‘A lot of emotion’: Back hall of Redwood Meadows fire station goes up in flames

Firefighters scrambled to try to save Redwood Meadows Magnusson Memorial Fire Hall on Wednesday evening.

Redwood Meadows Emergency Services’ firefighters started Wednesday evening warning people to “get home and stay home.”

With wild weather blowing through southern Alberta, it wasn’t safe anywhere else.

Then, a different series of messages started to show up on Redwood Meadows Emergency Services’ Facebook page.

A little after 5 p.m., “Crews are responding to an incident at 120 station” was posted, quickly followed by, “The back hall of Redwood Meadows Emergency Services is on fire.”

Firefighters posted in real time as they scrambled to try to save Redwood Meadows Magnusson Memorial Fire Hall.

At 5:35 p.m.:

“The back hall of Redwood Meadows Emergency Services is fully involved with fire,” firefighters said.

“Crews from Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and Rocky View County Fire Services are actively fighting the fire.

“The front hall is not in jeopardy at this time.”

At 6 p.m.:

“The fire at the back hall of the fire station is under control,” firefighters said.

“Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and Rocky View County Fire Services are actively working to extinguish the fire.

And then, repeated at intervals over the next hour:

“Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and Rocky View County Fire Services continue to actively work to extinguish the fire.”

Finally, just after 7 p.m., it was posted that the flames were out, and firefighters were working on hot spots.

Another hour passed before firefighters shared the full extent of the damage done.

It was significant.

“The fire at the back hall of the fire station is now fully extinguished,” firefighters said.

“120 Engine, 120 Tender, a bush buggy and 120 UTV were lost in the fire, as well as extensive equipment and our (self-contained breathing apparatus) refill station.

“The front hall, including 220 Engine, 120 Rescue and 120 Rapid Response, was not impacted.”

Third-party fire investigators are looking into what happened.

Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service is working with investigators.

On Thursday, the police service said, “We do not believe that the cause of the fire is suspicious.”

It was first spotted by someone at a Christmas party next door at the town office.

Redwood Meadows Emergency Services’ fire chief, Rob Evans, was first to the scene.

“When I arrived, the building was fully involved with fire, so there was no saving any equipment, which, of course, would be our first priority,” he told CTV News on Thursday.

Evans said there’s “a lot of emotion.”

“As people start thinking about different things that were in the fire hall, like our first sign that was in front of the fire hall and replaced,” he said.

“We were going to refurbish it, (and), well, now it’s all burned.

“Just things like that. ... Someone that lost their home would have some personal effects in there, (and), well, all of this is personal for us.”

Redwood Meadows Emergency Services thanked its partners who assisted during Wednesday’s ordeal.

And those who showed up after.

Another Facebook post spoke of being “humbled by our community’s kindness and generosity.”

“We came in from fighting the back hall fire cold, wet and exhausted to a knock at the door,” the post read.

“A full turkey dinner, pizzas, sandwiches, sweets, hugs and well-wishes just kept coming.

“We have always known this is the best community, and tonight we appreciate you holding space in your hearts to take care of your professional volunteers.”