Grass, brush and woods fires hold firefighters' attention

By Kirk Starratt

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Eastern Kings County firefighters were kept busy last week with a rash of grass, brush and woods fires.

Kentville Fire Chief Shawn Ripley said his department responded to four grass and brush fires Monday, May 5. He said three of the fires were set deliberately, two on Highway 12 in the North Alton area and one in Coldbrook. The fourth involved a brush fire in the Fox Hill subdivision.

Ripley said quite a pile of hot coals resulted from the brush fire in Fox Hill and there were concerns, so firefighters were called to help extinguish it.

Kentville firefighters provided mutual aid to the Waterville and District Fire Department Wednesday, May 7, as that department was busy with a forest fire.

New Minas Fire Chief James Redmond said his department also responded in mutual aid to Waterville for the woods fire on Black Rock Road Wednesday evening.

Port Williams Fire Chief Philip Porter reported his department responded twice in mutual aid to Kentville Wednesday evening to provide stand-in assistance at the Kentville fire hall while Kentville firefighters were busy providing mutual aid to Waterville.

Canning Deputy Chief Scott Cruickshank reported that his department responded in mutual aid to Kentville Wednesday evening during the woods fire, sending a pumper truck to stand-in at the Kentville fire hall.

Grass fire

Wolfville Fire Chief Tim MacLeod said his department responded to a grass fire on the Avonport Dykes Sunday afternoon, May 4 at around 3 p.m.

New Minas firefighters extinguished two illegal burns Saturday, May 3. Redmond noted his department also responded to a woods fire on Alders Avenue Extension Wednesday. It was a case of arson.

Kentville responded to a fire alarm sounding at Camp Aldershot Tuesday, May 6. Ripley said an overheated boiler was the cause.

Kentville firefighters responded to the scene of a garbage fire in Centreville where copper wire was being burned May 6.

Kentville responded to a bicycle crash on Belcher Street Wednesday. Ripley said a lady fell off a bicycle and was injured.

Kentville firefighters responded to a fire alarm sounding in Centreville on Wednesday. A pot on a stove burned, filling a house with smoke.

The Kentville department responded to a vehicle rollover on Highway 12 Friday, May 9. Ripley said a man was trapped in a car as a result. The individual suffered undetermined injuries.

Kentville responded to a chimney fire on English Mountain Road May 9.

Hall’s Harbour Fire Chief David Watson said his department responded to a medical emergency on West Hall’s Harbour Road the night of May 5.

Mailbox blaze

Port Williams responded to a suspicious mailbox fire on Belcher Street Friday night, May 2. Porter said his department responded at the same time to another suspicious fire on Belcher Street, this one involving a pile of garbage.

New Minas firefighters responded to an alarm sounding at New Minas Elementary School May 6.

The New Minas department responded to a propane leak behind the County Fair Mall May 7.

New Minas firefighters responded to an animal rescue call involving a cat in a tree on Prospect Street Thursday, May 8. Redmond said the cat climbed pretty high up in the tree and refused to come back down on its own.

The firefighters responded to a power pole fire across from Henny Penny’s on Commercial Street May 8.

They also responded to a medical emergency at King Arthur’s Court May 8, and to an alarm sounding at ACA Poultry May 9.

The Canning department responded in mutual aid to Kentville the afternoon of May 4, sending a pumper truck to stand in at the Kentville fire hall.