Motorists can expect congestion and delays about 10 kilometres east of Canmore after a small forest fire ignited south of the Trans-Canada Highway, Wednesday (June 28) afternoon. As of about 1 p.m.
Motorists can expect congestion and delays about 10 kilometres east of Canmore after a small forest fire ignited south of the Trans-Canada Highway, Wednesday (June 28) afternoon.
As of about 1 p.m., east and westbound traffic on the TCH in between Dead Man’s Flats and Lac Des Arcs was moving in a single lane until further notice, said a Canmore RCMP member.
“There was a fire burning inside the power pole, which spread to the forest itself,” said Canmore RCMP Cst. Jeff Jantz. “First on scene was Exshaw Fire-Rescue, then it was taken over by Alberta Forestry, who came in with two helicopters and approximately 20 men and knocked the fire down.”
A crew hiked to the smoking power pole, which is on the edge of the cliff overlooking McGillivray Pond, to extinguish any remaining flames.
“The powerline itself is not structurally sound as the power pole eventually did break from the fire. (AltaLink) are about to re-stablize it,” said Jantz.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The Outlook will update when more information becomes available.
