Bindloss fire effect lingers

By Gillian Slade on December 21, 2017.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

The memories of what he lived through in the Bindloss fire and immediately afterward are visceral for one of the ranchers impacted.

“It’s been three months … and there’s only been three nights that I slept eight hours,” said rancher Ivan Schlaht. “You have to keep going so you try to push through it.”

Images of his badly burned cattle play over and over again in his head, said Schlaht.

“They were family.”

On Sept. 11 a fire spread from Canadian Forces Base Suffield, engulfing 220 square kilometres on the base, plus another 58 square kilometres beyond. By the time the fire was out, more than 160 head of cattle had either died in the blaze or had to be euthanized because they were so badly burned.

At the time, Suffield acknowledged the fire began after a military operation to dispose of an undetonated explosive from a military exercise, and then got out of hand in dry conditions.

On Sept. 21, representatives from Suffield met with those affected by the fire.

There have been multiple investigations into the fire, says Suffield.

“The most significant investigation is a Board of Inquiry convened by Brigadier-General Trevor Cadieu, Commander of 3rd Canadian Division,” said Natalie Finnemore public affairs officer, CFB Suffield. “On Dec. 12, he endorsed the findings and provided direction for the implementation of the recommendations. The base is currently developing an action plan to address all of the recommendations.”

The findings are critical in providing legal authorities the information they need to settle claims, said Finnemore.

“A claims adjustor has been contracted and will be sent to the affected areas to assess some of the claims. All agencies involved in the investigation and claims processes are doing their utmost to conclude their work as quickly as possible,” said Finnemore.

In one day after the fire, Schlaht had to destroy 65 of his cattle. Some had survived the fire but were badly burned. A neighbour accompanied him to undertake the grim task. By the end of it Schlaht had lost 98 cattle. Out of the 34 animals that survived the fire and appeared to be OK, eight aborted their calves, said Schlaht. Another seven still carry calves but it’s unclear what the long-term prognosis will be.

Schlaht’s in the process of submitting a compensation claim to Suffield for his cattle.

“I am getting close to being finished but it is kind of a depressing thing,” said Schlaht, who can only cope with working on it for a couple hours on any given day.

“I’ve got to walk away after a while. It just gets to you,” said Schlaht.

There has been no financial compensation yet, and for Schlaht it feels as though progress is slow.

The next planned town hall meeting for affected landowners will be in January. An update will be provided on work to further mitigate fire risks, said Finnemore. There will also be an update on the claims process and any information that can be released about the Board of Inquiry.

In the meantime, CFB Suffield has implemented short-term mitigation measures to prevent a recurrence, said Finnemore.

“The base remains focused on implementing measures to reduce fire risks, including controlled burns, sourcing additional firefighting equipment and establishing policies to restrict the detonation of unexploded ordnance in certain conditions,” she explained.

CFB Suffield wants those affected to know their concerns have been heard and that it is recognized as a traumatic event.

“We encourage those who need help to seek it through their health-care providers,” said Finnemore.

In spite of what Ivan and his wife Louise have been through they are putting on a brave face for Christmas.

“We’ll try not to dwell on that at all,” said Schlaht.

The process of replacing his herd of cattle may take some time because cattle will need suitable grazing. The grass burned in the community pasture, where Schlaht’s cattle were when the fire broke out, needs to recover fully before it can be used. It may look green in the spring but there may be no root base that would sustain grazing.

“I’ll be short cattle until the grass comes back, and Mother Nature is the boss there,” said Schlaht.

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