Fire destroys Hilliard mobile home

Family safe and firefighters stop blaze from damaging post office building

BY JOHN MATHER

Fire and Rescue Units from both Mundare and Chipman responded to a fire that destroyed a mobile home in Hilliard, Feb. 12.

The fire was called in at 2:32 am. “It was too late when we got there and the home was totally destroyed, said Mundare Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Glenda Dales, whose department sent three units and 12 firefighters to combat the blaze.

An additional two units and eight firefighters responded from the Chipman Fire and Rescue.

Dales said high winds gusting upwards of 60 kph also posed a prob- lem in battling the blaze but she said firefighters did a great job in preventing it from reaching the next door Canada Post Office.

While not sure of the exact cause, she suspects it may have been an electrical issue.

The residents of the home were able to escape without injury and they are staying with friends in Hilliard.

Dale said the Mundare Fire and Rescue was also called out for traffic accidents on Highway 16 over the Family Day weekend as it is suspected people drove faster than winter conditions warranted.

Dales also wants drivers to be aware that highway traffic rules change on March 1. When passing emergency vehicles on the side of the highway no matter what lane drivers may be in they have to slow down to 60 kph. Under existing regulations drivers are currently forced to slow to 60 kph in the lane nearest the parked emergency vehicles. The regulations also apply when passing tow trucks.

“It’s all designed to keep our emergency personnel safer,” said Dales.