WOW!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.