Firefighters Rowena Nichol, Francis Coombs and Rod Coombs of the Portugal Cove South Fire Department flush out a fire hydrant during a recent training exercise. Submitted Photo
By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
The 20-member crew of the Portugal Cove South Fire Department all know their roles and, even though it’s been a relatively quiet year, they are always ready to respond.
“We have really good volunteers. People are really responsive when the call goes out,” said Ida Perry, Town Clerk for the Town of Portugal Cove South and member of the fire department. “We haven’t had a lot of calls in the past year, but it’s good that when the call comes you know they’ll be there.”
Led by Fire Chief Herb Coombs for the past six or seven years, the department holds monthly meetings and consists of 15 men and five women volunteers. The department was recently approved for new breathing apparatus kits, had a wildfire skid unit donated and obtained 15 new sets of coverall gear.
The department uses a 2017 pumper truck obtained through a grant program.
Fire Prevention Week 2026 runs from October 4–10, and its official theme is ‘Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.’ This year’s campaign highlights the growing fire risks associated with lithium‑ion batteries used in everyday devices such as phones, tablets, laptops, e‑bikes, scooters, toys, and power tools.
