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Grass fire prompts local state of emergency
Blackie, Alta. - Emergency crews had a battle on their hands when a grassfire swept through the Municipal District of Foothills, prompting a local state of emergency.
April 1, 2015
By The Canadian Press
By Tuesday evening, the fire had been brought under control but high winds that were shifting directions meant residents of the hamlet of Blackie, southeast of Calgary, were being cautioned to prepare for the possibility of evacuation.
One firefighter sustained minor smoke inhalation and was transported to High River Hospital, but was later released.
Officials were warning that smoke might severely reduce visibility and create hazardous road conditions in the area.
Foothills Fire Department stations including Blackie, Cayley, Heritage Pointe, Cayley, and Longview were assisted in fighting the blaze by fire departments in Okotoks, High River, Vulcan County and Claresholm.
Glenn Logan, who was on his way home to Lomond from Calgary, drove by the blaze earlier in the day and said it did not look good.
“When I turned east at High River, you could see this huge smoke on the horizon as I got closer to Blackie,” he said. “It was about five miles northeast of Blackie, you could see it quite easily from the highway.”
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