Tweet
Gopher-exterminating device sparks prairie blaze
Renata D'Aliesio, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, March 23, 2008
CALGARY - A new gopher-killing tool called the Rodenator is behind a massive grass fire that threatened several homes just west of Calgary on the Easter weekend.
In his 25 years of firefighting, assistant deputy fire Chief Jim Pendergast of the Municipal District of Rocky View said he's never encountered a fire sparked during a gopher hunt.
The Saturday blaze spread rapidly through tinder-dry prairie grasses. Several residents fled their homes as fire crews managed to stop the flames from devouring houses, although some out buildings were lost.
Pendergast estimates $215,000 worth of damage was done to barns, sheds and vehicles, while another $40,000 was spent to fight the fire, which began after 4 p.m.
A group of people who were using the Rodenator - which pumps propane and oxygen into a rodent hole and then ignites the mixture to create an underground shock wave or concussion that instantly kills gophers and collapses the tunnel system - could now face a bill for the incident or bylaw charges, including ignoring a fire ban and burning without a permit.
"We're not saying there's something wrong with the device," Pendergast said Sunday. "But this is not an appropriate time to use it."
Extremely dry conditions prompted the municipal district to issue a ban on open fires on March 12. Pendergast said it's unusually early for the strict ban, but warm temperatures and scant snow have combined to create the perfect fuel for runaway fires.
Martha Proppe was thankful she still had her home in which to host Easter supper for her family Sunday.
The 73-year-old had just finished vacuuming when her neighbour rang and knocked on her door.
"I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a wall of fire."
Proppe's gopher-killing neighbour dropped by Sunday to apologize, she said.
She's not certain whether he knew of the fire ban. She didn't.
Farmers across Alberta have complained that gophers are out of control. The province has asked the federal government for permission to use the potent chemical strychnine, which is banned, to combat the rodent glut.
Renata D'Aliesio, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, March 23, 2008
CALGARY - A new gopher-killing tool called the Rodenator is behind a massive grass fire that threatened several homes just west of Calgary on the Easter weekend.
In his 25 years of firefighting, assistant deputy fire Chief Jim Pendergast of the Municipal District of Rocky View said he's never encountered a fire sparked during a gopher hunt.
The Saturday blaze spread rapidly through tinder-dry prairie grasses. Several residents fled their homes as fire crews managed to stop the flames from devouring houses, although some out buildings were lost.
Pendergast estimates $215,000 worth of damage was done to barns, sheds and vehicles, while another $40,000 was spent to fight the fire, which began after 4 p.m.
A group of people who were using the Rodenator - which pumps propane and oxygen into a rodent hole and then ignites the mixture to create an underground shock wave or concussion that instantly kills gophers and collapses the tunnel system - could now face a bill for the incident or bylaw charges, including ignoring a fire ban and burning without a permit.
"We're not saying there's something wrong with the device," Pendergast said Sunday. "But this is not an appropriate time to use it."
Extremely dry conditions prompted the municipal district to issue a ban on open fires on March 12. Pendergast said it's unusually early for the strict ban, but warm temperatures and scant snow have combined to create the perfect fuel for runaway fires.
Martha Proppe was thankful she still had her home in which to host Easter supper for her family Sunday.
The 73-year-old had just finished vacuuming when her neighbour rang and knocked on her door.
"I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a wall of fire."
Proppe's gopher-killing neighbour dropped by Sunday to apologize, she said.
She's not certain whether he knew of the fire ban. She didn't.
Farmers across Alberta have complained that gophers are out of control. The province has asked the federal government for permission to use the potent chemical strychnine, which is banned, to combat the rodent glut.
The site for this is amazing. check out the "advantages" too:
what it does is pour a mix of oxygen and propane down a gopher hole, then incinerate...
Comment