According to the City's Fire Chief, Mike Pirie, the past 24 hours have seen city fire crews respond to two separate house fires and a rather unusual rescue. On Thursday afternoon, fire crews were also attending a trash compactor fire at the Canadian Tire store.
The night previous, on April 10, fire crews responded to a house fire in Meadowbrook as well as another house fire in Kings Heights, though the two structure fires are unrelated to one another. No injuries were reported in the home fires. However, the homes sustained significant damage to their respective exteriors.
In another incident yesterday, firefighters had to perform a water rescue of sorts after a pet cockatiel bird ended up flying away from its owner and landing on the ice.
"The owners did the right thing and didn't go out onto the water," Fire Chief Pirie noted.
The bird has safely made its way back to its owners.
On Thursday afternoon, fire crews were called to Canadian Tire off of Veterans Boulevard where a large trash compactor had caught fire, though it was noted the sprinkler system kept it from spreading inside the store.
"Sprinkler systems are crucial to saving lives and preserving buildings as this fire clearly demonstrated today. There are no injuries reported and the store was completely evacuated."
Before 2 p.m. the bin had been moved away from the building. According to the Incident Commander, the fire had been brought under control. Clean-up efforts continued for some time before crews left the area. It is unclear when the store will re-open.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Rocky View County Fire Services issued a fire advisory for both the East and West divisions of Rocky View County, effective immediately.
"This advisory represents a moderate fire risk and will remain in effect as long as conditions remain."
During a fire advisory burning and fireworks permits are suspended, and burning is banned, with the following exceptions:
- Indoor household fireplaces
- Incinerators (for farm and acreage use)
- Burning barrels
- Camp stoves (properly attended)
- Barbecues (charcoal briquettes, propane, or natural gas)
- Wood pellet grills
- Propane/natural gas fire pit
- Recreational campfires in an approved burn pit
- Chimeneas
- Fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas
- Oil well flaring (must register with central fire dispatch at 403-264-1022).
Other important advisories include several from Alberta Wildfire. Yesterday, Alberta Wildfire enacted a fire advisory for the Calgary, Edson, Fort McMurray and Rocky Mountain House forest areas due to dry conditions.
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