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Cypress County responds to statement from Fire Commissioner

Dec 1, 2017 | 3:54 PM

 

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB — Cypress County is responding to a statement from the province about the cause of the Hilda grass fire six weeks ago.

Thursday afternoon, the Office of the Fire Commissioner in Alberta released a statement about the grass fire on October 17, 2017. The office has determined the point of origin of the fire was in a burning put, which had been used under a fire permit from Cypress County on October 13th. The statement does not release where in the county the pit was located, but says the permit holder thought they had put the fire out at the end of the day.

The commissioner’s statement says it’s most likely the elevated wind speeds on October 17 provided additional oxygen to a remaining ember or embers from the previous fire, causing it to spread.

Cypress County has been in contact with with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, which covers the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Councillor Robin Kurpjuweit provided the following statement to CHAT News Today about the latest news regarding the fire”

“On Thursday, November 30, Cypress County received word that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs had released a statement that had been previously submitted by the Office of the Fire Commissioner with regards to the fire in Hilda.

“While we are pleased at the appearance of progress, we are still disappointed that we are continuing to wait for the official report that we were hoping would be accompanying that statement.

“We have received confirmation from the Fire Commissioner’s Office that the report is still in their office, in the final stages. They’re waiting for a few more details to be submitted before the final report will be re-issued to Municipal Affairs and then sent on to our office in the county.”

Kurpjuweit said Cypress County is optimistic the report will be in their hands sooner rather than later, and adds the conversations with both Municipal Affairs and the Office of the Fire Commissioner have both been positive.

“We recognize that our residents would like to move forward with their lives, and this is a big first step in allowing that to happen,” he said.

Kurpjuweit says once the report is in the county’s hands, they will examine it and discuss the possibility of releasing the report of parts of it.