Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue

At 11:57 on Thursday Nov. 25, 2021 Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 257 Maliview Dr. At 12:10 PM, both Engine 1 and Tender 1 from the Ganges Firehall were on scene and found smoke coming from the bottom unit of a fourplex residential structure. With efficient manpower on scene from a fast response, fire crews went offensive on the fire, sending an interior team inside the structure to extinguish the fire. Crews were able to knock down the fire and contain it to the room, and unit, of origin and prevent any extension into the adjacent units. Hydro was shut off to the area to allow crews to complete their work. There was a total of three fire apparatus on scene and sixteen firefighters responded. Emergency Social Services were called to attend to provide services to the occupants that were displaced from the unit where the fire occurred. All other occupants were able to return to their units after a check of each unit was complet…

The Board of Fire Trustees and Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue are pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Holmes to Fire Chief. Chief Holmes has been exceptional in his role of Acting Fire Chief since November 14, 2020. A strong leader with a wealth of experience, SSIFR is fortunate to have him at the helm. Chief Holmes has achieved 25 years of exemplary service since joining the department in 1996 as a Paid-on- Call Volunteer. He Joined the career ranks in 2002 and ascended to Deputy Chief in April 2021. Recently, Chief Holmes was awarded the British Columbia Training Officer Association Meritorious Service Medal for his decade of executive service to the association. During his 15-year tenure as training officer, our department successfully trained many volunteer Firefighters that went on to become career professionals, both here and in other departments across the country. Chief Holmes set a benchmark that members be trained to the NFPA 1001 standard, which ensure…

On October 30th, 2021, at 04:37 hrs. Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) received a duty page for an unknown fire in the 600 block of Beaver Point Rd. At 04:43 hrs. that call was upgraded to a residential structure fire at 671 Beaver Point Rd. Upon arrival, at 05:02 hrs., a small 400 ft2 cabin was fully involved with fire, and the building collapsed as crews were setting up to apply water. With no driveway access to the cabin, crews had to access the building up a narrow trail. SSIFR had water on the fire at 05:08, contained the fire to the building of origin, and knocked down the visible flames by 05:15. The fire was completely extinguished by 05:44 hrs. using 5,500 gallons of water through a tender shuttle. The fire is still under investigation and no cause has been determined at this point. The crews cleared scene at 09:30 hrs. Unfortunately, a person was found deceased within the building. The scene has been handed over to the RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Office who w…

On June 28th, 2021 at 18:45 Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue was called to 1460 North Beach Road, Mineral Springs Resort for a report of a commercial structure fire. Due to the distance from the firehall, the building construction and the abnormal temperatures, fire growth was rapid, and the initial crew faced an in trenched working fire. The four-story building was compartmentalized and built down a slope making access more difficult. Eight apparatus and twenty-two firefighters worked well into the night extinguishing the fire and ensuring it did not spread to the surrounding buildings or interface forest. The dry water hydrant at St. Mary Lake was utilized for the tender shuttle operation delivering over 30,000 gallons of water to the fire site. The fire is under investigation and we will continue to monitor the building for hot spots. Jamie Holmes Acting Fire Chief Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue

The Board and the Advisory Committee are keenly aware of the impact of COVID-19 on the local community and the economy in planning for a replacement for the Ganges Fire Hall – the main hall and operations centre for the Island’s emergency response. We are doing the research necessary to identify actions and options and will continue to inform and engage the community in the process. As recently announced, the community volunteer-based Fire Rescue Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees reviewed the two detailed technical reports on the status of the Ganges Fire Hall. Both reports provide conclusive evidence that the building nor the physical site are suitable for rebuilding: the site is not seismically sound, it is too small, and it would cost in the millions of dollars to retrofit. As a result, the District is now investigating the Brinkworthy site, a property the District already owns, thanks to a generous donation. Next Steps Additional items discussed at both …

Project Update #3 Regarding Ganges Fire Hall With health and safety top of mind amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board and the Fire Rescue Advisory Committee now meet online to continue to work on the Fire Rescue Needs and Facilities Assessment Project. The Board and the Advisory Committee are deeply committed to creating safe, responsible solutions for fire protection and public safety, recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on our Salt Spring community. Our goal is to continue the leg work, ensure all questions are answered and be ready when the time is right to move forward. We are developing online opportunities for you to learn more and to provide feedback on any proposed options for a new fire hall. Please stay tuned for more details. Reports Recommend New Home for Ganges Fire Hall Two recent reports confirming the status of the Ganges Fire Hall were reviewed by both the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District Board of Trustees and the Fire Rescue Advisory Co…

Raised on Salt Spring by a family that supported the community through a variety of volunteer roles, it was only natural for me to follow that same path of volunteerism. In high school, I was a member of the Youth Coast Guard in Mill Bay. I was a member of the local Land Search and Rescue team for 12 years and served as chair for eight of those years. My transition to the the fire service was a natural one. As a Paid on Call (POC) firefighter, I am able to satisfy my need to be a contributing part of the community in which I was raised. This commitment to service has resulted in me also becoming a part of both the rope and water rescue teams in addition to the minimum weekly commitment of a POC. Each of these responsibilities require time, both to train as well as to share what I have learned from past training with my teammates. Becoming an officer was a natural progression, reflecting my time and energy commitments. There are times that my commitment feels like it is no…

Did you know that chimney fires are the most common fire emergencies  this time of the year?  - As our weather cools, and you begin enjoying your roaring fire, there are important safety tips you should know. Each year, Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) is called to between 7 and 15 chimney fires. As these fires can easily spread - having already destroyed too many homes on Salt Spring - why not Burn it Smart to prevent fires in your chimney? The best way to prevent chimney fires is to: Clean, maintain, and inspect your chimney at least once a year Chimney fires are caused by accumulations of creosote, solidified flammable particulates from wood smoke. These deposits can generally be removed by annual cleanings, although chimneys with unusual configurations or extra heavy use may need care more often. When was your chimney last cleaned? Burn only clean and well-seasoned wood Burning wet or unseasoned wood creates additional creosote in your chimney. …

Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue August 2018 incidents report. Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) responded to a department record of 108 Incidents for the month of August. These were: 38 calls for assistance, 17 medical emergencies, 1 residential structure fire and 1 suspected residential structure fire , 2 commercial structure fires , 4 MVIs (motor vehicle incidents), 17 brush/grass fires or suspected fires, 10 open burn fires, 3 Hydro fires, 1 boat fire, 3 hazardous material incidents, 2 animal rescues, 1 rope rescue, 5 commercial and 3 residential alarms This month, crews were busy with wildfires, each of them successfully-contained: On August 3, SSIFR responded to our first major wildfire of the season. The fire, in a hard-to- access wooded area on Beaver Point Road, proved to be a challenge. The fire crews were effective in containing the fire. On August 21, SSIFR responded to another south end brush fire, this time on Musgrave Road. Despite drought-like cond…

On Monday, October 1, 2018, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Lions Hall, Fire Trustees will welcome your questions about a new budgetary direction they are proposing to pursue. Although much in the 2019 budget is the same as previous years, this budget also includes some new reserves, including one to help pay for a new firehall. New expenditures for the proposed budget include $137,350 for an apparatus replacement reserve fund and $300,000 to be placed in reserve for a new firehall. A significant majority of the Trustees believe these increases would be prudent planning. But, Trustees need to hear from you. Do you support raising taxes to set aside funds for future needs and, if so, how much should be placed in reserve? If you come to Lions Hall October 1, you will be given plenty of opportunity to learn more and voice your opinion about the proposed budget. Only after the feedback received at this public meeting is carefully considered, will the Fire Board finalize its 2019 budget. …

As you may have missed the Fire Trustees’s special Town Hall designed to initiate a series of conversations with the community, you may find a summary of this event interesting. . . . A New Firehall?: At 7:00 p.m., after Chair Per Svendsen welcomed everyone and introductions were made, a member of the public asked for an update concerning a new firehall. An engaged and interesting discussion ensued, and the majority of the evening was spent exploring opinions about a new firehall. Per confirmed that a two-acre property on Brinkworthy Road had been donated to the Salt Spring Fire Protection District and would likely be the proposed location for the new firehall. He said that members of the Facilities and Physical Plant Committee, as well as some other Trustees, had recently toured three halls on Vancouver Island and are planning to visit more in March. There was a great deal of discussion about the possibility of a building that would integrate services in addition to …

During the incorporation debate, one of the most significant liabilities of improvement districts was their inability to compete for federal and provincial grants. Many do not know that this is due to a British Columbia provincial policy and that some other provinces allow their improvement districts to compete for these grants. Last month, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Adam Olsen visited our Fire department, as well as the North Salt Spring Water Improvement District. Attended by three Trustees as well as CAO Andrew Peat and Chief Arjuna George, all participated in a creative and cordial conversation about the possibility of a needed-policy change to allow access to grants. On October 17, 2017, the Fire Improvement District had written a letter to Adam asserting the unfairness that, although Salt Spring’s residents pay provincial taxes to support infrastructure needs of others, its improvement districts have no access to these funds. Spurred, also, by a Novemb…

How Safe is Your Lovely Roaring Fire? - Did you know that chimney fires are the most common fire emergencies this time of the year? In partnership with the Salt Spring Conservancy, SSIFR will offer a free workshop: Burn it Right” at the Library on Sunday, December 10 from 3:00 - 4:30 so that you can learn everything you need to know about using your wood stove safely and efficiently. Interested in learning more right now? Each year, our Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) is called to between 7 and 15 chimney fires. As these fires can easily spread, already having destroyed too many homes on Salt Spring, it is simply FireSmart to take steps to prevent them in your chimney. The best way to prevent chimney fires is to: Clean, maintain, and inspect your chimney at least once a year. Chimney fires are caused by accumulations of creosote, solidified flammable particulates from wood smoke. These deposits can generally be removed by annual cleanings, although chimn…