The month of April started with Agassiz Firefighters being dispatched to set up a landing zone for a BC Ambulance Medi Vac air ambulance on April 2. April 7 had crews responding to fire alarms at T Marlowe Manor. April 10 the AFD attended a burning complaint.
Agassiz crews were called into action on April 14, with a residential structure fire on Inkman Rd. The first crew on scene encountered thick black heavy smoke coming from the lower floor of the residence. Quick actions by the home owner and fire crews kept fire damage to a minimum. It was determined pillows in a dryer were the cause of the fire. There were four occupants home at the time of the incident, all were able to get out safely although one adult was transported to hospital by BC ambulance service for smoke inhalation. Fire crews from both Agassiz and Seabird Fire Department attended. Kent / Harrison Emergency Social Services also attended the scene to assist the displaced family.
April 15 Agassiz fire crews were called to assist Popkum Fire Department with a structure fire. Agassiz assisted with a water tender as this was a non-hydrant protected area. Crews also sent an air squad to refill self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air packs on scene. April 16 had crews called for a motor vehicle accident, and on the 21st the AFD responded to assist the BC Ambulance service with a cardiac arrest call. Fire crews attended a 3 vehicle motor vehicle accident on the Agassiz Rosedale Bridge on April 28, and couple hours later crews responded to an industrial dumpster fire.
April also brought some unique and specialized training, 10 members participated in an auto extrication course level 1 and 2 (passenger vehicles). On April 10 and 11 Agassiz Fire Department built on their current level of extrication training by hosting a Heavy Rescue Commercial Auto Extrication level 3 course, instructed by the Justice Institute of British Columbia. This had specialized trainers come in and train 10 local fire fighters, along with 2 from the Popkum Fire Department, 2 from the Chilliwack Fire Department and 1 fire fighter from the Joe Rich Fire Department. This was a great opportunity for our local firefighters to improve on their existing skills and build on the department’s response capabilities by training to a higher standard and better serve our community. Firefighters learned the latest industry best practices on how to deal with and effectively attack incidents involving tractor trailer units and busses. Scenarios included logging trucks, heavy highway trucks, and a school bus incident, all involving passenger vehicles. This training is essential with the increased heavy traffic that flows through the area on the provincial highways.
Agassiz Fire would like to thank the following corporate community partners for their exceptional support that helped make this training opportunity possible:
• Mission Towing
• Pioneer Motors
• Mt. Cheam Farms
• Woodside Farms
• Tolsons Enterprises Limited
• Lorne Hansen
• School District #78 Fraser Cascade