RCMP speak to Trail fire, request public cooperation
By Trail Champion
Trail Top Cop RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich issued a press release detailing the fire situation in Trail.
“On September 11, 2018, at approximately (4:45 p.m.), a wildfire was ignited in the forested area behind the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, on 1200 Hospital Bench Road, in Trail … First responders arrived within minutes. Fire suppression began approximately 20 minutes after the fire was reported. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined; however, an investigation by police and fire investigators has commenced and will continue tomorrow. Fire suppression and containment will also continue tomorrow. The Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital was warned of the pontenial for evacuation; however, it is unlikely it will be evacuated at this time. The nearby JL Crowe High School was evacuated as a precaution.
“Fire personnel and equipment will be staged and operating on Hospital Bench Road between the hospital and high school. Police will begin restricting pedestrian and vehicle traffic to JL Crowe High School beginning at 5:30 a.m. as the fire suppression effort will be commencing around this time. Part of the high school parking lot will be used as a staging area. The RCMP will allow high school staff and school buses to enter through the barricaded entrance to the high school. The RCMP ask parents to drop students off away from the restricted area. Students can walk to the high school using the sidewalks. This will allow the fire suppression teams to operate safely in the area without a overwhelming influx of vehicle traffic. The vehicle restrictions will continue throughout the day. Traffic to the hospital will not be restricted but the RCMP ask the public to remain out of the area in order that the fire suppression team may operate at full capacity. Please remain out of the forested area near the fire and off the trails leading to the area of the fire. These trails are well known, have been marked, and will be monitored. The RCMP will be monitoring the area for anyone who may be interfering with the fire suppression efforts.”
RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich says by ‘interfering’ he is referrring to staying away from the perimeter, as coming into the range of the fire actually removes first responders from addressing the fire itself, and forces them to safeguard your safety, instead, which is at best a poor deployment of resources, and at worst, a risk to human safety.
The RCMP say there will be a fire investigation commencing tomorrow.
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