Update: As of 7 p.m. on April 1, the grass fire that began near the Wildcat Hills gas plant and Ghost Station Camping & Storage west of Cochrane is now contained.
"Crews remain on scene for clean up and monitoring for hot spots," stated a press release from Rocky View County. "Highway 1A has re-opened and evacuated residents are returning home."
Cochrane RCMP has opened traffic on Highway 1A in both directions, according to the detachment. Fire crews remained onsite throughout the night to monitor the situation. Residents previously evacuated have been permitted to return to their homes.
On April 1, Rocky View County issued a fire ban due to dry and windy conditions, meaning all outstanding burning and fireworks permits are suspended until further notice. The ban applies to incinerators for farm and acreage use, burning barrels, recreational camp fires, chimeneas and any fires contained within facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas.
Exceptions to the ban include indoor household fireplaces, camp stoves that are property attended to, propane or natural gas barbecues or fire pits, solid fuel barbecues, wood pellet grills and oil well flaring – registration required by calling 403-264-1022.
Original story:
Cochrane RCMP has evacuated the residents of two homes as well as the Ghost Station Gas Bar and the Wild Cat Gas Plant amid a grass fire that is currently burning in west Rocky View County.
As a result of the fire, traffic along Highway 1A is not flowing west of Cochrane and east of Highway 40, according to an April 1 press release from the detachment.
"There has been one report of a motor vehicle collision along Highway 1A due to the reduced visibility caused by the smoke," it stated.
According to an earlier news release from Cochrane RCMP, the fire was moving eastbound between Highway 40 near the two businesses along Highway 1A.
Rocky View County Fire Services officers are on scene and motorists are asked to avoid the area.
