Bentley District Fire Department

Volunteer | Dedication | Perserverance

The Bentley District Fire Department is comprised of 17 committed volunteers, dedicated to serving our community. Since its establishment, the Bentley Fire Department has continued to preserve the safety and security of community members within its 1000 sq km area district. From fighting fires, to medical emergency responses, and motor vehicle accidents, our volunteers are highly trained and experienced to react and aid in many emergency situations. Training every Monday night as well as some weekends and responding to over 70 emergency calls per year, the Bentley District Fire Department's volunteers devote their lives to helping others.

After a solid three weeks of no calls whatsoever your fire department has been overwhelmed; answering 14 calls for emergency services:

April 20, 2021  /  Guest User

  • On March 30 at 1:40 pm crews were sent to an MVA on Aspelund Road near RR 28-2. Two eastbound vehicles, one passing the other, had collided. Injuries were minor but patients were monitored and so traffic was managed until EMS’ arrival. The roadway was cleared of debris and then fully reopened.

  • Later that same afternoon the BFD was called to assist Lacombe for a tractor fire which had spread to a barn. Bentley’s Tender was stood down once it was determined the fire was manageable by the LFD.

  • And at 7:42 that evening firefighters were sent to assist EMS with a patient in Bentley. They were stood down en route as the situation was deemed manageable.

  •  Shortly after 6 pm on March 31 fifteen members responded to a grassfire on RR 28-4, just south of Twp Rd 40-0. This turned out to be a bale fire which, in the windy conditions, was spreading rapidly over a large area. Crews extinguished the fire with a leaf blower, water and foam, the monitor unit and brooms. The bales were picked apart and doused and the field was thoroughly soaked down.

  • On April 2 at 2:52 pm nine members were sent to a collision between a semi-truck and a train, on RR 28-0 and Twp Rd 40-2. Minor injuries were sustained by the driver of the truck and fortunately there were no leaks of dangerous cargo from the train. Traffic was carefully managed at the scene and the BFD was later released by CP police.

  • At 2:45 pm on April 5 crews were sent to another grassfire, this time on Twp Rd 41-2 where a large area was burning. The fire originated in a fire pit which was being used for cooking. This spread to the surrounding long grass and was threatening two travel trailers and was moving toward the residence. Bales nearby were also on fire. The blaze was extinguished with water and foam and the handy leaf blower.

  • On April 6 at 12:16 pm Bentley Fire was called out to a Mutual Aid to assist Eckville FD for a vehicle fire in their town. Bentley’s Engine and Tender assisted with water supply and manpower for a crane truck with the cab and sleeper fully involved. The fire was extinguished and fortunately no one was injured.

  •  At 9:13 pm on April 8 crews were sent to an MVA on Aspelund Rd and RR 1-1. The single vehicle involved had swerved to avoid a deer and hit the ditch, rolling onto its roof. The driver and sole occupant had self-extricated and was being attended to by EMS so traffic control was established in the dark conditions. The firefighters were later released by RCMP.

  • On April 9 at 8:23 pm ten members were sent to a rural home where sadly a person had been found deceased and there was some concern there may be a carbon monoxide leak. The home and attached garage were thoroughly inspected with the gas monitor and no elevated levels were found so the scene was left in the care of the RCMP.

  • At 3 in the morning on April11 an alarms call was received from a home in Sunbreaker Cove. Bentley crews were stood down while en route but Engine continued on to investigate, as it was a smoke alarm that had been activated. No smoke, heat or fire was discovered and the homeowner was not present so firefighters returned to the hall.

  • On April 12 at 10:24 am crews were sent to another alarms call at a rural residence. A false alarm was reported as a contractor was working at the site on an electrical panel which had triggered the smoke alarm. This was ruled a non-emergency.

  • At noon on April 16 seven members responded to a call for an animal rescue in Bentley. A cat was high up a power pole near the transformer. The naughty feline was alert and not apparently injured so Fortis was contacted as firefighters cannot attempt rescues of this nature with an electrical hazard present. Command was terminated and BFD left the scene in the capable hands of the electrical company.

  • Later that same day eleven members responded as Mutual Aid to another grassfire, this one in Lacombe’s area near the D&M gravel pit. The burn covered a very large area extending from the pit, through dense underbrush and treed areas clear through to the fields on the other side. Engine, Tender, Rapid and Utility were pressed into service and firefighters spent several hours bringing the fire under control and soaking all affected areas as thoroughly as possible. Water with foam was used to smother the deep-burning peat moss and when the job was done more time was spent back at the hall cleaning the trucks, hoses and filthy equipment.

  • And on April 17 at 6:10 pm yet another grassfire call came in, this one at a rural acreage on Twp Rd 410 west of Bentley. The fire had apparently started out in the pasture and the wind had brought it dangerously close to the house. The homeowners called 911 and while waiting for help to arrive did a remarkably good job in bringing the fire mostly under control with hoses and a leaf blower. Firefighters continued on, extinguishing treed areas still burning, picking apart bales and completely soaking all extensive affected areas to avoid any re-ignition. The homeowners were at a loss as to how this fire started, as they had not been burning anything. Fortunately, no one was injured and their home was undamaged.

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