By Sheldon Spackman

No injuries

Barn destroyed in fire near Pine Lake

May 28, 2020 | 5:18 PM

A barn has been destroyed but thankfully no injuries following a farm fire in the Pine Lake area on Thursday.

Red Deer County Fire Inspector Scott Tuton says crews were called out to the structure fire on Township Road 374 shortly before 10:00 a.m., where they were later joined by firefighters from Delburne.

“When we got on scene it was a fully involved barn fire with a propane tank being threatened,” says Tuton. “The propane tank was surrounded by fire, so our first priority was to get that cooled-off so we didn’t have an explosion. Once the other crews got there, we started doing the rest of the attack on the exterior of the building.”

Tuton notes it took 16 firefighters with five trucks a couple of hours to put the blaze out.

“It was another unique challenge in that the building was entirely filled with coal,” he points out. “But all occupants were accounted for and there was nobody inside. All the animals were outside too as well.”

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Tuton says spontaneous combustion of the coal has been identified as the cause of the fire.

“They used it for heating,” he explains. “They knew there was a chance of it, and they had been monitoring it, so it is what it is with coal, it’s just the nature of it.”

Tuton says there are three residences on the property, with only a small amount of siding melted on one of the mobile homes nearby, but no damage estimate yet.

“The residents did exactly what they were supposed to do, they called 911 right away,” he exclaims. “We got crews out and they stood back until we got it under control. Nobody got hurt and everyone came home safe.”

Meanwhile, firefighters from the City of Red Deer were also called out Thursday morning to combat a generator shed fire behind the Red Deer County office on Range Road 275.

Officials say County Fire Services had already been called out to the barn fire near Pine Lake when the fire began.

City of Red Deer Fire Services responded with two Engines and a Tender Truck.

Upon arrival, the fire was quickly extinguished with only minor damage to the generator shed, and no damage to the County Centre.

Fire Services would like to thank all of their partners in mutual aid, and reminds residents to be aware of all fires on their property.