(Contributed by Micheal Louis)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

the centrepiece of a community

Fire destroys Bentley grain elevator

Dec 23, 2022 | 1:02 PM

A several decades-old grain elevator in Bentley, northwest of Red Deer, is totally destroyed after fire ripped through it in the early morning hours of Dec. 23.

Located at 4701 51 Street in the small town of 1,042, calls about the elevator being on fire came in just after 1 a.m., says Bentley Fire Chief Ian McLaren.

McLaren says it’s too early to speak to the cause, nor is there any determination about whether it’s suspicious or not.

(Google Maps)

“We’re not sure exactly when it started, but when we arrived on scene, it was well-involved on the top part and inside,” says McLaren. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot we could do besides protect from exposure and make sure nothing else burned down.”

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There were no injuries save from some potential frostbite, he says, as crews worked in the depth of a near -50 wind chill.

The cold, he notes, is not helpful, as breaks are necessary in short increments and it’s hard to get the water to go as far as usual.

A nearby shed, as well as as some electrical poles and lines sustained minor damage.

“This elevator was in a field mostly by itself,” he adds. “Our biggest concern was embers coming off it, but we got lucky with the wind direction which was blowing the embers into an unoccupied campground.”

McLaren says the structure, or what’s left of it, remains on fire and crews remain on scene attempting to extinguish it completely.

“We are asking community members to please conserve water usage as much as possible to support containment efforts,” says a statement from Bentley CAO Marc Fortais, who also calls the grain elevator ‘iconic.’

“The large fire has continued to utilize significant water volumes and we need your support to ensure that the Fire Department can continue its efforts without interruption. It is anticipated the fire will continue to burn for some time.”

McLaren did clarify that the fire is contained and there is minimal risk to the public.

Lacombe Fire Department was providing mutual aid.

Meantime, Bentley Mayor Greg Rathjen calls the loss a big one for the community.

“It was the centrepiece of Bentley. We have a car show there, a drive-in movie theatre where we play the movie off the wall; it’s irreplaceable,” he says.

“One of the things we did recently with the new traffic circle at Highways 12 and 20 was put up ‘Welcome’ and ‘Thanks for coming’ signs, and they all feature that grain elevator.”

(Contributed by Mayor Greg Rathjen)

Rathjen, the longtime minister at the church across the street from the grain elevator, was up all night and had coffee going for the shivering firefighters.

He says the grain elevator was one of few remaining across Canada, and was still functioning. Most recently, it was being used by Healthy Herds for seed cleaning.

(Contributed by Mayor Greg Rathjen)