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- Friday - Jan. 24, 2025 - Harrison fire department's busy 2024
Friday - Jan. 24, 2025 - Harrison fire department's busy 2024
Tyler Olsen
January 24, 2025
☀ High 4C
Good morning!
Last night I biffed it. I’ve played hockey a couple times a week during winter basically my whole life. Technique-wise, I’m not a great skater by the standard of others who have spent that much time on the ice, but I’m at home on the ice; just like when I run while playing soccer, skating is a means to an end. And yet: that ice sure is slippery sometimes. You’re turning into a corner and, suddenly the ice gives way and you’re hurtling into a corner. Or you go to pivot and your blade catches the ice and you’re hurtling butt-first through the air, headed for a hard landing. It rarely hurts much, but it’s always a humbling experience.
– Tyler
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Traffic & Weather
🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope (We have had to temporarily change our forecast links to the Weather Network due to a technical error.)
🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.
🛣 Click here for links to road cameras across the Fraser Valley, including those for the Coquihalla, Highway 7, Hope-Princeton, Fraser Canyon, and Highway 1 in Langley and Abbotsford.
NEWS
Mission water meter quest may continue for decades
Mission’s quest to get a water meter at every home in town looks like it will continue for decades, even after its council greenlit changes this week meant to expedite the process.
The city will begin providing and installing meters for free in 100 homes each year in an attempt to reduce water consumption and get more homes on the devices. The free-meter program follows a previous failed attempt that failed to generate interest from residents. The prior initiative promised to partially subsidize the costly installation of the device but left owners on the hook for thousands of dollars in up-front costs.
Related
Need to Know
🔥 One person was injured and two RVs destroyed in a large fire near Hope [Hope Standard]
💰 Police are investigating possible embezzlement of funds from the Langley’s minor lacrosse organization [Langley Advance Times]
🚒 One person was killed in an apartment fire in Chilliwack Thursday [Chilliwack Progress]
🗳 Cheam First Nation’s former chief is one of five candidates in a byelection to be held in early March [Fraser Valley Today]
🎥 The Abbotsford School District has started work on a video project following students from Grade 1 through 12 [Abbotsford News]
📈 Mission expects to hike property taxes by an average of 5.8% [Mission Record]
🍴 A Lithuanian restaurant has opened in downtown Chilliwack [Fraser Valley Today]
🏎 A Langley man has been charged with illegally using an HOV lane in connection with a crash on the Port Mann bridge [Langley Advance Times]
🚔 A man is facing firearm charges after Abbotsford police found a gun and ammo in a vehicle Wednesday [Abbotsford News]
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SPONSORED BY FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL
Fort Langley Jazz Fest blues show returns
Experience the magic of blues, tasty eats and drinks, and cool vibes at the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival Cool Blues Show on July 25, at the Fort Community Park. This annual fan-favourite is back and bigger and better than ever!
From a star-studded lineup of legendary blues performers to food trucks, craft beverages, art installations, vendor market, games area and unbeatable festival energy, this will be the music event of the summer!
Join thousands of fellow Blues fans to catch JUNO-Award winning artists like Steve Marriner & Local Electric and Angelique Francis (with more to be announced).
Get January's early bird ticket deal of two tickets for $110, or elevate your experience with VIP tickets.
The Agenda
Harrison’s fire department responded to 46% more calls in 2024 than the previous year. 📷 Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department/Facebook
Record year for Harrison fire crews
It may still be winter, but firefighters in Harrison Hot Springs are expecting another busy year.
One year after the Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department responded to 173 calls—its busiest year in recent memory—the team expects that volume to go up with the growth of high density developments, hotels, and restaurants in the village.
“Members of the Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department have responded to more calls than ever before,” said fire chief Curtis Genest at a Jan. 13 council meeting.
The call volume represents a 46% increase from 2023, when the fire department responded to 118 calls. (The department took on 130 calls in 2022.)
Most of the calls were related to medical services. However, the department saw a rise in fire-related calls, which were mostly false alarms. They also responded to four structure fires outside the village in 2024.
Harrison’s fire department has 23 members, up from 18 in January 2024.
-Josh Kozelj, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
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🗓 Things to do
Literacy day: The Clearbrook Library and The Reach Gallery Museum host a family literacy day celebration on Saturday, Jan. 25. The event will include a magic show, puppet performances, and live storywalk. Details online.
Robbie Burns Day: The Fort Pub and Grill hosts a Robbie Burns Day celebration with songwriter Bruce Coughlan on Saturday, Jan. 25. Details and tickets online.
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