BARRHEAD/WOODLANDS COUNTY - Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) members and equipment have joined hundreds of firefighters who have joined the province's larger wildfire-fighting efforts.
At about 3:30 a.m. on May 29, Captain Leo Knol and firefighter Hayden Sabiston left Barrhead with Tender 5, starting their nearly five-hour drive to join the provincial task force battling the Red Earth East Fire Complex, which encompasses 10 separate wildfires.
Specifically, BRFS chief Gary Hove said the duo would be deployed to help protect the community of Red Earth Creek. The province issued a mandatory evacuation alert two hours earlier to the residents of the hamlet.
BRFS chief Gary Hove received the call from the province at about 1:30 a.m. asking him for a Type 1 or tactical water tender and two firefighters to staff it.
He then started calling his membership, and both Sabiston and Knol volunteered.
Tactical water tenders are specialized fire apparatus designed for wildland firefighting and other scenarios where a mobile water supply is required, making them highly sought-after pieces of equipment in wildland fire situations.
Hove added that BRFS deputy chief Ted Amos has also been assigned to help with the Swan Hills fire, where he will serve as a task force leader.
Unless released early, all provincial deployments are for a period of seven days.
In recent years, BRFS firefighters and equipment have been deployed to
Last year, BRFS members joined a provincial task force helping local firefighting efforts to battle the SemoComplex wildfire in Garden River.
In 2023, BRFS firefighters helped in the firefighting efforts in Yellowknife, Hay River, Rainbow Lake, Peavine Métis Settlement and as part of a joint rapid attack force in Peace River. Closer to home, BRFS also sent firefighters and equipment to the Lac Ste. Anne Lessard Lake Estate and the Drayton Valley firefighting efforts.
In June 2019, Amos and Knol, along with Tender 5, were deployed to help battle the Chuckegg Creek Fire near High Level.
Fire advisory
Closer to home, Hove issued a fire advisory for the County of Barrhead. As part of the advisory, all campfires on backcountry lands are prohibited, and there will be a temporary ban on issuing new permits for large burns.
Still permitted are backyard fire pits and fires in approved fire pits, burn barrels and incinerators, oil flame devices, large permitted burn pits, as well as smaller permitted yard clean-up burns. Off-highway vehicles and ATV use are also allowed.
Whitecourt Forest Area fire ban
A total fire ban was also instituted for the Whitecourt Forest Area, which includes all of Woodlands County, including Fort Assiniboine.
Under the ban, all outdoor wood fires are prohibited and existing fire permits are suspended.
Specifically prohibited are all outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public and private land, designated fire pits and backyard fire pits, charcoal barbeque briquettes and fireworks and exploding targets.
Allowed are propane fire pits and natural gas-powered appliances, indoor wood fires and open flame oil devices.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
