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NEWS RELEASE: MAY 17, 2012
THE RM OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE NO. 501
COUNCIL
HAS DECLARED A
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
IN REFERENCE TO THE FIRES IN THE MUNICIPALITY THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 EVACUATION HAS BEEN LIFTED AS OF NOON THURSDAY, MAY 17th; HOWEVER, RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE STILL ON ALERT DUE TO THE HOT SPOTS AND THE WIND CONDITIONS. TRAINED CREWS REMAIN WORKING ON THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER IS STILL ON SITE. THE GROUP MET THIS MORNING AT 10:00 AM, AND WITH THE ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN THAT FELL OVERNIGHT, THE SENSE OF EMERGENCY WAS SOMEWHAT LESS INTENSE. REPORTS WERE GIVEN BY:
PARADISE HILL FIRE DEPT.
ONION LAKE FIRE DEPT.
FORT PITT FARMS
DUANE HIEBERT, EMFS
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FIRE MANAGEMENT & FOREST PROTECTION
R.M. OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE
STAKEHOLDERS THE HOT SPOTS, WIND, AND SMOLDERING BRUSH PILES REMAIN A CONCERN. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT 1605 HECTARES IS THE AREA INVOLVED IN THE FIRE. THERE WILL BE FURTHER MEETINGS ON FRIDAY, MAY 18th. THE STATE OF EMERGENCY REMAINS IN EFFECT WITHIN THE R.M. OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE.
UPDATES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS MORE INFORMATION IS KNOWN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR CONCERNS,
PLEASE CALL THE RM OFFICE AT 306-344-2034 WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012 AS OF 2100 HOURS (MAY 16th), THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE CONTAINED. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON HOT SPOTS AND HAVE THREE TRAINED GROUND CREWS ON SITE THAT WILL WORK ON THE HOT SPOTS AS REQUIRED. WE HAVE A HELICOPTER ON SITE THAT IS DROPPING WATER, AS REQUIRED, TO KEEP THE HOT SPOTS CONTAINED. AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE FELT SECURE ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE A NUMBER OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT CONTRACTORS. WE HAVE SERM EXPERTISE ON GROUND TO HELP WITH THE MONITORING OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT. ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE SENDING OUT A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED IN THIS EMERGENCY! ________________________________________ EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE R.M. OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE NO. 501 HAS ISSUED A COMPLETE FIRE BAN IN ALL AREAS OF THE MUNICIPALITY. THIS FIRE BAN INCLUDES ALL ASPECTS OF BURNING: NO CAMPFIRES, GARBAGE BURNING BARRELS, WOOD PILES, ETC. THE FIRE BAN IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
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