This past month has been exceptionally busy for your fire department:
- In the afternoon of April 24 eight members responded to a call of an outside fire northwest of town near Rimbey. The small fire was put out and the surrounding area soaked to prevent a re-kindle.
- On April 25 at 1:50 am twelve crews were sent to a structure fire east of the Wooden Shoe on Highway #12. The old vacant house was fully engulfed, so Lacombe and Blackfalds departments were called in to assist. The house was too far gone to save therefore a defensive attack was in order to protect homes nearby. The fire was finally extinguished several hours later and the building was pulled apart and hot spots put out. Thanks to DB Bobcat who helped with the knockdown.
- At 1:19 am on April 27 members were called to a rural residence south of town to assist EMS with an unconscious patient. CPR was administered for over 40 minutes but the exhaustive efforts were to no avail as unfortunately the individual passed away at the scene.
- About suppertime on April 29 a call came in of a grassfire at a rural property on Woody Nook Road and Highway #12. This was a monitored burn in a cultivated field, the fire was allowed to burn out and left in the care of the landowner.
- On May 3 at 10:26 am firefighters were sent to a farm south of town on Highway #20 where a controlled burn was in progress. All permits and safety precautions were in place however the wind changed direction and the fire ignited some straw bales nearby. When the situation became somewhat unmanageable the supervisor wisely called 911 for assistance. Crews extinguished the burning piles and broke apart the burning bales, then thoroughly soaked all surrounding areas.
- Just before 7 am on May 4 ten crews attended the scene of a vehicle fire on Range Road 1-2 just south of town. A truck was discovered upside-down and burning in the west ditch. No occupants were found inside the vehicle and a search of the area revealed nothing. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and RCMP conducted their investigation.
- On May 6 at 1:03 pm an alarms ringing call came in. A Bentley home was involved but crews were stood down en route once the alarm company clarified it as a false alarm.
- May 7 won the prize for the BFD's busiest day as five calls came in between lunch and (late) supper:
- At 12:11 pm an outside fire call sent eight members to Aspen Beach's day use area where a family was enjoying a wiener roast over an open fire. As there was a burn ban on during this time the fire was extinguished.
- A call came in at 1:30 pm of a plane crash the Eckville area, Bentley was requested to help. As firefighters neared the location they were stood down as the Eckville Fire Department had the situation under control.
- At 3:07 pm another call of an outside fire was received; same day use area, almost exactly same location. Again, the campfire was put out and the new family informed of the POSTED fire ban. Conservation officers were now present to help educate users.
- Ten crews responded to the next call which was received at 5:22 pm Yet again a fire was spotted in the Ebeling day use area. This time members arrived to find a family legally using a portable propane fire pit. We ask people to PLEASE check what they are reporting before they call 911!
- And finally, at 7:27 pm firefighters were sent to a motorcycle accident on Highway #12, just east of RR 28-4. The motorcyclist appeared to have hit some loose gravel on the shoulder and lost control, ending up in the grassy ditch. Firefighters assisted EMS with the patient who was loaded into a waiting ambulance for the trip to hospital.
- On May 13 at 5:40 pm crews responded to another vehicle fire, this time on Highway 20 south of town. A southbound car had caught fire, forcing the driver to pull to the shoulder and quickly exit to the safety of the grassy ditch. The burning vehicle was extinguished but the cause of the fire was unknown, RCMP conducted their investigation while the BFD controlled traffic and helped clean the roadway of debris until they were released.
