Suspect arrested after firefighting equipment stolen from South Okanagan fire department

A small fire department in the South Okanagan was the victim of thieves earlier this week who stole some essential firefighting equipment.

Sometime overnight on Tuesday, Sept. 19, a trailer parked outside the fire hall in Willowbrook, north of Oliver, was broken into, according to an RCMP media release.

Two Honda pumps, valued at $800 each, and a Waterax Mark 3 water pump, valued at $8,500, were stolen.

Following up on several tips from the public an RCMP officer recovered the stolen pumps during a traffic stop. They were clearly marked “WVFD.”

The driver, a 55-year-old Oliver resident, was arrested and released at the scene. He is set to appear in Penticton Provincial Court on Dec. 13.

“This is a great result to be able to recover these important tools for the fire department,” Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth with the Oliver RCMP said in the release. “This volunteer group would have been greatly affected by this loss in being able to provide the level of service and safety to the community.

"Some people have zero moral compass or conscience, especially to commit such an act during our active fire season.”

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