A fire that was burning out of control west of Cochrane on Wednesday afternoon is now contained but hotspots continue to flare up.
The fire started at about 4:00 p.m. in thick brush on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
Firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and air and gained the upper hand just before 9:00 p.m.
The fire burned through about 15 hectares and was just across the Bow River from Cochrane’s West Pointe area.
The river acted as a natural barrier and no structures were burned but people who live in the area say they were concerned the wind might push the fire across the river.
“I feel good knowing the response was like this and that the wind was blowing to the west so not toward homes,” said Mark German.
“My girlfriend’s house is just down the street actually. I messaged her and asked if she’d been evacuated and she said nope,” said Dustin Crowder.
Investigators are looking into what caused the wildfire.
Carol Henke, the Public Information Officer with the Calgary Fire Department says conditions are dry right now and the wind can drive a fire very quickly.
“It all depends on the amount of rain we get and the temperature and the wind because with high temperature and a high wind, things dry out very, very quickly and it drives the fire if one starts,” she said. “I think people just need to be very aware how quickly a fire can spread. So always stay by your fire, if you’re having an outdoor fire pit, familiarize yourself with the community standards bylaw that pertains to fire pits and fire pit safety, follow all the rules, be respectful of your neighbour, have a way to extinguish the fire handy so a hose or a pail with water.”
Henke says the improper disposal of smoking material is often the cause of many fires.
"A very serious concern that we have, and its ongoing, is the improper disposal of smoking material. We have attended some very serious fires in the last week where we believe the cause was the improper disposal of smoking materials so I would just like to remind Calgarians, again, it is not okay to put your cigarette butts in planter pots, any sort of vegetation in your garden or your flower beds. It can smoulder for hours and cause a very devastating house fire that spreads to your neighbours’ homes as well and so nobody wants to be responsible for that or cause that so, again, to remind people, please have a sturdy, non-combustible container to put your cigarette butts in that has sand and water in it,” said Henke. "Do not throw them out the window when you’re driving, or along the pathway when you’re walking. The dried grasses, they can ignite very, very quickly and with this wind, can spread.”
A fire ban has not been issued for Calgary but Henke says if it becomes necessary, information will be posted on the CFD website.
For updates and information on wildfires in Alberta, click HERE.
