By James Wood

Over 40 evacuated due to out of control grass fire near Bindloss

Sep 12, 2017 | 6:37 AM

BINDLOSS, ALTA- A massive grass fire in southeastern Alberta has sent at least 40 people out of their homes.

The blaze resulted in a state of emergency and mandatory evacuation order being issued in the Special Areas Board, a rural municipality located north of Medicine Hat along the South Saskatchewan River. The order was focused on people living east of Range Road 23, and south of Highway 555, extending to Highway 41.

At the time of the order being issued, residents were told to head to the Bindloss School in Bindloss, Alberta. Around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the mandatory evacuation was completed, with over 40 people registering at the emergency reception centre set up at the school building.

“EMS is available if anyone requires medical assistance,” read a statement posted to the Special Area Board’s Facebook page.

“Power has been restored to the emergency reception center, and ATCO continues to work on restoring power throughout the area.”

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Previous updates by the board indicate a total of seven graders, ten water trucks, 20 fire engines, and three fuel trucks are on scene responding to the fire, with 14 fire services from Alberta and Saskatchewan called in.

The RCMP detachment in Oyen, Alberta, also issued a statement, indicating they were assisting firefighters along the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River to evacuate rural residences in that area due to the fire.

“The fire is along the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River approximately 120 kilometres south of Oyen, Alberta and at present is threatening approximately 15 homes,” read the statement, issued at 1:43 a.m.

“Evacuations are taking place and the fire is not threatening any densely populated areas. No injuries have been reported.”