Your fire department has been sent to several calls this past month:
- At 7:17 am on September 26 eleven members attended a single-vehicle accident scene on Woody Nook Road, across from the Woody Nook Church. A southbound truck had left the road and hit a power pole, breaking it off near its base, then plowed through a fence and hit a sizeable spruce tree head-on. The power pole was still energized so firefighters carefully searched the area for the driver who had self-extricated. RCMP located the driver about a mile further down the road. The scene was secured until the utility company was notified and the line de-energized.
- On October 10 at 5:10 pm crews were sent south of Bentley to a combine on fire. The farmers working the field had extinguished the fire, but it was checked with the thermal imaging camera and foam was used to smother the hot spots and prevent re-ignition.
- About suppertime on October 14 firefighters responded to a call of alarms ringing at a Bentley home. Crews were met at the door by the resident and were informed of a cooking mishap which had set off the smoke alarm. The house was checked over as a precaution then the scene was cleared.
- At 1:32 pm on October 15 a call was received of a 2-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highways #12 and #20 west of town. An eastbound car and a northbound truck with a pipe-loaded trailer had collided, injuring both drivers. The truck ended up in the east ditch, upside-down under the trailer which had spilled its contents. Leaking diesel was collected in a container to avoid contaminating the area. Traffic was helpfully controlled by Alberta Highways personnel and the scene was attended by several RCMP units. EMS tended to the patients, both of whom were sent by ambulance to hospital. The area was secured while the investigation was completed then firefighters cleaned up the highway before leaving the scene.
- And on October 18 at 12:35 am eight members were sent to a Mutual Aid call in Lacombe. A four-plex was on fire and crews from Lacombe, Bentley and Blackfalds were put to work. Fortunately, all the residents had been safely evacuated. Firefighters discovered two cats in one of the units and brought them safely out. Items from each unit were carefully removed before the fire could destroy them. The blaze was eventually extinguished and the homes thoroughly inspected for hidden hot spots, then the dirty work of overhaul was begun.
