A power outage and mechanical failures contributed to an unusually high number of emergency calls in a short period of time on Aug. 7, taxing fire department resources.
Between 6 and 8:30 p.m. on that Tuesday, firefighters were dispatched to six calls for service that ranged from structure and vehicle fires to an elevator rescue.
“This was an exceptionally busy period for us. These occurances are rare to happen in such a short amount of time,” said fire Chief Justin Andrew.
At one point, the department asked for mutual aid support from Didsbury’s fire department highlighting the department’s limitations.
“You simply cannot provide unlimited service with limited resources."
According to Fortis, power was disrupted to 2,900 customers in Olds and area around 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 and was restored by approximately 7:30 p.m.
“The outage was caused by a bird which then caused our equipment to fail, which required repairs,” said Alana Antonelli, Fortis manager of customer experience and communications.
The fire department’s first of six dispatches that evening was a call for an electrical transformer on fire at 46th Street and 54th Avenue.
Andrew said when crews arrived, an overhead power line was arcing, requiring firefighters to secure the scene until Fortis attended to fix the line.
Nearly simultaneously, the department was dispatched to help free a woman trapped in an elevator at the White Water Way multi-floor condo by Westview Co-op when the power outage struck.
As firefighters arrived, Andrew said the occupant was able to slide the doors of the elevator open.
“She was obviously shaken. She was glad to be out,” said Andrew, estimating she was trapped for between five and 10 minutes.
Back-to-back calls then kept crews busy with a call for a structure fire, smoke showing, and a fire alarm sounding at a seniors' retirement building.
No fire was found at Seasons Olds, said Andrews.
“We determined it was a malfunctioning alarm. Because it was smoky that evening, people could smell smoke but didn’t know if it was from inside the building or out,” he said.
Olds firefighters requested mutual aid support from Didsbury Fire Department for a structure fire call at a house across the street from Tim Hortons, but was not required when crews arrived on scene.
“We assumed it was a fire because there was smoke in different locations in the house,” said Andrew.
Firefighters determined a pot left on the stove was the culprit.
“When the power outage occurred they didn’t turn the burner off. They left and when it came back on, the pot started to smoke,” said Andrew.
The incident prompted Andrew to issue a reminder of what to do in a power outage to help reduce fire hazards.
“Turn all electrical appliances off, especially stoves and ovens so you don’t forget about them.”
Not long after the structure fire call, firefighters were dispatched to Highway 2, south of the Highway 27 overpass, for a transport truck carrying ammonia nitrate, that was smoking.
Andrew said the truck’s brakes had become overheated due to an air system failure.
Given the volatile nature of ammonia nitrate, Andrew said firefighters made sure the truck’s contents were cooled and assisted the driver to make minor repairs enabling him to move the truck off the road.
While still dealing with the overheated truck, the Olds Fire Department was called to provide mutual aid for a rural structure fire in the Westward Ho area of Mountain View County.
A shop was on fire and Olds firefighters took a water tanker, engine and crew to help. They stayed late into the night to rummage through remnants for hotspots.
“All that happened within about two and a half hours,” said Andrew, adding the department had adequate resources to respond to the emergencies.
“It certainly did tax us though,” he said.
Having enough volunteers to respond to the sheer number of calls in quick succession is a testament to the dedication of the members of the Olds Fire Department, said Andrew.
“These are people with full-time jobs and families and a life and they’re dropping that to come and help.”
