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.
At 6:31 in the evening on May 26 eleven members were sent to an outside fire in Gull Lake Village.The fire had started innocently in the backyard fire pit but a spark ignited nearby poplar fluff andtravelled through trees and undergrowth to the yard next door. Firefighters doused the area andthe neighbouring home sustained minor damage to the exterior siding.
Late in the evening on May 29crews were sent to a residence in town where an infant was reportedlyhaving difficulty breathing. The baby was cared for until EMS arrived and released the BFD from scene.
On May 30 at 8:47 p.m. members responded to an alarms call in Bentley. This turned out to be acooking incident and was deemed a non-emergency so the fire crews returned to the hall.
On June 7 eight members were sent to another alarms call in Bentley. This one involved burning toastwhich triggered the home's smoke detector. No injuries, no damage and fortunately, no emergency.
At 5:45 on the evening of June 9 a call was received of a watercraft in distress on Gull Lake, just eastof the end of the ice fishing road near Brownlow's Landing. Five people in two small fishing boats hadtried to make it to shore in the windy weather. Unfortunately, the batteries in both vessels died, leaving them to drift into shore where firefighters found them and towed one boat the remaining twenty feet in.Crews and a helpful pair of nearby residents got them back to the campground so they could retrievetheir tow vehicle. Thank you to those who assisted!
On June 18 at 2:32 p.m. a passerby called in a small grassfire in the ditch on Highway #20, just South of Twp. Rd. 41-2. Bystanders had most of the fire out so firefighters thoroughly soaked the area toprevent any re-kindles.
And at 6:14 a.m. on June 19 members responded to a call at a Bentley home where a resident withbreathing problems had fallen and was unable to get up. BFD members cared for the patient untilparamedics arrived and crews carefully helped load him for the trip to the hospital.
On June 19 and 20 we enjoyed hosting the Bentley Elementary School's two Kindergarten classesfor the annual fire hall tours. The students were full of interesting questions and keen excitement.Boys and girls, we hope you have learned some helpful things you can share with your families!
On April 23 at 5:52 p.m. the BFD was called to a medical assist at a shop in Bentley. A tenant in the living quarters above was complaining of inhaling possible diesel fumes. The patient was in EMS' care so the apartment was investigated for elevated levels of noxious gases. No unsafe readings were reported on the monitors so firefighters cleared the scene.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on April 27 eleven members were sent as Mutual Aid to Lacombe FD for a vehicle fire in their area. Crews were stood down en-route as Lacombe had the situation handled.
At 11:16 a.m. on April 28 a call came in of an outside fire north of Bentley near Rimbey. A very large grassy area near the house had caught fire and travelled toward the river, igniting a straw pile in its path. Fortunately, winds were low and moving away from the buildings. Eckville FD was called in as Mutual Aid and we thank them for their quick assistance. The homeowners had some of the fire contained and crews managed to bring the rest under control. Once it had burned down to a smouldering pile the scene was turned over to the homeowner, who was given further instructions.
At 2:30 in the morning of April 29 sixteen members raced to the scene of a structure fire in Bentley. Lacombe was called in as Mutual Aid, then stood down once crews learned what the issue was. A passerby on the street noticed the front left side of the attached garage was ablaze and alerted the sleeping family who evacuated immediately. The homeowner put out the fire with a garden hose and when firefighters arrived they used the thermal imaging camera to find hot spots which were then extinguished. Crews assisted the owner with disabling power to the garage until an electrician could be contacted and the home fully inspected.
On May 1 at 10:29 a.m. eight members were sent to an accident on Highway #20 north of Rainy Creek Road. A witness following the accident vehicle had watched it swerving onto the gravelled shoulder before hitting the ditch and colliding with a long stretch of guardrail on the east side. The patient appeared in and out of consciousness and was cared for until EMS arrival. Traffic control was meanwhile set up for safety and to assist RCMP who were conducting their investigation.
At 8:45 in the morning on May 3 another MVA occurred on Highway #20, north of RR 41-0. A truck towing a fully-loaded dump trailer was travelling southbound and had left the road, ending up in the west ditch. The trailer detached from the truck and rolled, ending up upside-down. The truck was quickly stabilized, and the driver was carefully extricated and turned over to the care of EMS. The highway traffic was managed safely while other crews cleaned up the roadway before being released from the scene.
On May 9 yet another single-vehicle accident was reported, this time on Rainy Creek Road east of RR 2-0. A westbound vehicle had left the road and ended up on its driver's side in the east ditch. The driver had self-extricated and was in EMS' care so crews set up traffic control until they were released by the RCMP.
At 10:16 a.m. on May 15 an alarms call from a rural residence was received. Crews were stood down by the homeowner, through the alarm company. Confirmed false alarm.
And in the early morning hours of May 17 fifteen members raced to a structure fire in Lacombe's area. Two buildings were fully involved so Bentley and Lacombe set up ponds at the rural location and spent several hours shuttling water with their Tenders and fighting the blaze. The two residents had made it out, along with several dogs. They were sent to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Several dogs were discovered outside and were scooped up and taken to the family's relatives to be cared for. Four horses in a pen nearby were kept safe from the smoke while other firefighters salvaged what could be saved. Bentley crews were eventually released from the scene and made their way back to the hall, where more cleanup work awaited. Trucks, equipment and clothing all needed serious attention before they could be put back into service.
At 4:49 in the morning on March 24 a call came in reporting a vehicle fire on Hwy #12A and Range Road 1-1, just east of the fire hall. Firefighters responded to the location to find a fully involved pickup truck. No driver or passengers were on the scene and the fire was extinguished using a combination of water and foam. The traffic was managed safely while additional crews searched the area for any signs of people involved before turning the scene over to RCMP.
At 4:49 in the morning on March 24 a call came in reporting a vehicle fire on Hwy #12A and Range Road 1-1, just east of the fire hall. Firefighters responded to the location to find a fully involved pickup truck. No driver or passengers were on the scene and the fire was extinguished using a combination of water and foam. The traffic was managed safely while additional crews searched the area for any signs of people involved before turning the scene over to RCMP.
And in the early morning hours of April 15, nearly the entire department responded to an accident on Highway #771, near the intersection of Highway #20. A resident nearby had heard the commotion and called 911. Upon arrival a horse trailer was discovered, flipped onto its roof with two horses still inside. There was no sign of any tow vehicle and the TIC camera was used to determine if anyone was in the vicinity in the dark conditions. Traffic control was set up to ensure the safety of people and animals, and RCMP and a veterinarian with a trailer were contacted to assist. A safe temporary home was found for the horses, and as they both appeared calm with no major injuries the decision was made to try to extricate them. Sand was spread beneath them on the trailer's ceiling to ensure traction and they were carefully led out. Both could walk without difficulty and were led to their new pen to be examined by the vet. Thank you to the landowner for their temporary safe haven! RCMP continued with their investigation and released the BFD from the scene.
At 9:15 a.m. on February 22 nine members were called to Highway #20,just north of Highway #12 where a pickup truck had crossed the southbound lane, left the road and ended up in the west ditch, narrowly avoiding a power pole. The driver had self-extricated so BFD crews carefully controlled the morning traffic while the patient was examined by EMS.
On March 3 at 7:16 P.M.twelve crews were sent to a vehicle fire on Rainy Creek Road. Some time was spent locating the vehicle, which turned out to be a snowmobile, as the fire had extinguished itself and the blackened frame was all that remained, half-buried in the ditch in the darkness. No driver was located in the area so the scene was turned over to the RCMP and the BFD was released.
Shortly before 9 a.m. on March 5 several members were sent to the inter- section of Highway #12 and RR 2-2 west of Bentley where a southbound minivan and an eastbound semi with trailers had collided. Both drivers were safely out of their respective vehicles and miraculously the injuries were somewhat minor. EMS assessed both patients, neither of them required hospitalization. BFD managed the highway traffic then left the scene in the hands of the RCMP who were busily conducting their investigation.
And on March 7 shortly after 8:30 a.m. a call was received of alarms ringing at the Bentley Care Centre. This was an accidental activation as the existing system had been replaced and was being tested. The alarm had been re-set and fire crews were informed and stood down.
Your department has been working hard over this winter, with courses specializing in ice rescue as well as regular training every Monday night. Practice nights have included rescues in winter conditions using the Stokes basket, a type of "toboggan" which helps rescuers safely transport a patient up steep slopes in deep-snow conditions. This hands-on training can be hard work but is also a whole lot of fun!
Shortly after midnight on January 31 the BFD was sent as Mutual Aid to Lacombe FD for a structure fire on RR 27-5, north of Highway #12. A large shop was ablaze with vehicles and machinery inside. Important documents were retrieved before fire engulfed the attached office space. Firefighters and apparatus from Lacombe, Bentley and Blackfalds were kept busy for several hours shuttling water to the rural location and ensuring the huge fire did not spread to the surrounding buildings. Fortunately no one was injured although the shop was completely destroyed.
At 10:40 am on February 2 eight members were sent to a Bentley residence to assist EMS in packaging and loading a patient for a trip to the hospital.
At 1:27 p.m. that same day crews responded to a call of alarms ringing at a rural residence on Highway #771. This turned out to be the homeowner testing the keypad alarm and the BFD was stood down.
On February 8 at 8:45 pm a call was received from a passerby who reported a strong gas odour in the area of Woody Nook Road and Aspelund Road. No smell was detected in the described area but Aspelund Road was closed for a brief time to conduct an investigation. No elevated levels of any dangerous gases were found and any gas smell in the area had dissipated so each fire apparatus spread out taking a different route back to the hall to ensure no other areas were affected.
Around suppertime on February 11 fifteen members rushed to Woody Nook Road and TWP 40-0 to assist Lacombe Fire Department with an outside fire which was reportedly threatening other structures. Upon arrival it was discovered a huge fuel tank of some kind was ablaze with flames up to 200 feet high. Fire trucks were staged over a kilometre away and the specialists at FireMaster were called in to handle this particular issue. Fortunately no one was injured and no other buildings were affected.
And on February 16 at 9:08 pm an alarms call was received from Birch Bay where a home alarm system was sounding. The tenants wisely evacuated and firefighters conducted an investigation of the home using the gas monitor and thermal imaging camera. No smoke, heat or elevated levels of carbon monoxide were found in the home, attached garage or separate suite so the family was able to re-enter their warm house and the event was declared a non-emergency.
The Bentley District Fire Department would like to introduce to you our two newest members;
Breanne Bickford and Harley Whitfield
Thank you ladies for stepping up and volunteering to serve your community with us, we are happy to have you on board!
Shortly after 5 pm on January 11 five members were sent on a Mutual Aid call to assist Lacombe Fire Department with traffic control at a serious 2-vehicle accident on Highway #2.
In the early morning hours of January 14 Bentley responded to another Mutual Aid call, this time in Eckville where a single-family home and garage were on fire. Five hours were spent extinguishing the blaze, protecting neighbouring homes, salvage and overhaul and traffic control. ATCO was also notified as there was a live power line down over the residence's driveway. The BFD was eventually released by Eckville Command.
And on January 16 crews were sent to investigate a fire on RR 1-0, just south of Highway #12. A passerby had spotted smoke in the area. The reported area was scouted but no smoke was found so firefighters returned to quarters.
Shortly before noon on November 23 ten members responded to an MVA on Highway #20 between Rainy Creek Road and Aspelund Road. A southbound semi and a northbound pickup had narrowly avoided a collision with each other but both vehicles ended up in the west ditch. All occupants were able to get out safely but traffic had to be controlled while EMS evaluated them and tow trucks removed the vehicles.
Late in the evening on November 28 crews attended an accident on Highway #12 near RR 28-3. A deer had unwisely crossed the road in front of a pickup. Firefighters cared for the patient while awaiting EMS, carefully controlled traffic in the dark and scraped the remnants off the roadway.
On December 3 a call was received of an electrical hazard at a rural residence southeast of Bentley. The occupants reported a burning electrical smell but the odour had dissipated by the time fire crews so the TIC camera and gas sniffer was used to detect any unusual heat or fumes. None was found so the homeowner was advised to have the furnace and electrical systems professionally inspected.
On December 4 nine firefighters responded to a structure fire in Bentley. Smoke had been discovered belching from the home's vents immediately following a brief power outage. The furnace was quickly turned off and the occupants wisely evacuated. The house was inspected with the TIC and gas sniffer and nothing concerning was found so the homeowners were informed and the tenants returned home.
About 4 p.m. on December 21 four members were called to a medical assist north of town. Ponoka County West was called in to help Bentley with an elderly cardiac patient who sadly passed away.
At 10:34 p.m. on December 23 an alarms call was received from a rural residence west of Bentley. The home's smoke detector was discovered by the homeowner to have a sensor problem and crews were stood down.
At 7:45 on Christmas Eve ten members were sent to assist Lacombe Fire Department with a structure fire at Highway #12 and RR 27-5. This was called in by a passerby who apparently saw something. No one was home at the farm and an investigation was conducted, however nothing was found and fire crews from Lacombe, Bentley and Blackfalds returned home.
On December 26 another structure fire was reported north of Lacombe and Bentley was called for Mutual Aid. Ten members were sent to what was discovered to be a controlled burn in a dumpster.
On the evening of December 30 firefighters were sent to the Westview Apartment complex where a smoke alarm was sounding inside one of the apartments. The manager was unable to get access to the unit as it was somehow blocked from the inside. Crews forced the door open and discovered a pan had been left on the stove with the burner still on. The stove was turned off and the pan removed. There was no damage to the apartment or the contents.
And on January 3 around suppertime another alarms call was received, this time from a home in Lake Trail Estates in Bentley. All four of the carbon monoxide detectors were going off so the residents were evacuated. The gas sniffer detected elevated levels so the doors were opened to ventilate until acceptable levels were reached. ATCO was notified and firefighters remained until they arrived, then turned the scene over to them.
This has been a busy year for the Bentley District Fire Department, with a new record of 91 calls received between December 1, 2016 and December 1, 2017. They are broken down as follows:
3 Structure Fire
10 Vehicle Fire
14 Outside Fire
2 Smoke Investigation
1 Gas Leak/Odour
1 Explosion
19 MVA
9 Medical Assist
10 Alarms Ringing
6 Mutual Aid
3 Watercraft Rescue
2 Ice Rescue
1 Citizen Assist
7 Electrical Hazard
2 Fuel Spill
1 Body Recovery
As you can see, the duties of your firefighters vary widely. Our committed volunteers train every Monday night in addition to many specialized courses offered over some weekends. If you are interested in an amazing and rewarding volunteer opportunity please see our recruiting page: www.bentleyfire.ca/recruiting
On October 21 seven members responded to a call of an outdoor fire southeast of Bentley on Range Road 1-0. A burning barrel had ignited the surrounding grass and leaves and started to spread up the hill so the landowner wisely called 911 before things got out of hand. He had managed to extinguish it upon firefighters' arrival so the area was thoroughly soaked to prevent any re-ignition.
In the early morning hours of October 26 ten members were sent to an outside fire on Highway 12 east of town. A caller had reported seeing smoke and fire towards the Blackfalds area so firefighters were sent to investigate what turned out to be an eerie combination of fog, the Northern Lights and a flare stack emitting flame out near Joffre.
Shortly after 8 am on October 30 crews raced to a structure fire call at a rural residence southwest of Bentley. Sylvan Lake was requested for Mutual Aid. On arrival, all occupants were safely out and no smoke or fire was showing so SLFD was stood down. A burning smell was noted and upon discussion with the residents it was discovered there had been a power surge causing the master bedroom's television to start sparking and smoking. An investigation was conducted using the TIC and no heat was found. A power pole close to the home was eventually discovered by Fortis to be the source of the problem.
At 7:23 pm on November 16 twelve members were sent to another rural property south of Bentley. The call was sent in as a vehicle fire and was discovered to be an ice fishing shack which was fully involved upon BFD's arrival. The flames were threatening a holiday trailer on one side and a car on the other. All vehicles were searched for occupants while crews extinguished the fire. Upon discussion with the tenant it was discovered a relative had been by earlier to warm up the shack for the season. It was completely destroyed while the trailer and car alongside sustained damage as well. Fortunately no one was in any of the vehicles and the fire had not spread to any of the other many trailers and vehicles stored in the area.
And on November 17 at 7:30 pm an alarms call was received, sending nine firefighters to a residence in Birch Meadows near the north end of Gull Lake. The occupants noticed a strong metallic smoky smell upstairs just before the smoke detectors throughout the house started sounding. They vacated to their neighbours' home and called 911. The chimney in the home had been professionally cleaned just one week prior and it was advised to have them come back in to check the fireplace. Meanwhile crews investigated with the TIC and gas sniffer. Heat levels had receded and no carbon monoxide was present, however the smoke alarms were 18 years old and all in need of replacing. A new CO2 detector was left with the tenants and all the smoke detectors reinstalled. They were advised not to use the fireplace until it had been professionally inspected and all the smoke alarms had been replaced as well.Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every 8-10 years. If in doubt, the date is printed on every unit. Daylight Savings time in the autumn is a good reminder that it is time to check.
Your fire department is pleased to introduce to you our two newest members; Ty Schneider and Alyssa Hyink. Thanks you for your willingness to volunteer your time and energy to serving your community.
On the afternoon of September 26 crews were sent to Lake Trail Estates, where a resident informed the manager of a problem with a power pole behind one of the residences. The transformer above was emitting sparks and flames and dripping a caustic white substance onto the grassy area below. Firefighters doused the area and monitored it until Fortis could arrive and investigate.
At 11:18 am on October 2 five members responded to a Mutual Aid call from Lacombe Fire Dept for an MVA in their area. Crews were stood down once Lacombe had the incident under control.
Over the supper hour on October 6 nearly your entire department was sent to a vehicle fire at a farm southeast of Bentley. A baler in the field was completely engulfed upon arrival so the visible flames were extinguished then the baler was opened so the interior could be doused. The surrounding crop field was soaked to prevent any possible spreading or re-ignition.
On Friday the 13th crews responded to another vehicle fire at a rural property southeast of town. A truck had been abandoned there and set on fire. The flames had not yet reached the back of the vehicle so the licence plate was quickly removed with a little help from the landowner, in order to assist RCMP with their investigation. The fire was extinguished with water and foam and the scene was turned over to the police.
And mid-afternoon on October 16 Bentley Fire was again called out to assist Lacombe with a structure fire in their city. A four-storey multi-family unit was involved and it was soon discovered that a worn or faulty dryer belt in the laundry room was possibly to blame. Bentley crews were stood down once Lacombe had the situation managed.
On August 25 at 9:29 pm members were called to a Bentley residence where the occupant had received burns to the hand from an outdoor fire pit. The affected hand was kept on ice while awaiting the arrival of EMS and the situation was turned over to them.
At 5:59 pm on August 27 crews raced toward Sunbreaker Cove where a young child had been hit by a boat's prop, sustaining serious leg injuries. Traffic was stopped while firefighters established a STARS landing zone on Rainy Creek Road.
At 10:03 in the morning on August 29 seven members were sent to a Bentley home to assist EMS in loading a patient for a trip to the hospital.
On September 1 at 10:11 pm crews attended an MVA involving a truck colliding with a moose calf on Rainy Creek Road. The driver of the truck was checked over by EMS and received a clean bill of health; the moose was not so lucky.
Over the supper hour on September 6 a report came in of an outside fire in Sunbreaker Cove. A County-wide burn ban was in place at the time so firefighters were sent to the area to investigate. The area was searched but no fire was discovered so crews returned to the hall.
Shortly after this call another report was received regarding the same outside fire. This time the location of Birchcliffe was given. This summer village borders Sunbreaker Cove and the fire was discovered to be landowners burning a large pile of brush in a cleared area. Interestingly, the burn ban did not apply to the Birchcliffe area and the owners were in possession of a valid burn permit so the BFD left the scene in their care.
On September 7 at 10:51 am a call of alarms ringing sent members to the Bentley Care Centre. The power outage had apparently triggered the alarm and the fire department was stood down en route.
Shortly before 8 am on September 8 ten members responded to a structure fire at a large greenhouse on Range Road 28-3 southeast of Bentley. As a large building was involved Blackfalds FD also responded as Mutual Aid. Upon arrival it was discovered the fire had extinguished itself so Blackfalds was stood down. Fortunately no one had been injured and the tomato crop was not badly affected but an investigation into the cause was conducted.
Later that same morning another alarms call was received, this time at the Bentley School. Crews were immediately informed the alarm had accidentally been set off and were stood down.
About 1:30 pm on September 10 eleven members were sent to Gull Lake Village, where an antique refrigerator being moved from a shed had leaked noxious fumes into the small closed area, sickening the resident. Canutec was contacted to determine the likely type of refrigerant and EMS was informed before assessing and treating the patient. Firefighters donned their breathing apparatus and moved the old appliance outdoors and the homeowner was advised to have it repaired.
Another alarms call came in at 5 pm on September 12, this time at a rural residence east of Bentley. This was ruled a false alarm and crews were stood down.
On September 16 at 8:25 pm thirteen members responded to an MVA on Woody Nook Road, just south of Aspelund Road. A southbound vehicle had crossed Aspelund Road, hit the gravel and lost control, travelling in the grassy ditch along a plank fence before flipping over top and into the field on the other side. Miraculously the car's two occupants were not badly injured and both were out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived. The BFD Rescue truck helpfully provided scene lighting to assist RCMP and the collision analyst with their investigations.
Fire Prevention Week is coming up! We at the Bentley District Fire Department would like to invite you all to our annual Open House at the Fire Hall on Tuesday, October 10 from 6-8 p.m. Meet your firefighters, challenge yourself on the obstacle course and take a look at all the cool tools we have tucked away in all those cabinets on the fire trucks! Hope to see you all there!
Over the noon hour on July 20 a call was received of an accident on Aspelund Road and Range Road 1-0. A tanker truck had blown a tire and left the road next to a bridge, careening down the embankment, narrowly missing the abutment and splashing into the Blindman River. The driver was put into the care of EMS while Ponoka City Fire Department was called on with their hazmat team to contain the fuel spill in the water. Traffic was managed while the truck was pulled out and the scene was turned over to Ponoka's team to finish their cleanup.
Shortly before 7 that evening seven members were sent to an outside fire on Highway 20. A tree had been struck by lightning and was burning next to a power pole which had fallen against it. Fortis was notified and once the pole was removed the fire self-extinguished.
At 4:21 early the next morning nine members responded to a vehicle fire on Rainy Creek Road near RR 2-1. Upon arrival the vehicle was completely engulfed. The fire was extinguished. Fortunately no one was inside at the time and no ID was found so it was loaded onto a flatbed for disposal.
On July 22 at 12:40 pm crews were sent to Highway #20 just south of Bentley where a driver suffering a medical issue had left the southbound lane and hit the ditch with considerable force. First aid was provided while awaiting EMS and the driver and passenger were sent by ambulance to hospital for further evaluation while traffic was controlled in the meantime. Thank you to those who stopped to help.
Midmorning on July 24 firefighters rushed to Gull Lake where three children were stranded on their kayaks in the stormy water off the shore of Sandy Point. All three were wearing life vests and were reported as having made it to shore before fire crews arrived on the scene.
Immediately after this call another water rescue call was received at the same location. A Good Samaritan had offered to retrieve the children's kayak and had fallen out of the rescue canoe in the high winds. Parks was called, along with Lacombe FD for use of their boats. The patient was located and quickly plucked from the waves using a bystander's boat, brought to the dock and assessed by EMS.
On July 30 at 12:45 am, ten members were called to a structure fire at Camp Silversides on Gull Lake. Staff had noticed significant smoke and odour issuing from vents around the fireplace in the dining hall. An investigation was conducted using the TIC (thermal imaging camera) and the problem area on the roof was isolated. The building was turned back over to staff after advising them to have it repaired by a professional.
On July 31 about 10:30 am crews responded to an alarms call at Blissful Beach. This was declared a non-emergency (cooking incident) and the BFD was stood down en route.
At 3 pm on July 31 members were sent to an MV fire in Brewer's Campground. Family members had gone to the beach and returned to their site to find their trailer on fire and the tow vehicle and one additional vehicle burning. Firefighters from Lacombe assisted Bentley in dousing the vehicles with water and foam and fortunately no one was injured.
At 12:28 pm on August 8 crews raced to the scene of an accident on the Medicine Lodge ski hill. A front-end loader bucket had been used to assist with the trimming and mulching maintenance on the slopes. The man driving the machine had parked it and entered the bucket, then the vehicle proceeded to roll downhill, taking its unwilling passenger along for a painful ride. Firefighters secured the scene and tended to the patient while awaiting EMS, then assisted him to a pickup truck for the ride down to the ambulance.
About suppertime that same day thirteen members responded to a call of a vehicle on fire on Highway #20 north of town. The fire had been put out by a passerby with a fire extinguisher so firefighters used the TIC to determine the origin. The rear differential was discovered to be very hot and leaking fluid. The driver was fortunately uninjured so the car was cooled with a hose stream and the area left in care of the RCMP.
On August 12 at 12:34 pm another water rescue call was received, this time at the Ebeling Day Use area of Aspen Beach. A swimmer on a dinghy had fallen into the water and had been brought to shore where CPR was being administered. Firefighters assisted EMS with patient care while a STARS landing zone was set up. Despite best efforts the patient passed away.
Later that afternoon a Citizen Assist call was received, this time at Sandy Point. A child had been locked in a car in the parking area and help was requested for extrication. Fortunately witnesses managed to get into the vehicle quickly and the BFD was stood down.
That night at 6:38 pm a fluid spill was reported by the RCMP, trailing all the way from the Highway #2 and Highway #12 intersection, along Hwy 12 all the way to Bentley. The BFD was requested as Mutual Aid to Lacombe FD as a precaution, however, possibly due to evaporation, no spill was ever found.
In the morning of August 19 members were sent to Sylvan Lake where the body of a missing boater had been discovered. Crews were needed to lend a hand, however RCMP stood down firefighters en route as they had the situation managed.
And later that same afternoon another water rescue call was received. In this instance, eight boaters were left stranded when the engine failed to start. The passengers apparently tried to flag down other boats in the area between Stoner's Landing on the west side and Raymond Shores on the east but no one would stop to help. Both BFD and Ponoka West Fire Departments responded as well as Parks who has a boat. A bystander's boat was borrowed to search the area and once contact was made Bentley left the scene in Ponoka's care.
Please remember, as a recreational boater you have a responsibility to others on the lake. The Criminal Code of Canada states: "A pleasure craft operator must stop and assist another boat(er) when he/she is in distress, as long as it does not place that person, their boat or their passengers in a dangerous position. Law Enforcement officers have the authority to charge boat operators for criminal offences.
Please, everyone, take care of each other and play safely!
On June 20 shortly before midnight a call was received from Eckville FD requesting Mutual Aid from Bentley for an electrical hazard in their area. Bentley was stood down once the situation was handled.
At 5:40 p.m. on June 23 twelve members were sent to the intersection of Highways 12 and 20 where a westbound car on 12 and a southbound truck and trailer had collided, resulting in injuries. Traffic was shut down for a time while a STARS landing zone was set up on the highway. One fatality on scene.
On June 25 at 6:54 p.m. a call was received of a strong gas odour at a home in town. This was discovered to be a sewer backup problem and was turned over to Public Works.
At 10:10 p.m. on June 30 a call came in of alarms ringing at another Bentley residence. A quick investigation revealed an expired smoke alarm and a new one was installed for the homeowner.
Firefighters were awakened at 11:30 p.m. on July 4 by a call of an MVA on Highway #20 north of Bentley. A truck and motorcycle had collided resulting in very serious injuries to the motorcyclist. The highway was quickly shut down in both directions so a STARS landing zone could be established on the road. The patient was whisked away and the roadway kept closed for several hours so the accident reconstructionist could complete his investigation.
On July 5 at 2:11 p.m. an MVA call came in, again involving a motorcycle. This one happened on Highway #20, just north of Rainy Creek Road. The northbound bike left the road and hit the east ditch, ejecting the rider and causing very serious injuries. Witnesses stopped to help and called 911 and we thank them. Again a STARS landing zone was set up and the patient was quickly and carefully loaded for the trip to hospital. The area was kept closed so an investigation could be conducted.
At 5:21 p.m. the same day a 3-vehicle accident occurred on Highway #20 and Twp. Rd. 40-2. First aid was provided to the patients while awaiting EMS. Traffic during the busy evening was controlled while one patient was sent to the hospital.
And finally, at 7:32 p.m. that evening one more call was received, a medical emergency in Gull Lake Village near the Wooden Shoe. An older patient had been walking along the road with a family member and had suddenly collapsed. EMS was on scene upon the Fire Department's arrival so the patient was quickly loaded, along with the relative and headed for the hospital.
Around suppertime on July 9 a call came in from a concerned patron at the Monkey Top who had seen and smelled smoke issuing from a nearby backyard. Firefighters spoke with the homeowners and established a non-emergency as they were simply burning garden trimmings in their outdoor fireplace.
Around 7:20 that same evening ten members were sent to another outside fire, this time on RR 1-4. A tree had been struck by lightning and a neighbour had seen it smoking. As the tree was inaccessible by truck the landowner investigated using a quad. He reported it as mostly self-extinguished by this time and it was left under his supervision.
On July 12 shortly after 8 a.m. EMS requested help loading a patient from a home in town into the waiting ambulance.
At 3:41 p.m. on July 13 a call was received of a vehicle fire at a rural residence. The fire had reportedly started in the engine compartment of the older farm truck and the driver noticed heat and smoke and extricated himself before inhaling the noxious fumes. Fire-fighters extinguished the blaze using water and foam.
On July 14 at 9:02 a.m. reports were received of an outside fire at a rural property on Highway #771. Upon investigation it was a confirmed controlled burn, with the property monitored, under control and a valid burn permit in place.
Shortly after 9 that same night another outside fire was reported, this time at the Bentley Transfer Station. The wood waste in one of the burn pits had burned down.
And lastly, at 1:18 p.m. on July 17 crews responded to an EMS Assist at a home in Bentley, where CPR was being administered to a patient. Members took turns to relieve ambulance crews on scene.
On May 24 a violent storm passed through Lacombe County wreaking havoc on buildings, fences and especially power poles and lines. Fire Departments were kept desperately busy County-wide and Bentley was no exception
The first of five calls that day came in at 3:34 pm from the Summer Village of Gull Lake with reports of multiple power lines down. Fortis was alerted and BFD members secured the affected area while awaiting their arrival. Firefighters were released and the scene was turned over to the area foreman.
Midway through the first call another was received with a report of a tree falling across a power line, this time on Highway #12 and RR 2-0. Five members investigated, the utility company was notified and this event was deemed a non-emergency which could be dealt with later as many more calls were waiting;
At 4:17 pm another tree was reportedly down on another power line, this time in Bentley near the library. The caller had remained on the scene and had seen sparks issuing from the line but fortunately no one had been injured.
At 5:01 pm a passerby called in that yet another batch of trees had come down taking a power line with it. This one occurred on Aspelund Road near RR 1-1. The line was apparently down near a water source so extra caution was exercised.
And the last call of the afternoon came at 7:06 pm with yes, you guessed it, another tree down on a power line, this one close to a home on a rural property just east of town. No one had been injured but the large tree had been completely uprooted taking the overhead line with it. The line had started sparking as the power returned so again the utility company was notified and the area kept clear.
On May 31 at 4:48 pm another electrical hazard was reported, this time on Twp Rd 41-2, west of Hwy #20. Nine members were sent to investigate a downed live power pole in the north ditch encroaching onto the roadway. By this time an impressive thunderstorm was in full swing making life interesting. Soggy firefighters closed the road in both directions so Fortis and their backup could de-energize the line and remove the downed pole.
We at the Fire Department had a lot of fun with Bentley's two Kindergarten classes which came to visit at the end of June. We hope you enjoyed your tour and learned some interesting safety tips. Thank you for being such well-behaved young people, it was a pleasure to have you visit!
At 6am on April 5 a call was received of an outside fire at a residence in town. When crews arrived it was discovered a vehicle was on fire in a parking area off the back alley of the home. The resident had been working on the vehicle when it ignited and attempted to extinguish it, then 911 was called for further help. The car was fully engulfed and threatening buildings and vehicles very close by, it was knocked down and finally extinguished with water and foam. Fortunately no one was injured.
On April 11 at 6:17pm ten members responded to a call for a large outside fire northwest of Bentley. A large area of smoke was visible from quite a distance away. Firefighters arrived on scene and spoke with the landowner who was on the scene monitoring the controlled burn. A valid permit was in place, crews left the burn in the care of the owner.
Steve Dojahn (on right)
We would like to introduce three new members on the Bentley District Fire Department; Jonathan Weeks, Steve Dojahn and Adrian Scheling Thank you for your commitment gentlemen, we are happy to have you on board!
At 9:01 pm on March 1st members responded to a call of alarms ringing on RR 28-1 near Woody Nook Church. The tenant in the home explained that the CO detector was activating. The gas meter was used to check for elevated levels of carbon monoxide. None was found so further investigation revealed the battery back-up in the wired-in detector was dead. A new CO detector was left with the resident.
On March 5 at 9:12 am a call came in of a 2-vehicle accident at highways #12 and #20. A northbound semi with loaded trailer and an eastbound car had collided in the intersection. Both drivers were out of their respective vehicles, traffic control was quickly established in all four directions. Both patients were cared for until arrival of EMS. One patient was taken to hospital. RCMP meanwhile investigated the scene and once they were finished the highways were cleaned up and one vehicle was towed.
Midafternoon on March 5 six members were sent to a Bentley residence where alarms were ringing. Firefighters were stood down once it was established that a nice hot steamy shower had triggered the touchy alarm.
An hour later, at 4:02 pm a call was received of a snowmobile accident on Gull Lake near the Wooden Shoe. Lacombe Fire Department was called in as Mutual Aid to assist Bentley with a middle aged patient who had gotten ejected from the machine onto hard packed snow. Firefighters moved the patient, who was suffering from shoulder, arm and leg injuries, from the frozen lake to the ambulance waiting on the shore.
At 5:26 pm on March 16 members were sent to an outside fire on Highway #20 and Centreview Road. Smoke had been reported by a passerby so crews investigated and found a single large bale being burned. A burn permit was in place and it was being monitored so firefighters left the scene in charge of the landowner.
Shortly before 2 pm on March 18 a Citizen Assist call came in. With the recent warm temperatures a Bentley residence basement was flooding. A trench was carved out of the ice to divert the flow and water was pumped away from the low area alongside the house.
And on March 19 at 12:21 pm eleven members were dispatched to a rural residence north of town with reports of an explosion on the property. Mutual Aid was promptly requested from Lacombe, but they were stood down once the situation was understood and managed. A single detached garage was missing its overhead door which had been blown free from the blast. It appeared natural gas had built up inside the structure. Fortunately no one had been in it at the time. A fire in the garage had resulted, but the homeowner had managed to put it out using an extinguisher. The gas smell was strong in and around the structure and the gas sniffer was used to help determine the levels. GLDC was notified and a rep quickly arrived at the scene. The new home was thoroughly checked as well before leaving the scene in the hands of GLDC personnel.
On February 6 at 11:10 am BFD members were sent to an alarms ringing call west of town. Response time was somewhat hampered due to crews being sent to the wrong address. Once this problem was rectified members arrived to a seasonal home in the Palm Bay subdivision on Sylvan Lake. Alarms had ceased ringing by this time and the homeowner's parents met firefighters at the property to investigate. No sign of fire, smoke or other issues were discovered, so the owners were advised to speak with their alarm provider.
On February 8 at 11:36 am five members were sent once again to the intersection of Highways #12 and #20. Another westbound vehicle and a southbound one had collided, sending both of them flying into the southwest ditch. Three patients were cared for on-scene until EMS arrival and traffic was carefully controlled while an accident reconstructionist investigated.
Shortly after 6 pm that same day eight members were sent on a Mutual Aid call to assist Lacombe with a structure fire on a rural property in their area. Firefighters from Bentley, Blackfalds and Clive joined forces with Lacombe to help battle the blaze and shuttle water in their Tenders to the scene, located east of Lacombe on Highway #12. Fortunately the tenants made it to safety, but the house was completely destroyed. Firefighters worked for several hours to make sure the fire was completely out and did not spread to the many trees, trailers and vehicles very close by.
Shortly after 6:30 am on February 10 a call was received of a vehicle fire in Lake Trail Estates in Bentley. Lacombe's fire department was immediately dispatched to assist as such a fire may very quickly ignite the surrounding homes. Nine members arrived to find a car in the homeowner's driveway completely engulfed. The fire was quickly knocked down using water and foam and Lacombe was stood down en route once the situation was deemed under control. A bit of damage was sustained to the siding of the mobile but everyone involved was unhurt. The interior of the home was checked with the thermal imaging camera to ensure no heat or fire had travelled through the walls.
On February 18 at 7:11 pm a call of an outside fire was received, immediately after the power outage. Ten members were sent west of town on Highway #12 to Range Road #2-1. A fire had been spotted in the area and crews were sent to investigate. The area was narrowed down to a flare stack at a compressor station where the battery operator met firefighters and explained it was most likely a buildup of gas due to the power outage, which triggered the auto flare. It was no longer flaring upon arrival.
We would like to remind homeowners, tenants and businesses how important it is to know your address. It ensures emergency services can arrive to your property as quickly as possible without unnecessary delay, which is frustrating for all involved. Please ensure your security and alarm companies are given accurate information and all your family members are well informed.
On New Year's Day eleven members were sent to a vehicle fire on the frozen Blindman River, off Highway #20 just south of Highway #12. A group of 3 people had been enjoying their ATVs when one side by side erupted in flames. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was removed from the river.
At 3:33 pm on January 5 crews responded to a 2-vehicle accident on RR 28-2 near the Wooden Shoe. All those involved were out of the vehicles and mobile, but were checked over by EMS while firefighters controlled traffic. Once the vehicles were removed from the scene the highway was cleaned of fluid spills and the roadway reopened.
Again on January 5, immediately after the first accident, crews were sent to another MVA just down the road from the first, on old Highway #12 and RR 1-1. A southbound vehicle and an eastbound one had collided at the intersection, causing considerable damage. Again, all occupants were out of their cars, one person was transported by ambulance to hospital. The highway traffic had to be managed in the fading light until the vehicles were removed.
On January 11 at 1:57 pm members were called to assist Lacombe with a structure fire at a business in their city. Crews were stood down upon arrival as Lacombe had the incident under control.
At 4:21 pm on January 19 eight members responded to another MVA, this time at the intersection os Hwys #12 and #20. Firefighters were requested by the RCMP to assist with traffic control at the scene which involved two vehicles. Crews obliged to safely manage the traffic during the busy evening hour and were released once the affected vehicles were towed away.
Your fire department enjoyed hosting an Ice Rescue course on January 14 and 15. Bentley instructors taught the theory portion at the fire hall, then the fun of putting it all into practice was enjoyed at Sandy Point where a hole was cut into the ice and various rescue techniques were enacted. A beautiful day was enjoyed outdoors and new skills were learned by firefighters from Ponoka and Bentley.
At 10:12 am on December 2, five members were called to assist EMS at a rural residence. CPR was being administered to a patient at the home and firefighters took turns alongside the paramedics to try and revive the patient who unfortunately passed away.
December 11 at 3:49 pm a call came in of a snowmobiler who had been seen crossing Gull Lake and appeared to have gone through the ice. The concerned witness called 911 and crews from Bentley and Lacombe fire departments, along with RCMP, were dispatched to Sandy Point and Wilson's Beach to pinpoint a location. Initial investigation revealed no sign of the snowmobile. STARS was requested to conduct a search from the air as sunset was fast approaching. Nothing was discovered at that time and darkness had fallen, so the search was continued the next day by Red Deer County Search and Rescue. No one was found and fortunately no people have been reported missing.
This past year has been nearly as busy as last year with the BFD responding to 84 emergencies between December 1, 2015 and December 1, 2016.
At 11:54 am on October 20 members responded to another alarms call at the Bentley Care Centre, much the same as the call investigated a few days earlier. Again the residents were evacuated by staff, the air quality monitored by firefighters and the situation re-investigated. Faulty monitoring equipment was discovered and the call declared a non-emergency. The initial call was a gas leak on a cooking appliance. ATCO Gas isolated the gas to the appliance so it could be repaired at that time.
On November 11 at 4:45 pm crews were sent to an outside fire southwest of Bentley. A small pile of brush and debris was burning and no one was on the site upon arrival so firefighters extinguished the fire. The landowner arrived shortly thereafter and the scene was left in his care. Please note that under County of Lacombe Bylaw 1208/15 Bylaw, Section 13.3, "No person shall light an Outdoor Fire, Incinerator Fire, Burning Barrel Fire, Recreation Fire, Smudge Fire or Structural Fire without first taking sufficient precaution to ensure the fire can be kept under control at all times." Also note that only untreated wood, grass, leaves etc. may be burned at any time.
At 12:59 am on November 12 members responded to the scene of a 2 vehicle accident on 50th Avenue in Bentley. Two trucks had collided just outside AG Foods causing quite a bit of damage. All occupants were out of the vehicles and walking and were examined by EMS while firefighters rerouted traffic so RCMP could investigate. The scene was then cleaned of spilled fluids, the trucks loaded and towed and the roadway was reopened.
And on November 18 at 11 pm twelve members were sent to a vehicle fire on RR 1-0, just south of Highway #12. A passerby had noticed the flames from the highway, quickly investigated and called 911. A truck was fully involved and crews used water and quite a bit of foam to extinguish the blaze. Fortunately no one was in the vehicle and the immediate area was searched and RCMP was called in to investigate. Thank you to the witness who helpfully stayed until we arrived and could get information.
Your Fire Department wishes you in our community a safe and Merry Christmas! Enjoy this season with friends and family and we look forward to a wonderful 2017!
On September 19 at 1:01 am ten members responded to an alarms ringing call in Sunbreaker Cove on Sylvan Lake. This was called in by the alarm company. The detector was sounding, but no smoke or fire was visible upon arrival so an investigation was conducted using the TIC. All rooms in the unoccupied home were thoroughly checked before deeming this a false alarm and clearing the scene.
At 8:16 am on September 22 eight members were sent to an outside fire at the Sandy Point resort area. A concerned passerby reported seeing smoke in the area, so firefighters quickly investigated what turned out to be a monitored controlled burn of two large brush piles with a burn permit in place.
At 2:04 pm that same day members responded to a gas leak call outside a Bentley residence in the southeast area of town. An unmarked idle line had accidentally been torn out of the ground by a construction crew. No one was at home in the closest house, but all residents in neighbouring houses were informed and evacuated. The surrounding roadways were cordoned off and ATCO was called in to rectify the situation, while firefighters helped them gain access to the area they requested, monitored the air quality and remained on scene until all danger of fire or explosion was past.
On October 3 at 8:01 pm a call came in of a vehicle fire at a rural residence south of Bentley. A tractor was reportedly on fire and threatening nearby buildings. Lacombe Fire Department was immediately called in to help, then were stood down upon Bentley's arrival on the scene, which showed the landowners had gotten the fire well under control. Members doused the area to prevent any re-kindles then cleared the scene.
Late in the afternoon on October 9 seven crews were sent to a Mutual Aid call to help Lacombe with a structure fire. A shed was fully involved and Engine and Tender were requested. Engine was stood down en route, but Tender attended the scene and was released once the situation was under control.
On October 15 at 6:40 pm twelve firefighters raced to Highway #20 and Aspelund Road where two vehicles had collided at high speed in the intersection. Both vehicles ended up in the southwest ditch and three occupants in one vehicle were trapped and had to be cut free. None of those involved appeared to be critically injured, but all were taken by ambulances to hospital. Sadly a dog in one vehicle was ejected during the crash and the much-loved family pet died at the scene.
And at 12:28 pm on October 8 crews were dispatched to a call of a structure fire at the Bentley Care Centre. Lacombe Fire was called in as Mutual Aid as a fire in this size of building could be disastrous without adequate manpower. Residents were enjoying their lunch in the dining room when the smoke alarm sounded. Staff went into the kitchen and discovered a very strong gas odour and a hazy environment, so 911 was called and evacuation was promptly initiated. All residents and staff were safely out when firefighters arrived, so they were quickly interviewed then sent to keep safe at the Bentley Elementary School. Kudos to the quick efforts by the staff who practice these emergency measures on a regular basis, well done! ATCO and maintenance workers who service the kitchen appliances were called in to investigate the possible cause and once their investigation was complete the occupants were able to return.
Thanks to all of you in our community who were able to visit our Open House held on October 3. We enjoyed showing off the fire hall, trucks and equipment as well as running some of you willing volunteers through some obstacles!
