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VO L U M E 9, N U M B E R 2 0
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Good growing and harvest season add to wildfire risk PLENTY OF FUEL Cured grasses and fields of stubble make perfect wildfire tinder BY SHERI MONK
AF STAFF / PINCHER CREEK
A
good growing season and a rain-free harvest are an ideal combination for farmers, but they were also ideal for creating plenty of easy-to-ignite material for the wildfires in southern Alberta this fall. On Sept. 10, the city of Lethbridge and town of Coalhurst were facing imminent danger from another out-of-control wildfire similar to one in the same areas Jan. 4, which destroyed two houses near Nanton. On Sept. 4, there were four wildfires in southern Alberta, the first of which started somewhere on the Blood Reserve (Kainai First Nation), spreading northeast toward Coalhurst and Lethbridge. The wildfire jumped the river, and several outlying suburbs of Lethbridge and the town of Coalhurst were ordered to be evacuated. Air tankers were called in from Pincher Creek, and hundreds of firefighters from neighbouring communities were called in to help battle the blaze. Firefighters made their stand at Highway No. 3, hoping to cut the fire off before it could get to more populated areas. “It did get across Highway
Massive smoke rises from the wildfire as it moves towards Lethbridge on September 10.
STUCK:
SEE WILDFIRE page 6
PHOTO: JON GROVES PHOTOGRAPHY
BEEF INDUSTRY IN A RUT, SAYS MAJOR REPORT PAGE 3
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12-08-24 3:37 PM