(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Bon fires and plane problems

From bonfires to plane propeller problems, PA fire got the call

May 15, 2023 | 4:32 PM

Over the last several days, firefighters in Prince Albert have been called as a backup for a plane with propeller problems at the airport to putting out a large bonfire in Little Red River Park.

Deputy fire chief Alex Paul said that the bonfire at Kristi Lake was a concern.

“There were a group of individuals that had led a fairly large bonfire just out in the open,” he said. “It wasn’t spreading anywhere but that is always against the law, 365 days of the year.”

The person who was responsible for the fire was given a $300 fine.

Paul said the department prefers to work from a perspective of education, but this time, the risk was just too great.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

29m ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

4h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

7h ago

“We like to save that as a last resort, we want to educate people but with the weather conditions and then lighting a fire adjacent to the Nesbit Forest and the Little Red Park, there needed to be a message sent,” he said.

It wasn’t the only sketchy situation the department saw on May 13 either.

A report of heavy smoke and flames visible near the railway tracks in the 900 Block of 15 Street resulted in crews finding a bushfire near a large camp that had been set up in the area.

A full response went out at 6:00 pm on Friday for a plane that was landing with a propellor malfunction.

Because the pilots usually have advanced warning of problems the department can be there in advance.

“It gives us lots of opportunity to be in place ahead of them coming down,” said Paul. “It’s their protocol that we be called any time that they have some sort of a warning or failure notice.”

In this case, the department went with an engine and a tanker but the plane managed to land safely.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com