By CHAT News Today

Office of Fire Commissioner releases cause of Hilda grass fire

Nov 30, 2017 | 2:53 PM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB — The Provincial Fire Commissioner has revealed the cause of the grass fire that burned through the Hilda and Schuler area six weeks ago.

The fire, which ignited in the afternoon of October 17, forced residents of both communities to evacuate, resulted in the loss of homes and livestock, and even jumped the border into Saskatchewan, threatening towns in that province.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner has been investigating the fire since it was extinguished, looking to determine its origin point and cause

CHAT News Today was hoping to speak with the office over the phone on Thursday, but an interview was declined. A statement was provided to us from the Office of the Fire Commissioner Thursday afternoon.

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“The Office of the Fire Commissioner has determined that the fire’s point of origin was a burning pit, which had been used under a fire permit from Cypress County on October 13,” reads the statement from Kevan Jess, Provincial Fire Commissioner. “That fire had been thought by the permit holder to have been out at the end of that day. It has been determined that it is most likely the elevated wind speeds on October 17 that provided additional oxygen to a remaining ember or embers from the previous fire. The ember or embers were spread into the surrounding vegetation.”

The release does not specify where the burning pit was set up and who was holding the permit at the time of the fire.

Officials from Cypress County, including Reeve Richard Oster, told CHAT News Today they have not yet seen a report from the Fire Commissioner.

To date, there has been no announcement from the province regarding any compensation from the fires.