Southern Alberta Wild Fire near Lethbridge November 27, 2011

The scene was hellish, thick red smoke rising into the starry sky. The fire seemed to go for 10 km.

A massive out of control grass fire south of Lethbridge Alberta. Just south of the towns of Raymond and Stirling.

Our evening started normally, what we thought was a low lying cloud on the horizon was actually a massive column of smoke from an out of control wildfire. At first I thought it was in Montana but then we saw the flames in the distance. It was burning out of control on top of a large ridge known as the Milk River Ridge.

To make matters worse we've been buffeted by gale force winds all day so the fire was spreading like crazy.

The opening shot was the only real risk I took. I felt it was reasonable since the wind was at my back and blowing in the same direction at 100 kmph all day. Frankly I was more concerned getting caught in the thick smoke Also took pains not to get in the way of fire fighting efforts. Most of the shots are actually taken from far behind the fire fighting effort.

The local community came together with local farmers plowing fire breaks and community workers with graders and water truckers helping in the effort.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Wildfire
• Southern Alberta
• grass
• fire
• lethbridge
• canada

[semtech30]

Great shot's of that wild fire.

I wouldn't want to be down wind of that bugger.

Might wipe out the prairie dog's for a while.

Gonna be green in the spring.

[bigsky780]

@semtech30 Thanks, sadly saw a little critter swim across a pond into the path of the fire. I would not wish a burning death upon any living thing.

[ambernerder]

Why do people write such mean comments online. @absentmindedfool and firegirlte. Would you go up to a stranger in public and say something like that? No you would not. It's never appropriate.

[fireguy157]

Fire chasers put themselves in danger, and potentially put themselves in a position where firefighters may have to rescue them. You could be cut off by the fire and trapped. You then put firefighters in danger as well when they try to save fools. You block up the road with your vehicles and slow the responders down. Bad idea.

[garycalgary]

people say all sorts of inappropriate things i find even in public and couldn't care less what they say.

However this must have been frightening to be near

[mkujbus]

Ez már a Föld tragédiája. Ilyenkor már nagy hó szokott lenni. Fölborult a világ rendje. Lethbrigde-ben él a barátrnőm és a férje. Idős emberek. Jaj! Csak ne legyen baj ebből a tűzből.Magyarországról kívánok mindenkinek szerencsés megoldást a helyzetre.

[CrazyAly246]

Im a first year at the UofL, and I am from Slave Lake....when our R.A's in Rez came and cautioned us to be PREPARED to have to evacuate, I was like "Are you fricking serious?!" So, the moment of shock passed, I called my parents, formulated a plan and packed. I did not want to sleep in my car again, and did not want to leave without knowing where I'd go. This is horrible though, i hope no homes were lost

[kimmy7999]

this happened on my 21 birthday....I could see the smoke from Coaldale on my way home from work at 330 sunday afternoon.

[KersiRu]

We in Aus are all 2 familiar with fires that devastate homes Only last week West Australia lost 30 homes & the real hot summer hasn't fully started yet!

Kersi

[bergali]

@akunev You. Are. Stupid.

[AriesMira]

This fire was three miles from my home. The entire ridge was ablaze and it was really terrifying! You get a much better idea of just how bad the wind was to see the fire moving almost like water through the grass, and how quickly. Unbelievable footage!

[mcreefer18]

that fire came to under a kilometre from my girlfreinds house,too close for comfort considering im in vancouver waiting for her to finish school

[TravisDMeier]

@walkmanamtc Well, this fire DID manage to jump a river. Any wildland firefighter will tell you that being on a road like that can be just as dangerous as being in the grassland. Luckily it wasn't this time. Not to mention I think this was the worst fire in the area that I can remember, but hey the winds are only 80MPH. the flames were 30 feet high at one point. So no danger really...