Firefighters from across the Foothills joined in the effort to tackle a brush fire southwest of Okotoks Wednesday afternoon.
The call came in at around 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 of a fire that had started near a power line south of 434 Ave, said Foothills Fire battalion chief Will Scheerhoorn, who had assumed command at the scene.
When the initial crews from Okotoks Fire Dept. arrived on scene they found the fire spreading rapidly and subsequently called Foothills, Turner Valley, Black Diamond, and High River Fire Departments for support.
The blaze spread quickly toward two homes to the southeast, but firefighters stopped it in its tracks with apparatus positioned to intercept it.
“We had an engine and water truck staged at the residences in case it got to them, so both residences were never in any threat or danger of fire. All the guys worked well together, had good communications, and fought the fire’s leading edge before tackling the centre,” said Scheerhoorn, adding his thanks to neighbouring residents who also came to their aid.
“We had great help from local residents who were out here with rakes and shovels helping out.”
One such neighbour, Thomas Aikema, was driving home south of the property with his girlfriend when they spotted the fire.
“We had just gotten back to my place and I saw smoke rising, so I took my side-by-side with some jugs of water and drove to the top of the hill,” said Aikema, describing the scene he found as the fire moved across a pasture towards a wooded area southwest.
“There were two separate lines and they were moving at high speed, and once it got in the trees I got pretty concerned, as (the residence) is right in the midst of them.”
Aikema, his girlfriend, and several other community members joined the fight.
“Me and a bunch of other guys from the feedlot came in with rakes and shovels,” he said.
“I started spraying the closest fire to the cabin. Luckily we had a slight wind change. ”
The man credited fast work by firefighters and volunteers with saving the home.
“It was a big fire, and they got it pretty under control,” Aikema said.
As of 5:30 p.m. the fire was out and firefighters were tackling hot spots.
