Residents of Rocky View Lodge in Crossfield held their annual fire drill on Aug. 25 with the help of firefighters from the Crossfield Fire Department.
Chief Ben Niven said his crew of firefighters looks forward each year to coming out to help staff and residents of the lodge with the annual fire drill and residents are happy about taking part.
“Some of the residents grouch a little at being asked to evacuate,” Niven said, “but eventually we get everyone out.”
The fire drill is not the easiest undertaking, according to Manager of Rocky View Lodge Cathy Westlund, but they do it each year for a very important reason.
“If we ever have a real fire or a real emergency, it’s very important that the staff and residents know what we need to do,” she said. “As well, it’s good practice for our fire department to come get to know our building and go through the evacuation.”
Lodge resident Dot Richardson, 94, said she agreed.
“It was a good practice,” Richardson said.
“I believe in having a fire drill because you never know; it may not be a fire but it may be something else. (It’s good) if you know what you’re doing. There’s always somebody, if you can’t make it, to help you out.”
Richardson has been a resident of the Rocky View Lodge for four years, since moving from the farm outside of Crossfield where she and her family raised cattle and harvested wheat. She has three sons, the oldest of whom now lives and works on the family farm.
The facility on Hammond Street in Crossfield is composed of two buildings: the manor that opened in 1964 and the Lodge that opened in 2011.
“(The Lodge) is a very nice building,” Richardson said. “It’s lovely but the other building was more friendly. This one you seem to go into your room and shut out everything. I have a room to myself. Married couples have a suite.”
Rocky View Lodge is home to 64 residents. It is considered a supportive living one and two level care facility, according to Westlund. The levels indicate residents are still able to care for themselves but require some support.
The Crossfield Fire Department is made up of 35 members, all of whom are volunteers except for the chief and deputy chief who are employed part-time. Six of the 35 firefighters are female.
Niven said they respond to 500 calls a year; everything from medical calls to full scale fires. They are also called out to assist with emergencies in surrounding communities including Airdrie.
The fire drill at Rocky View Lodge took about 30 minutes to complete.
