Windstorms throughout Southern Alberta had emergency crews busy on Tuesday night, as it caused damage and exacerbated fires.
The Drumheller Fire Department was busy with a grass fire in Rosedale. They received the call at about 3 in the afternoon.
While they appeared to get a handle on it, it spread to the bushes, making it tricky to fight.
“It got into the bush, and then the wind it kept spreading further and further,” said Fire Chief Bruce Wade.
Wade explains the fire was accidental. Last week a resident was burning and the fire smoldered underground until the wind reignited it.
The department deployed pumpers from Drumheller and the Rosedale Hall, as well as its bush buggy and about 3,000 feet of hose. Wade called the Dalum Fire department to help. They were on site about 8:30 p.m.
Because of another call of a rollover Tuesday evening, the departments asked for Munson for support to look after the town as resources we being stretched.
In town the wind caused damage to trees, signs and power poles. One demonstration of its power was north of town near Huxley where a train derailed.
The Three Hills RCMP responded to the derailment at about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, October 17. There, 28 rail cars carrying 56 Sea Cans were blown from the track. There were no injuries and no hazardous material was spilled. As a precaution, several rural residences in close proximity of the derailment were evacuated for about three hours. CN crews have removed the Sea Cans.
The winds also exacerbated fires in the nearby areas. Gleichen was evacuated as a fire in Siksika and Wheatland County threatened the community. Evacuation centres were set up in Strathmore and Standard.
