Over 25 firefighters battle blaze south of Highway #16 and Range Road 14

Clearing snow this morning, a plow truck driver observed heavy smoke and saw the glow of a fire south of Highway #16 and Range Road 14.

Upon entering the driveway he noted a structure on fire and called 9-1-1.

“Tones dropped this morning at 5:49 a.m. for a residential structure fire. Blackfoot Fire and Rescue and Rescue and County #9-1 were notified. Car #1 (Chief Parkinson) was first on-scene and reported a fully involved house fire,” Kirk Hughes, Director of Protective Services in the County of Vermilion River said. “A second alarm assignment was toned out to Kitscoty Fire Department and a third alarm to Paradise Valley for their Tanker. As in all residential structures, ATCO Power and Gas utilities were notified.”

A primary search revealed no one in the structure, and it was confirmed that the home owner and their family were not present inside the house.

“Firefighters went to work to extinguish the fire and a water shuttle was established. Islay Fire, Marwayne Fire and Lloydminster Fire Department were advised for area coverage,” Hughes said. “Despite the cold temperatures, County Firefighters worked quickly to knock the fire down to minimize any further damage. 2x County Engines/Pumpers, 3x County Tankers, 2x Command, 1x Rapid/Medical and over 25 firefighters were on-scene during the peak.”

At 10:30 a.m. Chief Parkinson declared “stop loss”, meaning the fire was contained, and apparatus began rotating back into service. The property owner attended the scene and provisions were made for housing.

“Thanks to our dispatcher at EC911, the Protective Services Co-Ordinator for the food/drinks and our volunteers who braved the cold weather to help a neighbour,” Hughes said. “Although the fire is not considered suspicious, a fire investigation team was assigned which included members of the Kitscoty RCMP Detachment, to determine the origin.”

No one was injured.