Several buildings were evacuated and several streets were closed in downtown Westlock after a semi truck and trailer collided with a power pole last Wednesday afternoon.
Westlock RCMP Const. Ryan Flear said that at about 1 p.m. on Nov. 14, a delivery truck slid into a power pole behind a store on 100 Avenue. No have charges filed.
“There was just a little bit of snow and he got a little bit of resistance on his back trailer, and at that exact same time there was a patch of ice his tractor was on and he just slid,” said Flear.
Westlock fire chief Stuart Koflick said at the scene that while it was too soon to determine the exact cause of the incident, fire crews arrived to discover a dumpster behind the Westlock Collision Repair shop on 107 Street was on fire.
“Westlock Fire responded to a report of a vehicle hitting a pole and the pole on fire,” he said. “Upon arrival we saw a pole was dislodged and the dumpster was fully involved with fire.”
Crews initiated a “cautious attack,” considering the power lines were still live, and extinguished the dumpster fire.
He said damage to the building itself was minimal as the fire was contained to the dumpster. No injuries were reported.
Power was restored later that afternoon, while FortisAlberta crews continued working late into the night to erect a new power pole.
Koflick emphasized the importance of listening to directions from emergency crews when coming upon a scene as large as this one, where both 107 and 106 streets were closed between Main Street and 100 Avenue. Emergency crews have a busy job to do, he said, and often don’t have time to explain the situation to every onlooker.
“If we provide direction, go back in and close the door,” he said.
Koflick also said vehicle running over charged hoses has been a problem for the fire department in the past, and Wednesday’s scene was no different. “It’s happened to us on at least one other occasion this year,” he said.
On top of putting firefighters and victims at risk — crews depending on a charged line could be in serious danger if that line ruptures — anyone damaging a fire hose can be held liable for the $600 replacement cost and a $500 fine.
“I have zero tolerance for that kind of thing,” he said.
Flear said RCMP cleared the scene at about 2:30 at which time FortisAlberta and the town took over traffic control. 107 Street was closed for the entire afternoon between 100 and 99 Avenues, but 106 Street was quickly reopened.
