In the aftermath of yesterday's (October 17) grass fire in Sharp Hill, Rocky View Fire Chief Randy Smith has shared details on last night's events.

Smith said they began receiving reports of a fire shortly after 4:00pm. The grass fire consumed a barn along the service road, Township Road 264, then rapidly moved towards Sharp Hill.

RCMP and residents of the area acted quickly, simultaneously evacuating from their homes. Just before 5:00pm, RCMP issued an evacuation notice, telling people to go to No Frills on Yankee Valley Boulevard. That was later changed to Genesis Place. An evacuation centre was set, and Victims Assistance registered evacuees in order to contact them once it was safe to return to their homes. About 60 people were evacuated.

Access to the area was restricted while the situation was ongoing. Sharp Hill was completely inaccessible, with emergency crews turning drivers away. Township Road 264 was also closed at both ends, and the fire affected traffic on Highway 2.

Fire crews from Rocky View County, Airdrie, Crossfield and Calgary set up a defensive line to protect the subdivision. Smith said about 50 firefighters battled the blaze, and they were able to stop the fire before it entered the subdivision.

Last night's strong winds initially pushed the fire northeast, threatening 10 to 15 homes in Sharp Hill. Smith said if the fire had continued in that direction, there's a chance Airdrie's southern neighborhoods could have been at risk. Fortunately, the winds shifted and started pushing the fire south. Rainfall also helped the firefighters battle the blaze.

Once the fire was controlled, residents were allowed to return home. Smith said they allowed people into the area in two stages. Sharp Hill was opened back to the public around 9:30pm. Around 10:00pm, fire crews began escorting residents to homes along the fire line.

"For the people along the affected area, we actually had people come in and fire crews would meet the individual families or residents and they would go with them to their house and use the gas detectors, make sure there was no carbon monoxide or any issues with their house. They did it house by house and basically escorted everybody in, just to make sure everybody was good."

The RCMP rescinded their evacuation order at 10:13pm.

So far, the cause of the fire has not been determined.

"Right now it's still under investigation," said Smith, "Crews are actually still on scene checking on hot spots, and I haven't had that information."

Three properties were impacted by the fire. One home was completely lost, while a second home sustained substantial damage. The barn on a third property was also destroyed. Crews are still trying to determine the cost of the damage.

Smith said the situation could have been much worse, but thanks to the quick action of residents and emergency crews as well as the change in the weather, that outcome was avoided.

"Everybody, they were vigilant, they took the right action. The residents were super cooperative, responding crews really appreciate that. Everybody was very patient, and both Airdrie and Rocky View did ramp up their emergency programs to support the residents should it have gotten worse."

 

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