A Parks Canada staff accommodation building located near the east gate on the Trans-Canada Highway was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday (July 10).
The unit, which usually houses eight employees, was empty as contractors were working in the basement of the structure to repair damage from the June flood event.
“Nobody was staying in it and nobody was in it when it caught fire,” said John Rose, a Parks asset manager. “We had been finishing flood remediation work in there and it was to be ready for occupancy again on Friday (July 12).
“I got a call about 6:30 a.m. from one of our contactors who noticed it. He was kind of panicked because he thought people were back in it.”
According to Rose, the basement of the accommodation building had been flooded, with damage done to kitchen, washroom, living areas and mechanical systems. Drywall had been removed and replaced and flooring was being relaid when fire claimed the structure.
Banff, Canmore and Exshaw fire departments responded as per mutual aid agreement, said Banff Fire deputy Chief Mike Geisler, who was first on scene, then called in support. Next on scene were the Banff pumper, then aerial truck.
“When I arrived at 6:37 a.m., there was heavy smoke and flames,” said Geisler. “In all, we had 15 members attend, two units from Canmore and about 10 men attended and I called in Exshaw’s water tender; there’s no water on site.”
For Geisler, the fire included a professional first. As he initially approached the building, he said, “there was an explosion in the basement that blew out all the front windows. After 18 years with the fire department that was a first for me. There was a pressurized water tank down there that blew up.”
The tank pressurized well water to push it through taps.
While the fire remains under investigation, Geisler said it did originate in the basement in a common kitchen area. “That was the point of origin, but the cause is undetermined. There is significant smoke and fire damage.
“For being 18 kilometres away,” he added, “saving the structure was remarkable. We were there in 12 minutes, which was fantastic and we had water on the fire within 19 minutes and aggressively fought it.”
Firefighters first attacked through the basement, then the main floor until a team encountered a whole in the main floor to the basement. “At that point, I pulled out the crews and we fought it from the exterior.”
The fire was completely under control by 7:48 a.m., and Geisler said the site was cleared by 11:05 a.m. The site remains closed and under security as the fire is investigated.
The same morning, he said, Banff Fire Department also responded to a motor vehicle crash on the Trans-Canada and Canmore had to attend to a transformer fire. “That really stretched our resources.”
“We usually have summer seasonal use employees in there,” said Rose. “Since the flood, they’ve been staying in a hotel, but now we’ll have to investigate other options for them.”
Those options may include putting a temporary housing trailer on site, depending on space, or altering an old three-bedroom home which is also located at the east gate, part of which is used as a Parks fees kiosk.
“We’ll have our trades people look at that immediately,” said Rose. “It’s possible that within a few days it could be used.”
