Sooke News Mirror, July 29, 2015

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INDEX

Sooke emergency coordinator Al Wickheim finds himself on the front lines of earthquake rescue in Kathmandu August 12th Page 3

News Opinion Arts

SPORTS A2 A8 B1

Sooke Men’s Fastball League made triumphal return to the diamond this year, and looks to a bright future. Page A23

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

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Wasn’t that a party? Weak Patrol belt out a tune at Sookapalooza, held last Saturday at 17 Mile Pub. The one-day music festival featured seven acts, which also include Dirty Harriet, Kemal Evans, Johnny Galactic, Sweet Leaf, Illvis Freshley and Cannibal Bob. Octavian Lacatusu/Sooke News Mirror

Fire Rescue demand stretches resources thin Sooke fire chief says department is experiencing ‘busiest time on record’ with fewer firefighters Kevin Laird Sooke News Mirror

Sooke Fire Rescue is seeing unprecedented demand for service while dealing with volunteer staff shortages. “This year can only be described as the busiest time on record for the fire department,” Fire Chief Steven Sorensen said in a report to District of Sooke council. So far this year, Sooke Fire Rescue has responded to 454 calls, compared to 316 for the same period in 2014. Among the calls this year

are 12 structure fires, 33 motor vehicle accidents and 256 first responder calls. Sorensen expects the volume to increase as the warm, dry summer continues throughout the South Coast. To make matters worse, the fire department is challenged to respond to calls with fewer volunteer firefighters. The department has seen a 40 per cent drop in the number of firefighters available to respond to fires and with a number of firefighters away on vacation or injured, the situation becomes more difficult. “The likelihood of an incident or incidents

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overwhelming resources is a probability that cannot be overlooked,” Sorensen said. In recent weeks, several serious motor vehicle accidents have occurred along Sooke Road and there’s a marked increase in fire activity with several structure fires. The most serious of those was the Grant Manor fire on July 4 where 18 people were left homeless. Sorensen said due to the increase in structure fires, Sooke Fire Rescue has increasingly used mutual aid with other fire departments to ensure sufficient personnel and equipment is available. Continued / A6

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