INSIDE: Find school bus schedules in our back to school section Pg. 20 August 24, 2010
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burned by red-hot Sun 11 Huskers 1985-
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LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER & ENTERTAINMENT chilliwacktimes.com
Firefighters want more manpower
FLIGHT FEST UNDERLINING THE POINT
We’re running too lean and lives are at risk
presence of more firefighters on the first truck would have saved the man’s life. But he says the public deserves to know that the current level of funding brings with it certain risks. Provincial health and safety laws require at least four firefighters be BY TYLER OLSEN present before a burning building tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com is entered. But only three firefightlack of resources and man- ers are assigned to Engine 1, at Hall power is compromising 1, around the clock. At full staffthe ability of Chilliwack ing levels, two more firefighters firefighters to conduct life- are assigned to Engine 4, which is saving rescue operations, accord- based in Sardis. It was Engine 1 that arrived first ing to the Chilliwack Professional at the Kenswood Drive fire, but Fire Fighters Association. On Aug. 1, firefighters were called those firefighters had to wait until more help arrived. to a fire at an assist“There was a ed-living residence four-minute time in which an elderly “There was a fourgap there where man was trapped minute time gap they didn’t have inside. But because the ability to go in there where they the first truck to and grab the guy,” arrive on scene didn’t have the said Corbett. “Four had just three fireability to go in and minutes, when you fighters, provincial look at a fire dourules forced those grab the guy.” bling in size every firefighters to wait for a second engine Keith Corbett 30 seconds, is a long time.” before entering the The four-fireresidence. The engine arrived four min- fighter rule is mandated by the utes later, at which time firefight- province’s health and safety laws. “That rule is in place for our own ers enter the burning building and removed a 75-year-old man, who safety. All of us are more than willwas then rushed to hospital. The ing to run in and do everything we man later died from severe burns can,” said Corbett. “But the rules and smoke inhalation suffered in have been put in place because guys have died in the past from the blaze. Keith Corbett, president of the doing that.” Chilliwack Professional Fire FightSee FIREFIGHTERS, Page 7 ers Association, doesn’t know if the
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Tyler Olsen/TIMES
A plane traces a graceful line above the southern horizon Saturday evening during Chilliwack Flight Fest. See additional photos from Flight Fest on Page 16
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