Fire Engulfs Back Hall of Redwood Meadows Fire Station

A significant fire broke out at the back hall of the Redwood Meadows Emergency Services fire station on December 6, 2023. Firefighters responded swiftly to the incident, urging residents to stay home due to severe weather conditions affecting southern Alberta.

As the situation unfolded, Redwood Meadows Emergency Services provided real-time updates on social media. Shortly after 17:00, they reported that crews were responding to a fire at “120 station.” By 17:35, they confirmed that the back hall was “fully involved with fire.” Teams from both Redwood Meadows and Rocky View County Fire Services were engaged in efforts to control the blaze, assuring that the front hall remained safe.

By 18:00, firefighters announced that they had brought the situation under control, although they continued to work diligently to extinguish the flames. After a series of updates, it was confirmed around 19:00 that the fire had been extinguished, and crews began assessing the damage.

The aftermath revealed extensive losses. Firefighters reported that significant equipment, including the 120 Engine, 120 Tender, a bush buggy, and a 120 UTV, was destroyed. Additionally, the self-contained breathing apparatus refill station was lost. Fortunately, the front hall, housing the 220 Engine, 120 Rescue, and 120 Rapid Response units, was not affected by the fire.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway, with the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service collaborating with fire experts. The police stated that they do not believe the fire was suspicious. It was first noticed by an individual attending a Christmas party at the adjacent town office.

Rob Evans, fire chief of Redwood Meadows Emergency Services, was among the first responders on the scene. He noted the emotional toll of the incident, reflecting on the community’s connection to the lost items. “There’s a lot of emotion,” Evans said. “As people start thinking about different things that were in the fire hall… someone that lost their home would have some personal effects in there. All of this is personal for us.”

The community rallied around the firefighters in the wake of the incident. Redwood Meadows Emergency Services expressed gratitude for the kindness and generosity shown by local residents. One Facebook post highlighted the support received after battling the fire, stating, “We came in from fighting the back hall fire cold, wet, and exhausted to a knock at the door. A full turkey dinner, pizzas, sandwiches, sweets, hugs, and well-wishes just kept coming.”

This incident serves as a reminder of the strong bonds within the Redwood Meadows community and the spirit of support that emerges in challenging times.