INNISFAIL -- Quick action by workers and local firefighters saved a burning structure at Bilton Welding & Manufacturing last week from catastrophic damage.
Local firefighters from the Innisfail Fire Department responded at around noon on March 19 to a report of a fire to the paint building at Bilton's plant site inside the Westgate Industrial Park.
Innisfail fire Chief Gary Leith said when firefighters arrived there was a large amount of smoke coming out of the top of the building. He said the inside of the building was filled with smoke.
Leith added there was fire in one corner of the building, which caused "some damage internally" to the building.
"We rapidly controlled the fire through the quick response of the firefighters and by using the sprinkling system that was installed in the building," said Leith.
Fire crews were on scene for about two hours and the building was successfully evacuated with no injuries.
"Obviously the alarms were activated and they (workers) called 911," said Leith.
He said 10 firefighters and four units responded to the blaze. A request for support was made to fire departments from Red Deer County and the Town of Olds but ultimately that was not needed.
Leith said the estimated damage to the Bilton building is between $15,000 and $20,000.
He said while the cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined he said it "appears to be an electrical issue" but emphasized that has not yet proven to be conclusive.
Leith said the investigation into the blaze continues.
