LETHBRIDGE “The First Thought That Went Through My Mind Was ‘Not Again’
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LETHBRIDGE “The first thought that went through my mind was ‘not again’. And it was coming from the same area.” Herald Coalhurst resident George Bradbury www.lethbridgeherald.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 PRICE $1.01 PLUS GST ANOTHER WILD ONE! By late last night officials believed they finally had wildfire under control Canadian Press photo Grass fire and smoke stop traffic on Highway 509 on the Blood Reserve west of Lethbridge Monday. Two other Worst is over? fire. Crews have done a fires also Nick Kuhl & Katie May phenomenal job.” LETHBRIDGE HERALD At 10:30 p.m. the City of Lethbridge adjusted the local wreaked state of emergency, originally wind-wrecked power issued at 3:44 p.m., to apply line is believed to be only to the previously havoc the culprit of a raging evacuated areas — Westside grass fire that forced Trailer Court, Bridgeview evacuationA of several southern Campground, and areas east of Dave Mabell Alberta communities and 30th Street West and north of LETHBRIDGE HERALD burned through at least 4,800 Walsh Drive West — which will [email protected] hectares around Lethbridge remain evacuated and under a Monday. state of local emergency. Gusting winds snapped a This adjusted state of Herald photo by David Rossiter Firefighters and power line in the northwest emergency will continue to volunteers contained two corner of the Blood Reserve allow local fire crews to monitor A Coalhurst firefighter checks equipment on a pumper truck near a more blazes Monday, as near Old Agency early Monday hot spots, said Lethbridge roadblock near the west Lethbridge trailer park that was under a dangerous winds blasted afternoon — according to a Mayor Rajko Dodic. mandatory evacuation order. The fire that started on the Blood Reserve across southern Alberta. preliminary Blood Tribe Police “It’s now being contained as crossed the river and headed toward west Lethbridge and Coalhurst Yet another fire, investigation, said police chief much as possible,” he said late Monday. sparked once again on the Lee Boyd — sparking a wildfire last night. “We’re now Milk River Ridge, that jumped Oldman River and cautiously optimistic and remained out of control spread to areas of west hopefully the news in the next as darkness fell. Alberta Lethbridge, nearing the town of number of hours will get better Emergency Services Coalhurst 10 kilometres away. as we go along.” advised residents of Milk Lethbridge fire chief Brian More than 100 emergency River to evacuate, saying Cornforth updated the situation responders from Lethbridge, the Civic Centre at Coutts at Fire Headquarters at 9 p.m. Coalhurst, Picture Butte, was ready to receive last night and said the fire is Coaldale, Nobleford and Taber families and individuals well contained. helped battle the blaze. fleeing that fire. “We have the fire in a But with separate fires across A half-hour later, condition of what we call ‘being Western Canada and near the provincial officials held,’ meaning the current U.S. border stretching reported winds had resources we have on that fire firefighting resources thin, the shifted. They told Milk will work on that fire tonight,” County of Lethbridge called in River residents to find he said. water bomber planes from refuge in Raymond “We don’t believe it’s going to Pincher Creek, expecting five instead. get any larger unless we have but receiving only two because Like the Blood Reserve erratic fire behaviour or wind of other fires raging in B.C. and blaze, the Milk River change. We have a significant in the U.S. Ridge fire was the second amount of resources on that serious incident in less ◆ CONTINUED Please see page A2 than one year. Last Nov. 27, after a low-rainfall autumn, bone-dry grasslands in both locagtions were swept by flames. Police report a rural home near Claresholm was destroyed after gusts blew down a power line and sparked a fire in dry brush. RCMP Sgt. Terry Wickett said an owner was home at the time, but apparently escaped injury. “The house was a complete loss,” but Wickett said Claresholm- area residents joined firefighters to quell the flames before they spread Photo submitted by Sean Steacy in the high winds. Herald photo by David Rossiter A view of the grass fire from an airplane shows Coalhurst — at bottom ◆ CONTINUED Please see A2 A large grass fire rages toward a farmyard west of the city Monday. left — and the fire as it burns nearby on Monday evening. New 2012 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins Diesel The management and staff of Bridge City Chrysler Jeep would like to congratulate Joe on being TOPS IN 32 Street & Hwy. Crowsnest Trail SALES in August, and Shawn and In the Lethbridge AutoMall Judi for their outstanding efforts. Joe, Stk #A21765 Shawn, and Judi invite their many $ Joe Shawn Judi friends and customers in to discuss 328-3325 41121616 39,998 Omeniuk Smith Mate their new orusedvehicle www.bridgecitychrysler.com requirements. Ag/Business A5 Crossword A8 Community A7 Directory A7 Headline news B1-2 Health A9 Opinion Forum A6 Theatre/Movies A10 Classifieds B6-10 Comics A8 Deaths B6 Tunes & Ent. A10 Hometown A3-4 Lotteries A2 Sports B3-5 Weather B2 For great savings and convenience talk to our Lethbridge Herald circulation specialists today about home delivery. Call us at 403-327-5511 INFORMATION, LUCKY TICKETS FEATURES & Extra: 1941854 NEWS FROM ODDS Pick 3: 396 ACROSS SOUTHERN UNLUCKY TICKETS ALBERTA Photo Radar can be found at the following locations today: NOTE: ALL LOTTERY NUMBERS & ENDS ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL VERIFIED Taber, 13th Street North ISSUED BY THE LETHBRIDGE REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE SEE NEWS HAPPENING? Call our news hotline 403-328-4418 or email [email protected] LETHBRIDGE HERALD – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 – PAGE A2 A panoramic shot of Monday’s grassfire, taken in the afternoon from the roof of the old Fire Hall in Lethbridge. Photo submitted by Peter Fiorino ◆ CONTINUED from front page ANOTHER WILD ONE! A couple takes “They’ve dropped a couple of Blood Reserve around 3:30 p.m. pictures of drops already and they’re on their Nov. 27, 2011, spreading quickly in themselves with way back to Pincher Creek to extreme wind gusts reaching more a wall of black recharge and they’re coming back,” than 100 kilometres per hour, smoke as a said County Reeve Lorne Hickey jumping the Old Man River and backdrop as a around 8 p.m. Monday. “They’re burning through west Lethbridge wildfire headed trying to get the northerly edge of right up to city limits at 30 Street towards west the fire under control so it doesn’t West, north of 24 Avenue West. Lethbridge move north toward Coalhurst.” Two Blood Reserve homes were Monday. The water bombers were destroyed in the blaze and no expected to return from their 40- injuries were reported. No charges minute round trip to make their were laid in connection to that fire. Herald photo by David final drop of the night as the sun Coalhurst resident George Rossiter set over smoky skies in southern Bradbury remembers that day. Alberta, leaving officials to pray for This time he was more prepared, gentler winds. however, as he has all of his house “I’m sure they’re getting a little and car insurance papers, as well weary about now, but they’re doing as his passport, all in a tin box. a remarkable job,” Hickey said. He took that as well as the first “The foam retardant from the family photo album he could find Smoke engulfs water bombers has helped a great before making his way to the the area of deal,” he added. “But we’re just Picture Butte community centre as West Highlands, hoping the wind is going to die part of the forced evacuation. that was under down a little bit and they can try to “We were outside working and a an evacuation get things under control a little neighbour came and told us so we better.” went and grabbed some things alert, in west Alberta’s Deputy Premier before the RCMP came down and Lethbridge as a Thomas Lukaszuk spoke to media told us that we had to leave,” said grass fire that late Monday night at the Enmax Bradbury, who has lived in started on the Centre after a visit to the Coalhurst for the past six years. Blood Reserve community centre in Picture Butte, “The first thought that went headed towards which took in at least 150 through my mind was ‘not again’. the city displaced Coalhurst residents. And it was coming from the same Monday. “Families are obviously nervous area.” and distraught because they left Jonathan Moedt just moved to Herald photo by properties behind and all of their Coalhurst in March. He was on his David Rossiter belongings,” he said. way home from work in west “But the most important thing is Lethbridge right after the — and that’s always our priority — evacuation notice was issued. is saving lives.” “I was met at the entrance of Authorities couldn't confirm any Coalhurst with fire trucks and structure loss as of late Monday, police there,” Moedt said. but Sustainable Resources Alberta “They told me I wasn’t allowed Lethbridge and local investigators will be on into Coalhurst because we were regional police, scene this morning. being evacuated. Alberta Sheriffs The only injury reported was But Moedt was allowed to go in and the RCMP that of one individual being to get his dog. While he was home had road blocks transported by ambulance from he also quickly grabbed his laptop, up all over the Coalhurst to Chinook Regional a change of clothes and personal Lethbridge area Hospital.