Cypress County is on standby to send a fire fighting crew to Jasper, Alta. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

Cypress County on standby to help with Jasper wildfire

Jul 26, 2024 | 12:51 PM

Cypress County is on standby Friday to send back up to help fight a wildfire that has damaged parts of Jasper and the park surrounding it.

READ: Danielle Smith to tour Jasper townsite following wildfire devastation

The county prepared a small response team after the Alberta Emergency Management Agency requested aid Wednesday evening, municipal services director Joe Cartwright told CHAT News.

“We prepared to send one engine unit with four fire fighters, one from each of our major stations, so Elkwater Irvin, Dunmore and Buck Springs, with the engine coming out of Suffield,” Cartwright said.

“We are on standby, so we’re just waiting for the call from AEMA,” he added.

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The City of Medicine Hat’s fire services has not received a request for help from the province, a spokesperson confirmed to CHAT News.

Should the county’s delegation go to assist in Jasper, the crew would be charged with keeping buildings safe within the townsite.

“We would be structural protection, so not going into the wildland for fire fighting,” Cartwright explained.

That’s not for a lack of preparation, however, as these Cypress fire fighters are trained to national fire protection standards and have experience fighting on the front lines.

With Cypress fire services made up of volunteers, Cartwright said the county’s fire fighters are very committed.

“We’re good citizens, so we want to make sure that we’re helping out our neighbours as much as we can.”