Red Deer Public Works employees take down small residential deck fire while on shift

And it just so happened that they were in a water truck used to mitigate dust during street cleaning.

“They used a hose off that water truck to knock that fire down and they prevented it from becoming much worse than it could’ve been,” said White, adding that these types of fires typically burn the sides of the house and reach the roof, causing the loss of the entire structure of the home.

“Our partners in Public Works were in the right place at the right time and were able to make a difference there.”

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, White said the department has seen quite a number of deck fires in the city this summer.

He says that dry weather conditions play a factor, but many deck fires are caused by the disposal of smoking materials in flower pots or planters which contain peat moss. As a result, the fire can smolder and burn in the dirt, and with a just gust of wind and some afternoon heat, a fire can grow quickly, he explained.

He advised the public to put their cigarette butts in ash trays to dispose of their smoking materials properly.

Greg Sikora, Parks and Public Works Manager for the City, said in any similar occasion, and especially during the current situation of provincial wildfires, dry weather conditions, and fire bans, he stressed that the public must always contact the fire department, even if they believe a fire is out.

“We’re really glad we were there to provide assistance and act very quickly and nimbly to address the structure fire and we’re proud of our employees for taking that leadership role to assist so that there wasn’t any further loss,” he said.

“The fact that we we’re there was exceptional, it was great for us to be there, but the important thing is to call 9-1-1 if they see something of that nature because they are the skilled and specialized resources that are needed to come out to ensure that the fire is actually fully out and to ensure that the community is safe and sound.”

He added that safety of the public and the employees is the City’s number one priority.

by Alessia Proietti

Red Deer Public Works employees take down small residential deck fire while on shift

What's Trending