Sooke Fire Rescue Service

Ozone Hockey

2010-02-24T16:33:00.001-08:00

Thought some of you might be interested in photos of the Ozone Hockey game arranged by our CAO. Referee Burket did OK, but goalie Kevin needs some more lessons. Pat Quinn makes the ceremonial puck drop. Several NHL Players, District of Sooke Staff and related children in the game. All in all a great idea and a great game.

Olympic Athlete

2010-02-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

Well I can certainly relate to what it takes to be an Olympic Athlete now. Having travelled to Fort Langley to participate in the famous Winter Olympic Half Marathon ( I am sure you have all heard of this) I can now say I have participated in an international event of world calibre proportions (ok, maybe I am stretching just a little). Anyway, it was my first half marathon and considering that the course was not "relatively flat" as promised, I thought we did rather well in completing the run in 2 hours, 1 and 1/2 minutes. (one hill was 4 km long - yes that is correct - 4 km long and I am talking about the uphill direction.) Anyway other than some sore legs and tight muscles it was a lot of fun (never thought I would be saying that about running) Next year should be better as I move up into a new age category, so it will seem like I run faster.

On another topic, visited the Ozone again. Due to a couple of drunken Break and Enters that had occured we thought it wise to clean out some of the money from the wishing well ocean. It was about all I could do to carry the container. Guesses ranged from $500.00 to $900.00 in coins collected during the first week of the event. Well after a lot of sorting and counting, the total exceeded $1200.00. Enough to buy another Shelter Box for Haiti. I am quite confident we can get enough money by the end of the Olympics to reach a total of $2,000.00. Quite amazing I must say.

What's Happening In Sooke

2010-02-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of new projects on the go in Sooke. Here is a list of some of the projects you should be aware of. The most obvious of course is the Prestige Hotel. Concrete work continues on the convention floor and underground parking and it won't be to long before they start framing the upper floors. Next up is the Rise. This townhouse project has completed the first phase and is now moving onto the next section. This project is just off Maple Ave. Be awared that the driveway to this site is quite narrow and parking is very limited. We will have to keep an eye on the hydrant at the top of the road as it is easily blocked by construction crews. Demoliton work is completed on a site on Maple Ave. near West Coast Road as another townhouse project gets underway. Off the end of Caldwell, road construction is almost done in preperation for new lots to be sold in the area. Tominnie Road continues to see construction traffic as homes are built along this street. Another subdivision of about 12 lots is now proposed at the end of this road. Working hydrants and paved roads are now found in the townhouse development adjacent to Sooke Harbour Marina. Access is off Whiffin Spit Road. A new trail to the waterfront can be found at the end of Wright Road that meets up with the waterfront walkway along the above noted development. Mariners has applied for a development permit for the first building in this massive development. A five story condominium with underground parking will be the first structure on this big site across from Church Road. Land clearing is already underway. Lots are for sale in the Erinan Development off West Coast Road. Look for construction to begin soon on houses in this area. If you haven't been through this subdivsion its worth a drive as the views are phenomonal. Some other big projects that will be undertaken by the District of Sooke are also moving ahead. Look for work on the public boat launch next to the Prestige to begin soon. It is also expected that an RFP will be going out soon for design work on the first phase of the new connector road through Sooke. Phase 1 is the section from Phillips Road to Charters Road aligning with Throup. It is hoped that construction can start later this year. Oh and don't forget that Sooke Road is going to be upgraded this year. Likely in the summer, resurfacing and shoulder work will take place from Charters all the way to Langford. Most of the work will be done at night. Thats it for now. No wonder Sooke is the second fastest growing community in BC. Does anyone know which city is #1 in growth?

All is Quiet

2010-02-17T16:17:00.001-08:00

Check out this photo taken by Nikki Lewers at the Ozone today. It's hard to see, but the bottom of the "Ocean" is covered in coins. Awesome

Yes, I know it is probably a jinx, but it has been a very quiet February in Sooke this year. Can't remember a month that has had this few calls. Not that there aren't things to do. We have all been very busy with regular duties, especially getting the budget prepared as well as the set up and organization of the ESS and EOC programs now that these are under FD Control. Deputy McLeod has assumed the role of ESS coordinator and is busy with 20+ new volunteers and a myriad of meetings to get this groupd set up and functional. This is quite difficult as the Province has cut all funding for these programs (at the moment) and the District of Sooke has no budget for ESS. We have included one for this year and hope it will go through. The EOC program is another entire series of fun meetings and opportunities to work with many groups, both locally and regionally. Sure keeps a person busy going from meeting to meeting. Speaking of the budget, some of the things hoped for in this years capital budget include a new command vehicle, replacement of some of the older rope gear, a new washing machine for turnout gear and a utility body for 208. A new small diesel generator was just purchased to replace the one stolen last year. (really, who steals from a volunteer fire department?)

From all reports, the Sooke Display at the Ozone in Richmond continues to get rave reviews. If you get a chance, you really should go over and see this as part of the Olympic opportunity. Our five firefighters are getting prepped and ready to go over to the Nordic area of the Olympics to provide fire protection services this coming week. I am sure they will do us proud and bring back lots of stories and photos. I will be off to the mainland on Saturday as I will be participating in my first half marathon (thanks probie) on Sunday in Fort Langley (you may have heard of this famous Winter Olympic Half Marathon. Lets hope all my running practice pays off. I will let you know how I do if I am able to return.

The Shelter Box contest between Langford and Sooke Fire Departments has been declared a tie. As both communities were able to count the money raised by their local Rotary Clubs as well as the firefighters in their totals, we both came up with enough for 14 boxes each (that is over $28,000.00 combined) Quite amazing I think and everyone should be commmended on such a good job. (However, we still have an opportunity to pull ahead as all the funds collected at the Ozone in our display will also go to this cause..........from what I have heard, the "Ocean" is getting quite full of money as everyone tries to get coins to land on the whales tail)

Ozone Update

2010-02-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

While everyone was relaxing at home and work these past couple of days, a few of us were sweating despite the rain and cold in Richmond as we worked to get the Sooke display re-assmebled for the O Zone. Located just in front of Richmond City Hall, the BC Street section of the O Zone was a hub of activity as communities from across the province began putting their displays together. After a very long 14 hour day of ferry rides, unloading and reassembly we had most of the work done. Another 3 hours work on Thursday and we were ready to go home, but I must admit that the Sooke display is the best one of the show. While Columbia / Chilcotin had a spectacular carved log entrance way, once you were inside the Sooke booth was an obvious winner. It has also been reported that sometime today, CTV, A Channel and the Vancouver Sun will be on BC Streets to report on all of the displays. Watch the news tonight if you get a chance. Next Thursday, BCTV will be doing the breakfast television news show from the Sooke Booth. On Saturday Sept 21, CAO Evan Parliament has arranged a street hockey game on BC Street at which some old timer NHL Players, politicians, BC Street volunteers and even some local kids will be able to test their skills. Sounds like an awesome event. If you get a chance to get over to Vancouver to get to the Olympics, I would suggest you make the trip to Richmond to see the Ozone. It is easy to find - just follow the Westminster Hwy to #3 Road and there you are. You can also take the Canada Line as it stops right in front of the BC Street entrance. And finally, thanks so much to the firefighters and volunteers that helped build, pack, unpack and reassemble the display. Without your efforts, this first class display would not have been a reality.

Funraising Efforts Continue

2010-02-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

It appears that Langford FD has pulled out in the lead with the Shelter Box fundraising efforts as they now have money for eleven compared to our seven. A media presentation will take place at Langford Fire Station 1 at 2:00 pm on Monday when each group will make a check presentation to Shelter Box Canada. I will be travelling into Langford with Mayor Evans and meet with Chief Beckett and some of Langfords council members. Hopefully it will receive good attention and will allow us to increase our fund raising efforts. Watch the Monday evening news to see how things go.

More money for Haiti

2010-02-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a generous donation by the RCMP Consultative Society, we have added another $1000.00 to our Haiti Relief Fund. With some additional donations we have now raised just over $7200.00. Keep up the good work, although it is still a long way to go to reach 19 as Langford FD has pledged to do.

Ever wanted to win a Goat?

2010-02-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

Yes, you heard me right......WIN A GOAT. Thanks to the brainchild of a certain Chaplain in the department (no names mentioned) Sooke Fire Rescue is raffling off a goat. Yes, a real live goat. Tickets are only 25 cents. There is a catch of course. You don't have to put your own name on the ticket. You can put anyone you wish on the ticket. Buy one, buy many, after all they are only $0.25 each. Now, in case you are wondering what would you do with a goat in case you won, we have a special deal for you. You can buy GOAT INSURANCE. For only $10.00 you can get an insurance policy that allows you not to take the goat if you win. Each insurance policy is good for 5 draws from the barrel. We will keep drawing until a winner is declared. If your name is drawn a number of times, the sixth time the goat will be yours ............or you could buy more insurance. Each policy is good for a maximum of 5 draws. So, you have to say to yourself - self: how many people will buy a ticket and put my name on it? Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm. Oh yeah, you can only get the insurance from the Chaplain (at least for now) and insurance sales will stop one week before the draw date of April 1st. (get the irony of that one) So, happy goating to all of you. If you have time, perhaps you could help sell some tickets. Set up anywhere in Sooke, talk to your friends, relatives or buy some tickets. All the proceeds will go to Haiti Relief Fund.

Probie for Life

2010-02-06T11:38:00.001-08:00

Seems like congratulations are in order for several members of the department. First off, Chris McCrea was selected by the hiring committee as Sooke's newest career firefighter. He will begin working on March 1st. The second candidate selected was Cam Norris Jones. If all goes according to plans, he will begin his full time position on May 1st. Well done to both of you. I am also pleased to announce the Assistant Chief McLeod successfully completed his 6 month probationary period. He has now been appointed as the full-time Deputy Fire Chief for the department. Unfortunately for Rick, this means 6 more months of probation. Luckily I got a bigger probie stick to ensure all these new firefighters stay in line. On June 1st, we will switch to a new shift pattern with 2 firefighters working 10 hour days on a 4 day on, 4 day off rotation. This will provide 2 firefighters in the station 7 days a week during daytime hours. This will also allow scheduled training events on the weekend. These should all prove to be great changes for the department

January Stats

2010-02-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

It's already the end of the first month of 2010. Where does the time go? I thought I would share the month end stats with you just in case someone cares. We had a total of 70 responses in January this year, down 15 from 2009, although if you remember 2009 at all you will recall that a great number of those incidents involved sand bagging and flooding. The majority of the incidents were burning complaints (33 to be exact) as many people still don't seem to get, or want to understand the burning bylaw even though it has been in place for over two years now. A total of 13 Motor Vehicle Incidents were attended to. This is a lot of serious crashes in a one month period. Two Haz Mat calls went out for reponse of the CRD Haz Mat team. As we have four members on the team, they were notified but in the end not required for the call. Soon all of the haz mat team members will be placed into a 4-platoon system. Only the on duty haz mat platoon will be called unless additional help is needed. We also attended 18 first responder calls and fortunately for the duty crews, only one occured late at night. Only one fire occured and this was a chimney fire. While quite spectacular looking, there was no damage to the home. February has started off on a slow note so will just have to see how it pans out.

Speaking of stats, the poll for when to have meeting nights has closed. A total of 20 votes were received with 14 voting in favour of every second month for Association Meetings and 6 wanting to keep them monthly. Check out the new poll on minimum attendance requirements.

Hike in the Dark

2010-02-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

Crews responded to an assist ambulance call on the Galloping Goose Trail this past weekend. A woman suffered a leg injury and could not walk. Entering the trail at teh Sooke River Rd parking lot, the ambulance backed in as far as the trestle (not an easy task in the dark) while firefighters hiked ahead to locate the victim. She was packaged and carried out to the waiting ambulance. (maybe the guys in turnout boots will remember their hiking boots next time)

This weekend it appears that blue sky came out which means open season on burning, (at least in a lot of peoples minds) This is not the case, so we spent most of Sunday running around telling people to put out their fires. Anyone have a bright idea on how to get the burning regulations out to people? And on that note, our Assistant Chief and Bylaw Officer are in court today over a $200.00 burning bylaw ticket. The complainent is contesting his ticket. This will be the first test of the bylaw in court so we will see what happens.

WOW!

2010-01-29T20:19:00.000-08:00

Those are the only words (well there may be others) to describe the new video just launched that will be featured in the Sooke display on BC Streets as part of the OZONE in Richmond. Check out the accompanying website too! I will bet you never knew all the things that there were to do in Sooke to Port Renfrew that are featured. Truly amazing and breathtaking. If this doesn't attract visitors to our region, nothing will. It is quite remarkable how well matched the video is to the display. Here is the link: http://www.sooke2010.com/

Shelter Box Canada Presentation

2010-01-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

A very informative and emotional presentation was made last night by Shelter Box Canada representatives. A video showing how this program started and where all these boxes have gone over the past 10 years since the programs inception was made. With the money we have raised so far, we can now purchase 6 boxes that will be deployed to Haiti. As Shelter Box is a regeisterd charity, the Federal Goverment will also provide matching funds into Haiti relief efforts. The other neat thing about the box is that our name will be placed on the box along with a tracking number so that by going on their website, we can track the box to its final destination.

Another fund raising idea was also presented to us. Don, the manager of Shelter Box Canada has offered us a tent or two and one of the Shelter Box kits to set up somewhere in which we could have a "Camp-a-thon" A group of firefighters could spend 24 or 48 hours in the tent(s), sell hot dogs or burgers and take pledges for camping out. Let me know what you think of the idea. It doesn't have to be done right away as I am sure the need for these boxes will continue forever. Maybe by years end, we can raise enough funds to buy ten boxes (we already have 6) and then look at buying one or more a year from then on. Let me know what you think.

Links to Shelter Box - www.shelterbox.ca or www.shelterboxcanada.blogspot.com

Crash, bang, boom

2010-01-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

Motor vehicle incidents still seem to be the majority of our responses this month. Last night was no exception as crews were out to two more crashes. The first on Gillespie Road heavily damaged a car when it spun off the road backwards, hit a rock, jumped a ditch, hit a sign and then landed back on the road facing the way it came. Debris was everywhere with the car battery some 10m from the vehicle. The two occupants were already out on arrival and sitting in another car. EHS crews with the assistance of firefighters removed one patient with spinal precautions. The road was then cleaned up and the vehicle towed. Just a few hours later, shortly after midnight we were off again for a roll over crash in the 5100 block of Sooke Rd. A small pickup truck left the road, hit the rock face and landed drivers side down. Occupants escaped through the sliding rear window without injury. In both cases the vehicles were totalled. Police are investigating the cause of both incidents. (nice to see everyone wearing their safety vests too!)

Burning Regulations for the District of Sooke

2010-01-23T21:13:00.000-08:00

There still seems to be a lot of confusion as to when residents can do outdoor burning in Sooke. Burning is permitted from October 1 to April 30 ONLY when the Venting Index as set by Environment Canada is rated GOOD. There are three ratings, Good, Fair and Poor. Only a GOOD rating for Southern Vancouver Island are days burning is permitted. To find out the Venting Index go to the following website: http://www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/wxhealth/smoke/forecast_e.html?Smoke=YYJ

Note: The penalty for burning on poor or fair venting days or from May 1 to September 30 can be a ticket for $200.00. So better to check the forecast than get the ticket. For additional information check the District of Sooke Website at www.sooke.ca and look for Burning Regulations.

If you find someone burning on a day that is not permitted contact the Sooke Fire Rescue Service at 250 642-5422 during regular office hours. After hours and on weekends you can call our dispatcher - Langford Fire Department at 250 478-9555 and request the Sooke Duty Officer be called out for your complaint.

Fund Raising Update

2010-01-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

Awesome - this is the word that describes the continuing fund raising efforts being held to raise money to purchase Shelter Boxes for Haiti. With the efforts of all the volunteers today at both Western and Village Foods another $1500.00 was taken in. It is our hope that with the Sooke Rotary Club assistance we will eventually raise enough funds to purchase 10 of the Shelter Boxes. With todays contributions we are almost half way there. Thanks to everyone that has helped and continues to offer their assistance. Hey, does anyone have any other good fund raising ideas?

On another note, my efforts of preparing for the half marathon held during the Winter Olympics continues (bet you didn't know there was a half marathon during the Winter Olympics did you? well neither did I) Anyway today was only an 18km run. As I now creak around the house, the only thing I have found worse on the body than an 18km run was the 20km I did last week. Here is a fund raising idea. Perhaps the Association, individuals or ????????????? would sponsor me for every km I run this year. How does $1.00 km sound? You don't have to sponsor every km, just pick as many as you want at $1.00 per. I will accept any and all pledges. I can post the totals and provide regular updates on this blog. Anyone willing to gamble on how far an old fire chief can run in a year? All funds raised will go towards buying an additional Shelter Box.

Ozone Update

2010-01-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

First off, some of you may be wondering what the Ozone actually is. Well, in a nutshell this is a huge festival to be held in Richmond coinciding with the Olympics. The site is in and around Richmond City Hall and civic centres and features an outdoor ice rink, a huge outdoor theatre where many well known musical groups will play concerts, the huge Holland House that has been one of the more popular venues at past Olympics and the BC Street. This is where we will be. Sooke has secured a 40 x 20 ft booth and will be one of several BC Communities that will be showcasing everything that we have to offer from Sooke to Port Renfrew. The site is a 10 minute walk from the Olympic skating oval and is adjacent to the new Canada Line light rail system. Oh and the really neat thing is that it is entirely free to the public. Orgainzers expect that 400,000 + people will pass through the site over its duration. So this is what is taking up one bay in the fire hall. Many, many people are working on this project and it is all starting to come together. The volunteers to run the booth for the 17 days have also all been secured. The background consisting of a photograph 52 feet long by 8 ft high was delivered today and will soon be mounted. (the photo is a view of the harbour as would be taken from the boardwalk) This is why you get to view the booth from a scaled replica of the boardwalk. The killer whale that will be a central feature is nearing completion and has filled the fire hall with dust (we have been promised it will be cleaned up) The video display is nearly completed as well as many other components. It will be worth your while to visit during the upcoming open house on Feb 6.

Haiti Fundraising

2010-01-22T22:24:00.000-08:00

With the overwhelming success of last weeks fundraising effort in front of Western Foods (thanks to Western for the hot dog donation)where we managed to raise over $2600.00, we are going to try again this weekend. Another hot dog sale will take place in front of Western from 10 - 2 on Saturday and then from 11 - 3 on Sunday. This weekend we will also have a collection point in front of Village Foods and possibly other locations too! With the help of some District of Sooke staff and the Rotary Club, we hope to be able to blanket the area with volunteer fundraisers and double our money. We have decided to use the money to buy shelter boxes (a Rotary project) with the funds collected. Each of these boxes holds shelter and enough supplies to look after a family of ten for up to six months. With the improvements in the Canadian dollar, these boxes have been reduced to $1000.00 each. The Shelter Box program started in the UK and now has a Canadian division that is based in Victoria. As such, I contacted the director and he will be bringing a shelter box to the fire hall this upcoming Thursday for us to look at. If it seems suitable, we may look at acquiring some of these to supplement our newly formed ESS program as a means of providing shelter to Sooke residents if we are faced with a disaster. (No, we are not using the fundraising money for this) Anyway, if you want to see what a Shelter Box is all about, come by the main fire station at 7:00 pm on Thursday.

Another day, another crash

2010-01-18T10:57:00.001-08:00

Sooke Firefighters were called out Sunday afternoon for another MVI. This one was just past the 17 Mile House and involved a single vehicle that left the road. It jumped a ditch and hit a hydro pole head on, breaking the pole at the base. The driver and elderly passenger were very fortunate in that they did not sustain any serious injuries, although both were transported to hospital by EHS. RCMP are investigating the incident. This is getting to be a tough stretch of road.

New Poll

2010-01-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

As you can see, there is a new poll for you to review. Basically it asks if you would like to see Association meeting nights once a month or every second month. (the executive would have the authorization to pay bills on your behalf and we would provide meeting time on training nights if something serious came up that needed immediate attention. Let me know what you think.

As for the past poll on paid on call - it was almost a 50/50 split on going paid on call or leaving it as is. Of those that were in favour of paid on call, the majority thought the pay level should be between $15.00 and $20.00 per hour. This will be discussed at the upcoming Association meeting and hopefully a committee will be struck to review what we will do. (this was mentioned at the first meeting of the year if you recall)

Thanks for your participation in these polls. Is there anything else you think we could discuss in this format? Let me know your ideas.

Help for Haiti

2010-01-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

An overwhelming success are the only words I could use to describe how well the hot dog and fund raiser for Haiti went this weekend. A remarkable $2686.00 was collected over two four hour periods. Thanks so much to everyone that helped and to the public that contributed. It was especially heartwarming to see the two small children come up with their parents and give us a large jar of coins they had collected. Turns out it had over $180.00 in it. According to their parents, it was all their idea. This more than makes up (well almost) for the guy that spat at Bob Hudson as he passed by in his vehicle saying we were wasting are time collecting money for ..................... (as this is a family blog, I won't use the words he said to describe people that live in Haiti) Anyway, other than that isolated incident - WOW - great job everyone. Oh and thanks again to Western Foods for supporting us as they always do. And Rob Peters of Sooke Moving and Storage for the use of his hot dog cart again. Lots of good community minded folks in this town.

Fire Investigation Course

2010-01-15T18:55:00.001-08:00

Due to many factors, the Fire Investigation class we had hoped to do at the old Manuel Quimper Motel has been delayed. However, we have managed to secure and confirm a date which will be September 21 - 24. It appears that interest in this course is widespread and should be quite an experience for all those involved. We have even been offered special room rates at the Sooke Harbour Marina for those wanting to stay in the community for the program which will likely run for 4 days. Thanks to Mike Barrie and the Mariners Development for providing us with thiis unique opportunity by donating the building to such a worthy cause.

Not Again!

2010-01-15T18:23:00.001-08:00

Here we go again was my first thought when I heard the page out for an MVI near the 17 Mile House involving a logging truck and wires down. People were still talking about the logging truck crash in October and now another one just a few hundred meters from the previous incident. On arrival we found that at least this time it was only phone and cable lines that were down and not hydro which made things a little easier. The driver was out of his rig and suffered only a slight injury to his head which was quickly attended to by EHS. The truck and all its load lay spread across both lanes of traffic and into the ditch. There was no way anyone was going to get through and as it was on the Sooke side of Gillepsie Road, there was no way around unless you choose the long route through Port Renfrew. Based on past experience, I figured it would be at least three hours before we could get even one lane of traffic through. Thus the giant traffic jam started. Crews set up at the Fuse Restaurant and began turning people around. At the accident scene, firefighters controlled the leaking fluids and then began walking down the line to notify those trapped in traffic that it would be some time before they could pass. Even the police officer on his way to work in Victoria that flashed his badge and said he had to get past could not get through (turns out he did not have a flying car) Part way down the line I ran into the owner of HHS Blasting who told me he had an 8 ton crane truck trapped on the other side of the incident and would it be of any use. This was certainly worth looking into. Turns out the crane would work and they were able to move the truck and trailer off the road. Now at least one lane of traffic could flow. With the assistance of another logging truck and backhoe from Mainroad, the logs were either pushed off the road or loaded onto the truck and taken away. A quick scrape of the roadway with the backhoe and washdown with R-2 and the road was now passable in both directions and it only took about three hours (good guess eh). The tow truck hadn't even shown up yet. If we had to wait for it, people would have been in line for 5 or 6 hours. So thanks to a combined effort and the HHS crane, hundreds, if not thousands of people were able to get home in half the time it would have taken without the help. As for the cause, it appears that a piece of the truck may have broken causing the load to shift. The driver was not speeding from witness accounts, so it appears to be an actual accident. I suppose the RCMP and Commercial Vehicle Inspector will have the final say on that but sometimes stuff just happens.

Calling all Superbowl Fans

2010-01-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hey - are you a big fan of the Superbowl. The Sooke Firefighters Association will be showing the game on the big screen. Doors open at 12:30 - February 12th in the Firefighters Lounge.
They are also considering showing the mens gold medal olympic hockey game. Look for further announcements on this one.

Road Carnage Continues

2010-01-13T14:58:00.001-08:00

Seems that this is the year for motor vehicle crashes as the fire department responds to what appears to be an endless supply. Two pedestrian struck calls have been attended in the past few days. The first happened in front of Western Foods. (to the same lady involved in the crash into a house last month - talk about bad luck). The second involved a 7 year old girl who was struck be a car when she ran across the road to say good bye to her mother after she let her off at the school bus stop. Fortunately, injuries were not serious in both circumstances. A three vehicle crash on Sooke Road in front of Save On Gas caused quite a traffic delay. There was significant damage to one vehicle as it was hit from both ends. Again it appears injuries were minor.

Tough Night to be on the Road

2010-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Last night certainly proved to be busy as several peopel decided it was a good night to customize their vehicles by hitting assorted objects. The first was just before the end of the work day when a passerby stopped at the station to tell us of a crash that had just occurred at Otter Point and Helgeson. On arrival, a mini van with most of its front end missing was sitting on Otter Point Rd. It had collided with a one ton truck, hitting it right where the deck connects to the cab. According to the driver of the truck, the van went right through the intersection without stopping. Luckily no injuries occured. Due to the damage on both vehicles a lot of fluids had spread across the roadway, so foam was used to clean up the mess. On return to the station and within just a couple of minutes, a call came in for a chimney fire. Quite a spectacular fire works show was coming out the chimney on arrival. Ladder 1 was used to access the chimney and extinguish the fire. The little boy that lived in the house told us "he knew just what to do because he had learned fire safety in Metchosin" (he attended the Fire Expo) So its nice to know that public education works.

Later that night a 2 car crash occured outside the 17 Mile House. Minor injuries again as one car rear ended the other. Lots of glass to clean up on the road. This was followed by a single vehicle roll over crash at about 1:00 am near Sooke and Goodridge. A late model pick up truck left the roadway, went airborne, hit a tree and a large rock, spun around and then over. The vehicle was completely demolished. The driver who was not wearing his seatbelt then ran away and went home. There is some speculation he may have been ejected. RCMP tracked him to a home a short distance away. He was quite easy to locate as he was wearing only one shoe and the police had the other that he lost at the scene. Again a very lucky man as he suffered no apparent injuries and refused EHS transport. Charges against the driver are being considered. Crews were called back later in the night when the tow truck driver flipped the vehicle over to transport and the battery began sparking and fuel leaking. Lets hope tonight is a little more peaceful.

Congratulations are in order

2010-01-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

I have been told I am falling behind in blogging. Funny, 10 years ago nobody would have know what that meant. I did put a new post up last night, but it seems to have disappeared so here goes again.

First off, congratulations to Garry Hof and his promotion to Captain of the newly formed C Platoon. It is our hope that with three platoons at Station 1, training and maintanance issues will be easier and more streamlined. We will give a try anyway. Thanks to all those that attended last nights meeting. A lot of information was covered about what we can see or expect over the next year. I think 2010 is going to be an exciting time for the DOS and therefore the fire department as well.

Well today has been a busy day. Thanks to Chris McCrea and Bob Hudson oh and Garry too, a huge chunk of the Ozone display was completed today. We are just a handful of the volunteers involved in this project. The community support has been amazing and last I heard, we have already received over $27,000.00 in sponsorship from local companies to put this show on. Wow. Anyway, come by sometime and see what is going on. I am sure you will be impressed by how this is all coming together. (PS - don't walk on the pool liner or you will face the wrath of Chris - the water will be going in on Monday)

Happy New Year

2010-01-06T23:02:00.000-08:00

Well here we are in 2010. Hard to believe that we are already into a new decade. The last one certainly proved exciting, so I am sure there are many new things to come. We reached another milestone in 2009 by attending the most calls ever in the history of the department. A total of 851 responses were handled this past year. This is a 13% increase over 2008 which had us attending 752 incidents. At this rate, it won't be long before we hit 1000 calls a year. Don't forget the big meeting tomorrow as CAO Evan Parliament will be on hand to discuss the District of Sookes plans for the future. This will be followed with a similar presentation on what you can expect from the fire department. Please take the time to attend and participate in the conversation. It is your department too, so your input is valuable.

I received an email from Chris Meikle. He told me that he is doing well and expects to be back in Sooke at the beginning of February. I am sure he will be happy to return.

In case you were not aware, our head building inspector / emergency coordinator will be retiring soon. As such, the fire department will be taking over running, operating, recruiting and training members for positions within this very important area. Stay tuned for more updates on this.

Attendance review letters have been placed in everyones mailboxes. Please have a look at your letters and the comments enclosed in each. While we strive for accuracy, mistakes can be made. If you disagree or would like to comment on your individual situation, please make arrangements to see me to discuss any issues you may have. At the request of many members of the department, we will be following the policies of the department in regards to attendance. If you cannot fullfill these requirements, perhaps it is time to review your committment to the department. This is not to say we don't appreciate what you have done, but as you know this is a demanding job, even for volunteers. Minimum standards of training and attendance are required to keep skill levels up to an acceptable level. With the anticipated growth in the community, it is likely that expectations may even increase over time. As we have moved into the technological age, we are also looking at new ways of offering training. Several of you already participated in the on line training program that we received a grant for in 2009. We are looking at more ideas like this, but they all come at a cost. With a limited training budget, only so much can be done in a year, however, this is one way that members on shift patterns or working out of town may be able to keep their skills honed while meeting the requirements of attendance. If you have other ideas, don't be afraid to share them.

Work on the Ozone display for the Olympics is progressing nicely. I know it is a bit of a pain having it set up in the fire hall, but is for a very good cause. It is expected that as many as 400,000 people may go through this booth in Richmond. We only have just over a month to get it all done. There are many volunteers and staff working on this project and I believe we may have one of the best displays there. There is still an opportunity for you to volunteer to staff the booth. Your expenses will be covered while you are there so let me know if you are interested and what dates you would be available. This is a once in a life time opportunity.

Comments on the Paid on Call Poll

2009-12-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Wow, didn't expect such a response so quickly. I really appreciate the 2 comments received so far and would certainly like to see more on the subject. Just to clarify, there are no plans to implement any new procedures. At this time, this is simply a poll to see how the membership feels about the idea. Once I receive the information I would like to form a committee to investigate what other departments do, different methods of paid on call or perhaps more incentives such as a fuel allowance or ??????????????? This is wide open right now, so please don't assume anything. My hope is to have a plan in place for the end of 2010. This gives us a year to work something out and provide council time to consider the options and if required, a chance to look at possible increases to the budget. So, keep the comments coming as these will prove very valuable to the new committee. (I will post a sign up list next week for anyone interested) With that, Happy New Year to all of you and your families.

Paid on Call Poll

2009-12-29T12:28:00.000-08:00

You will notice a new poll at the top of the page. There has been some discussion on going to "Paid on Call" status as do most other volunteer fire departments in the country. This would mean that each firefighter would be paid an hourly wage for each call they showed up for. As we would soon bankrupt the district if 40 firefighters showed up for every first response call, this would likely mean some form of duty shift. Please answer the poll with either No - keep the current system we have now or Yes I support going paid on call idea. If you answer yes, answer one of the questions underneath with what you would expect to be paid. I should also add that if we go paid on call, many of the perks you now receive would be eliminated. This could include the annual $30,000.00 honorarium paid to the Association and the off duty insurance coverage. Some of the uniform budget, annual banquet and other costs currently funded by the District may also be reduced or eliminated. Just things to consider.

A Year in Review

2009-12-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Well, as the year comes to a close, it's time to look back and remember all of the accomplishments the fire department achieved. This was definitely a year of progress and opportunities. Never mind that we have attended more emergency calls than any other year in the departments history, but we completed many other projects as well. Where do I start. OK, in my opinion, the most amazing item of the year may have been the collection for the food bank and the generous support of the community. We were completely overwhelmed with donations. It was quite an amazing sight and truly reflects how everyone can pull together in a time of need. On to other highlights of the year. We managed to hire another firefighter this year and was very pleased in having Rick McLeod accept the job. Looks like two more positions in 2010. We are definitely moving forward. After many years of trying and thanks to a downward slide in the economy, we were finally able to replace the front apron at Station 1. This one was constructed properly and should last for many years. We even managed to add extra parking along Otter Point Rd and with the fire hall site, all in the same budget. A successful recruiting campaign in Sun River not only saw an increase in applicants from this area, but appears to have sparked an interest in building a satellite fire station in the area. Welcome aboard to our new members as ten new recruits passed their basic training. A successful pub ed campaign had the graphics completed on the pub ed trailer. This rolling billboard certainly advertises the fire department in a positive manner. With the funds raised, we were even able to order two more inflatables for the pub ed division. The fire department began the take over and helped establish a new ESS (Emergency Social Services) program, with about 20 new members joining the group. With the pending retirement of our Emergency Coordinator in early 2010, it appears the fire department will be taking over the entire EOC division. We managed to a acquire several new items in our inventory. The first was an old ambulance for use as a First Responder vehicle. While the unit has worked very well, it seems to have a magnetic personality as it is attracted to other objects and has already been in three accidents. Two new sets of Jaws of Life were obtained, replacing the older 20 and 25 year old sets. To date, they have been used twice on emergency calls. Instant snow chains were added to both front line pumper trucks with the rescue trucks to be equipped in 2010. Hopefully this well make responses in snow conditions safer for everyone. Not that we can take all the credit, but the assistance of fire department members at the Subaru Triathlon was certainly one of the reasons that the Ironman Competition is coming to Sooke in 2011. The volunteer support of this community always seems to shine through. Oh, and who can forget the Olympic Torch starting in front of the fire hall on its cross Canada journey. And finally, an amazing day was held when we celebrated Bill Stephenson and his 60 years of service as a volunteer firefighter. Now that was a party. While I am sure that there are many more items to add to this list, all in all, it was a good year and I look forward to working with all of you in 2010. Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

You may all be wondering why I am here on Christmas working on a Blog. Turns out that my wife needs to vacuum the house before the relatives arrive and this can't be done while somebody anybody else is there. And you thought I was odd! So, here I am. So I hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas and that everyone got the gifts they wanted. All the gifts you purchased for the Chief can be dropped off anytime.

On to another topic, I want to thank all those firefighters that responded to the Haz Mat Incident the other day. Even though it turned out to be a false alarm, all the preparation and protocols to be followed to deal with a potential clan lab were quite remarkable. If nothing else, it was a great exercise to prepare us for any similar incident that may arise in the future. The working relationship between all of the responding agencies was extrodinary as everyone worked to together so well, you would think we had been doing this as a group for years. We even had an offer from the head of RCMP Clan Lab Response Team offer to come back to the Island and do a seminar for emergency responders on dealing with these types of incidents. More information will follow as soon as it comes available.

So once again, Merry Christmas to all.

Sprinkler Systems

2009-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Rumours - It appears the old addage "If you haven't heard a rumour by 10:00 am, start one" is true as is the case of sprinkler systems. The rumour going around the community is that the fire department has introduced a bylaw requiring sprinkler systems in all single family dwellings and duplexs. Let me clarify by saying that this is not true. While I am a huge supporter of residential sprinkler systems, I have not proposeed any such requirement. I believe the misconception comes from the new OCP (Official Community Plan) that states that all buildings within the new "TOWN CENTRE" zoning require a sprinkler system be installed. This part is true, however if you were to read the Town Centre Plan http://www.sooke.ca/assets/Local~Government/Planning/Town%20Centre%20Plan%20Adopted.pdf, you would find that the only buildings permitted in this zone are large, multi-family or commercial buildings. Most will have zero lot line coverage which means that they can be built right next to each other. If a fire were to start in one of these new buildings and spread to another, the potential for a catastrophic fire is a real possibility. Single Family Homes and Duplexs are NOT PERMITTED in this zone. (This zone covers roughly from the new Mariners Development at Church Rd to Murray Rd and along the length of Sooke Rd down to the water - yes, only the water side of Sooke Rd) This is the only area that this zone applies. The requirement is NOT retroactive either. If you already own a home in this area or plan to put on an addition, the sprinkler requirement does not apply. The only time this well be put into effect is when someone comes in with a proposal to redevelop land to suit the new Town Centre Plan. The only other time we SUGGEST sprinkler systems is when a development proposal is made in an area where the existing water system is insufficient for the size of the building being proposed. So, if you hear this rumour while you are out and about, please take a moment to clarify the points. Thanks.

Santa Run Huge Success

2009-12-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

Well thanks to everyone that participated, this years Santa Run was the biggest and best ever. What a incredible outpouring of community support as Sooke Firefighters collected an enourmous amount of food for the Sooke Christmas Bureau and Food Bank. It took the combined capacity of both Shane and Chris' trailers as well as an additional half pick up load to get all the groceries and toys to the Community Hall. An additional $757.00 in cash and cheques was also turned in. It was quite a sight to see all of the food piled up in the basement of the Community Hall. Turns out the bags we had inserted into the Sooke Mirror certainly helped to put people into the giving spirit. A total of 440 of the special marked grocery bags were returned with food. This does not include those turned into the East Sooke FD and another (approx 100) bags that Otter Point collected on their run. Due to this success we may have to revamp next year to accomodate the growth. Two choices come to mind, either we add a fourth truck and route or we will have to start earlier, perhaps 4:00 or 4:30. There is not the space here to thank everyone involved but I must mention Western Foods who paid for the bags ( $650.00)and the Sooke and Otter Point Firefighters Association for splitting the $650.00 printing cost and the District of Sooke for the cost of inserting the bags in the Mirror ($250.00) {Yes, it is expensive to be charitable} Hopefully more sponsors will come on board next year. East Sooke FD is already interested in having their route placed on the bag too! Again, I must thank everyone from the decorators of the trucks, to the elves that helped collect the food, to those that came out to deliver the food and finally those that came back on Sunday to dismantle 204. A special thank you to Santa 1, 2 and 3 for putting up with the lovely weather. Your community spirit was noticed by many. An outstanding job.

Pump Operator Training

2009-12-18T16:29:00.001-08:00

Several of you began the pump training course earlier this fall and as you are aware, we have had some difficulties in finding time to finish the course. As such, I will be holding a one day refresher course on Saturday, Jan 9 at Station 1 beginning at 9:30. For those of you that we feel are ready, a practical exam will be held the following Saturday the 16th. If you are not ready, you can use this date for an additional training day. A sign up sheet will be posted for this as well.

Fire Officer Training

2009-12-18T16:23:00.001-08:00

Due to the number of responses in the poll for Fire Officer 1 training, I will look at offering a course, likely beginning in January on the fourth Tuesday of the month and then each fourth Tuesday until completion. This is quite a committment on each firefighters part as it takes some time to get through this program. I will try to have the course manuals available early in the new year for those interested. A sign up sheet will be posted.

Pubic Safety in British Columbia

2009-12-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

A new report, three years in the making by the Fire Services Liason Group was released today. Entitled Transforming the Fire/Rescue Service - it lists 14 recommendations that the group feels are immediate priorities to be addressed by the Provincial Government. A complete copy of the report is available for your reading. One has been placed at each station. I can also send it to you electronically - just send me an email note or reply in the comments section.

Why do we need to buy a new fire truck?

2009-12-17T17:41:00.000-08:00

This is a question that almost every taxpayer wants to know. Why do we need a new fire truck when the old one looks so good? Hopefully I will answer this question for you. Communities fire protection capability are judged on a point system by the Fire Underwriters Survey. From this report, insurance companies determine what the risk of controlling a fire is by the responding fire department and set insurance rates accordingly. There are a number of factors that are considered, but in the case of fire apparatus, the main points are the size, type, construction and density of the building stock within the town. In our last survery conducted in 2001, it was determined that we required 2 front line pumper trucks in Station 1 and 1 front line pumper truck in Station 2. In addition, for every 8 front line pumper trucks a fire department has, it must have one spare pumper. Fire Underwriters also required we have an aerial device. To be considered a front line pumper truck, it must be no more than 20 years old. A second line truck can be no older than 25 years. When 204 (the Mack pumper) reached 20 years of age, it was downgraded to a second line truck. It was replaced with 203 (the current aerial ladder truck) As this vehicle is equipped with both a pump and a ladder, it is counted as both a front line pumper and as our aerial device, thus we saved money by buying only one truck. A bigger ladder was purchased as we new that within a few short years, larger buildings would be constructed in Sooke (the first is now under construction as the Prestige Hotel). Now that 204 is almost 25 years old (it is a 1985 model) it is time for its replacement. We must now decide if we should buy a new fire truck or purchase a used vehicle (less than 10 years old) to replace the truck. This is being analyzed to determine what is the most cost effective way to do this. While a used truck may be cheaper to start with, when you amortize the cost over the life of the vehicle, quite often the cost of a new vehicle can be the same or sometimes even cheaper than a used vehicle when calculated on a per year cost. Oh, and for the record other vehicles like a tanker truck cannot exceed 30 years of age or they are not counted either. So, there are your choices: buy a new fire truck when their life span expires or face higher insurance costs. What would you choose?

Photos from Prestige Site Fire

2009-12-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

I will be placing an order for prints from the Prestige site training fires we held earlier this year. Cost is $15.00 per print if you would like any copies. Here again is the link http://www.clocktowerimages.com/SookeVFD/ Give me the number of any photo(s) you would like. If you have already told me what you want, send it again just to make sure that I have not forgotten you. I will place the order at the end of the year to give you a bit of time to make up your minds.

What's new

2009-12-16T13:52:00.001-08:00

Well, lots going on these past few days. Levee night is right around the corner and will be the final "practice" night of the year. New recruits have received pagers and keys and a few have even managed to make it on their first call. The Santa Run is on Saturday so don't forget to show up and decorate the trucks. The new donation bags were in todays Sooke Mirror and look great. Hopefully lots of them will get filled up. The OZONE - BC Streets project is moving ahead as the District prepares to put in a display during the Olympics. Volunteers are now being accepted to man the booth during the event. Postings for 2 full time firefighter positions have been advertised for 2010 - just some of the exciting things to happen next year. (maybe even planning for a new fire station in Sunriver can begin?) Looks like Sooke will be hosting an Ironman Competition in 2011 - 2013. What an opportunity for the community and something the fire department should get behind. The live fire / fire investigation course at the old Manuel Quimper Motel has received approval by Council. Tentative dates will be April 13 - 16. The FPOABC and the IAAI (International Association of Arson Investigators) will be providing the instruction for this. There may also be another course run immediately before or after these dates that will be sponsored by the Justice Institute. Anybody having some great ideas on how we can take advantage of these or other projects, please let me know. Supporting these events certainly puts us in the public eye and any time we can take adavantage of this type of advertising is always good when looking at growing the fire department. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Outstanding Effort Today

2009-12-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

Members of Sooke Fire Rescue, District of Sooke Staff and Councillor Bennett are to be commended for their outstanding work today on behalf of the Sooke Christmas Bureau and the Food Bank. Despite some bitterly cold weather, over 25 people, some staying all day, took turns outside Western Foods and Village Foods collecting cash and food donations. Thanks to the generosity of Sooke residents over $2000.00 in cash was collected as well as an additional $475.00 in checks given to Western Foods was turned over to the group. Squad One was filled almost half way to the roof with food and staples. This will be a huge boost to those in need in our community. Thanks also to Doug for the use of his fire truck for the event. Lets hope that the Santa Run next Saturday does at least as well. Look for the special donation grocery bags in the next Sooke Mirror.

Congratulations are in order

2009-12-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the ten newest members of Sooke Fire Rescue as the 2010 recruit class passed their basic training requirements today. Pagers and keys were handed out and the new probationary members are now ready to attend calls. Thanks to the firefighters that assisted in the testing held at the Otter Point Training Centre. Congratulations to all on a job well done.

In Appreciation

2009-12-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all those that helped in fixing the water leak at the back of the station. In particular I would like to thank Matt, Luke, Shaun and Shane for all their work. It appears that this thing may have been leaking for years without anyone knowing. Most of the work is now completed, however please watch out for the hole until all the paving blocks can be reinstalled. (that portion will be thanks to Chris)

Never Assume

2009-12-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

Crews were dispatched to a two vehicle MVI on Sooke Rd near the Fuse Restaraunt today. Upon arriving on scene I observed both an ambulance and RCMP car with several people wondering about. It was difficult to determine exactly what was going on with all the people about. No obvious wreck was within site. Rescue 2 arrived soon after and were tasked with removing debris from the road as EHS had informed me that there were no injuries. As such, I cancelled Engine 1 and Rescue 1 as there didn't appear to be much to the call. Upon closer investigation, a van was observed in the parking lot of the Fuse with substantial damage to one side. The driver and passenger remarked that they were fine, just a little shook up. I asked where the other vehicle was and was told it was in the driveway of the house across the street. I crossed the road and found the second vehicle involved. It was imbedded into the front of the home. With this information I had both E-1 and R-1 return to check out the house for further damage. Fortunately, nobody was home at the time as the building was undergoing a substantial renovation. The front wall was quite buckled, however as it was not a bearing wall, there was no chance of a structural collapse, the site was ruled safe. AS the vehicle was not leaking any fluids, all units returned to service. As I said in the heading, never assume. Just because another emergency service says things are ok, have a look around to make sure. Each service looks at an incident with a different objective. Make sure we have covered ours before moving on. (I will post some photos as soon as they are available)

Promotion Opportunity

2009-12-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

With the introduction of a three platoon system at Station 1 in the new year, there will be an opening for a Captains position. This position is open to any Lieutenant in Station 1 with a minimum of 7 yrs experience and meeting the remaining qualifications as posted on the bulletin board. Make your application in writing to the Fire Chief. The successful applicant will be announced at the next officer meeting.

Wii

2009-12-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to D Platoon on winning the first "Firefighter Wii" competition at the annual game show night. Well done again guys. Nice to see Station 2 maintain their winning streak. Thanks also to Matt for coming up with the idea.

Big, Big Announcement

2009-12-10T21:34:00.001-08:00

Well, here is the announcement you have all been waiting for. Sooke Fire Rescue Service will be hiring soon. Full details and job descriptions will be posted on the bulletin board on Monday but here it is in brief.

Position 1 Firefighter / Maintenance person - Start date - March 1, 2010

Position 2 Firefighter / Inspector (subject to council approval of the 2010 budget) Anticipated start date will be May 1, 2010.

Get your resumes ready. A hiring panel will be set up shortly to begin interviews in the new year. Good luck.

Tough Part of the Job

2009-12-10T20:47:00.000-08:00

Sooke Fire Rescue faced one of the tough parts of the job today when we attended a first response call for chest pains. Arriving with the ambulance, crews entered the home where a 56 year old male was on the couch complaining of chest pain and tingling in his hands. After completing an assessment, the patient was loaded onto the stair chair and then transfered to the cot. As he was being loaded into the ambulance, the patient bacame uncounscious and lost vital signs. CPR was initiated and the AED connected. Shocks were administered and then I drove the ambulance, followed by B-1 while EHS crews continued working on the patient. We met up with the ALS crew, more treatment was administered and then I continued the drive to VGH with all 4 paramedics in the back. At VGH more treatment was administered but unfortunately the victim did not survive despite the best efforts of many. Our sympathies to the family.

Changes to Officer Requirements

2009-12-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Even though only half the officers showed up for the meeting last night, those in attendance seemed generally acceptable of the new format proposed for the officers outlining their duties and responsibilities as well as consequences in the event requirements are not carried out. For the other officers, a copy of the power point presentation is in your mailboxes. Some of the highlights:

Officers will receive an annual honorarium based on rank
Station 1 will now have 3 platoons. New platoon assignments will be out within the next week. Station 1 platoons will consist of a Captain, Lieutenant and eight firefighters. Station 2 will have a Captain, 2 Lieutenants and up to ten firefighters.
Each platoon will be responsible for one apparatus check each training night. (Station 2 will still have to do 2, however they will have an additional officer in their platoon to manage this)
More opportunities for platoons to train at Otter Point Training Centre
Officer meetings will be instructional with each officer taking a turn presenting a topic of their choice. Gary has already agreed to do the January session and Murray will do February - thanks guys.
Acting Lt positions will be available - one for each platoon. Each Acting position will have one guaranteed duty shift per year plus the ability to pick up other shifts when officers are absent or not available to do their shift.
Officers will be required to sign up for one duty shift each quarter.
Eash platoon will receive an annual $500.00 training credit to be used towards a course or program of their choice.
First responder duty shifts will not be changing the format currently in use.

If you want more information, you can discuss this with your platoon officers or AC McLeod or myself.

Festival of Trees

2009-12-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Melanie and Laura for all their work on making and putting up the decorations on the District of Sooke (Fire Department Christmas Tree) There are a total of 12 trees on display at Seaparc. This is a fundraiser for Childrens Hospital. Please go down and vote for your favourite tree. The fire tree looks the best so make sure you vote for this one.

Canadian Fire Service Medallion

2009-12-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

If anyone is interested in obtaining a Canadian Fire Services Medallion, the cost is $20.00 + shipping. If a few of you would like one, let me know and the shipping costs can be shared.

Fire Department Vehicle Collisions

2009-12-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

Here is some sobering statistics from the US. In 2008, 29 firefihgters died in motor vehicle collisions. There were an estimated 14,950 collisions involving fire department vehicles responding or returning from a call. (this works out to about 1/10 of 1 per cent of total responses) This resulted in 670 firefighter injuries. In addition there wre another 1000 collisions involving firefighters personnel vehicles responding or returning from a call. So, in other words, lets be careful out there, especially as our roads get busier. And to the individual that drove or backed into the concrete retaining wall at Station 1 last night, thank you for your care and consideration in breaking the wall and not telling anyone. We appreciate the fact that you don't think we have enough work to do and have provided us an opportunity to go and repair another project that did not need doing.

Construction Accident at McGregor Park

2009-12-03T20:55:00.000-08:00

A construction worker suffered a broken arm and facial lacerations when the steel superstructure for the new bandshell at McGregor Park collapsed suddenly. It appears the workman was hit by the steel beam as it came crashing down. Cause of the incident has not been determined, however Worksafe BC and District Engineering and Building staff are investigating. The worker was transported to VGH by ambulance.

New Lights for Sooke Xmas Tree

2009-12-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

Well it took all day, but with the combined work of Sooke Fire Rescue and the ladder truck, crews from Dales Electric and a manlift and crews from Troy Lovbakes tree service company and their lift truck all of the old lights were removed from the big Christmas tree at Evergreen Mall. (Oh and Laura from the District of Sooke for getting all the lights and supplying cold wet crews with hot coffee) Despite high winds, driving rain and even sleet, the crews persevered and got all new LED lights installed on the tree and I must admit is looks awesome. The official unveiling will take place on Saturday evening at the Sooke Christmas Spirit Festival. Come down with your family and have some fun. Check the recent Mirror for the flyer with all the details.

Firefighter Gift Ideas

2009-12-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Looking for a unique gift for the firefighter in the family. We still have a great selection of firefighting collectibles for sale from the days when we ran The Fire Source store. Everything from a huge choice of diecast fire truck models from Corgi, Firt Gear, Code 3 and more to tie pins, collector plates, kids toys, ceramics, art prints and lots more. Great prices too. Call Steve or Shelly if you are interested. (250 642-3010) or send me an email.

Meet the Recruits Dinner a Great Success

2009-11-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Garry and all his helpers on pulling off a great "Meet the Recruits" night. Over 40 people attended the dinner and social event at the fire station, with almost the entire recruit class present. Each one introduced themselves and their spouses and pets (if applicable). Dinner was fabulous and everyone had a great time. It was nice to see Duane Adsett and his family in attendance. Duane started his fire service career in Sooke over 20 years ago as an impressionable 16 year old junior firefighter. After 10 years as a volunteer with Sooke he made it to the big leagues when he was hired by Oak Bay Fire Department. Now after ten years with this department he is now an Acting Lt. Duane is one of many Sooke volunteers that has gone on to a successful career in the fire service. He is also Mr. May in the Greater Victoria FD Calendar - A great fundraiser - (just ask my wife as I am sure that is why she bought the calendar). Also great to see Nakima up and around after her accident the other day.
Anyway, back to our current recruits - congratulations on getting this far. In just two short weeks you will be getting your pagers and keys (well, all but one I hear) Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing you on the rigs and responding to calls.

Final Goodbye for retired Assistant Chief Dennis Smith

2009-11-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

Well over 300 people were in attendance at the Sooke Community Hall on Sunday for the celebration of life for Dennis "Jock" Smith. Jock served as a volunteer and later a career member of the Sooke Fire Department from 1952 until his retirement in 1997 having reached the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. In a fitting tribute to Jock and his well known sense of humour, a series of pager tones were head echoing throughout the room just as the service was about to start. This was a call for Sooke Firefighters to attend a medical aid call. I am sure Dennis was smiling when that happened. With all his family and many friends and collegues from his days in the fire department present, a very moving tribute was made, recognizing his many years of involvement and volunteer service to the community. Judging by the full house it was obvious he had touched the lives of many.

Town Hall Meeting

2009-11-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

This coming Monday the 30th the District of Sooke is hosting a Town Hall Meeting at the Community Hall from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Sooke Fire Rescue Service will have a display as well as running the concession area as a fund raiser. Anyone available to assist, please come on down. Station wear will be appropriate dress. This is also a chance to learn what is happening in the community as your elected officials as well as staff and department heads will be on hand with displays and presentations on what is happening and what will be happening in our town. If you have some time, you might find it well worth your time to come down and learn a thing or two.

Structure Fire - Mcmillan Rd

2009-11-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

Crews were kept busy with a major structure fire in a log home on McMillan Road this past evening. The call came in shortly before 7:00 pm, just as firefighters were finalizing their truck checks in time for regular Thursday night training. First arriving units were met with very heavy fire on the "C" side of the building with smoke venting through many areas in the wooden shake roof. 2 - 1 3/4" preconnects and a 2 1/2" line with the mini monitor were quickly placed into action as crews worked at trying to knock down the fire. Several ladders were also used to access various section of the roof and walls were many pockets of fire were located within the voids formed between the rafters. As exhausted firefighters left the building as their air bottles were used up, additional resources soon became depleted as all available firefighters were in action and a call was placed to Otter Point Fire Department for more manpower. After a 2 1/2 hour battle, the fire was extinguished and crews began packing up their gear. Extensive damage was done to the entire rear section of the exterior of the home as well as a large portion of the roof. Very little fire damage was found on the interior due to the heavy log construction, but significant smoke and water damage was evident throughout.
Upon returning the next morning, fire investigators covered the scene to locate the point of origin and cause of fire. No accidental means could be found and the fire is labeled suspicious at this time and the file turned over to the RCMP.

Olympic Firefighting

2009-11-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

Sooke Fire Rescue Service has been selected by the Office of the Fire Commissioner as one of the fire departments that will provide fire protection to a portion of the Olympic Games in Whistler. Headed up by Assistant Chief Mcleod, 4 other firefighters will be stationed at the games for a 4 day shift. This includes 2 day shifts and 2 night shifts. Congratulations to the lucky candidates. Hopefully they can bring us back lots of souvenirs.

Officer Meeting

2009-11-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

Reminder that the next officer meeting is December 8th at 7:00 pm Several changes are in the works as far as duties and responsibilities of the officers of the department. Please make sure you attend this important meeting.

Public Education Meeting

2009-11-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

The Public Education Committee met last night and were introduced to two new members. Rachel Pollard comes to us with lots of first aid experience as she is an OFA3, EMR and CPR certified. Our next candidate is a friend of Catherine whom we have not yet received an application from but may be interested in joining. We spoke on several topics, mostly centred about what we can do to make better use of the meetings. Some new training and teaching experiences will be tried in the new year. We also spoke about the OZone which is to be held during the Olympics in Richmond. This is the place where all the atheletes and public can come and watch the giant TV screens, see live bands perform, visit Olympic Displays or go to the Heinekin House. As part of this event, the entrance to the site will feature BC Street - 15 communities from BC will showcase their towns in displays along this route. All 400,000 expected visitors will have to pass through this area to get in. One of the 15 communities will be Sooke - what an opportunity. A 20 x 40 ft booth will feature the District of Sooke for 17 days. The fire department has been asked to help build the props and displays and pub ed has offered to help. Any other firefighter wanting to work on this once in a lifetime project should let me know.

2009-11-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging. Turns out a blog is not some sort of stomach ailment as I first thought. Rather this is my entry into the 21st century (yes, I am a little behind) With a little practice maybe I will move up into the current century. Anyway, my hope is to provide you, the reader with current information on the exciting (well sometimes) events that take place on a daily basis with Sooke Fire Rescue Service. Please be patient, as it takes time for us old timers to catch on to something new. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see - feel free to comment.