Firefighters rescue hikers caught by sudden snowfall

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Canning firefighters were kept busy a week ago Sunday, helping to locate hikers who got caught in a heavy snowfall on Cape Split.

Deputy Chief Scott Cruickshank said their department participated in the ground search and rescue effort under the direction of the RCMP. He said the two hikers were prepared for snow when they decided to go camping Saturday, but they weren’t expecting to encounter such drastic weather conditions. Forecasts didn’t reflect that the area would receive over a foot of snow.

Luckily, the hikers had a cell phone and were able to call for help. Firefighters dispatched their four-wheelers, but it was difficult navigating the walking trail due to the deep snow and the fact there were a lot of trees fallen across the path. Cruickshank said firefighters had to use chainsaws to clear their way and the rescue effort took about five hours.

Canning responded to several calls for medical assistance last week, including from Canning and Medford on Saturday, March 1; Medford on Tuesday, March 4; and Canning on Wednesday, March 5, Thursday, March 6 and Friday morning, March 7.

Canning firefighters responded to a chimney fire on the Pier Road, Kingsport, Sunday, March 2 and to a chimney fire on Pereau Road, Pereau, Thursday, March 6.

Structure fire in Wolfville

Wolfville Fire Chief Tim MacLeod said his department responded to a structure fire on the Ridge Road, Wolfville Ridge, Monday, March 3, at 8:20 p.m. He said the fire is suspicious in nature and is under investigation by the RCMP. Hantsport, Port Williams, Greenwich, New Minas and Kentville departments provided mutual aid.

MacLeod said two rooms were gutted and there was extensive smoke and water damage throughout. He said the fire was quite advanced when firefighters arrived at the scene.

Wolfville firefighters were called back to the scene the following morning at 7:28 a.m. to deal with a small flare-up.

Wolfville firefighters assisted RCMP and EHS paramedics at the scene of a two-vehicle collision near Exit 10 on Highway 101 at 6:40 p.m. Sunday, March 2. MacLeod said road conditions were slippery at the time.

Wolfville sent a tanker to stand-in at the Windsor fire hall at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 6 as that department was tied-up at the scene of a structure fire in Mount Uniacke.

Greenwich Fire Chief Randy Schofield said his department was called to a possible structure fire at Black River Lake Saturday, March 1, but it turned out to be a non-event. New Minas provided stand-in assistance at the Greenwich fire hall. Wolfville responded in mutual aid.

New Minas Fire Chief James Redmond said his department responded to a case of illegal burning in the Golf View Subdivision Friday, Feb. 29.

New Minas firefighters responded to the scene of a chimney fire on Roy Avenue Friday, Feb. 29 and to another chimney fire at a home on the eastern end of Commercial Street just before 5 p.m. Monday, March 3.

New Minas responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 Sunday, March 2. Redmond said an individual was transported by ambulance from the scene with undetermined injuries.

New Minas firefighters responded to a call for medical assistance in Canaan Sunday, March 2.

Kentville Fire Department spokesperson Ian Fairclough said their department responded to a call about a smoke detector sounding in Kentville Saturday, March 1, but it turned out to be a non-event.

Kentville responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 12 at Murphy Lake Saturday, March 1. Fairclough said there were no injuries.

Kentville responded to a single-vehicle rollover near Exit 14 on Highway 101 in Coldbrook Tuesday, March 4. Fairclough said there was no one around the vehicle when firefighters arrived.

Kentville responded to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 221 Wednesday, March 5. Fairclough said one individual suffered undetermined injuries and firefighters had a minor fluid spill from a vehicle to clean up.

Fairclough said Kentville has responded to at least eight motor vehicle incidents in the past five weeks, a rather high number. He said the department reminds people, as the RCMP often do, to drive with caution when road conditions deteriorate due to poor weather and to take into consideration that conditions can vary drastically from one location to another.