Local Rancher Warns Others To Have Evacuation Plan Ready

A burn barrel turned wild fire east of Aldersyde a week ago, has led to warnings for those living on acreages, ranches or farms to always have an evacuation plan. 

On April 6th a fire started in a burn barrel that quickly got out of control and spread to a building, a shingle pile and raged through the nearby dry grass fields.

It ultimately threatened a professional riding ranch with over 10 horses and a herd of bison.

Owner of Prairie Oak Ranch, Cub Wright, says she had a student tell her about a grass fire directly south of her property.

When she went to check it out, the Fire Chief on site told her to get any animals out of the way.  Fire services was worried about the fire jumping the road and getting out of control on her property.

She says it was in that moment she found out how imperative an evacuation plan and procedure is when you live out in the sticks.

"It's sort of a reality that everyone requires an evacuation plan," Wright says. 'Your plan should include knowing where your power shut-offs are, where your emergency numbers are, where your fire extinguishers are, and a list of all the important things that you need to take."

She says she was ready to 'head-and-tail' her herd of horses and just ride to safety, after releasing the bison from the south field where they were in direct threat from the fire.

"I had some riding students there at the time, so I instructed them to get all the horses and get them in a pen, I took two other people with me and we went to move my buffalo to a north field that has two dugouts that would have acted like fire breaks for the time being."

Wright says, in this situation she was not afraid to just turn the horses loose, and find them afterwards.

"My plan was to have all the horses there ready to go, so that I would either chase them across the road into a big open field, or be able to quickly head and tail them together and two of us would take five each and head to safer ground."

Wright says the most important thing to do is stay calm and think logically.

She adds that some things to keep in mind is to know where the fire is, and the direction the wind is blowing so when you're moving livestock, you know which direction to go.

Once the fire was under control, Wright says their biggest challenge would have been getting their pet pig Binky, into a horse trailer.

The Okotoks Fire Department says there are some things you can do to help protect your land and buildings before evacuation.

They say to turn off your main power switch but leave the water pump and well running, They also recommend leaving all buildings on your property unlocked, so they can gain quick access.