With hot weather around the corner (we hope), the CBS Fire Department hosted a Fire Smart public education session at Fire Station No. 1 in Kelligrews on Saturday May 2. Residents who dropped by for advice on how to protect their properties against wildfires and other risks were rewarded with special giveaways. Younger residents got to meet mascots Sparky the Fire Dog, Ember the Fire Fox and the famous Smokey the Bear. Among the crew helping out at the event were, starting in the front row, from left: Firefighters Chris Cashin, Gavin Murphy, Emily Spracklin, Mike Dwyer, Kris Hodge, and Captain Jason Carrigan; and in the back, from left: Captain Sean Lawlor, Cynthia Piercey, Fire Chief John Heffernan, the Department of Forestry’s Dylan Rumbolt, Cameron O’Neill, Ben Basha, Ember the Fire Fox (who was escorted by Department of Forestry Firefighter Kolby Saint), Sparky the Fire Dog, who trains with CBS Firefighter Amber Simmonds, Firefighters Cody Hayden and Garrett Dawe, Lieutenant Travis Chaulk, and Firefighter Mike Gosse. As of May 5, the CBS Fire Department had already responded to 21 calls to brush fires and open-air fires so far this year, according to Mayor Darrin Bent. Craig Westcott photo.
