Volunteer fire department returns to Vancouver Island village after 4-month suspension
Residents of a village on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island can breathe a sigh of relief now that volunteer fire services have been reinstated in the community.
The Village of Zeballos announced its volunteer fire department had been re-activated in a statement Wednesday.
The volunteer fire department had temporarily suspended services in late May due to a lack of staff.
The suspension meant that over the past approximately four months, no response was to be expected if a fire occurred.
"The village would like to express [its] gratitude to the volunteers that put their names forward to commit to the support of this service," said the municipality in a statement Wednesday.
"Without you, the volunteers, Zeballos would have no fire department," the statement added.
Armin Grunert has been named the volunteer fire department's deputy fire chief, Ernie Smith was appointed captain and Erin Morin has taken on the role of risk management officer.
The municipality notes that volunteers are still welcome to join the department, with weekly practices held Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.
The village is asking residents to make sure they take precautions to avoid fires in the future.
Residents are encouraged to clean their chimneys, check their smoke alarms, and minimize fire hazards inside their homes and on their lawns.
"It's woodstove season, and as much as we appreciate our volunteer fire department, we hope to not have to send them to your house," reads the statement.
More information about the newly reinstated volunteer fire department is expected in the future, according to the village.
Zeballos council approved the reinstatement at a meeting on Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.