A crew of Saanich firefighters returning from Williams Lake were greeted to a warm welcome on Tuesday during their 3 p.m. ferry ride.

The Saanich Fire Department crew of Capt. Ron Hyde, Brent Brice, Noah Elan and Ryan Loyer was on its way back from a week-long deployment fighting the wildfires in the interior.

When they got back to their red passenger van, marked with a Saanich Fire logo, they found the driverB次元官网网址檚 window decorated with thank you cards from fellow ferry passengers.

B次元官网网址淭he cards were from some wonderful young kids who did some colouring on the ferry, made the thank you notes and put them on the van,B次元官网网址� said Deputy Chief Dan Wood. B次元官网网址淭hey were certainly taken aback, they loved it.B次元官网网址�

The cards are now posted on the bulletin board at Station 1 on Vernon Ave.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to get a pat on the back after a seven day rotation where they put in long hours and long days,B次元官网网址� Wood said.

The crew was the second from Saanich Fire to be deployed as the wildfires have put the province into a state of emergency.

The current rotation of Saanich firefighters are at a Cache Creek base camp. TheyB次元官网网址檙e providing structure fire protection near Loon Lake as well as putting out spot fires near the residences that are still standing.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e watching the weather and also watching the growing fire out of Clinton,B次元官网网址� Wood said. B次元官网网址淭he crew might be re-deployed to West Fraser Mills to protect the mill.B次元官网网址�

A fourth rotation of Saanich firefighters will leave for the interior on Monday.