Fire Prevention 2012

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CAPITAL

“Have Two Ways Out.©”

October 7 - 13, 2012

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2012 “HAVE TWO WAYS OUT. ©”2

40-Metre Concrete Boom PumpReady to Work in Your Area

Call Toll Free1-866-915-7855 or 443-7855

THREE HILLS, AB

Three Hills

Floral & GiftBETTY - CEO/Designer

403.443.5818Toll Free 1.877.443.5818

Phantom ScreenDealer

Three Hills Glass403.443.7898

Trochu Motors Ltd.Sales

(403) 442-3866

Ken Lawrence1-403-318-2396

Box 130Trochu, AB T0M 2C0 Fax (403) 442-3829

“You’ll like us, for more than our tires...”

BRIAN ADOLF, ManagerTrochu TireBus.: (403) 442-3911Cell: (403) 391-9752Fax: (403) 442-3884Res.: (403) 442-4261

P.O. Box 433202 Main Street & Railway Avenue

TROCHU, AB T0M 2C0

Thank you to all theFirefighters of Kneehill County

from Vern & Maria, Kristen and Ron

HENRY’S SHOES442-3065

Firefi ghters gather at Ghost Pine Wind Energy Centre

“If it’s shut off, it doesn’t mean it is gone.”

This information was a definite surprise for firemen. “That there is a power source coming from both directions, out of NextEra’s lines, and if there is a power inter-ruption, into their lines from ATCO, was a defi-nite surprise,” stated Niall Sharpe. “That the capaci-tors still have so much stored energy for such a lengthy period of time, well, we hadn’t thought of that before. We are used to a house fire that, when the power is turned off, the power is off. We will have to treat this as every-thing is live.”

Firemen were told that

by Debi MoonExtreme heights and

high voltage were what awaited firemen when they were invited to the Ghost Pine Wind Energy Centre. Firemen from throughout Kneehill County, as well as County Peace Officers, were invited to the Energy Centre on Wednesday, September 21, for a bar-beque supper and brief introduction to the wind farm and its particular safety concerns and proce-dures. Although NextEra Energy prides itself on strict in-house safety protocols, there always remains a possibility for the unforeseen emergency that could involve local firemen, police, or medi-cal responders and they will need to be familiar with the existing dangers of high-voltage trans-formers and the safety protocols, as well as the turbines. Firemen were warned of the 144,000 volts that can be in the main lines, as well as the voltage that stays in the lines for a period of time, even after it’s been dis-connected. The humming sound, this close to the transformer, was definite-ly pronounced and eery.

even benign visitors tres-passing on the site, with-out proper invite, run a huge risk. In the winter, blades can build up ice and when it is thrown free it can be very dan-gerous, which is anoth-er reason for hard hats. There was instruction and viewing of the type of climbing equipment used by specially trained staff to maintain the working order of the turbines, the safety measures taken with climbing and descending, as well as the climbing conditions within the tur-bines. “Only about one third of our repairs are in the hub.” Signage, specif-ic to how the roads con-nect with the turbines was

explained, to give direc-tion if firemen are ever dispatched to the area.

There were about 40 firemen in attendance with representation from Three Hills, Trochu, Torrington, and Linden. Other departments were invited as well, but due to distance, they are less like-ly to be dispatched in case of emergency. However, this is only the first train-ing session at the wind centre. At some point in the near future, the staff at Ghost Pine hope to hold a mock injury exercise session to include first responders (fire-men) and Alberta Health Services emergency medi-cal responders.

Climbing equipment and safety procedures for maintaining and repairing the turbines at Ghost Pine Energy Centre were explained to fi remen at a ‘get-acquainted’ barbeque supper, held at the wind farm Wednesday, September 21.

Farm & RanchSupply Store

Trochu403.442.4262877.832.1157WWW.UFA.COM

100 - 1 AvenueTrochu, Alberta T0M 2C0

Reg CampbellReg Campbell was a very active member of the Trochu Fire Department for 23 years before his sudden passing in April of 1987. Because of his commitment to the area, he served on various community groups and was a councillor for the then M.D. of Kneehill. It was at this time he and others of the community saw the need for a rural fi re department to work with the working town department. A plebiscite was conducted and the Trochu Rural Fire Department was formed in 1964. A fi re truck was purchased to work along side the towns newly purchased fi re unit. Both units were housed in the fi re station which now is the home of the Trochu and District Museum. Reg and others received permission to move the Huxley Pull Cart to Trochu for restoration and storage. The Little Fire Hall was built by members of the department, next to the main fi re hall, to house the pull cart, under the very watchful eye of Reg. He always wanted the pull cart to be “hand pulled” in the parades of the area and was fi rst to volunteer to do so. (A side bar to the pull cart is that some two weeks after it was retrieved from Huxley the building it was being kept in burned to the ground.) In 1986 he and other members of the department received the fi rst issuing of the Exemplary Service Medal of Canada for Emergency Personnel. He was a diretor on the Alberta Fire Chiefs’ Association also. Reg was always ready to do his part for the community and the fi re department. His legacy is still a big part of the Trochu Fire Department.

f h h

APEX

Barry RederRealtor

(C) 403-318-5241(F) 403-442-3055

MLS - CLS

322 Arena Ave.

OFFICE: 442-3033

TOWN OF TROCHUMayor, Council & Staff

Wish to Extend aBig Thank You to All

the Volunteer Firefi ghtersfor their dedication!

We carry a wide selectionof everyday health needs!

Come, check us out!Check out our website:

www.balkwillpharmacy.com

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2012“HAVE TWO WAYS OUT. ©” 3

QUICK STATS

» 9 Fires

» 36 Medical Assists

» 5 False Alarms

» 1 MVC

» 7 Mutual Aids

» 1 Public Assist

WANDA’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE321 Arena Avenue Trochu

Open 7 days a week11:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.

P.O. Box 220 Trochu 403-442-4315

Wednesday is Wing Night: 30¢ Wings

CHANGESHair Salon

PH: 442-4334Bev, Barb, Jaime S., and Jaime T.

Hours: Mon-Fri., 9 to 5; Sat. 9 to 3

[email protected]

by Lawrence HoggTrochu FC

The past year has been interesting for the Trochu & District Fire Dept.

In February we took deliv-ery of our new Tanker Unit. It carries 3000 gallons of water plus foam, 1250 gpm pump-ing capacity and a elevating light tower for mvc’s etc. This was a welcome replacement for the old gravel truck con-

In the fall Trochu hosted a week long Arson Forensics Course that was attended by fire, police and emergency personal from allover the province. In this type of pro-gram it is interesting how the various agencies are forced to work together to find the common goal. It is not always as easy as it may sound.

Over the past year we have been fortunate to use the old

to the rank of Captain. One new member joined our ranks; Kyle Maier and one mem-ber retire from the depart-ment, Ivan Strohschein. Over the past year the Trochu Fire Department responded to 9 Fires, 36 Medical Assists, 5 False Alarms, 1 MVC, 7 Mutual Aids and 1 Public Assist.

The members of the Trochu Fire Department

verted to a tanker which did serve us well for a number of years.

At the end of June the fire dept. helped the students and staff celebrate the final days of the old Tro Val School with a Fun Day. Students competed against the firefighters in a hose laying competion and then against each other end-ing in a bit of water fight. A good time was had by all.

Pontmain School for a search and rescue site in the training of the membership. Members took part in several outside courses and brought the les-sons learned back to the rest of the group to add to our expertise in fire, rescue and medical skills.

The past year saw the promotion of Alan Adam to a Deputy Fire Chief from Captain and Chris Armstrong

are: Lawrence Hogg FC, Richard Hoppins DFC, Alan Adam DFC, Chris Armstrong Capt, Marvin Franke Capt, Bill Wohl Capt, Gary Adam, Charlie Ball, Tony Christensen, Roy Enzie, Gordon Guard, Catlin Hewey, Vance Hogg, Kevin Hoppins, Tara Johnson, Dennis Lyver, Kyle Maier, Elaine McRae, Myron Wahl, Joe Wohl and Ken Wohl.

Trochu & District Fire Department 2011/12 Review

PH: 403-443-0075 DispatchFor all Your Hauling Needs, Call Us!

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Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0403-443-8888 • fax 403-443-8889

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47 Passenger Prevost Coach.Based in Three Hills.

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An affordable alternative for those road trips.Call 403-443-0949 or 403-443-7822


RBC Royal Bank wouldlike to thank all of the

Volunteer Firefi ghters of Kneehill County for their

continuous effortsMonday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PMClosed Mon. - Wed. Noon to 1

Call your HOMETOWN SEARS STORETHREE HILLS 403 443 7447

by Debi MoonHigh winds on Sunday

kept fire fighting crews busy throughout Kneehill County. About 1:30 p.m. fire departments started receiving the first calls in what would become a rash of grass fires that involved all departments.

Linden Fire Department was dis-patched straight west of Linden to the County line at Range Road 27-0. Carstairs was also called for this fire but they, too, were busy at another call and Linden handled it alone. This ditch fire was believed to have been started possibly by a dor-mant ember from a burn-ing pit that got rekindled by the strong winds.

Three Hills, Trochu, and Torrington were dis-patched to a grass fire north of Three Hills, near Cargill elevators and then about a mile south of the Village of Linden on Hwy. 806, another grass fire caught (most likely explanation as being from a tossed

High winds feed fi res

cigarette). This fire was beginning to spread into the coulee and appeared a little dangerous to vil-lage residents. Acme Fire Department was dispatched to cover this since Linden was engaged elsewhere and Acme quickly got it under con-trol.

Carbon Fire Department was dis-patched as mutual aid for Acme, laying down a lot of water, as a number of hot spots could be seen trying to start up again.

Carbon barely returned home to their hall when they received another mutual aid call to help Drumheller and Dalum departments

ten acres, which is very

small when you consider

the force of that wind.”

with a fire on Hwy. 9 by

Horseshoe Canyon. “It

encompassed just under

Carbon fire fighters made

it home in time to catch

the last few minutes of

the grey cup game.

For residents, the

wind broke off some tree

limbs, and one house

overlooking a coulee near

Linden, almost lost the

roof over a back deck,

where winds just kept

worrying the screws and

bolts until some of the

railing and supports had

little to hold them down.

For many others, it was a

loss of shingles.

Firefi ghters battle grass/stubble fi res throughout Kneehill County

Be aware of recalls

Register your appliancesAn apartment renter

entered his unit after returning from work and immediately noticed smoke. He closed the door and called for emer-gency help.

The fire department searched the apartment and found a burning toaster. The plastic on the toaster had burned completely and there was damage to the counter-

top. The fire department examined the plug for the toaster and it appeared to be in good condition.

Upon research into the manufacturer and model number of the toaster, it was learned that the toaster was sub-ject to a recall because it was prone to overheat and ignite due to an elec-trical shortage.

Lessons learned:This example is an

excellent reminder for consumers to mail in product registration cards if available and watch for product safety alerts. Even small household appliances like toasters can have manufacturing defects. This fire may have been prevented if the owner was aware of

the product recall.The homeowner made

a good decision to call for emergency assistance. It is never a good idea to enter a building with signs of a fire or to try to fight a fire. Calling for help ensures the hom-eowner’s safety and initi-ated an important inves-tigation into the cause of the fire.

COUNTRY REALTY

109-4th Ave.S. Three Hills

PHONE 443-2008

•Commercial & Residential•Fire Alarm Systems•Gould Pumps Dealer

•Hot Water Heating Controls•Barn Ventilation & Feeding•Telephone & Data Cabling

•Lighting

403.443.50611.888.372.8009

812 - 7 Avenue NorthP.O. Box 777

Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

email: [email protected]

www.majakelectric.com

Dr. Justin Kerr, B.Sc., D.D.S.Family Dentistry

111-2nd Avenue South,Three Hills

PH: (403) 443-5820FAX: (403) 443-5850

“We Cater To Cowards”


We’re proud to support our local firefighters who protect our community.

Three Hills branch

602 Main Street

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

Research over three decades has shown that modern homes may be making house fires more deadly than ever before.

Newer homes and fur-nishings are made with more synthetics which make fires ignite and burnfaster. They also release more toxic gases when burned. Most fire victims die from smoke or toxic gases and not from actual burns. Deadly con-ditions are reached much more quickly now than in the 1970s when more natu-ral materials were used in home and furnishings.

Over thirty years ago, an important study conducted tests in actual homes with sizes and floor plans, furni-ture and items, and smoke alarms on the market. That report concluded smoke alarms generally provided the necessary escape time for different fire types and locations. This research led to the popular use of smoke alarms in residential set-tings.

A more recent 2005 study found a troubling dif-ference with the previous investigation. The amount

Public encouraged to visit www.3minutedrill.alberta.ca

Modern homes burn faster

of safe escape time was con-sistently shorter and the fire growth rates were faster. It is thought that synthetic materials currently found in homes contributed to this change. The study conclud-ed that because fires could be more aggressive, the time needed to escape home fires has been reduced from approximately 17 minutes to as little as three min-utes. This gives less time for occupants to escape a fire and is shorter than the seven minute response time target for fire services. This disparity can mean the dif-ference between life and death.

In May 2008, Alberta Municipal Affairs launched a public education and

awareness campaign to

make citizens aware of the

three-minute window of

safety in a house fire and the

seven minute fire services

response time. In rural areas

served by volunteer fire

departments, the response

times can be expected to be

longer than the seven min-

utes expected of career fire

departments. The public is

encouraged to plan for a

three-minute evacuation in

case of a fire.

(With permission from the

Alberta Fire Commissioner’s

Offi ce)

12 Years of ServiceMyron Wahl, of the Trochu and District Fire Department, recently received the Alberta Emergency Services Medal, from the Province of Alberta, for 12 years of emergency service in the fi re department. We wish to thank him for the past 12 years and look forward to many more years of service to the Trochu and District.

Keep your exits clearOur homes are our sanc-

tuaries, filled with the items that make us feel comfortable and safe.

But when furniture, boxes and other items block or clut-ter doors and windows, they can become inadvertent fire hazards that threaten or alto-gether eliminate occupants’ ability to escape a fire.

“Every room you sleep in or spend time in should have two fire exits,” recommends Trent West, Fire Commissioner with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. “Usually we recommend a door and a window. But those

exits need to be kept clear at all times because you never know when you’ll need to use them.”Keep your exits clear

- Remove any interior key operated locks or padlocks on doors.

- Check to see that all win-dows open and close easily. Remove any nails or paint that jam them shut.

- If you have security bars on one or more windows make sure they have quick release devices that everyone in your home knows how to use.

- If you use permanent

hurricane shutters during storms, remember to put them back in the open posi-tion when there is no longer a storm threat. If you use plywood sheets, remove them when the inclement weather passes.

- Remove all smaller items in and around windows, including potted plants, which can slow down escape.

- If you have padlocks on your doors or windows, remove them so the door or window can be used as an escape route.

- When arranging furni-ture and other items, make

sure that you’re not blocking doors or windows with televi-sions, heavy dressers, tables, couches, toys, or even potted plants.

- Christmas trees and other holiday decorations can light up a room - but don’t let them block your escape route. Place trees and holiday decorations away from doors and windows that would be used to escape.

Many Albertans insulate their windows with plastic membrane during the winter. Make sure everyone in your family can easily remove the plastic in case of an emer-gency.


Heating your home safely

Special treatThe volunteer fi re departments from both Linden and Acme, as well as Kneehill Ambulance were treated to a steak barbecue in appreciation for their many hours of training and dedication to protecting their community and surrounding area. The Villages of Linden and Acme, along with Kneehill County, contributed to the evening’s barbecue held at the Linden Cultural Centre on Thursday evening, June 21.

www.linview.ca

Ph: 403.546.3070 Your llocal real estate professionals,

serving Kneehill and Mountain View counties.

Make LINVIEW your first call!

101 CENTRE STREET • LINDEN

PH: 546-3866Dine In - Take Out

HOURS:Sunday to Friday - 11:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.

Saturday 4:30 P.M. - 9:00 p.m.

BUFFETThurs, Fri, Sunday 11:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.,

and 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.Saturday: 4:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

610 Central Ave. W.

Linden, AB.

MARSHALL BARKMAN [email protected]

Phone: 403-888-4997 Fax: 877-354-2096

www.kneehillautosales.ca

Murray RegehrPresident

[email protected]

Phone: (403) 546-3851

Toll Free: 1-877-546-1816

Fax: (403) 546-2486

702 - 1st Avenue NW

Linden, AB, T0M 1J0, CANADA

www.cbi-mfg.com

Danny DimockThe Acme Fire Department pay tribute to fallen comrade, Firefi ghter #18, Danny Dimock (1954-2005). He served with the Acme Department from Feb. 2003 to Nov. 2004, passing away from cancer in 2005.

“He was a trusted friendand fi refi ghter;

always there to help.”

ckD t t

Deaths and injuries from the careless use and improper installation of heating units can be pre-vented! Here are some

to help you choose the safest, most efficient and economical unit for your home.

- Don’t try install your own heating system. Leave it to a qualified technician.

- When buying a new home – ask a specialist to inspect the heating system. Purchasing a new furnace and installing new wiring is expensive.Solid Fuel

A solid fuel heating sys-tem uses wood, coal or fuel pellets.

- Don’t choose a unit that is too large for our needs. Select a heating unit that is appropriate to the size of the floor space you want to heat.

- The unit should be properly positioned, according to the manu-facturer’s specifications for correct clearance.

- Install your unit close to a chimney.Electric

Electric heating includes baseboard, porta-ble and forced-air systems.

- Curtains should not hang over an electric base-board heater.

- Electric portable heat-ers are designed to be used to supplement your main heating source. They are intended for smaller floor spaces.

- Units must be prop-erly maintained. Frayed cords and loose plugs can cause fires.

- Never remove the third prong on a three-prong plug or bend it back

basic rules which will help you avoid the anguish of personal injury or prop-erty loss.

- Ask a heating expert

to use a two-prong outlet. The third prong is a neces-sary ground for the appli-ance or heater.

- Never use extension cords to run electric heat-ers or any major appliance.Liquid Fuel

Liquid fuels include oil, wasted oil and kerosene. Oil fuel heaters such as oil furnaces and oilfired space heaters pose certain haz-ards which can be avoided.

- Fuel must be stored in an approved container or tank.

- Regular servicing by a qualified technician is necessary for the efficient and safe operation of your furnace.

- Ventilation systems for oil-fuelled units must be inspected frequently.

- Waste oil heaters are designed for use in com-mercial buildings and should not be installed in a residence.

- Kerosene heaters must be supervised at all times. They are dangerous to children and pets.Heater safety tips

Keep all heaters a safe distance from combus-tibles.

- Never hang clothing on, or near the heater to dry.

- Never use your stove or clothes dryer to heat your home.

- Don’t use a hair dryer under the covers to warm your bed, it could set it on fire!

- Keep bed clothes and toys away from baseboard

heaters.- Never place wet wood

on top of a wood stove to dry. Keep your wood stored under cover in a dry, vented area.

- Frequently check your wood stove for defects such as cracks and swell-ing.

- Second-hand appli-ances should be checked by a qualified person

before use.- Have your local fire

department check your home for safety hazards.

- Develop an emergen-cy escape plan for your family, and practice it reg-ularly.

- In case of fire, get out and stay out! Use a neigh-bour’s phone to call the emergency response num-ber in your area.

Linden C.O.P. CCitizens On Patrol

VVolunteers making a difference!

Come and join us!

You can make a difference too!

For information call: Mike Barkman 403-371-2305 Flo Robinson 403-818-4495


A Big Thank You to theVolunteer Firefighters of Acme!

Snips Hairstyling128 Main St., Acme

PO Box 557Carmel Letkemann

Bus: 403-546-0006

Lorraine J. MacLeanBMO Bank of Montreal222 Main Street P.O. Box 10Trochu, AB T0M 2C0

Tel.: 403-442-3744Cell: 403-352-5515Fax: [email protected]

David FafardBMO Bank of Montreal102 Main StreetPO Box 206Acme, AB T0M 0A0

Tel.: 403-546-3955Fax: [email protected]

QUICK STATS

» 7 Fires


» 3 MVC

» 6 Mutual Aids

» 4 Other

THE REEVE, COUNCIL& STAFF of

KNEEHILL COUNTYwish to thank all the Volunteer Firefi ghters in Kneehill County for their dedication and service to keeping the residents of Kneehill County safe.

Visit us at acmealberta.com

ACME FARM & BUILDING CENTER“FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING & FARM SUPPLIES”

403.546.2157615 Pacifi c Avenue, Box 150, Acme, Alberta T0M 0A0

Glen [email protected]

Cell: 403.860.2535Fax: 1.866.281.7501

Thank You Firefi ghters!!from the

ACME INN610 Pacifi c Avenue, Acme, AB

Phone: (403) 546-4133

DotDotDot and Such(formerly The Corner)

546.3022 • ACME ➲ Hot meals all day, Breakfast, Poutine with home cut fries.➲ Call-in orders ➲ Multiple fl avors of ice cream ➲ Movie Rentals, Fireworks, Suntanning, Laundry Mat➲ Fuel (COMING SOON)

HOURS: Monday to Friday 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. Sat 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. & Sun 9 A.M. to 8 P.M.

by Debi MoonThe Acme Fire

Department responded this past year to 23 medical assists. That is a remarkable dedication to assisting lives for a volunteer service.

In contrast, actual fire calls for the year were 7, with 6 calls for mutual aid, 3 for motor vehicle incidents

unhurt. Another aspect of the

Acme Fire Department is its dedication to the commu-nity and subsequent events. From the very first Terry Fox Run, they have assisted participants with traffic con-trol as the busy highway is utilized as a portion of the route.

Cane Run’ in which they go door to door dressed in uni-form, with the addition of Santa hats, collecting items for the food bank. Each subsequent year becomes a banner year of collections.

Members of the Department: John Schmidt - Chief, Rob Schmidt - Deputy Chief,

and 4 labelled as other. One of the ‘other’ calls

was the obligatory fire department animal rescue. This past spring a dog got caught in a van’s sliding door. The border collie was very patient as firemen were forced to remove the bot-tom hinge of the door to allow the dog its freedom,

The last couple of years they were pleased to have further assistance from the County’s Peace Officers. The Acme Fire Department has also made a reputation as food bank royalty. For over ten years, they have helped the community food bank fill its coffers by per-forming an annual ‘Candy

Tim Brown - Deputy Chief, Dan Balderson - Captain, Chester Reimer - Captain, Keith Thiessen - Lieutenant, Brian Fradgley - Lieutenant. Firefighters Bert Jackson, Robbie Scott, Casey Donohue, Mike Sawkins, Warren Romman, Chris Morton and Jr. fighter, Matt Sawkins.

Acme Fire Department 2011/12 Review

Committed to Alberta Communities

Trochu • (403) 442-4200Three Hills • (403) 443-5571

Linden • (403) 546-3993


Norma Jean Swain Main St. LindenHours: Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM

CELL: 403-312-8120 PH: 403-546-4036E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: 403-546-4319

SID TOEWSwww.sgbobcat.ca

Diamond MConvenience Store

203 Central Ave. W.PH: (403) 546-4135

Cooking oil and grease fires are a major cause of residential fires in Canada.

Kitchen fires, due to cooking oil or grease igniting into flames, cause the fastest-spreading and most destructive type of residential fire. When cooking with grease or oil, it is extremely impor-tant that you plan ahead so that you will know how to react fast to fire.

Here are some tips:Deep Frying - The saf-

est way to deep fry foods such as chicken or fries is to use a thermostatically-controlled electric skillet or a deep fat fryer.

Pan Frying - Keep a

cool. Most importantly, react fast, because grease fires spread very quickly.

Oven Cooking - Keep your oven clean. Grease and food splatters can ignite at high tempera-tures.

- Ensure that you wear oven mitts when remov-ing cooking containers to avoid serious burns.

- Follow the cooking instructions for the recipe and the product you are using.

- Broiling is a popu-lar method of cooking. When you use your broil-er, place the rack 5 to 8 cm (two to three inches) from the broiler element. Always place a drip pan

pan lid or cookie sheet handy in case grease or oil catches fire. The lid or cookie sheet should be slid over the top of the pan to smother the fire.

- Never attempt to move a flaming pot or pan away from the stove. The movement can fan the flames and so spread the fire. The pan will also likely be very hot, caus-ing you to drop it. In either case, you are plac-ing yourself at great risk. Your immediate action should be to smother the fire by sliding a lid or flat cookie sheet over the pan. Afterwards, turn off the heat and exhaust the fan, allowing the pan time to

beneath the broiler rack to catch the fat drippings. Never use aluminum foil for this purpose because the fat accumulated on the foil could catch fire or spill over.

Microwave Cooking - Microwave ovens are a marvellous time-saving tool, but there are three characteristics of micro-wave cooking you should be cognisant of:

Tips to avoid cooking fi res- The heat is reflected

by the metal interior.- Heat can pass

through glass, plastic and other materials.

- Heat is absorbed by the food.

- Foods, like those in high-fat or sugar, can heat very rapidly but feel cool to the touch.

- Pastry fillings can be very hot, but the crust cooler. Milk in baby bot-

tles could be boiling, but the bottle itself not very hot to the touch. Use caution at all times.

- Do not use tin foil or any other metal objects in the microwave. If a fire occurs, keep the door closed and unplug the unit. Call a qualified technician to ensure the microwave is in proper working order before using it again.

Burns - The need for cautionEvery year in Canada,

severe injuries and deaths occur as a result of burns and scalds. Sadly, many of these injuries affected children and could have easily been prevented. Usually, it’s children’s curiosity that gets them into trouble. They come across a lighter or match-es, or they manage to get too close to a base-board heater or a hot stove element.

Burns from hot liq-uids - When bathing chil-dren, always turn cold water on first before the hot. Test the water tem-perature before allowing your child to get into the bathtub or shower. Consider adjusting your hot water heater to a maximum temperature of 49 degrees C. or 120 degrees F.

- Children should not play with a hot water tap.

Teach them to turn the cold water on first.

- Avoid carrying or holding children while you are drinking a hot beverage.

Burns from Household Appliances

- Turn pot handles towards the centre of the stove.

- Keep cords for elec-trical appliances such as deep fryers, kettles, steam irons and toasters out of the reach of children.

- Supervise children near lamps with acces-sible hot light bulbs.

- Store items that interest children, such as cookies, away from the immediate area around the kitchen stove.

- Keep children away from stationary and por-table heaters.

Lighters and Matches: Every year hundreds of fires are started by chil-

dren playing with light-ers or matches. Many of these fires are caused by children under the age of five. Children as young as 18 months have caused fires by operat-ing lighters. Disposable lighters sold by retailers must be child-resistant, but remember, child-resistant does not mean childproof. Store lighters out of sight and out of the reach of children and do not remove the child safety devices from the lighter. Remember to: teach children that lighters and matches are not toys. Instruct young children to tell an adult if they find light-ers or matches. Set a good example: always use lighters and matches responsibly; Install and maintain smoke alarms; Supervise your children’s play.

Members of Linden Fire and Rescue travelled to Swalwell to rescue astray cat that had become trapped on top of a residential rooftop.

The Mayor, Council and Staff of the

VILLAGE OF LINDEN

Merv & Connie Rieger

extend their thanks for thededication of all the members

of the Linden Fire Department!

E-mail:[email protected]

Authorized

(403) 546-3810

Distributor

PO Box 250, Linden, Alberta T0M 1J0

LINDENAGRI-CENTRE

LTD.

LAC

BUS. PHONE: 546-3814(CALGARY) 263-4688

BOX 90LINDEN, ALBERTA

T0M 1J0


QUICK STATS» 7 Fires» 4 Medical Assists» 8 False/Stand Down» 14 MVC» 1 Electrical Hazard» 1 Public Assist» 8 Stubble Fires» 4 Investigative

KNEEHILL SOILSERVICES LTD.“A Total Crop Care Centre”

Earl JeningaLinden 546-4050

PH: 546-4146

Dawn Crosdale HOURS OF OPERATION:

Tues, Wed, Thurs, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.Friday 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

by Debi MoonIt’s never fun and games

until the cat gets rescued. Yes, it is true, each and every fire department gets their share of animal rescues and for Linden Fire and Rescue, it happened this year to be rescuing a stray cat; not from a tree but from a residential rooftop in Swalwell.

Linden experienced a small reduction in the number of total calls they were dispatched to. Last year they had 70 and this year it was down to 50,

vehicle collisions to affect this department in quite awhile. The accident was dramatic in nature, resulting in 3 fatalities, with one of the deceased being a retired Linden firefighter, a friend to many on the depart-ment and a close relative to some. While this is emo-tional, so too was the story of survival.

This past summer had its share of high winds and storms but one of the most notable wind storms involved

nity of Linden. A number of hot spots kept trying to re-start. Carbon F.D. came to help Acme in Linden, and then barely made it back to their hall when they were dis-patched to Horseshoe Canyon on Hwy. 9.

The Linden Department has 30 members, which include 6 in the capacity of chiefs or captains, and 24 in the role of firefighters. The department’s roster in-cludes Jeremy Regehr - Fire

attributed almost directly to a drop in the number of medical assist calls from 17 (in 2011) to only 4 this reporting period.

The highest number of calls were motor vehicle inci-dents (14), structure fires (5), grass/stubble fires (8), 2 ‘other’ fires, alarms ringing (3), inves-tigations of smoke/strange odors (4), false alarms or stand down (8), and 1 call for an electrical hazard.

This past year will be nota-ble for one of the worst motor

all the fire departments and happened last November. It was Grey Cup Sunday and high winds caused a rash of grass fires that spread the departments to their bound-aries. Linden went west to the County line, while Three Hills, Trochu and Torrington were north of Three Hills. Acme came to a mile south of Linden where a grass fire close to highway 806 had winds that actually threatened to bring it into the commu-

Chief, Shawn Klassen - Deputy Chief, Robin Boese - Captain, Kevin Klassen - Captain, Jon Baerg - Captain, Gene Isaac - Captain. Firefi ghters: Earl Reimer, Jeff Schartner, Rich-ard Klassen, Trevor Toews, Sid Toews, Travis Unruh, Stan Wiebe, Scott Regehr, Dalin Reimer, Darin Wiebe, Rick Wiebe, Brian Klassen, Mike Barkman, Bob Schartner, Gene Reimer, Karl Klassen, Justin Regehr, Peter Dyck, Tristan Klassen, Tyler Boese, Ken Jantz, James Thiessen, Cam Klassen.

Linden Fire and Rescue 2011/12 Review


Bruce Rowe, MLA OLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS

THANK YOUFIREFIGHTERS!

Your continued dedication to thesafety of others is commendable.

A Fresh Coat

403.443.0807

Fire Prevention Week, just like the fire service itself, has a long and proud history.

This special week was established to commemo-

burned more than 2,000 acres.

Every year, fire and life safety educators across Canada bring important safety messages during Fire Prevention Week to their communities to help pre-vent fires, deaths, injuries and property damage.

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA), in partnership with emergency services across the province, recog-nizes Fire Prevention Week as an important awareness campaign that teaches Albertans about fire pre-vention and safety.

During the five year period, 2005-2009, on average, there were 5300 fires reported to the AEMA each year. These fires result in an average of 31 deaths, 230 injuries and approxi-mately $380 million in direct property loss.

Of the total number of fires reported in Alberta, homes comprising of one- and two-family dwellings, apartments and mobile homes account for the larg-est portion of the losses - 33 per cent of all fires, 70 per cent of all fire deaths, 58 per cent of all fire inju-ries and 48 per cent of all property losses. It is clear that most fire deaths and injuries happen in places where Albertans feel the safest - their homes. Home fire safety continues to be a priority for the AEMA and the fire and emergency services in Alberta.

Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires, careless smok-ing is the number one cause

rate the Great Chicago Fire. The tragic 1871 con-flagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and

of home fire deaths, and unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fire injuries in Alberta.

The major causes of home fires in Alberta and

Protect your family from fi reother jurisdictions in North America are cooking, home heating, smoking, electri-cal and arson/vandalism. These and other statistics tell us how fires start and

help us monitor trends over time. We can learn from fires that have happened in the past and try to prevent similar fires from happen-ing in the future.

Lending a helping handVillage of Carbon and area was struck by a horrendous wind storm Friday night. There were many trees down in the village with damage to trailers in the campground and personal belongings blown throughout the village. Pictured in front of the Carbon Baptist Church are members of the Carbon Volunteer Fire Department, that took time from their weekend, to aid in the cleanup Saturday after the storm.

Picture courtesy of Marcie Pears

Brian HolsworthThe Carbon Fire Department would like to honor Brian Holsworth this year. He was on the department for 23 years until his retirement in 2011 and was our Fire Chief from 1996-2000. Along with his service to our department, he also continues to serve on the Carbon Lions Club. Thank you Brian for all that you have done and for all that you continue to do for our community!

h

Extension cords are a common cause of electri-cal fires. That is why you must be careful to use only extension cords that are rated for the power used by the device they are powering.

Extension cords must never be run inside walls or under rugs or furni-ture. They can be dam-aged by traffic or heavy furniture and start arcing, which can lead to a fire.

Extension cords can get warm during use and

must be able to dissipate this heat or they can start a fire.

Signs of an Electrical Problem:

- Flickering lights. If the lights dim every time you turn on an appliance it means that the circuit is overloaded or has a loose connection.

- Sparks. If sparks appear when you insert or remove a plug, it could be a sign of loose connec-tions.

- Warm electrical cord.

Extension cord warning signsIf an electrical cord is warm to the touch, the cord is underrated or defective.

- Frequent blown fuses or broken circuits. A fuse that continues to blow or circuit breaker that keeps tripping is an important warning sign of prob-lems.

- Frequent bulb burn-out. A light bulb that burns out frequently is a sign that the bulb is too high in wattage for the fixture.


VILLAGE OF CARBONBox 249, Carbon, AB T0M 0L0

Ph: (403) 572-3244; Fax (403) 572-3778e-mail: [email protected]

http://albertafirst.com

We wish to Thank theVolunteer Firefi ghters

who serve on theCarbon Fire Department.

QUICK STATS

Grant J. LowryRealtor since 1983

e-mail: [email protected]

Carbon (403) 572-3755Calgary (403) 285-7023

by Debi MoonThe Carbon Fire

Department has responded to a total of 44 calls this past year, to date. The 19 calls for ‘medical first response’ account for almost half the department’s total calls. While the average number of medical assists for Carbon was considered about ten, they did have 17 in last year’s report.

dispatched last November on Grey-Cup Sunday to put out a grass fire that was close enough (with high winds) to be a threat to the commu-nity of Linden. Linden F.D. had been dispatched to the west boundary. As Carbon returned to base, they were dispatched again to another fire at Horseshoe Canyon on Hwy 9.

While 2011 was notable

when its community was receiving many visitors to celebrate its centennial year.The Carbon Fire Depart-ment roster includes Kerry Morgan - Chief, Jody Kran-zler - Deputy Chief, Jordan Reed - Deputy Chief, Jeremy Kranzler - Captain, Mike Still - Captain, Mitch Goldamer - Captain, Adam Harpell - Captain. Firefi ghters: Don Appleyard, Terry Reed, Bill

Carbon Fire Department was dispatched this year to an unusually high number of fires. There were 13, whereas in last year’s report there was only 1 (a structure fire in Orkney). They responded to 8 motor vehicle incidents. There have been 2 false alarms, 1 investigation, and one call considered as ‘other’.

Both the Carbon and Acme Fire Departments were

for its savage spring bliz-zard and resulting floods, this year it was high winds that threatened, starting last November and continuing into the summer with grass fires, falling trees, and struc-ture damages. Carbon Fire Department was actively involved in cleaning up trees, the dangerous ones, nuisance ones, and the resulting litter of broken limbs at a time

Wood, Paul Goldamer, An-thony Andrew, Neil Bertsch, Todd Somers, Deb Gros-fi eld, Justin Somers, Tyson Boutin, Markus Goodhope, Dustin Furst, Dave Brown, Sheila Kranzler, Marty Mor-gan, Jamal Harris, Tara Big-ham, Travis Cormier, Jessica Arnold, David Longuepee, Search and Rescue canine, Raven and her handler/train-er, Colleen Harpell.

Carbon Fire Department 2011/12 Review

» 13 Fires

» 19 Medical FirstResponse

» 2 False Alarms

» 8 MVC

» 1 Investigation

» 1 Other

T. Reed Agencies Ltd.Terry & Valorie Reed

Insurance Broker

CARBON - 572-3434ACME - 546-3932

T. & C’S DINERTim & Cheryl

Carbon 403.572.3999

OPEN 7 DAYSMon. - Sat. 6 A.M. to 7 P.M. Sunday 7 A.M. to 2 P.M.

NOW OPEN

Bruce Ave. & Glengarry St., Carbon, Alberta

PH: (403) 572-3262See our facebook page for upcoming events and specials

Three Hills PharmacyTHREE HILLS

443-5551

Cell: (403) 443-9333Res: (403) 443-2880

Whether you are a visitor or from the neighbourhood, Nilgiris is a tea house to call home.

910 Main Street Three Hills, Alberta

403-443-7547 [email protected]

Hours of operation are:Saturdays 10 - 10Sundays 3 - 10 (Sunday Dinner starts at 5 p.m.)

Reservations welcome but not necessary.Available for special events during the week.

The Management and Staff ofThree Hills Pharmacy would like

to thank our Volunteer Firefi ghtersfor there many hours of dedication


Wind feeds fi reFire broke out at the Steven Richardson farm about 5 km east of Three Hills on Tuesday, April 3 at about 1 pm. Three Hills Fire and Rescue and Trochu Fire Department fought the blaze that was fed by a strong wind from the south. At press time the north side of a machine shed was destroyed and a large quantity of round bales were fully involved. A pole shed, housing the bales, was completely destroyed and fi re spread northbound consuming another small shed. Friends and neighbors were quick to relocate livestock to safety. The extent of the damage and probable cause is yet to be determined.

New Fire Tanker arrives in TrochuPictured (l-r) is Kneehill Councillor Ken Hoppins, Trochu Fire Chief Lawrence Hogg, Deputy Chief Richard Hoppins, Kneehill County Reeve Bob Long, Emergency Services Director Niall Sharpe, and Captain Bill Wohl. Fire Chief Lawrence Hogg and Deputy F.C. Richard Hoppins proudly accept the keys to their new Rosenbauer Water Tanker from Reeve Bob Long and Clr. Ken Hoppins. This tanker has the same 3000 gallon capacity as the former unit, but it doesn’t just hold water; it also has full fi re fi ghting capabilities with a 1050 gpm, three-stage High Pressure fi re pump. It also has an 8000 watt diesel generator with a light tower. This unit replaces the tanker from 1993 and is the last of the fi re replacement vehicles for Kneehill County until at least 2019. The total cost for the unit was the budgeted fi gure of $375,806. This new vehicle will also be gracing the center page of the March issue of trade magazine - Fire Engineering.

Preventative action and Carbon MonoxideIt is important to

install a carbon mon-

oxide detector in your

home. However, carbon

monoxide detectors do

not replace the need

Practice fi replace safetyA fireplace becomes

dangerous when accu-mulated tar or creosote catches fire or from uncontrolled burning or over-fuelling. Other causes of fireplace-relat-ed fires are substandard design or installation and lack of safety precautions.

Open the damper before lighting the fire, and keep it open until the ashes are cool enough to touch.

Ensure the fire is com-pletely out before going

to bed or leaving the house.

Do not store combus-tible materials such as paper or wood too close to the fireplace.

Use a screen in front of the fireplace opening to protect children and to prevent embers from escaping and igniting car-pets, etc.

Never leave children alone near a fireplace.

Use dry, well-seasoned wood in small amounts.

Have chimneys

cleaned and serviced at regular intervals by a pro-fessional.

Never overload your fireplace.

Never use charcoal starter fluids, gasoline or any flammable substance to start fires.

When using artificial logs, burn only one at a time and follow instruc-tions on the wrapping.

Always place the ashes in a metal container and take them outside the house.

for prevention through yearly maintenance and inspection of heating systems and appliances.

Smoke inhalation from fires is the most common form of car-bon monoxide poison-ing. Cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust are the most common sources of regular carbon monoxide exposure.

There must be an adequate supply of air for complete burning or combustion, or an exces-sive amount of carbon monoxide will accu-mulate indoors. Ensure that your wood stove or fireplace is not compet-ing – for long periods of time – with your clothes dryer, kitchen, bathroom and attic vent fans, cen-tral vacuum cleaners

and kitchen barbecues, which exhaust air from the home and so starve the furnace or the fire-place of oxygen.

Proper venting of fuel-burning appliances to the outside is also essen-tial to prevent collection of carbon monoxide gas inside buildings.

Never insulate or try to seal up a drafty hood, wind cap or exhaust vent on any natural gas appliance (furnace, water heater, range, dryer, space heater or fireplace). Keep all fuel-burning equipment free of lint, dust and trash. Don’t store anything close to the equipment that could restrict air cir-culation.

Do a visual inspec-tion of the equipment to

look for signs of equip-

ment problems, such

as soot on a fireplace

face, water collecting

near a burner or rusted

venting. If even a small

doubt exists, have the

equipment inspected by

a qualified technician.

Periodically check

vent pipes between gas

appliances and the chim-

ney for corrosion or rust.

Equipment that uses

natural gas should show

a clear blue flame—a yel-

low or orange flame may

indicate a problem. If a

problem appears, call a

qualified technician.

Ensure a source of

fresh air is available,

for an example an open

window or flue, when

operating a wood-burn-

ing fireplace.

New Home Construction - RenovationsKitchen, Bathrooms, Garages, Decks & Fences

Windows, Doors, Farm Buildings and MoreFREE ESTIMATES

PH: (403) 443-5010

Construction

Frame Repairs Unibody & StandardWindshield Replacement & Repairs

Paintless Dent Removal

Ashley EllisOwner/Operator

Tel/Fax (403) 443-5423PO Box 725, 113-2 Ave. S.Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

Thank you Volunteer Firefi ghters!Three Hills Home Hardware Building Centre110-17th Ave NE

eclipsehair design

shestine Kerstin Maxwell417 Main Street (Box 1889)

Th ree Hills, AB T0M 2A0

403.443.2729 • 403.425.0051


QUICK STATS

» 28 Medical Assist

» 4 MVC

» 1 Electrical Hazard» 2 Structure Fire

» 2 Grass/Stubble Fire» 3 Other Fires

» 1 Investigation

Torrington Fire

Department had 40 calls

they were dispatched to

this past year, compared

to about 28 calls in 2011

and 60 calls in 2010.

along with 2 grass or

stubble fires, ‘other’ fire

calls, and 1 investigation

of smoke. They also had

1 electrical type of haz-

ardous material

Stan Martin - Captain,

Jeff Bauer - Lieutenant

/ PIO, Derek Benedict -

Lieutenant, Firefighters:

Tim Kohler, Brent

Leischner, Michael

The largest share of their

calls this year were for

medical assists, 28 in

fact. They attended 4

motor vehicle incidents

and 2 structure fires,

The Torrington Fire

Department roster

includes Mike Bauer -

Fire Chief, Jeff Miller

- Deputy Fire Chief,

Allan Weimer - Captain,

Leischner, Ron Shultz

Jr., Paul Devos, Merideth

Broughton, Doug Fitz,

Scott Bauer, Trevor

Bauer, Dan Martin, Kyle

Maier, Jason Michielsen.

Torrington Fire Department 2011/12 Review

Golden Acres HoneyThree Hills, AB

PH: (403) 443-7705


12101DA9

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCTOBER 7-13

HAVE 2WAYS OUT

What if your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames? Ensure you and your family have two ways out of every room. For more information on how to prevent, detect and escape from fires, visit www.3minutedrill.alberta.ca.

Sponsored by:

Take steps to prevent offi ce fi resAn office fire can be

devastating, resulting in the loss of life, business interruption or perma-nent closure, jobs, prop-erty and information. Offices are loaded with combustibles: carpeting, draperies, papers, books, wood and upholstered furniture, plastic lami-nate, vinyl-fabric-covered furniture, wood panelling, as well as electrically pow-ered toasters, microwave ovens, kettles, comput-ers and other appliances. Combine these with the human element and the stage is set for a poten-tially devastating fire.

- Keep the combustible load - carpeting, uphol-stered furniture - to a minimum.

- Keep exits clear of combustibles e.g. dis-carded paper and empty cartons.

- In designated areas where smoking is permit-ted, provide the proper disposal of smoking mate-rials, like an outdoor ciga-rette receptacle.

- Provide adequate clearance and circulation of air between combus-tible material and hot sur-faces or heat sources such as copy machines, word processors and computers.

- Unplug electrical appliances - coffee mak-ers, space heaters and hot plates - when not in use.

- Restrict and monitor the use of heaters and hot plates.

- To ensure they meet code requirements, all electrical distribution sys-tems should be checked by a professional/certified electrician.

- Perform regularly scheduled and recorded maintenance of electrical equipment.

- Prevent access to the office by unauthorized personnel.

- Keep flammables

properly stored/secured.- Provide adequate

security: exterior/interior lighting, intrusion alarms, guard service, well-secured access openings.

- Provide automatic sprinkler protection and/or heat, smoke and fire alarm systems. Adequate sprinkler coverage is the key to providing the most effective fire protection in

buildings.- Strategically locate the

portable fire extinguish-ers suitable for particular fire hazards, and train key employees on their proper operation.

- Establish an Emergency Team and train each member on how to respond to fire emergencies.

- Develop a fire emer-

gency evacuation plan and conduct at least two fire drills per year in order to familiarize office person-nel on how to respond to fire emergencies.

- Obtain assistance from your local fire department on fire pre-vention, use of fire extin-guishers, inspections and emergency response pro-cedures.

Winter safetyThe winter season

is the worst season for fires in Canada. That is why all Canadians must be mindful of the impor-tance of fire prevention and safety. During the winter, we must heat our homes, most of our meals are prepared and eaten indoors, our clothing is dried indoors and people who smoke tend to do so indoors.

Heating applianc-es such as space heaters should not have anything combustible closeby and need at least one metre (three feet) of space around them. Inspect the electrical cord attached. If it overheats, you have a fire hazard. Keep young children away from them.

Electrical and heat-ing systems can fail and become fire hazards. Ensure they are regularly checked by a professional, especially prior to the win-ter season when fireplaces, heaters, appliances and other electrical equipment are in maximum use.

Smoking while in bed, tired or under the influ-ence of alcohol or medica-tion is the most common cause of fires that kill.

Most chimney fires occur with wood-burning fireplaces. Ensure chim-neys are cleaned and professionally inspected regularly. Burn only small quantities of wood at a time.

Teach children that fire is not a toy; it is a tool we

use to cook food and heat our homes.

Educate your children about the dangers of fire and make sure they know that all fires, even small ones, can spread very quickly.

Never use a flamma-ble liquid near a flame or source of spark. Be aware of hidden sources like water heater pilot lights, electric motors or heaters. Never smoke while pour-ing or using flammable liquids.

If even a small doubt exists about any appli-ance/equipment that you use, do not hesitate to contact a qualified techni-cian. It may save your life, and the lives of your loved ones.

Emergency fundsThree Hills Fire and Rescue received a $3,000 donation from Feed-Rite, of Linden. The funds will go toward rescue equipment. Presenting Three Hills Fire Chief Art Creasser and Deputy Chief Don Richards, with the funds, is Amanda Richards of Feed-Rite accompanied by Plant Manager Rod Dyck and Plant Superintendent Daniel Leronowich.


PORTABLE & SHOP, B-PRESSURE, OILFIELD, PIPELINE WELDINGQUALITY CONTROL, SAFETY PROGRAM, 24-HOUR SERVICE

MERV’S WELDING & OILFIELD SERVICES

(DIV. OF GREE-MAR HOLDINGS LTD.)

Telephone 443-2427CellNumbers 443-0172, 443-0175Fax 443-7131

Box 1209Three Hills, AlbertaT0M 2A0 W. MERVYN GREENE

Jason EwertPhotography

Three Hills, AB(403) 443-2387

508 Main St., Three HillsPH: 443-5521

Let TD Canada Trust Help in Your Future Plans

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Explaining fi re safety to childrenTalking to children about

fire can seem daunting. On one hand, you don’t want to scare them, but on the other hand, you also want to communicate the serious nature of fires.

Trent West, Fire Commissioner with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, says parents should use clear language. “As parents, we want to talk honestly with our children so they understand fire risks. Research shows that it’s important to use positive language and examples. They are more likely to understand this than if we try to scare them.”

For instance, talk to your children about what to do if they find a lighter or package of matches. Let them know that if they find some, they should bring them directly to you because they are not toys. If your child ever does bring

them to you, make sure to praise them and make it clear how proud you are of them. Tell them that if they find any of their friends, or any other children, playing with matches or lighters, that they’re to come straight to you or the nearest adult and tell them. Stress that doing so doesn’t make them a tattletale, but a child who’s growing up and looking after others.

Explain that even though small flames like the ones on candles, lighters and matches don’t look very big, they can get very big very fast. Without scaring them, explain the dam-age fire can do, and that it can make their house and toys go away, and hurt them and their family. Then, give them posi-tive messages about what they can do:

- Only use electrical cords and outlets with an adult’s

supervision.- Use the stove and oven

with your parents or other adults.

- Keep things that burn,

like paper and clothing, away from hot things like heaters and lamps.

- Tell an adult immediately if they see a fire.

- Teach them how to stop, drop and roll if their clothes ever catch fire.

- Practice your family fire escape plan together. Remind

them that their only concern when the smoke alarm goes off or when you yell, “Fire!” is to leave the house calmly and quickly.

What todo in a fi re

What to do, because fire spreads fast - don’t delay!

- If your clothes catch fire, Stop, Drop & Roll on the floor to smother the flames.

- Cool minor burns with cold water. If your skin is blistered, charred or dead white, get emergency help immediately.

- When you see flames, smell smoke or hear the smoke alarm, get everybody out of the house.

- Feel the door first. If it isn’t hot, open it very slowly. If there is fire or smoke use another exit.

- Crawl low under smoke - the air near the floor is safer to breathe.

- If you cannot escape,

close the door and seal around it with cloth to pre-vent smoke from entering the room.

- Always use the stairs and never the elevators.

- Designate a meeting place a safe distance from the house and make sure everyone is there.

- Take the children to a neighbour.

- Phone the emergency number from the neigh-bour’s home.

- Give the complete address, describe the situa-tion and inform the opera-tor if anyone is still inside. Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up and do not go back to the house for any reason.


KIRK’S SHEETMETAL PRODUCTS

118 - 3RD Ave. NThree Hills, AB

PH: 443-5911

Thank You Firefighters!3Hills Auto Sport Ltd.510 Main Street, PO Box 155Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

Tel (403) 443-2400Fax (403) 443-7845

Three Hills & DistrictSeed Cleaning Plant Ltd.

Greg Andrews, Plant ManagerBus: 403-443-5464Fax: 403-443-5450Cell: 403-373-0742

email: [email protected]

Charles RishCharles (Charlie) Rish, spent 30 years on Prairie’s Fire

Department beginning in the early 1960’s. Several of the

volunteers took two weeks of fi re fi ghting courses at a training

institute in Vermillion, Alberta. Prairie dissolved their fi re

department in the early 1990s, so a number of the volunteers

joined the Three Hills Fire Department, and Charlie served

another 17 years with them. Charlie says that he always

appreciated the leadership of Keith Martin and Art Creasser

in their roles as Fire Chiefs. There are quick decisions that

need to be made at the scene of a fi re or vehicle accident

and these two men always gave intelligent directions to the

fi re crews as we arrived on scene. Charlie reminds everyone

to be thankful that 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there

are men and women on call for all of our safety. Charlie is

proud that his daughter Sharon, pictured above with

her dad, now serves proudly as a member of Three Hills

Fire and Rescue.

Maintain your smoke alarmsRead and follow the

manufacturer’s instruc-

tions carefully. For best

performance, an alarm

should be mounted on

the ceiling near the cen-

tre of the room, hall or

stairway, and at the head

of each stairway leading to an occupied area.

Optimum location for wall mounts is at least 15 cm (6 inches) from the ceiling but not more than 30 cm (19 inches) from it.

Avoid installing where the temperature is less than 5oC (41oF) or exceeds 48oC (119oF)

- Keep alarms away from doors and win-dows.

- Never locate an alarm in front of an air register, fans or vents.

- Keep alarms at least 60 cm (2 feet) from any corner.

- Don’t recess an alarm.

- Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than 30 cm (one foot) rise per 2.4 m (eight feet) hori-zontally should be locat-ed on the high side of the room.

- Avoid locating an alarm at the peak of an “A” frame type ceiling.

- Never paint a smoke alarm.

- Keep alarms 60 to 90 cm (two to three feet) away from light fixtures.

When having an alarm connected into the electrical wiring system of a house you should:

- Use a qualified elec-trical contractor.

- Never install the

alarm in the electrical circuit except at the main panel. Alarms must also never be installed in a circuit connected to an on/off switch.

- Check the alarm when installation is complete.

Mark your calendar: Testing & Cleaning

- Test your smoke alarm monthly and clean it every 6 months. Mark it on your cal-endar so that you don’t forget. Things to remember when testing your smoke alarm:

- Ensure that power is being transmitted to the

Poultry barn burns near LindenLinden Fire was dispatched to a structure fi re around 9:00 am. on Sunday, Dec 04. A poultry barn located two miles north and one mile west of Linden was showing visible fl ames. Mutual aid came from Three Hills, Acme, and Torrington Fire Departments. The barn was empty and in the process of being cleaned to make ready for the transfer of a fl ock of pullets from another facility on site. The pullets are nearing the laying stage of the poultry operation and must be moved to accommodate the different requirements, so a new barn will have to be located soon to accommodate them. Firemen were able to keep the damage limited to just the one structure.

alarm and that it will activate in the presence of smoke.

- Test your smoke alarm by pressing the test button.

- Even alarms with a pilot light that indicate power is being transmit-ted, should be tested regularly.

- Battery-operated smoke alarms will warn you when batteries need replacing. Despite this, make it a habit to change the batteries yearly.

- When you’ve been away from home for a few days, check your alarm on your return

to ensure it is working

properly.

- Remember, your

smoke alarm can’t pro-

tect you if the batteries

have been removed or

a plug has been discon-

nected.

- The lifespan of a

typical smoke alarm

is about 10 years, but

some models last as little

as 5 years.

- To clean the alarm,

open the cover and gen-

tly vacuum the inte-

rior of it. Frequently,

the alarm will sound

while the unit is being

cleaned.

Your Regional Community Newspaper

Published in Three Hills since 1916CAPITALT

HE

Ph.: 403.443.5133Fax: 403.443.7331

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://threehillscapital.com


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QUICK STATS

» 16 Fires


» 26 Fire Alarms

» 12 MVC

» 3 Other

by Art CreasserThree Hills FC

The Three Hills Fire Department was “toned out” a total of 72 times in 2011/12. These con-sisted of 15 medical

members, with training every second Monday throughout the year. Membership also contin-ued to complete cours-es through Lakeland College that are rec-

out of our Hall, and 126 man hours doing Fire Prevention and Public Relations in the Town of Three Hills.

Although in the last couple of years we have

assists, 16 fires, 12 Motor Vehicle Collisions, 26 Fire Alarms and 3 other type of calls.

The membership in the Department was kept at approximately 22

ognized by the Alberta Fire Commissioners Office. The members spent 503 man hours on “toned out” calls, 442 man hours practicing, 166 man hours training

seen a lower call volume trend emerging, we are seeing the severity and seriousness of the calls continue, making our training and prepared-ness payoff.

Three Hills Fire Department 2011/12 Review

LarRon’s Excavating Ltd.PO Box 747, Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

- 2 & 4 Wheel Drive Backhoes- Cat & Backhoe Service- Track Excavator with 24”, 36” & 60” Buckets- D6 & D7 Cats, Scraper

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- Basement Digging- P80 Directional Punch

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Over 25 Years Experience In All Types of ExcavatingOILFIELD - COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL - DEMOLITION

Office 443-7262Larry Gall - Cell: 443-0100

WE NOW HAVE A FULL HYDRO-VAC SERVICE!

TOWN OF THREE HILLSMAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF

wish to extend aHeartfelt Thank You to theMany Volunteer Firefi ghtersthat keep our residents Safe.

Thank you for your dedication!


THREE HILLSHOURS: Monday - Saturday

9 AM - 9 PMThank you Firefighters!

NORMAN L. TAINSH, Q.C.Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public

P.O. BOX 1234205 MAIN STREET, THREE HILLS, ALBERTA, T0M 2A0

Phone: (403) 443-2200 Fax: (403) 443-2025Toll Free: 1-888-939-2200

Email: [email protected]

Phone:Three Hills 403.443.7860Drumheller 403.823.5776

Toll Free: 877.443.7860

Fax: 403.443.7744

E-mail: [email protected]

ALL SITETRAVEL

513 Main St.Three Hills

PH: (403) 443-3620

Helping OutATCO Electric recently donated $1,000 to the Linden Fire Department to help purchase new breathing apparatus equipment for its volunteer fi refi ghters. “We’re extremely grateful to ATCO Electric for its generous support for the purchase of new breathing apparatus,” said Linden Fire Chief, Jeremy Regehr. “This improvement will go a long way to helping us provide the best possible emergency services to the community.” Breathing apparatus is used by every fi refi ghter who approaches a fi re emergency. New air packs will increase a fi refi ghter’s available air supply from 20 minutes up to 45 minutes in an emergency response situation. Pictured (l-r): John Dorn, ATCO Powerline Technician Team Lead (left) presents a cheque to Linden Fire Chief Jeremy Regehr.

Practice night time fi re drills

Beware candle fi res

Is someone in your family a heavy sleeper? Whether it’s a child or an adult, people who are heavy sleepers need extra help if there is a fire in your home. That’s because heavy sleepers may not wake up when a smoke alarm sounds. Or, their judgment may be impaired when they do wake up because they are groggy and confused.

Current research indi-cates that children may have different sleep pat-terns than adults, which

may prevent them from hearing and reacting appropriately to alarms. It appears that chil-dren, especially those under 15, have a deep-sleep phase in the first few hours after they fall asleep, which may pre-vent them from hearing and reacting appropri-ately to smoke alarms. This does not mean that smoke alarms are useless; it means that, in addi-tion to a having smoke alarms, fire escape plan-

ning is an even greater necessity.

Smoke alarms save lives by providing you with an early warning of smoke and fire danger. However, you won’t know how your children or household members will react to the sound of a smoke alarm until you’ve tested their response to it. When you have only moments to get out safe-ly, a fire is not the time to discover these obstacles. If your family practices a home fire drill at least

twice a year, including during the night, you can identify the issues and plan for them in your fire escape plan.

For children and other family members who sleep through alarms, appoint an adult or baby-sitter to be responsible for them in advance. Practice escape drills so your children know how the alarm sounds and what it means. By practicing

your escape plan, you can find out any problems with safe escape before-hand and take action before it is too late.

Children are not the only ones at risk of sleep-ing through an alarm. The elderly, sleep-deprived students, shift workers, teenagers, the hearing impaired and anyone taking sedating medica-tion or alcohol or drugs may be affected. Routine

home fire drills will help you detect unanticipated special needs when the smoke alarm sounds.

It is a frightening thought to realize that your child or house-hold member may sleep through the piercing sound of a smoke alarm. However, by planning and practicing a fire escape plan at night you can identify potential problems and solve them.

Candles provide warmth and ambiance to any home. It’s easy to forget that such a calm-ing artifact is an open flame that can reach 1,400 degrees C. Candles are one of the major causes of home fires, especially during the winter and Christmas holidays. Most candle fires begin in the bedroom with a mattress or bedding cited as the first item to ignite except during the holidays, when more people use candles precariously too close to decorations. Furniture and plastics are also cited as the first items in the home to catch fire from a lit candle.

Statistics reveal that the most common causes of fire are: leaving candles unattended, falling asleep while a candle is lit, using candles for light, can-dles located too close to burnable objects, candles knocked over by children,

pets or sudden drafts.Safety Tips:

- Extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep, keep lit candles away from items that can catch fire such as toys, clothing, books, cur-tains, Christmas trees and paper decorations.

- Place candles in stur-dy, burn-resistant contain-ers that won t tip over and are big enough to col-lect dripping wax.

- Don’t place lit can-dles near windows, where blinds or curtains may close or blow over them.

- Don’t use candles in high traffic areas where children or pets could knock them over.

- Never let candles burn out completely. Extinguish them when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material.

- Never leave children or pets alone in a room with lit candles.

- Do not allow older children to light candles in their bedrooms. A forgot-ten candle or an accident is all it takes to start a fire.

- During power outag-es, exercise caution when using candles as a light source. Many destructive fires start when potential fire hazards go unnoticed in the dark.

- Never use a candle for light when fuelling equip-ment such as a camp fuel heater or lantern.

- Keep candle wicks short at all times. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch.

- Be wary of buying novelty candles. Avoid candles surrounded by flammable paint, paper, dried flowers, or breakable or meltable containers.

- Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they burn to within two inches of the holder, and contain-er candles before the last half-inch of wax begins to melt.


418 Main St., Monday - Friday, 10 am - 5 pm Phone: (403) 443-5396 • Everyone Welcome

TRADERSFINE FURNITURE

APPLIANCES - ELECTRONICSUNIQUE GIFTWARE & ACCENTS

CUSTOM ORDERS120-3rd Ave. S., PO Box 69Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0

Tel (403) 443-5090Fax (403) 443-5959

Serving You As a Family Company Since 1939

Jose DuqueWendy Duque

www.tradersfinefurnitureandappliances.ca

Linden hosts fundraising breakfastLinden Fire Department fed about 450 residents for Saturday morning breakfast, July 21, as part of their annual fundraiser. They had a few silent auction items and also ran a zip line across the coulee, which raised $900 on its own. Altogether, the funds raised $11,000 toward future capital projects. “Everything went without a hitch and it was a record success,” stated the Chief.

Important safetytips for babysitters

As the babysitter, you are responsible for the children in your care. Here are some important points you need to know if there’s a fire emer-gency in the home where you babysitBefore the parents leave

- Write down the complete address and phone number of the place where you are baby-sitting and phone numbers for Fire, Police, Ambulance & Emergency Services - often one number - 911.

- Where the parents can be reached.

- Neighbour(s).- Keep this information in

your pocket so that it’s with you at all times and handy in case of an emergency.Plan Your Escape

If there is a fire while you are in charge, you must know what to do:

- Is there a fire escape plan? If not, develop one.

- Identify all escape routes.- Find at least two ways

out of each room.- Plan how you and the

children will escape safely.- Decide on an outside

meeting place.- Ask for a demonstration

of the smoke alarm.Guide to Fire Safety

The best way to keep fire safe is to be watchful of the children in your charge:

- Never leave children unsupervised.

- Check on sleeping chil-dren regularly.

- Keep matches and light-

ers out of their reach.- Do not light candles

while babysitting.- Don’t smoke on the job.- Keep children away from

the stove, hot liquids, electric lamps and space heaters.

- Keep space heaters at least 1 metre (40 inches) from drapes, furniture and bedding.

- Cook safely and only if you have permission.

- Turn pot handles in to avoid children knocking them over or pulling them down.

- Smother a pan fire with a lid. Never use water.

- Make sure you know what cooking materials can be used for the microwave.

New positionsOn February 1, 2012, Alan Adam (left) accepted the second Deputy Chief position and Chris Armstrong accepted a Captain position on the Trochu Fire Department. Pictured in the middle is Trochu Fire Chief Lawrence Hogg.

Facts you should know to prevent explosion and fi re from gasoline vapours.

Gasoline can be more dan-gerous than dynamite because it emits invisible, explosive vapours that ignite easily, even at low temperatures. Vapour from gasoline is also heavier than air and so travels close to the fl oor where it can eas-ily come into contact with sparks from electric motors, water heaters, furnace motors and switches. Sparks or open fl ames can ignite vapours a great distance from their source.

By law, gasoline must be stored in safety containers which have been approved by a nationally recognized and certifi ed agency. Approved containers display these labels prominently. However, care must be taken even though

Danger! Gasolinethese containers are designed to prevent spillage. Minor gasoline spills should be cleaned up immediately.

Anyone using or storing gasoline should keep an ap-propriate Class B fi re extin-guisher nearby since it is de-signed to extinguish gasoline or other fl ammable liquid fi res.

• NEVER store gasoline in basements, pits or other con-fi ned areas. Gasoline must be stored in areas that are well-ventilated, free from ignition sources and in areas permitted by the National Fire Code of Canada.

• NEVER store or trans-port gasoline in glass, in metal cans with plastic parts or in plastic containers which have not been approved for these uses.

• NEVER smoke while you

are handling gasoline or other fl ammable liquids.

• NEVER use gasoline to start your barbecue or as a cleaner or solvent.

In case of major spills - Get out and stay out!

- Clear people from the area immediately.

- Open exterior doors and windows to ventilate the area.

- Call the fi re department from a neighbour’s phone.

- Do not operate light switches, electrical appliances or any other source of sparks.

- Don’t light matches or lighters, and extinguish ciga-rettes immediately.

- Do not re-enter the area until the hazard has been eliminated.

Call your local fi re depart-ment if you have questions concerning the safe storage and use of gasoline.


(Reproduced with permission from the Alberta Fire Commissioner’s Offi ce)

Fire Prevention CanadaWorking with the private and public sectors to achieve fi re safety through education.

Fire Escape PracticeOutdoor Safety

Hot ThingsCan Burn

Safety Ideas forSpecial Occasions

Practice your fi re escape plan with your family. Memorize the emergency number in your area. Practice responding calmly and correctly.

Outdoor fi re safety rules are habits that should be established with children early so they can use them throughout the years to come.

Children are often not aware that many household items can cause burns or start fi res.

Th ere are additional fi re risks with Christmas trees, pumpkin candles and birthday cakes throughout the year. Keep these occasions safe and fun for everyone.

Documents

Fire Prevention 2012