When 15 people died in a fatal crash on a highway in southwestern Manitoba this week, volunteer firefighters were the first emergency responders on the scene.
The crash, which happened near the town of Carberry, also injured 10 people.
The 25 people were on a small bus that collided with a semi, RCMP said. They were mostly seniors from around Dauphin, which is about 150 kilometres north of Carberry and 320 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.
While volunteers make up the majority of fire departments in Canada, fire officials said their numbers have been dwindling since 2016 — despite their key role in responding to emergencies across the country.
Dauphin Fire Chief
