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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 Your community. Your stories.
TRI-CITY
NEWS
Locals on wildfire front lines Equipment, staff sent to Interior to join the fire fight GARY MCKENNA
The Tri-CiTy News
A handful of Coquitlam firefighters have been assisting with the wildfire fight in the Interior and more could soon join them. Fire Chief Wade Pierlot told The Tri-City News Monday that he has deployed the department’s sprinkler protection unit along with a chief officer and four firefighters. The crew will use the equipment to protect vital infrastructure, including telecommunications towers, bridges, mills and mining structures. “They have had quite the experience,” he said. “The fire has been a Rank 5 — Rank 6 is the worst. They have had to abandon their positions several times.” The unit is currently near 108 Mile Ranch and Pierlot said he is considering a request to send another sprinkler protection system and more staff to assist where needed. see 14,000 HAVE, page 9
AGASSIZ-HARRISON OBSERVER PHOTO
Wildfires have hit a number of areas in British Columbia’s Interior, stretching firefighting resources to the max. That’s why local fire departments, including Coquitlam’s and Port Moody’s, have sent resources such as staff and specialized equipment to help with the battle.
EVERGREEN EFFECTS
skyTrain proves boon for events in Tri-Cities Transit use tripled at Lafarge-Douglas on Canada Day MARIO BARTEL
The Tri-CiTy News
SkyTrain is making it easier for visitors to take in events in
Coquitlam and Port Moody — and that’s boosting transit ridership as well as the hopes of event planners. According to TransLink, the number of people passing through the fare gates at Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station — the end of the Evergreen Extension in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park — almost tripled
on Canada Day compared to a typical Saturday in June: On July 1, 9,966 users tapped in and tapped out at the station versus the prior month’s Saturday average of 3,331. “That’s music to our ears,” said Eric Kalnins, Coquitlam’s tourism manager.
see 276% INCREASE, page 8
MUSTAFA HASSAN PHOTO
Tens of thousands of people attended Coquitlam’s Canada Day celebrations and many of those used the Evergreen Extension to get there, as did visitors to Port Moody’s July 1 events at Rocky Point Park.
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