Three near simultaneous fires keep crews busy Tuesday afternoon

By Herald on May 18, 2021.

Firefighters work to help extinguish a fire, one of three crews had to deal with Tuesday afternoon. Herald photo by Ian Martens

Lethbridge firefighters were busy on a windy Tuesday afternoon as they responded to three fires within 30 minutes.

The first fire was located on the 500 block of 12 Street South where fire crews found a couch and fence on fire, threatening to spread to the adjacent garage. Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it impacted the garage.

A second fire was reported 15 minutes later on the 600 block of 5 Street South. Firefighters arrived to a utility trailer and a car on fire, which spread to the adjacent garage.

A third fire burned up the coulees adjacent to Scenic Dr. toward 7 Avenue South. 

Gusting winds Tuesday afternoon added a challenge to controlling the fires.

“In wind driven conditions obviously that makes it difficult for our crews to get lines on the fire as it spreads,” said deputy chief Cody Gundlock.

“In our wind conditions here it can spread quickly, so that’s our biggest concern with those types of fires.”

Members from all four stations attended the fires, as well as two units from Coaldale for assistance. 

No damage estimate was available as of Tuesday, however no injuries were said to have been reported from any of the three fires.

All fires are being treated as suspicious.