CALGARY Members of the Rocky View County Fire Department say a grass fire west of Cochrane is now contained. As of early Thursday afternoon, the fire was burning between the Ghost Station Gas Bar and the Wildcat Hills Gas Plant. Traffic was halted on Highway 1A between Cochrane and Highway 40. One collision has been reported in the region and RCMP say poor visibility likely contributed to the crash. According to RCMP officials, the fire was spreading eastward and two residences, the gas bar and the gas plant have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Rocky View County officials then said the fire was contained at 6:30 p.m., but crews will remain on scene for clean up.
CALGARY A wind warning that was issued for Calgary Thursday afternoon ended shortly after 9 p.m.. Earlier Thursday, Environment Canada warned of winds between 90 km/h and 100 km/h throughout the afternoon, with the winds tapering off Thursday evening. The forecast for Friday was for sunny skies and breezy conditions, but not as windy as Thursday turned out to be.
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CALGARY Whipped up by high winds and fuelled by dry conditions, a second grass fire in northwest Calgary burned late Thursday afternoon. The fire, which began at about 3:30 p.m.,poured smoke into the air for a wide distance in the community. Calgary police shut down 144 Avenue between Shaganappi Trail and Symons Valley Road N.W. but it appeared that no homes were at risk. They advised residents to avoid the area for the time being. Nevertheless, the smoke and flames caused some concern for area residents like Roxane Howey. It s really unnerving that the smoke becomes really dark for a moment and then really light, like it s consuming some kind of fuel, she told CTV News in an interview. We have a neighbour across the ridge from us and we re watching which way his flag is flying. If it changes, I am out of here.