RED DEER COUNTY – The RCMP asked for emergency operations help last week in the massive battle against the Kenow Fire that has devastated the Waterton Lakes National Park area, and Red Deer County stepped up.
Ric Henderson, assistant county manager and director of protective services, led a six-man team to the hamlet of Twin Butte, about 30 kilometres south of Pincher Creek on Highway 6 and about 20 kilometres north of Waterton Lakes National Park. They were tasked with assisting the RCMP's Special Tactical Operations (STO) team.
“They (RCMP) are doing roadblocks and security around the area, the area that has been evacuated. We are supporting them. They are using our command post,” said Henderson, adding the unit is set up with Wi-Fi and computers. “We are supporting them (RCMP) by providing food and supplies.”
In an interview from Twin Butte last week, Henderson said the Kenow Fire, which on Sept. 13 covered an area of about 35,000 hectares, was clearly visible from where they were deployed.
“It is still a very serious situation. The fire has certainly got potential to keep going,” said Henderson.
He said the call from the RCMP was the result of a professional relationship that has been built up over the past year through the county's search and rescue operations.
“They know the kind of equipment we have and our command post and what we can do,” he said, adding a call was immediately put out to county protective services workers who might be interested in a three- to four-day deployment near the national park.
“We got a bunch of people on the team who are more experienced on the incident management aspect so we put out the calls to see who was available,” he said.
The county's protective services personnel, which include four technical rescue volunteers, who joined Henderson are Irv Heide, senior county peace officer, Dave Brand, Don Bell, Jamie Schur and Wayne Moulton.
Henderson said his office would send another team to relieve the first squad if it was required. “We got other people at home who can spell us off if need be,” he said.
Ric Henderson, assistant county manager and director of protective services
"They (RCMP) are doing roadblocks and security around the area, the area that has been evacuated. We are supporting them (RCMP) by providing food and supplies."
