Thinking Warm

A group of girls dressed in Hawaiian style clothing kept warm by performing in front of friends and family who were in the stands on Sunday afternoon, March 4 as the Provost Figure Skating Club staged its annual carnival. ©Provost News Photo. Print version in March 7 edition of The Provost News. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

Burning Old Farmhouse Used to Teach Firefighting
An old farmhouse that had recently been vandalized was torched to get rid of it—but was also used as a joint exercise to teach firemen how fire develops and what to watch for, says fire chief Barry Johnstone.

The abandoned farmhouse site used by Ed Coulombe years ago (and now owned by Lorne Olson, approximately seven miles north west of town) drew volunteer firefighters from both Provost and Wainwright for a learning session on Wednesday night, February 28.

“There’s a lot more to it than people think” says Johnstone, referring to the intricacies of how a fire develops, builds and how to combat it. He adds that some may think they are playing but “it’s a learning experience.”

Fireman Dave Johnstone said that it is a good experience for the firemen.

They said that after an old mattress had gasoline poured on it, firemen ventured into the main floor of the house to see the flames licking up the walls and onto the ceiling. Barry Johnstone says that at first it’s not the actual material that is on fire, but rather the gases being given off by the materials such as wood that is burning. As smoke fills the ceiling and begins to descend down the walls, a critical temperature is eventually reached. There is a “superheating” and instant eruption of flames when more gases ignite.

The Johnstones told The Provost News in an interview that firemen have to clearly understand fire first, before it can be put out.

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