A grassfire that caused the shutdown and evacuation of Calaway Park on Sunday afternoon, burned approximately 0.75 hectares.

According to Rocky View County Fire Services Chief, Ken Hubbard, the fire, which was located near Range Road 33, south of Township Road 245, was quickly located and extinguished. 

"... With hotspots being worked on for about an hour and a half [to] two hours. It caused no damage to the property of Calaway Park, although there were three breakers from a Fortis[Alberta] powerline that had blown in that immediate area; it did cause a power shutdown for Calaway Park and they ended up evacuating their customers," Chief Hubbard explained.

The Springbank Fire Department responded with an engine and bush buggy, with a request for a water tender from 101 Station, the Elbow Valley Fire Station. Chief Hubbard said that another tender was on standby at Redwood Meadows, but they were not immediately required on the scene. 

On Sunday Calaway Park took to its social media to alert customers of the grassfire just after 3 p.m. An hour later, the park posted another update stating that ' a failure on a Fortis power pole started a grass fire south of Calaway Park.' 

Chief Hubbard said that this is being investigated as a possibility for causing the fire, though it has not been definitively determined yet.

"Fortis[Alberta] is checking their line and their equipment to come up with an actual cause. We don't have that; they were investigating as we were putting out the grassfire," he added.

He underlined that despite the precipitation that occurred last month, conditions are still dry, and he urged residents to be cautious and mindful.

"With our windy conditions that continue, it is very dry underneath the green grass and some of those areas with lots of fuel. As we go further into the summer, there is the likelihood of more extreme dry events where we can have more grass fires," he added. "We still have the warm and windy conditions that are accelerating the drying effect across most of Rocky View County."

Chief Hubbard reminded the public to continue to use due diligence and to make sure to not dispose of smoking materials improperly. 

Late on Sunday afternoon, Calaway Park stated that when they had become aware of the grassfire burning south of the amusement park, they initiated their Emergency Response Plan, with what they called an accelerated close. The park did not re-open on Sunday after the fire was extinguished.

"Calaway Park will be open on our next scheduled operating day Saturday, June 8th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.," the park added.

Currently, Rocky View County is not under any fire bans or restrictions. 

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