Area firefighters battled strong northerly winds last week, while fighting a structure fire north of Carstairs.On May 23, nearly 15 firefighters from Carstairs and Didsbury responded to a call that came in around 5 p.m. The Olds fire department also provided support.“A 30 foot by 40 foot wooden outbuilding was fully involved and extinguished,” said Carstairs fire chief Thane Schaffer. “Crews saved the house, which was approximately 40 yards south of the affected building. There was no damage to the house.”The structure was located two miles north of Carstairs on Rge. Rd. 20.“We dispatched three tenders, two engines, a command vehicle, a support ambulance and a rehabilitation unit,” added Schaffer. “There were no injuries, but the fire damage was extensive.”It took crews about 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze.The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Schaffer said there are no visible signs of suspicious activity.“We don't have an estimate of the damage, at this time,” he said. “It can take up to two weeks to investigate an incident like this.”He pointed out that the effort was a “tremendous joint initiative” between the Carstairs and Didsbury departments.“They worked hard to maintain fire only to the one source building,” Schaffer said.
