Cypress County Emergency Services has completed a hazard, risk and vulnerability assessment for railway ties located in near Dunmore and Irvine. File Photo CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

Hazard, risk and vulnerability assessment completed for railway ties in Cypress County near hamlets

Aug 23, 2024 | 11:14 AM

Cypress County Emergency Services has completed a hazard, risk and vulnerability assessment for railway ties located in the county.

The two locations of concern are on CPKC land near the hamlets of Dunmore and Irvine.

With creosote on the railway ties they are more flammable and can release toxic chemicals into the air if they catch on fire.

Jason Linton, emergency services coordinator and fire chief for Cypress County, said a lot of the fires they see are wildland fires, and it’s important to have a plan in place if a fire is to approach these railways ties.

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“Our duty officers will have all have these pre-plans on our tablets,” Linton said.

“Looking at the wind conditions, they can make good, educated decisions on if we need to evacuate portions of the hamlet or even in this case into Ross Glen. We’ve shared these pre-plans with the City of Medicine Hat Emergency Management Agency as well.”

Linton said they have also shared the information with CPKC, and if a fire was to start at these sites, they would assist until CPKC is able to send their own fire response to take over.