More than 60 firefighters respond to large bale fire

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Firefighters from 13 different fire departments in Southeast Alberta were needed to help put out a huge bale fire near Medicine Hat on March 11.

Cypress County emergency officials said 65 firefighters were on the scene from about noon until 10 p.m. bringing the fire under control by 5 p.m. and then dousing hotspots with the aid of an excavator.

Officials said March 12 they believe that a build-up of heat from fermentation in a silage pit cause the ignition.

Fire stations from Cypress County, Medicine Hat and Brooks provided resources to fight the fire along side volunteer departments in Box Springs, Seven Persons, Irvine, Walsh, Hilda, Schuler, and Suffield. The Murray Lake Hutterite Colony and the industrial firefighting team from the Methanex plant were also involved, as was Alberta Health Services with a mobile unit.

Damage extended to several grain bins at the property located near Range Road 65 and Highway No. 3, about eight kilometres southwest of Medicine Hat.