With multiple fires to contend with, Airdrie’s firefighters have been kept busy in recent weeks.
The Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) responded to a residential fire in the 100 block of Bayview Street SW on April 13, followed by a residential fire in the 300 block of Sagewood Park SW on April 16. AFD members also assisted Rocky View County Fire Services crews in battling a barn fire that morphed into a grassfire in Balzac on April 17.
Prior to those incidents, AFD battled a grease fire at Airdrie's Motel 6 on April 4 and a garage fire in Thorburn on March 28.
Despite a recent spike in local fires, Airdrie’s deputy fire chief, Garth Rabel, said there hasn’t been a particular reason for the uptick. However, he did say most fires AFD responds to are preventable, and that early spring is a time of year when fires can start more easily, due to the dry conditions.
“We just want to make sure people understand the risk is there,” he said. “It’s extremely dry, as it is every spring, and we need to be diligent to ensure these accidental fires don’t start.
“Maybe people can become a little complacent or get distracted. Whatever the case may be, it can lead to unfortunate circumstances.”
The cause of the Bayview Street fire is still under investigation as of April 19, according to Rabel. A press release from the City about the incident stated thick smoke conditions and significant heat in the basement level created challenges for the firefighters. However, once the blaze was located, it was quickly extinguished. Smoke was then ventilated from the home and a thermal imaging camera (TIC) was used to ensure the fire had not spread elsewhere.
As for the Sagewood fire, residents of the three homes involved had evacuated safely to the street and were accounted for, according to a news release from the City of Airdrie, and no injuries were reported.
“Due to extreme fire conditions and risk from a badly damaged and potentially unstable structure, firefighters quickly initiated an exterior or defensive fire attack strategy,” the City stated.
“An aerial ladder was used to deliver copious amounts of water from an elevated master stream, while firefighters on the ground protected exposures with additional handlines and appliances.”
According to Rabel, the residents on either side of the Sagewood home have been allowed to return home and will work with their insurance companies on remediation. Unfortunately, he said the home where the fire originated and was focused was a complete loss, with expected damages of approximately $500,000.
Rabel said the efforts of local firefighters helped ensure the two adjacent homes were not also destroyed.
“They really approached it aggressively and attacked it defensively,” he said. “They did limit the damage to the one house and we were able to save and salvage the houses on either side.”
In the days after the blaze, a GoFundMe page was set up for the family that lost their home and their belongings in the fire. As of April 20, the page had raised just over $6,800 for the Hope family.
“There are a couple of pets that have yet to be accounted for and I hope we can find them,” the page stated. “All they have is the clothes on their back.
“We are so relieved everyone is safe and sending our love and thoughts to the homeowners, the neighbours and anyone that is affected. If you could find it in your heart to help this family in need to replenish what was lost, I know they would be so grateful.”
In light of the recent fires, Rabel said AFD encourages residents to follow best practices when it comes to cooking, disposing of smoking materials and using backyard fire pits this spring and summer. He added cooking remains a leading cause of residential fires.
“The key message is [fires] can happen quickly,” he said, adding AFD urges people to follow all directions when it comes to fire restrictions or potential bans put in place by the municipality.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
