Silage fire near Highway 3 fought by 13 stations from southeast Alberta

: CYPRESS COUNTY PHOTO - Emergency service staff work on site of a silage fire March 11, 2024 at Highway 3 and Range Road 65.

Contributed

In response to multiple media inquiries, Cypress County Emergency Services is providing additional information regarding the fire at Highway 3 and Range Road 65 March 11. 

More than 65 firefighters representing 13 stations responded to the situation around noon on March 11. Cypress County stations from Dunmore, Box Springs, Seven Persons, Irvine, Walsh, Hilda, Schuler, and Suffield were joined by crews from Medicine Hat, Methanex, Jenner, Murray Lake, and Brooks. An excavator was also on the scene to assist, as was a mobile unit from Alberta Health Services. 

It is suspected that during the fermentation process, the temperature inside the silage pit rose to a point where it exceeded the ignition temperature of the organic material and led to spontaneous combustion, causing the silage to catch fire. Damage included a few grain bins. 

Cypress County thanks all partners who came together for this incident.