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By Sheena Roszell

County fire crews battle Christmas Day house fire

Dec 26, 2017 | 8:13 AM

No one was injured after a second potential chimney fire in less than a week in the County. 

The Christmas Day fire happened just before 5 p.m. at a home located near Township Road 732 and Range Road 55 between Sexmith and Clairmont.

County of Grande Prairie Fire Services Platoon Captain Jason Nesbitt says crews from Clairmont, Dunes and Sexsmith were originally dispatched to the fire.

Over 30 firefighters were on scene for approximately seven hours battling the blaze.

Additional water support was called in from Teepee Creek, La Glace and Bezanson. The mobile support unit from Bezanson was also called in.  This bus allows crews to warm up and rehabilitate between cycles while they fight fires in extreme cold conditions.

“With minus 30 or below temperatures obviously it presents significant challenges when working with water.  It obviously creates a significant amount of ice,” explained Nesbitt. “Firefighters end up covered in ice and need to go thaw out between cycles.  Our air packs freeze….it never makes it easier when it’s that cold out and it certainly presents some challenges, but all of our firefighters really did an outstanding job.”  

Nesbitt says for the most part the fire was contained to the roof above the garage and the roof above the second story of the house.  There was significant fire and water damage to the house, however a large portion of the house and its contents were saved.

“I don’t specifically know how many were home at the time, there were several occupants in the yard when we arrived on scene, being Christmas I would imagine there were several people in the house.  Everybody got out safely and there were no injuries.”

The fire remains under investigation, but it appears to have started in the chimney. Nesbitt says they were also called to a chimney fire about five days ago in La Glace.

“We would just like to let the community know that this time of year with chimneys going, to make sure chimneys are inspected regularly and have a certified chimney sweep come out on a regular basis to maintain and inspect the chimney to try and avoid any potential chimney fires.”  

by Sheena Roszell