Residents in Rosedale had cause for concern around supper time on Wednesday, February 22, as a plume of smoke covered the skies of some areas of the community.
A controlled burn of scrap wood became a chaotic inferno when sparks ignited a nearby pile that was not intended to be immolated.
Inland Plastics staff occasionally conduct controlled burns to dispose of scrap pieces of wood that accumulate when making palettes.
“The staff were burning a little bit at a time. They put the fire out, covered it, and went home. A spark must have jumped nearby and started smouldering and they didn’t realize it,” said John Goudy, president of Inland Plastics.
With the dry conditions, the spark soon grew into an enormous blaze.
Goudy was at work when he got a call from his wife, who was at their home which overlooks the business and the site of the fire. She saw the fire, called Goudy home and phoned 9-1-1.
The Rosedale Fire Department was on scene in mere minutes. By that time, the fire had grown so large that the heat was palpable from thirty metres away. The fire was completely extinguished and crews left the area late in the evening.
Bill Bachynski, Fire Chief of Drumheller, warns that residents should exercise caution, considering the dry conditions.
"Fire is always a concern, even when there is a lot of moisture. You have to always be aware of conditions in and out of your house," said Bachynski.
