A concern about a fire hazard on Snake Hill was recently brought to the Town of Sundre council's attention, causing it to make a motion for town administration to address the issue.
The concern was brought up by a Sundre resident, Bernie Pickersgill, who wrote a letter to council on May 29.
“Snake Hill itself is littered with an enormous amount of standing and fallen dead wood. This is a wild fire waiting to be ignited,” said Pickersgill in the letter.
He lives in a fourplex on 1 Street NW and the back of the residence is at the eastern base of Snake Hill, he said.
There are also a threeplex, several condominium units and an apartment building with 18 suites backing onto Snake Hill, he said.
“When these buildings were constructed, about 25 years ago, a fire break was cleared between the lane and Snake Hill,” he said. “That fire break has been badly neglected and trees, brush and long grass have grown to the lane.”
He believes that a firebreak should be cleared immediately and that members from the Sundre fire department should conduct controlled burns on Snake Hill.
“With the absence of a fire break, any fire on Snake Hill would very quickly involve residences, garden sheds, parked vehicles, propane barbecues and power poles with transformers,” he expressed.
“Our volunteer fire department would never be able to respond fast enough to avert a major disaster.”
He worked as a full-time firefighter for numerous years and therefore has experience with wildfires, he said.
“A wild fire involving the dead wood on Snake Hill and the buildings mentioned would almost certainly jump Centre Street, involving more homes and putting our hospital and police station at serious risk,” he said.
“This is an urgent matter. It would be a serious mistake to procrastinate.”
During the council meeting on June 3, Coun. Myron Thompson said he agrees.
“I suggest that we get on this as quick as we can,” said Thompson.
Jacci Hager, the town's manager of community services said town officials would need to look into where to access the funding from.
Coun. Tony Jordan made the motion for town administration to look into funding and a solution for this concern.
