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ATV riders may have sparked fire: Whitecourt mayor
Last Updated: Saturday, April 24, 2010 | 12:21 PM MT Comments13Recommend4The Canadian Press
A forest fire inside town limits billows smoke over Whitecourt Friday afternoon. (Submitted by Honey Pell)
The mayor of a community northwest of Edmonton says local officials believe people riding all-terrain vehicles may have sparked a fire on the eastern edge of town.
Trevor Thain, mayor of Whitecourt, said he heard a couple of people who were riding the machines decided to have a fire to warm up, and it may have gotten away from them.
A 27-year-old man has been arrested and RCMP say charges are pending.
An aggressive attack on the blaze by firefighters, calmer winds and cooler temperatures Friday night helped to beat back the flames.
Provincial officials said Saturday the fire was being contained — so the potential threat to the community had eased.
Water bombers were called in Friday to lay down fire retardant on the flames and helicopters dropped buckets of water on it, while about 40 firefighters battled the blaze on the ground.
Shannon Stambaugh, an information officer with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, said provincial officials have scaled back the amount of equipment they're throwing at the fire.
Stambaugh said Saturday only one helicopter and three eight-person crews were being used to fight the blaze.
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I am glad they have arrested someone. Now he can be sued for all the damages that result. Too bad they never got the people that started the Bruderheim fire last year and the quadders that started the Smoky Lake fire years back.
ATV riders may have sparked fire: Whitecourt mayor
Last Updated: Saturday, April 24, 2010 | 12:21 PM MT Comments13Recommend4The Canadian Press
A forest fire inside town limits billows smoke over Whitecourt Friday afternoon. (Submitted by Honey Pell)
The mayor of a community northwest of Edmonton says local officials believe people riding all-terrain vehicles may have sparked a fire on the eastern edge of town.
Trevor Thain, mayor of Whitecourt, said he heard a couple of people who were riding the machines decided to have a fire to warm up, and it may have gotten away from them.
A 27-year-old man has been arrested and RCMP say charges are pending.
An aggressive attack on the blaze by firefighters, calmer winds and cooler temperatures Friday night helped to beat back the flames.
Provincial officials said Saturday the fire was being contained — so the potential threat to the community had eased.
Water bombers were called in Friday to lay down fire retardant on the flames and helicopters dropped buckets of water on it, while about 40 firefighters battled the blaze on the ground.
Shannon Stambaugh, an information officer with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, said provincial officials have scaled back the amount of equipment they're throwing at the fire.
Stambaugh said Saturday only one helicopter and three eight-person crews were being used to fight the blaze.
Read more:
>>>>>>>>
I am glad they have arrested someone. Now he can be sued for all the damages that result. Too bad they never got the people that started the Bruderheim fire last year and the quadders that started the Smoky Lake fire years back.
