Your fire department has been kept busy these past two months with 22 calls for emergency service;
Eighteen members responded to a bale fire on May 16 at 5:13 pm. Approximately 12 round bales were found ablaze with a vehicle in their midst. Water and foam were used to bring the fire under control, while pitchforks and pike poles were employed to break apart the hay bales and douse them further. The area was then cleaned up and left in the hands of the landowner.
On May 24 at 5:24 pm a call was received of alarms ringing at a Bentley residence. This turned out to be a cooking incident and was deemed a non-emergency.
At 3:32 pm on May 30 crews were sent to an emergency on Gull Lake, where a kayak had flipped over, sending the two passengers into the water. Lacombe Fire was called to assist and bring their boat. The two occupants ended up being picked up by a passing boat and we thank this Good Samaritan. Both patients were brought safely to shore.
On June 1 at 5:17 pm firefighters were sent to another watercraft in distress on Gull Lake at Sandy Point. LFD was again dispatched to assist with their boat. The watercraft was spotted from shore and a citizen used his boat to tow in the stranded one, along with its occupants. Lacombe FD was stood down en route.
At 2:44 pm on June 4 members were sent to another alarms call, this time at a rural residence. The homeowner who was on the scene explained that the security system had been triggered by cleaning activity and crews were stood down en route.
On June 12 at 11:03 at night firefighters were summoned to an outside fire in a farmyard. The homeowner was on the scene, burning in the yard but had no permit in place. The fire had been extinguished with a wheel loader prior to fire crews’ arrival and he was advised to get a permit, as it is required at this time of year.
At 8:26 pm on June 15 firefighters attended a 2-vehicle accident on Highway 20 south of Rainy Creek Road. Both vehicles were in the west ditch and both drivers were safely out. Traffic was managed in both directions while RCMP conducted their investigation. One vehicle was towed away before BFD was released from the scene.
On June 21 shortly before suppertime crews attended another accident on Highway 20 and Twp Rd 394. Both vehicles were parked on the east side of the northbound lane and crews provided traffic control until tow trucks could move the vehicles off of the roadway.
About 8 pm on June 22 nine members were sent to Camp Silversides on Gull Lake, where a camper had been injured diving into the lake. Witnesses helped EMS bring the patient carefully to shore and we thank them for their quick assistance. The patient was cared for at the scene then loaded into the waiting ambulance…which unfortunately got stuck in the sand. Bentley was able to use their truck to winch the ambulance to good footing, then the patient was transported to hospital for further treatment.
On June 24 at 3:40 pm another alarms call was received; this time in Gull Lake Village. A false alarm was reported by the security company stating that the system was being tested and crews were stood down.
At 2:36 pm on June 29 crews responded to yet another call of alarms ringing; this one at an equestrian facility on Highway 20 near Aspelund Road. A smoke detector in the upstairs office area had activated for no apparent reason and could not be deactivated. The entire mezzanine area was checked with the TIC and gas sniffer but no dangerous levels of CO2 nor any trace of heat, smoke or fire was found. It was an exceptionally hot day, registering 39 degrees on the arena wall thermometer. The caretaker was advised to seek further assistance with the alarm company.
On June 30 at 4:31 pm 6 members responded to another MVA, this time on Highway 20 and Twp Rd 402, where a pickup truck and car had collided. When crews arrived both vehicles were sitting in the east ditch and the truck driver was in the care of EMS. Traffic control was immediately set up to protect the scene and RCMP later released the BFD.
At 6:15 that same evening Bentley Fire was sent to yet another watercraft in distress call on Gull Lake. Again, Lacombe Fire had to be called to bring their boat to aid in the rescue. 3 people on an inflatable raft had drifted too far from shore and were unable to paddle back in the windy conditions. They had drifted past the boat launch where someone noticed their predicament about the time crews arrived. He kindly offered to retrieve them, and one firefighter joined him in his boat to tow in the stranded vessel. All three people on board were uninjured but were still offered medical care, which was declined.
And two hours later that same night crews were called as Mutual Aid to Lacombe FD for a tractor fire in their area. The fire had extended into the surrounding hayfield. No one was injured and no buildings were being threatened. Bentley’s Rapid was used to extinguish the perimeter. Two passes was all that was needed to knock down and extinguish the fire.
Happy Canada Day! On July 1 at 10:46 am a call was received from a concerned resident who noticed a cat stuck up a power pole in Lake Trail Estates in Bentley. The cat’s owner was unable to be reached at the time and crews decided the pole posed no real danger, so an extension ladder was placed against it and one kind-hearted firefighter made his way up to the terrified kitty. He was scratched and peed on for his efforts, but he got it partway down before it decided to bail for home. Did we mention that he is allergic to cats? Thanks Jonathan!
Yet another call of a watercraft in distress was received on July 2 at 6:55 pm. Firefighters made their way to Sandy Point where a boat with 5 occupants had reportedly hit a sandbar, wrecking the prop and taking on water. Fortunately, they were able to limp the boat back to the marina. They were all extremely cold so the BFD gave them blankets and got them into the truck where they could warm up.
At 11:01am on July 3 Bentley was sent as Mutual Aid to Eckville for a vehicle fire in their district. Crews were stood down once EFD had the incident under control.
At noon on July 5 five members were sent to a vehicle fire on Woody Nook Road. They arrived to a fully engulfed truck which had made it off the road and into the owner’s driveway. The driver had gotten out safely, but phone, wallet and paperwork were still inside and completely fried. The fire was put out using water and foam.
On July 10 another call for help with stranded boats came in, again at Sandy Point. Two inflatable boats with small motors were involved. Both motors had died, stranding several frightened people. A Good Samaritan had come across them and graciously offered assistance, trying to pull both boats behind his own boat, fully loaded with people. It was simply too heavy, and one boat had to be left behind. All involved made it to shore safely with no injuries.
Mid-afternoon on July 10 seven members were sent to a brush fire which was called in by a farm hand. The landowner and bystanders managed to get the fire out by the time fire crews arrived.
On July 12 at 7:30 am a call came in of a vehicle fire on Highway 12 and Twp Rd 402. A car had been burning and was out when crews arrived. The area was checked for hot spots, and it was discovered the registration did not match the vehicle, so RCMP were notified. No response was received so the BFD cleared the scene.
And on July 12 at 7:36 pm a call was received from a concerned passerby who was seeing a lot of smoke on Highway 20 near the Forshee Hall. This was investigated and turned out to be a controlled burn with a permit in place. The scene was left under the control of the landowner and crews cleared the scene.
What a jam-packed summer! We at the Bentley Fire Department hope you enjoy the remainder of the season…safely!