CFB Suffield to implement changes after fire that destroyed crops, livestock
The Canadian military still hasn't set a firm timeline on when landowners will be compensated after crops and livestock were lost to a massive fire that started on a southern Alberta base in September.
"Nobody is happy. We're not happy, the affected landowners aren't happy," said CFB Suffield Lt.-Co. Mike Onieu at a press briefing on Thursday.
But, Onieu said it's his number one priority to ensure that landowners not only receive timely compensation — payments will start right away, the process and wait period will be different for each person — but that locals don't live in fear of it happening again.
CFB Suffield conducted an internal investigation after the blaze, which swept through an estimated 36,500 hectares — nearly half the size of Calgary — on Sept. 11, 2017.
The investigation found the fire started after soldiers blew up an unexploded piece of ordinance.
"Fire mitigation measures were present and the fire was immediately and continuously fought, and it did get out of control ... that same fire resulted in quite extensive damages to the community," Onieu said.
Ivan Schalht, who lost 98 cattle in the fire, said he was glad the base has been communicating with locals.
CFB Suffield held a town hall for impacted residents on Wednesday.
"I have to take my hat off to them for arranging this meeting because they're trying to be good neighbours now and it shows that they're doing an effort on their part at least," said Schalht.
The base will be implementing 17 recommendations listed in the report, which is not being made available to the public.
"We've treated the incident with the utmost confidence, not just here at CFB Suffield but up the chain of command," Onieu said.
The recommendations include a review of how unexploded ordinance is disposed of, the implementation of a fire mitigation plan, development of fire guards around the property and improvements to the communications plan.
Fire guards will likely take years to implement, Onieu said, due to the danger of possible unexploded ammunition.
A concern some landowners had, was the fact that local fire departments were not allowed on the base to fight the fire.
Onieu said that while the base is reluctant to have civilians on site due to safety concerns of it being a live-fire area, they'll look at ways to open up communications and develop better relations with the community.
"As a personal goal, myself and the base major sergeant, as a personal goal for us we will ensure that the community surrounding Suffield is able to live without the constant fear that fires on the base will escape and damage their property," he said.
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