Firefighters are starting to get the upper hand on a large fire on the border between the MD of Foothills and Kananaskis, but it is not yet under control. Sometime after 4 p.m.
Firefighters are starting to get the upper hand on a large fire on the border between the MD of Foothills and Kananaskis, but it is not yet under control.
Sometime after 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, April 17, a grassfire started next to Secondary Highway 549 near where the road entered Kananaskis. It spread to the northeast and covered approximately 6 hectares of land in the Quirk Creek area between Secondary Highway 549 and 2311 Drive West.
The fire was still not under control as of 7:30 p.m., but weather conditions have changed and should help, said MD information officer Darlene Roblin.
“The wind and temperatures have dropped out there and humidity seems to be rising, which will help fire crews at this point, but the fire is still not under control,” she said.
Firefighters from the MD, Black Diamond and Turner Valley departments, as well as Alberta Sustainable Resources were all working to battle the blaze.
More than 30 firefighters are on the ground fighting the fire with 17 fire apparatus and two helicopters dropping water from the air.
The fire is in a wooded area and Roblin said they are concerned it could spread through the trees in the area, aided by the wind.
“Obviously there are a lot more trees in that west country there, in addition to the grass… the wind is problematic at times out there, with the reports we're getting,” she said. “Depending on what that wind does and wind direction, that may provide either some assistance for those crews or might provide some challenges to those crews.”
Six homes were evacuated as a precaution. None have been damaged, although the blaze did get close to two residences.
The fire was also located just west of the Quirk Creek Gas Plant. Roblin said fire crews were stationed at the facility as a precaution and the MD has been in touch with its owner Pengrowth Energy Corp.
As crews were battling the fire on the MD's far-west end, a second blaze was fought near the Okotoks overpass.
The fire began before 4 p.m. east of the overpass and firefighters from Okotoks, Blackie, High River, Heritage Pointe and Cayley responded.
As of 7:30 p.m., the fire had been contained and crews were still tending to hot spots in the area.
People are asked to stay away from both areas.
For further information, watch the MD website at www.mdfoothills.com and Alberta Emergency Alerts at www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca
