firefighters

Traffic was interrupted on Shuswap Street about 9:30 a.m. Jan. 19 due to a report of smoke on the top floor of one of the offices in the 200 block. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Suspected building fire in Salmon Arm turns out to be non-threatening

Occupants smell smoke but the odour was not from the structure burning

 

An SUV is fully engulfed in flames early Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Contributed)

Car fire closes Vernon street

RCMP investigating after SUV destroyed, no one around

 

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

 

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

Kelowna 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
The Enderby Fire Department's Facebook post announcing a special candle ceremony Dec. 29, to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the on-duty death of Capt. Dan Botkin. (Facebook photo)

Candles burn in memory of fallen Okanagan firefighter

Vigil remembers Capt. Daniel Botkin, killed in 2011

The Enderby Fire Department's Facebook post announcing a special candle ceremony Dec. 29, to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the on-duty death of Capt. Dan Botkin. (Facebook photo)
The Enderby Fire Department's Facebook post announcing a special candle ceremony Dec. 29, to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the on-duty death of Capt. Dan Botkin. (Facebook photo)

Candles burn in memory of fallen Enderby firefighter

Vigil remembers Capt. Daniel Botkin, killed in 2011

The Enderby Fire Department's Facebook post announcing a special candle ceremony Dec. 29, to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the on-duty death of Capt. Dan Botkin. (Facebook photo)
Hillcrest Elementary teacher Tyra Menzies’ Grade 5 students show the gifts they brought with them to Fire Hall 3 for the Salmon Arm Fire Department’s Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Thursday, Dec. 8. The drive takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at halls 1 through 4 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Students play Santa for Salmon Arm Fire Department toy drive

Hillcrest Elementary Grade 5 students drop gifts off for Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive.

Hillcrest Elementary teacher Tyra Menzies’ Grade 5 students show the gifts they brought with them to Fire Hall 3 for the Salmon Arm Fire Department’s Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Thursday, Dec. 8. The drive takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at halls 1 through 4 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A kitten crawled inside the engine compartment of a firetruck at a crash Nov. 27 and was discovered back at the firehall. (City of Vernon photo)

Firetruck-riding Vernon cat up for adoption soon

Feline fine after fur-raising ride in engine compartment

A kitten crawled inside the engine compartment of a firetruck at a crash Nov. 27 and was discovered back at the firehall. (City of Vernon photo)
Silver Creek firefighters are collecting donations for the fire hall’s fourth annual community food drive. (Silver Creek Fire Department/Facebook photo)

Silver Creek Fire Department looking for nominations of food hamper recipients

Two hampers will be prepared for distribution in Silver Creek

Silver Creek firefighters are collecting donations for the fire hall’s fourth annual community food drive. (Silver Creek Fire Department/Facebook photo)
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 battle a vehicle fire in the Vernon Parkade Friday, Nov. 25. (Deena Lehoux photo)

VIDEO: Car catches fire in Vernon Parkade

Firefighters on scene as smoke pouring out of third level

Firefighters battle a vehicle fire in the Vernon Parkade Friday, Nov. 25. (Deena Lehoux photo)
West Kelowna Fire Service has responded to nearly 1,500 medical calls so far in 2022. (Black Press file photo)

West Kelowna Fire Service answering the call more often due to B.C. ambulance woes

‘There is absolutely no question we are doing more medical calls than we ever have’

West Kelowna Fire Service has responded to nearly 1,500 medical calls so far in 2022. (Black Press file photo)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Keiran Ruscheinski and Lynden Hanvold share a picture with Tyra Menzies’ Grade 5 students from Hillcrest Elementary, who were at Salmon Arm Fire Hall #3 to drop off donations for the Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Dec. 3, 2021. (File photo)

Shuswap fire departments gearing up for annual food and toy drives

Salmon Arm fire halls host Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Dec. 10

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Keiran Ruscheinski and Lynden Hanvold share a picture with Tyra Menzies’ Grade 5 students from Hillcrest Elementary, who were at Salmon Arm Fire Hall #3 to drop off donations for the Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive on Dec. 3, 2021. (File photo)
Firefighters from the Malakwa Fire Department and others from the Shuswap participate in a live-burn training exercise. (File Photo)

‘The reality is hotter fires’: Building construction part of training for 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)
A fire was sparked in a Coldstream home Friday shortly after 11 a.m. (Shawn Morgan photo)

VIDEO: Firefighters battling trailer fire in Coldstream

Blaze sparked in trailer park Friday shortly after 11 a.m.

A fire was sparked in a Coldstream home Friday shortly after 11 a.m. (Shawn Morgan photo)
Salmon Arm firefighters prepare to fight a residential fire near the corner of 20th Street NE and Okanagan Avenue in April 2022. (File photo)

Letter: Past time we took the health of firefighters more seriously

“All smoke and fumes can be harmful, but some are more harmful than others.”

  • Nov 18, 2022
Salmon Arm firefighters prepare to fight a residential fire near the corner of 20th Street NE and Okanagan Avenue in April 2022. (File photo)
Salmon Arm firefighters prepare to fight a residential fire near the corner of 20th Street NE and Okanagan Avenue in April 2022. (File photo)

Shuswap fire chiefs applaud expanded cancer coverage for firefighters

‘A car fire is not a car fire anymore, it’s a toxic chemical dump’

Salmon Arm firefighters prepare to fight a residential fire near the corner of 20th Street NE and Okanagan Avenue in April 2022. (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)
Coldstream Fire Department crews, with help from neighbouring Lavington Fire Department members, extinguished a fire at a home on Cherry Lane Sunday, Nov. 6. (Dave Pimson photo)

UPDATE: WATCH: Coldstream home destroyed in fire

Family out safely, two pets missing, after Sunday morning blaze;GoFundMe page launched for family

  • Nov 6, 2022
Coldstream Fire Department crews, with help from neighbouring Lavington Fire Department members, extinguished a fire at a home on Cherry Lane Sunday, Nov. 6. (Dave Pimson photo)