Large Scale Water Supply Operations - High Level, Alberta - May 2016
 
By President Mark Davis
January 26, 2017
 

For those of you who have attended our Rural Water Supply Operations Seminars, you know that we speak about "big fires in small towns" and the challenges that they present to firefighters and the community. On May 4, 2016 Chief Rodney Schmidt and the folks from the High Level Fire Department in northern Alberta experienced quite a "big" fire at a local wood processing facility. The oriented strand board facility - owned and operated by Norbord, Inc - is one of the largest facilities in all of North America and on May 4th - their log yard caught on fire. Now, the log yard was not your ordinary pile of logs at the local sawmill, it was a 1/2-mile wide and a 1-mile long. The mill itself was 16 acres under one roof! And...the nearest mutual aid FD was about 50 miles away!

That being said, the five-day fire event was quite a feat of organization, regional folks working together, and good old FD persistence in battle. A complete "write-up" of the fire can be found at http://www.firefightingincanada.com/incident-reports/regional-response-23556

Many thanks to Chief Schmidt for sharing some of his photos and allowing us to then share them with you. Big fires in small towns do happen - you will need a big water operation - be ready!

Also...we are pleased to announce that we will be presenting at this year's Northern HEAT Conference in Peace River.
 
A Grande Prairie County engine is being fed by a Grand Prairie City FD tender. These rigs had a mutual aid run of more than 150 miles.
A Grande Prairie County engine is being fed by a Grand Prairie City FD tender. These rigs had a mutual aid run of more than 150 miles.
Three portable pumps (two supplying 4-inch LDH) supplied water to a La Crete engine company 80 feet away at a rate higher than what that pumper could have drafted.
Three portable pumps (two supplying 4-inch LDH) supplied water to a La Crete engine company 80 feet away at a rate higher than what that pumper could have drafted.
 
High Level Aerial 1 flowing onto the log pile. The rig operated for 4-1/2 days without a break and was supplied by a 2100 gpm yard hydrant at 125 psi.
High Level Aerial 1 flowing onto the log pile. The rig operated for 4-1/2 days without a break and was supplied by a 2100 gpm yard hydrant at 125 psi.
An overhead view of the mill and fire taken during an aerial "size-up" flight on Day #1.
An overhead view of the mill and fire taken during an aerial "size-up" flight on Day #1.
 
County Northern Lights (Dixonville) vacuum tender off-loading water at the Log Yard Northeast Division dump site. La Crete's pumper operated the dump site.
County Northern Lights (Dixonville) vacuum tender off-loading water at the Log Yard Northeast Division dump site. La Crete's pumper operated the dump site.
Nighttime view of the fire. Each one of the "sticks" shown is a 16-ft log!
Nighttime view of the fire. Each one of the "sticks" shown is a 16-ft log!
 
Looking south from the gantry crane on Day #4. This is what was left of the log pile.
Looking south from the gantry crane on Day #4. This is what was left of the log pile.
Looking north from the crane on Day #4 - these are the logs that were saved!
Looking north from the crane on Day #4 - these are the logs that were saved!
 
Thursday afternoon - flowing water onto the log pile from five different pumpers. The 9000 gpm was supplied using three pressurized hydrants, a tender shuttle, and a portable pump operation.
Thursday afternoon - flowing water onto the log pile from five different pumpers. The 9000 gpm was supplied using three pressurized hydrants, a tender shuttle, and a portable pump operation.
in addition to Aerial 1's stream, multiple 2-1/2-inch attack lines, ground monitors, and Blitzfires were used during fire attack operations. The log pile averaged 65 feet in height.
in addition to Aerial 1's stream, multiple 2-1/2-inch attack lines, ground monitors, and Blitzfires were used during fire attack operations. The log pile averaged 65 feet in height.
 
The rail for the gantry crane that feed the log into the mill distorted from the fire's radiant heat. The ash pile to right was once a 65-feet tall log pile.
The rail for the gantry crane that feed the log into the mill distorted from the fire's radiant heat. The ash pile to right was once a 65-feet tall log pile.
Another aerial shot from Day #1.
Another aerial shot from Day #1.