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County fire crews responding to structure fire at Weyerhaeuser Planer Mill on June 6, 2023 - photo courtesy County Regional Fire Service
By Erika Rolling
Regional Fire Service

County fire crews respond to multiple structure fires and wildfires on Tuesday

Jun 7, 2023 | 9:40 AM

The County Regional Fire Service was busy on Tuesday with many different types of calls responded to over the duration of the day.

At 8:00 a.m. – Crews were dispatched to the International Paper Mill for a motor fire on the third floor of the building. The fire was under control as crews arrived and the fire is being investigated by the Regional Fire Service.

Later in the day at 6:00 p.m. – Firefighters responded to a reported residential structure fire south of Highway 668 on Range Road 62. The basement of the structure had smoke present and was thoroughly investigated before crews left the scene.

At around 7:00 p.m. – Crews were called to another structure fire, this time at the Weyerhaeuser Planer Mill. Due to the structure fire from nearly an hour earlier the closest available engine was requested for mutual aid from the Grande Prairie Fire Department. Wembley Fire Department also assisted in mutual aid and all worked together to bring the mill fire under control and extinguish it fully.

The County Fire Marshal is investigating all three incidents on June 6; no injuries were reported from all fires.

In addition to the busy day of structure fires, crews also worked on coordinating and pre-planning for four different wildfires in the surrounding area and Forest Protection Area that borders the County.

Two fires in B.C. – 4 km from the County border near Peavine Creek and 30 km from the County boundary near Boot Lake, were assessed by Hythe and Wembley crews and prepared structural protection plans in case they are needed.

Local residents in the area were also advised by firefighters on how to FireSmart their properties.

Two fires in Saddle Hills are also being monitored by the fire service; working with Alberta Wildfire and Saddle Hills County. There’s no threat to the County of Grande Prairie at this point in time and the LaGlace Station is assisting Alberta Wildfire by setting up structural protection at White Mountain Fire Base and Lookout as a precautionary measure.

by Erika Rolling