This grass fire, northeast of Teepee Creek, burned approximately four hectares of grass. A burn barrel is believed to be the origin of the fire (Supplied by County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service)

By Shaun Penner

Several Serious Calls

County Regional Fire Service kept very busy Sunday

May 2, 2021 | 10:31 PM

County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service crews are calling Sunday an “exceptionally busy day” after they responded to at least seven serious, simultaneous calls for service within just a few hours.

Boat collision on the Wapiti River

The last call crews responded to Sunday was just after 6:30 p.m., where crews from the Dunes and Wembley Stations were dispatched to help Grovedale and Grande Prairie Technical Search and Rescue at the scene of a boat collision on the Wapiti River near the train trestle.

Crews say the boat collided with the trestle bridge causing serious injuries to five people.

They say rescue boats from Grovedale and Wembley Fire Departments, as well as Grande Prairie Technical Search and Rescue, a private helicopter and two STARS helicopters made multiple trips to rescue, assess, treat and take patients to higher levels of care.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

No update on the condition of the five people involved in the collision was given. We will have more details if and when those are provided.

Carbon monoxide alarm caused by furnace

The chain of calls began at around noon on May 2, as the Dunes Station was called to a carbon monoxide alarm in the Eastland Acres subdivision, east of the city. High carbon monoxide levels were picked up in the home, which was evacuated.

The cause of the carbon monoxide build-up was determined to the furnace. The home was fully ventilated and turned back to the homeowners.

No one was injured in the incident.

Grass Fire off Resources Road

Then just before 3:00 p.m. the Dunes Station was then dispatched to a grass fire near the pine beetle pit on Resources Road. Crews found a rapidly spreading grass fire on arrival, but were quickly able to extinguish the blaze.

The investigation determined the fire was caused by an illegal fire pit.

Grass fire near Bad Heart District

At 3:30 p.m. crews from Sexsmith, Teepee Creek, and Clairmont were called to a grass fire that was threatening structures in the Bad Heart District near Range Road 23 and Township Road 754, northeast of Teepee Creek.

Crews say the fire burned approximately four hectares and involved a granary. The fire was contained and fully extinguished a few hours later.

This fire was determined to be caused by a burn barrel.

Wildland fire north of Webster

At 4:30 p.m. units from the Dunes, Wembley, Sexsmith and La Glace were alerted of a wildland fire north of Township 750 and Range Road 51, near Webster.

Upon arrival, crews found a large grass fire had spread into the trees. Crews worked to quickly contain the fire before working to completely extinguish the blaze. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry was also called to the scene as it was in the Forest Protection area.

The fire is believed to have been caused by someone, or multiple people, shooting at an exploding target, such as Tannerite.

Grass fire near Teepee Creek

At 4:47 p.m. firefighters from Bezanson, Teepee Creek, Sexsmith and Clairmont were called to Range Road 31 and Township Road 734 about a grass fire that was threatening a shop.

Crews found a one-hectare grass fire and a fully involved shop fire when they arrived. The grass fire was quickly contained, and the shop fire was extinguished.

Crews say the shop was a total loss, and that the blaze was determined to be the result of embers from a fire pit escaping the pit, causing the grass fire.

Crews say the fire caused the shop to be a total loss (Supplied by County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service)

Deputy Fire Chief Jason Nesbitt says the grass and wildland fires Sunday were mostly caused by unattended burning.

He says that though all calls were responded to promptly, several units were re-routed from one emergency to another, taxing available crews.

“All fire pits and burn barrels must be attended to at all times. Further to this, they must be on a non-combustible surface and have a further ring of gravel, bricks, or mineral soil to prevent embers from starting grass fires,” explains Nesbitt.

“Even though we have had rain and snow lately, the fine fuels such as cured grass can dry out in a matter of hours, leading to an increased fire hazard,” Nesbitt added. “With dry grass likely to be here for another two weeks until green-up, all residents are advised to use extreme caution when burning. If a grass fire does start, please call 911 immediately.”

Single vehicle rollover near La Glace causes brush fire

At 5:50 p.m. La Glace crews were sent to a single vehicle roll over on Range Road 83, where the vehicle had rolled down an embankment into Mulligan Creek.

The vehicle caught fire causing a brush fire. Members were still available at the fire station, who quickly responded to the call and helped limit the spread of the brush fire.

Crews say two occupants were on scene and refused medical care.

Supplied by County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service