Firefighters are investing the cause of a Friday-afternoon fire which razed a quonset three kilometres north of the Pibroch Colony on Highway 44.
The April 8 blaze caused an estimate $80,000 worth of damage, completely destroying the outbuilding and scorching grass along the highway before jumping the roadway and sparking several small blazes throughout the afternoon.
“This one was a spark jump. It’ll cross the highway and the debris will land somewhere else,” said Westlock Rural Fire Department chief John Biro at the scene of the blaze.
Biro said it’s not uncommon for fires to smolder underground for hours, even days during dry conditions, creating an added concern for firefighters.
“Our biggest concern this time of year is that any fires we have, they’re definitely going to go into the ground if they’re anywhere near musket or peat,” he said.
“Fine fuels on top are dry and when there’s enough ash or heat source there to dry it out will continue to smolder and smolder. Embers will actually follow the root systems of trees and burn until the moisture dries up and the fire can start back up.”
Though the building owner suspects an electrical shortage caused the fire, Biro added that it was too early in the investigation to comment.
