Rural Fires Last Night. WTF was any one burning the day before the wind storm!

[helmsdale]

Fire started west of in laws about 5 miles from a broken high voltage line. Fought like hell for about 3-4 hours in choking smoke with father in laws 4 wheel drives, a disc, and an air drill. Windows were hot to the touch. When the wind gusted flames would jump 70-80ft fire breaks with ease. Embers flying everywhere. I would imagine i melted some plastic hoses on his air drill, but at that point we really didnt care. Managed to save his yard but the neighbors 2mi west and 1/2mi north lost equipment full bins, machine sheds, and a house. Ugly.

[helmsdale]

[Guest]

Sorry to hear that helmsdale. Thats really sad. Probably a lifetime of work

[RD414]

Bad enough in the daytime, but fighting fire at night is downright scary. Reports of one person who died because of the fire as well as 2 people in tough shape in hospital. Wonder if a bunch of lawsuits would help encourage SaskPower to improve power distribution. Underground is sure nice where it was completed.

[SASKFARMER3]

See BTO you have no clue how wet we were and how long. But that’s ok slow people like you some times never get it.

Yea I finally had a great year th last one was 2001.

[the big wheel]

Scarey helmsdale!! that must have been a worrisome and brave thing to drive in that heat and flames to save things. That equipment could easily explode in flames under those conditions. Glad it turned out ok for you and very sad for others losses.

[helmsdale]

Bad enough in the daytime, but fighting fire at night is downright scary. Reports of one person who died because of the fire as well as 2 people in tough shape in hospital. Wonder if a bunch of lawsuits would help encourage SaskPower to improve power distribution. Underground is sure nice where it was completed.

When the sun goes down things get FUBAR in a hurry. Disorientation in the smoke is intense. Rather unnerving when all you can see is an orange glow all around you with only old drill runs and a phone compass to tell direction and orientation. Amazing how hot it is. Tractor rad screens would plug off with ash, and when you jumped out to scrub them off it was nearly unbearable.

Something I hope I never have to repeat.

Wood floored bins at the neighbors are still smoldering. He's trying to haul them out with the fire department on standby if they flare up. One pea bin they just took a front end loader to and sliced open to let it burn.

[mcfarms]

Anybody that hasn't had to deal with what we were dealing with last night offer to help or stay the hell out of our way. I damn near killed more than one looker last night that was blocking way as we we're trying to get discs into fields.

If this EVER happens please stay away unless you are directly affected or on your way to help!

[dalek]

Anybody that hasn't had to deal with what we were dealing with last night offer to help or stay the hell out of our way. I damn near killed more than one looker last night that was blocking way as we we're trying to get discs into fields.

If this EVER happens please stay away unless you are directly affected or on your way to help!

From realagriculture : "Tragically, there was at least one fatality, as a release from Cypress County confirmed James Hargrave of the Walsh Fire Department died in the line of duty near Hilda on Tuesday night. Hargrave was a young rancher, who served as a director-at-large for the Western Stock Growers Association and a former delegate for Alberta Beef Producers."

[bucket]

All of downed transmission lines....Saskpower has to start a preventative maintenance program....

Seems odd they replaced a couple poles last year and two towers down last night they fell over....

[errolanderson]

From realagriculture : "Tragically, there was at least one fatality, as a release from Cypress County confirmed James Hargrave of the Walsh Fire Department died in the line of duty near Hilda on Tuesday night. Hargrave was a young rancher, who served as a director-at-large for the Western Stock Growers Association and a former delegate for Alberta Beef Producers."

This is such sad news . . . . The Hargrave ranch and their family were truly amazing, but suffered so many tragedies over the years. I went to school with his dad Harry and his aunt Nairn in the small town of Irvine. Bert Hargrave (grandfather) was Conservative MP for the Medicine Hat riding for many years and was appointed to the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.

James, may you rest in peace . . . .

[Happytrails]

This is such sad news . . . . The Hargrave ranch and their family were truly amazing, but suffered so many tragedies over the years. I went to school with his dad Harry and his aunt Nairn in the small town of Irvine. Bert Hargrave (grandfather) was Conservative MP for the Medicine Hat riding for many years and was appointed to the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.

James, may you rest in peace . . . .[/QUOTE]

Such sad news indeed.

[sumdumguy]

What the "h" is wrong with underground lines. Maybe Saskpower could employ some of our underemployed to get their act together and trench the lines in. The money wasted on line, pole maintenance and loss of electricity on the lines would go a long way to burying the lines. Their responsibility in accident electrocutions and fires like seen here should be a wake-up call.

[farmaholic]

What the "h" is wrong with underground lines. Maybe Saskpower could employ some of our underemployed to get their act together and trench the lines in. The money wasted on line, pole maintenance and loss of electricity on the lines would go a long way to burying the lines. Their responsibility in accident electrocutions and fires like seen here should be a wake-up call.

We were lucky and our area was one of the RUD(Rural Underground Distribution) areas(single phase power lines). Sure is nice...just have 3 three phase poles on our cultivated land. The problem is the cost has gotten retarded....same for new Nat Gas service....cost of service is prohibitive. I guess they don't want or need any more customers!

[food4u]

Do not know about Alberta but Sask Power is NOT liable for any damages caused by line failure. Several years ago the RM north of us had to foot the fire bill for a stubble caused by a line failure.