As a wildfire broke out along Chimney Rock Road south of Chain Lakes Provincial Park on October 25th it looked like everyone's worst fears were going to come true.

The MD of Ranchland along with their neighbours in the Alberta Forestry and the MD of Willow Creek have been preparing for the possibility of a bad fire with this summer's dry season.

They were able to GPS the fire on October 26th and it measured 1536 hectares.

Rancher Roxy Wideman says they have a plan in place for when a fire breaks out so they can swing into action quickly.

Her extended family and neighbours have a fire text chain that notifies everyone immediately, and it also notifies the MD who immediately called fire officials.

"As family members could, they got up there with firefighting units and were coordinating knowing where the cattle and riders were," said Wideman.

She adds unfortunately it's not the first time they have had to deal with fires.

"We just know that instead of making a whole lot of phone calls, the faster we can get hands on the ground the better, and knowing where people are is vital."

The fear of a fire this summer has been in everyone's minds because it was so dry.

"There were a lot of people who slept better when the whole area was closed off in September. Simply because everyone was permitted and everybody knew where everyone was."

Wideman said this fire wasn't caused by someone doing something foolish, word so far is a tree was blown over into a power line in high winds.

"The winds and the dryness is a fire bomb, it still is. We had tremendous grass growth this year and you are in an area where a lot of people have fall and winter grass and it is still standing. It is just like a bucket full of gasoline waiting to explode if the right conditions occur."

The Widemans are counting their blessings.

"Now that it is over, we didn't lose any lives of humans. No structures were lost. Everyone's homes, our buildings, sites none of that was lost."

It also appears from all the riding they are doing and flying over the fire location that they are looking at next to nothing for cattle losses.

"So really we had the best of the worst of a worst situation occur. When it comes down to it, yes it is financial we have lost tons of grass, miles of fence but those are all replaceable."

"There are good grass managers out here. They will figure out how to manage the range so it comes back. And you can rebuild fences."

The native grasses in the area are tough, but it depends on the amount of moisture that falls as to how quickly they recover.

"It will look really green next year provided there is any moisture. Most likely what is going to happen is the areas that are burnt will get a rest."

The grass won't be grazed until late August or late fall so the plants can grow, go to seed if they need to.

It could take up to three years for the grass that is burnt to recover and where the grass is burnt to into the top soil it could take five to 10 years.

Wideman said they are astounded that the cattle came through the fire in good shape.

"There was a pile of them that were in the direct line. We gathered them out of ash and soot."

And so far no cattle died and none are in visible distress with burns or injuries.

Somehow it appears that we are much luckier than Saskatchewan was."

"We had great people helping us and it is a community that has a system that works together."