FILE PHOTO COURTESY BOB OLSON
A look at some of the damage caused by the fire in October 2017 in the Bindloss area. Some victims of the fire, which spread from CFB Suffield, are still fighting for compensation from the federal government.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Two years after a fire spread from CFB Suffield across the Bindloss area life is still not back to normal for those affected, and some are still waiting for a government settlement.
Rancher Darrel Swenson says he’s still “fighting with lawyers in Ottawa” for compensation.
“We’re fighting with lawyers in Ottawa trying to get some money,” said Swenson. “I’ve been given a tiny fraction (of compensation). I knew it would take a while but I didn’t think it would take this long.”
On Sept. 11, 2017 a fire spread from CFB Suffield engulfing 220 square kilometres on the base, plus another 58 square kilometres beyond. By the time the fire was out, more than 260 head of cattle had either died in the blaze or had to be euthanized because they were so badly burned.
CFB Suffield acknowledged the fire began after a military operation to dispose of an undetonated explosive. A Board of Inquiry made 17 recommendations which were endorsed by CFB Suffield in December 2017. This same month an adjuster was contracted to assess the claims.
Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, says the lack of timely action to address these claims is unacceptable.
“In a high-investment, high-risk world like agriculture we need capital and time to be efficient. Especially for those affected by such a serious loss,” said Barnes.
The News requested an interview with the MP for the area, Kevin Sorenson, on Wednesday. There was no immediate response.
Another rancher, John Campbell, says he has not been able to replace or increase his herd because the grass has not yet recovered sufficiently.
Campbell says he has received some compensation.
“I received a substantial interim payment but there is nothing to say what it was for. It was just a cheque, that was it,” said Campbell.
He had hoped that two years after the fire, life would have returned to normal. The drought conditions of this past summer did not help the grass.
“It did not recover back to where it normally should be,” said Campbell, estimating it will need another year to recover.
Barnes says government and adjusters were immediately told by local producers how long it would take for the grass to recover and that this would depend on successive years of adequate moisture.
Swenson says he’s had to buy feed for cattle and is still not able to graze his cattle on the land affected by the fire.
“My hay land has got to be reseeded. I’ve been waiting for a cheque because it is expensive to reseed,” said Swenson, who has not been able to replace his herd because he does not have adequate grazing.
Swenson says one of the challenges has been dealing with claims adjusters who do not understand agriculture.
“I hired a retired agrologist from the government of Alberta who did a lot of work on all of our claims and up to a month ago they (Ottawa) had only talked to him once briefly,” said Swenson.
Swenson says he received an email from Ottawa on Tuesday this week acknowledging the anniversary was approaching.
“They figure they should be able to come to a satisfactory understanding and pay us in a short time but no time frame was given,” said Swenson.
