell file photo)
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

Black Press reporter takes the plunge with firefighters for cold water training

Kelowna Fire Department renews skills with annual training

  • Jan 5, 2023
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
Vernon Fire Rescue

It’s a girl! Firefighters deliver Vernon baby

Mother and newborn are doing well following emergency labour

Vernon Fire Rescue
A kitten crawled inside the engine compartment of a firetruck at a crash Sunday, Nov. 27 and was discovered back at the firehall. (City of Vernon photo)

Feline fine after fur-raising ride on Vernon fire truck

Stowaway cat catches a ride with firefighters

A kitten crawled inside the engine compartment of a firetruck at a crash Sunday, Nov. 27 and was discovered back at the firehall. (City of Vernon photo)
Firefighters from the Malakwa Fire Department and others from the Shuswap participate in a live-burn training exercise. (File Photo)

New builds made of combustible materials make for hotter blazes: Shuswap firefighters

‘It really is a dangerous environment now. Stuff can be replaced but firefighters cannot’

Firefighters from the Malakwa Fire Department and others from the Shuswap participate in a live-burn training exercise. (File Photo)
B.C. firefighters will receive workers’ compensation for two more types of cancer, pancreatic and thyroid, as of Nov, 8. 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. firefighters now covered for 2 more types of cancer

Pancreatic, thyroid cancers added to types covered by workers’ compensation

B.C. firefighters will receive workers’ compensation for two more types of cancer, pancreatic and thyroid, as of Nov, 8. 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
As onlookers watched, a Langley City fire crew took apart a playground teeter-totter to rescue a little girl who had become trapped Sunday morning at Linwood Park. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Langley City fire fighters extricate girl from playground teeter-totter

Two- to three-year-old child was, under the circumstances, remarkably calm

As onlookers watched, a Langley City fire crew took apart a playground teeter-totter to rescue a little girl who had become trapped Sunday morning at Linwood Park. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
A turn sign, a street identification sign, and several panels of fence were taken out as an SUV careened off the road, through a backyard, and into the side of a Fort Langley home Friday night, Oct. 21, 2022. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: SUV plows into Lower Mainland home

Emergency crews were deployed Friday night to Fort Langley after a single-vehicle crash

A turn sign, a street identification sign, and several panels of fence were taken out as an SUV careened off the road, through a backyard, and into the side of a Fort Langley home Friday night, Oct. 21, 2022. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
A briefing document prepared for the deputy minister of Indigenous Services Canada says there is currently no way to enforce provincial or national building or fire codes for buildings on reserves. But Blaine Wiggins, senior director of the Indigenous Fire Marshals Service, seen in an undated handout photo, says that enforcement gap has “catastrophic” consequences. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada

No way to enforce fire codes on First Nations, and new law would be costly: document

House fires have long posed a major safety risk to those living on reserve,

A briefing document prepared for the deputy minister of Indigenous Services Canada says there is currently no way to enforce provincial or national building or fire codes for buildings on reserves. But Blaine Wiggins, senior director of the Indigenous Fire Marshals Service, seen in an undated handout photo, says that enforcement gap has “catastrophic” consequences. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada
Firefighters stand by with hoses to snuff out any possible fire originating from spilled fuel after a truck crashed through a house in Nanoose Bay on Monday, Oct. 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Truck driver survives after crashing through house along Vancouver Island highway

Rescuers take three hours to extricate transport truck driver after incident near Nanaimo

Firefighters stand by with hoses to snuff out any possible fire originating from spilled fuel after a truck crashed through a house in Nanoose Bay on Monday, Oct. 3. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Image: RCMP logo

Mother killed, 4 children injured in head-on crash near Trail

The accident occurred after a Ford pickup entered oncoming traffic and collided with the family’s car

Image: RCMP logo
A contingent of Township of Langley firefighters and some 400 guests came together at the Langley Events Centre Saturday night for the fourth annual Mayor’s Charitable Gala. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Bell rung for firefighters who never returned

During a few sombre moments Saturday, a 400+ crowd at a Langley fundraiser remembered Sept. 11, 2001

A contingent of Township of Langley firefighters and some 400 guests came together at the Langley Events Centre Saturday night for the fourth annual Mayor’s Charitable Gala. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)
The East Meadows Plateau wildfire is about 20 kilometres from the City of Kamloops. (Photo/BCWS Twitter)

Wildfire sparks just north of Kamloops

The fire is highly visible to Kamloops and the surrounding area

The East Meadows Plateau wildfire is about 20 kilometres from the City of Kamloops. (Photo/BCWS Twitter)