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Vol. 14, No. 46, Wednesday, October 9, 2019 www.LamontLeader.com
Fire displaces new Bruderheim family after one day The family was put up at the BY JANA SEMENIUK A residential fire broke out in hotel on Friday night. Bruderheim deputy fire chief Al Bruderheim on Oct. 4 at a split-level home located in Brookside Park. The Klassen said the fire appears to have fire displaced the family who, upon started in the shed located in the moving from Athabasca, had only backyard and quickly made its way up the rear of the home and into the spent one night in their rental home. roof. A call came in to 911 at “The entire top floor 4:10 p.m. and emergency vehicles were on the The entire top of the home was gutted and the roof was scene within 12 minutes. floor of the burned off,” said When emergency perhome was gut- Klassen. “It was hard to sonnel arrived, a mother and four children were ted and the roof get at because it was up in the attic. The fire was observed at the site. No was burned off. confined to the exterior pets were lost in the fire of the walls and the and no injuries were attic.” reported. He stated that although there was Amber O’Brien, who lives next door to the home, was first called by her very little fire or smoke damage to the main floor, it did sustain a lot of water friend at 4:22 pm. “My friend called and asked me if I damage. In addition, Klassen added the fire was home or not,” said O’Brien. “I told her I was not home and she said, ‘well was under control within 15 minutes of emergency workers arriving and comyour neighbour’s house is on fire’.” O’Brien said she immediately raced pletely out in 45 minutes. However, home to find the fire departments had firefighters remained on scene for approximately five hours. already arrived and were setting up. Neighbours south of the home also “There was lots of smoke and the flames were just starting to come up lost items in the fire including a fence the south side of the house,” she separating their properties, a boat stored in their backyard, siding on added. O’Brien’s neighbour comforted the their garage, damage to their home as displaced family while firefighters well as miscellaneous equipment and tools that were stored between their were battling the blaze. “I told them if they needed anything houses. Estimates of the neighbours’ to let me know. It sucks because I just damages were unknown. “Our fire team did an outstanding watched them move in. They were renting and only spent one night in the job,” said Klassen. “We had nine firehouse before the fire happened,” said fighters from Bruderheim and seven O’Brien. “They moved here from from Lamont respond to the call as Athabasca and the mom just enrolled well as three EMS, an RCMP officer her four kids into Bruderheim school from Fort Saskatchewan and a peace officer from Lamont County.” this week.”
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m, Oct. 4. The e in Bruderhei fir ht ho ug ca at me th The family, w the roof of a ho then spread to the house. e th om fr at t re fla gh the ni and Flames d and spent ckyard shed ce ba la a sp in di d e te er fire star before, w ed in the day had only mov nearby hotel.
Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch praised town staff for their efforts in ensuring the very best of service delivered to the community particularly when faced with an emergency. “Team Bruderheim went above and beyond this past Friday in supporting emergency services during a structure fire in Brookside,” he said. “Public works staff ensured appropriate water distribution during the emergency, as well, Sherry Cote, director of legisla-
tive services, took on connecting the fire victims with lodgings, food and support.” Hauch added that there have been inquiries on starting donations for the victims, however at this time the family is asking for privacy and don’t wish for a public fundraising campaign. Cause of the fire is still under investigation and damage estimates are unknown.