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Tribute to a fallen firefighter
Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
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Firefighters and first responders from across the province follow the casket of Brian Symth during the Line of Duty procession ending at the Alliance Church in Chilliwack on Friday. For video from the event, go to www.theprogress.com. GREG KNILL/ THE PROGRESS
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The heavy equipment and flaggers in fluorescent vests were out in full force Monday preparing for the dike work on Young Road. Young Road residents have hired legal counsel to convince City of Chilliwack to hold off on the project, but equipment operators nonetheless started taking out trees and shrubs along the one-kilometre stretch. The city’s position is that raising the Young Road dike by one metre is required for flood EEveryone who h protection and to meet provincial standards. drives over it will But Young Road resident Peggy thank us and our Fridriksdottir said city flood protection officials are not listening to the concerns of will be built to a impacted property ownhigh standard ers, in proceeding with the project over their ~ Sam objections. They’ve sent a lawWaddington yer’s letter, put up signage, and filed several letters to the city from residents. The most recent action is to request cost estimates of the impact on driveways that many of the residents are concerned about, and a meeting with residents to discuss it. Residents are planning a meeting for Saturday to continue the fight. Acting Mayor Sam Waddington warned in a press release Friday that even though it has been years since Chilliwack had a serious flood, the work needs to proceed. It’s been flagged by staff as the most vulnerable section, but the residents through a lawyer have questioned the efficacy of raising the dike in this location, saying it will mostly lower their property values, and not protect the neighbours adequately. “We understand that some people feel this is affecting them adversely,” Acting Mayor Waddington told The Progress. “We received the same type of complaints when we widened Evans Road or built the roundabout.” It’s the municipality’s job to act in the public’s best interests, however.
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Firefighters and first responders from across the province were in Chilliwack Friday to honour Columbia Valley firefighter Brian Smyth, who died in the line of duty March 7. Smyth’s flag-draped casket was carried atop a Columbia Valley fire truck along Young Road to the Chilliwack Alliance Church, where services were held. Following behind were members of the department he had served as a volunteer for seven years. They were joined by hundreds of other firefighters and emergency personnel from across the province and even Alberta in a formal “Line of Duty” parade. Smyth passed away on March 7 after suffering a cardiac arrest while fighting a fire on Iverson Road near Cultus Lake on March 4. He was 57 years old. Symth, an active member of the Columbia Valley community, grew up in the Chilliwack area. He played rugby, and was an avid sailor with the Cultus Lake Sailing Club. In recognition of his commitment to 4-H, his family asked that those in attendance wear a touch of green. Even in death, Smyth continued to help others by donating his organs, said Jennifer Kinneman, spokesperson with the Fraser Valley Regional District. The Fire Chiefs’ Association of B.C. sent its condolences to Smyth’s family, to Columbia Valley’s Fire Chief Mike Soth and to the entire fire department. “Events like this remind us all of the dangers firefighters face on a regular bases in service and protection to their communities,” said FCABC president Timothy Pley, calling it “truly a sad time for everyone.”
Dike work begins as legal battle heats up