This coming October the Drumheller Fire Department is going to be celebrating its 100 years of operation in the valley.
On October 1, 1919, Mr. William Guterson was appointed fire chief, signaling the first time Drumheller had an organized fire department. Current Firefighter Keith Hodgson says prior to the formation of the brigade there had been attempts to organize and there was an unofficial brigade.
“Prior to 1919, they did have some equipment, but they didn’t have an organized group of people. Whenever there was a fire, they let off a siren, and depending on the number of rings, it told people what part of the town it was in, and anyone who was able-bodied was supposed to attend and try to help with the fire.
According to the book, The Hills of Home, there were 14 original members. By 1921 the department had two hand drawn reels, four playpipes, two hydrant hose gates, 1250 feet of cotton hose and two ladders. Hodgson says local lore dictates that Chief Guterson brought the ladders.
“He was a painter I believe and because he had ladders someone suggested he be fire chief,” Hodgson tells the Mail.
One reel was kept at the Sutherland Block on 3rd Avenue. The other was stored in a garage on the corner of Railway Avenue and 1st Street West. Shortly after forming the brigade it was recommended that a hall should be built with accommodation for the men and space to dry hoses. A building was prepared.
In 1922, a new town hall was built, that included a police station, cells, town offices, a courtroom and the magistrate’s office as well as space for the brigade and its apparatus. Also in 1922, they acquired a combination chemical and hose carrier mounted on a Ford chassis. In 1928 a Pontiac hose truck was purchased.
Like many prairie towns, there were notable fires over the years including Regent Theatre and the White House Hotel. Tragedy struck in 1937 when Harry Lefebre perished fighting a fire at the Vickers Hardware Store. Lefebre was the brother-in-law of Chief Guterson. In 1951 Adolph Guterson, son of William perished battling the Napier Theatre fire. He was 23.
Through the years the department grew and adopted new technology. Today it is still a volunteer service and has fire halls in central Drumheller as well as in Rosedale and East Coulee.
The main centennial celebration will be on October 17. There will be a banquet inviting the community and former firefighters. There will also be displays and history at the event, and stories shared.
“Luigi Vescarelli has come back to help us plan the event, so we are working on as much of it as we can,” said Hodgson.
Leading up to the celebrations, the department will be honoured by having the theme of the Canada Day Parade. Hodgson says they are looking at a possible event such as an Open House on that day.
Hodgson has set up the Drumheller Fire Department 100th Anniversary Facebook page that will have more details of the celebration as it approaches. Hodgson says he plans on sharing tidbits of the Drumheller Fire Department history on this page.
Hodgson adds they are interested in items or memorabilia from the history of the fire department to display during the celebration.
“We want to capture some of this history from the people are still around,” he said.
He has also set up the email drumfire100@kch.ca for those interested in learning more or who wish to get involved.

    
    ATCO Electric is applying to the Alberta Utilities Commission to convert the Sheerness Power plant from coal to gas.
    A Notice of Application appeared in the January 30 edition of The Drumheller Mail. The application is to convert two of its existing generating units at the power plant from coal-fuelled to natural gas-fuelled. It states there will be no change to the generating capacity or the boundary of the plant, and the infrastructure would largely remain the same.
    It’s a mixed blessing for Mayor of Hanna, Chris Warwick.
    “It does reduce the number of employees significantly, obviously there are 100 jobs on the coal side that will be done, and the guys working on the coal side in the generation part,” he said. “So it is still a pretty significant impact as far as employees go, but it is good news with our water source being from the generation station.”    
    The Alberta Government Climate Leadership Plan called for the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. In 2017,  ATCO indicated it planned its natural gas transition by 2020. This application is the first step to that happening at Sheerness.
    In 2017 the Alberta Government introduced the Coal Community Transition Fund to help communities affected by the shutdowns to diversify. Warwick says there has been good work being done in the community to look at new ideas.
    “We are still moving on some of the projects. Everything takes a snail’s pace, we are trying to get some funding for some large projects… of course, we are getting into an election and that changes the dynamic a little bit with what is happening.”
    Another change he has heard is there is a possibility the plant will be sold.
    “I think they have had some possible suitors for it,” he said.
    If the ATCO application goes through, Warwick says they have been told the spring of 2022 is the latest date for it to be converted.
    “There are a lot of things that have to happen, they have to secure the gas and they will have to run it to the power plant because they are going to need a significant amount,” he said.
    Residents that feel they may be affected by the application can provide input to the AUC before a decision is made. Those wishing to participate can contact the AUC or go to ww.auc.ab.ca and review the information under “Have Your Say” and under “Review Process”.