Alberta West News

Friday, February 28, 2025

Arrogant Army?

The 2017 CFB Suffield Fire: Devastating Impact on Bindloss, Alberta

The rural hamlet of Bindloss, Alberta experienced devastating consequences when a fire that originated at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield spread to surrounding farms and ranches on September 11, 2017. This event dramatically altered the landscape, livelihoods, and community relations in this southeastern Alberta region, leaving lasting impacts that extended far beyond the immediate destruction. The fire initiated at the military base during the detonation of unexploded ordnance has become emblematic of ongoing tensions between rural communities and military installations in the area, while highlighting the vulnerabilities of agricultural operations to environmental disasters.

Origin and Spread of the Fire

On September 11, 2017, military personnel at CFB Suffield detonated an unexploded artillery shell as part of routine disposal operations, despite a fire ban being in effect across southern Alberta. The temperature that day was at least 32°C with moderate westerly winds, creating dangerous fire conditions12. The controlled detonation sparked a grass fire that quickly grew beyond the military's capacity to contain it.

Creston Anderson, the fire chief for Bindloss at the time, reported that the fire began around 6:00 p.m., with flames originating inside CFB Suffield's boundaries. Anderson was dispatched to monitor the situation at the fence line between the base and surrounding properties. As conditions worsened, gusting winds carried the flames over the perimeter fence, after which the fire began spreading eastward toward farms and ranches in the Bindloss area4.

The speed and ferocity with which the fire spread overwhelmed initial containment efforts. Daryl Swenson, one of the affected ranchers, described watching the fire come increasingly closer from the base perimeter, but noted that civilian fire crews were not permitted to enter the base to fight the flames at their source1. As the blaze intensified, it expanded dramatically, ultimately burning approximately 36,500 hectares—nearly half the size of Calgary—including about 6,500 hectares of land outside the military training area12. The fire's path cut across the landscape from Jenner to Highway 41, moving first northward and then southward9.

Immediate Impacts on the Community

The fire forced an immediate evacuation of more than 40 residents from the affected area. A state of emergency was declared as more than 20 fire trucks, 10 water trucks, and other heavy equipment battled the flames with assistance from volunteers8. Five farms in the region required evacuation as the fire front advanced8. The mandatory evacuation order for residences east of Range Road 23 and south of Highway 555 was eventually lifted at 9:00 a.m. on September 12, though firefighting efforts continued9.

The fire's destruction was extensive and heartbreaking. At least one home in the area was confirmed destroyed—a residence approximately 13 miles south of Bindloss. The elderly homeowner had been asleep when the fire approached and had to be evacuated by neighbors who broke down his door when he didn't hear their knocking24. The flames not only consumed his home but also the surrounding farmyard, outbuildings, and personal vehicles4.

Beyond structures, the fire devastated agricultural land vital to local ranching operations. Laurel Schlaht, who owns a farm with her husband, reported losing "six quarter-acres of winter fields," critical grazing land that served as "the backbone to our operations"1. Daryl Swenson lost more than 500 hectares of grass and cropland, as well as winter feed for his animals and miles of fence line812.

Livestock Losses and Animal Suffering

Perhaps the most emotionally traumatic aspect of the disaster was the fate of cattle caught in the fire's path. In total, approximately 160 head of cattle were killed or so severely injured they required euthanasia1 1112. Ivan Schlaht, who lost 98 cattle in the blaze, described the aftermath as "the grossest thing I have ever seen" and "the most horrific scene ever"812.

The day after the fire, about 20 cattle were still alive but suffering terribly from their burns. The animals' injuries were so severe that a friend of Schlaht's had to put them down12. The psychological impact on ranchers who discovered their burned animals was profound, with Ivan Schlaht stating, "I don't wish that on anyone"1. The emotional toll extended beyond financial loss, with Schlaht noting, "A million dollars still wouldn't cover what I lost because of the anguish the cattle and myself went through"12.

For families with children, the fire created particularly traumatic experiences. Laurie Campbell described having to wake her children at midnight to evacuate, with her nine-year-old searching for a favorite toy while her five-year-old worried whether their father would survive the fire1. This psychological impact on the younger generation raised concerns about the future of family farming in the region.

Long-Term Agricultural and Economic Consequences

The fire's impact on agricultural operations extended far beyond the immediate destruction. Ranchers estimated it would take three to five years for the burned grasslands to recover sufficiently to support cattle grazing again113. As Laurel Schlaht explained, "Basically, it's going to be out of commission for three to five years," referring to the winterfield grassland destroyed by the flames13. This extended recovery period created significant operational challenges for the affected ranchers.

The financial burden was substantial. Daryl Swenson reported having to borrow at least $60,000 to replant grass and replenish feed stocks for his livestock12. The fire scorched approximately 4,200 hectares on the Remount community pasture, part of the rural municipality known as Special Areas12. This communal grazing land was a valuable resource for multiple ranching operations in the region.

Months after the fire, affected ranchers and farmers were still awaiting compensation for their losses712. The compensation process became contentious, with ranchers expressing frustration about delays and perceived bureaucratic obstacles. By September 2018, a full year after the incident, residents were reporting that the compensation process appeared to be stalled, with CFB Suffield seemingly "out of the loop" despite earlier promises of fair compensation7.

Military Response and Community Relations

The fire exacerbated long-standing tensions between local residents and CFB Suffield. Initially, military officials were hesitant to definitively link the fire on the base with the destruction of civilian property. Major Hugh Atwell, acting commander of the base at the time, stated he couldn't "conclusively state" that the two fires were connected, though he acknowledged they "absolutely know that we had a fire that started as a result of a military operation"8.

As evidence mounted, Lt.-Col. Michael Onieu, the base commander, eventually accepted responsibility, stating "there is no denying the military is responsible" for the grass fire5. Onieu ordered an extensive investigation, to be conducted by a third party with testimony given under oath, though he advised residents to seek damages through their insurance agencies while awaiting the outcome of this lengthy process13.

The incident revealed a pattern of concerns about CFB Suffield's fire management practices. Local residents described living "on pins and needles" whenever they spotted smoke coming from the base1. Bindloss Mayor Daryl Swenson stated bluntly at a community meeting: "Things have got to change. Somebody is going to die"1. Jack Stelter, another local resident, expressed the community's frustration by saying, "They tell us they want to be our friends and our neighbours... They're not really good friends… and they're bad neighbours"1.

Community members noted that fires originating from the base had been a recurring problem for years. Daryl Swenson commented, "This has been going on for years and years — them letting the grass burn out there, out of control, not letting us to go in there to stop it before it gets serious"8. The military explained that civilians were not permitted to enter the training area due to an "extraordinary level of risk," though this policy contributed to local frustration8.

Changes and Lessons Learned

In January 2018, approximately four months after the fire, CFB Suffield announced it was implementing several changes in response to the incident11. While the specific nature of these changes wasn't detailed in the search results, the announcement acknowledged the significant damage caused by the fire, including the destruction of a farm, death of 160 cattle, and loss of crops, feed, and pasture11.

The fire underscored the dangerous intersection of military training activities, climate conditions, and agricultural operations. When questioned about why the military would detonate artillery during a fire ban, Lt.-Col. Onieu explained the complexities of the base's operations, which include not only military training but also oil and gas operations (12,000 oil wells), grazing cattle, and a defence research establishment. He noted that unexploded ordnance poses "a very fatal threat to people," necessitating disposal even during challenging conditions5.

Laurel Schlaht identified a fundamental disconnect in the relationship, stating: "They don't seem to understand that we as ranchers and farmers, we have to make a livelihood and we have to care for the land because we need it next year"13. This statement encapsulates the different timeframes and priorities that often create tension between military operations and agricultural communities.

Conclusion

The 2017 CFB Suffield fire had profound and lasting impacts on Bindloss and surrounding communities. Beyond the immediate destruction of property and tragic loss of livestock, the fire created significant economic challenges for local agricultural operations, with multi-year recovery timelines for damaged grasslands. The psychological and emotional toll on residents—particularly those who lost homes, witnessed suffering animals, or evacuated children during the night—cannot be overstated.

The incident strained already tense relations between the military base and local residents, though it also prompted operational changes at CFB Suffield that may reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. For the people of Bindloss, the fire represented not just a singular disaster but part of a pattern of concerns about living adjacent to a major military training facility. The experience highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities to both natural and human-caused disasters, while demonstrating the resilience required to rebuild in their aftermath.

Citations:

A History of Bindloss

Nestled in the vast prairie landscape of southern Alberta lies the small hamlet of Bindloss, a place whose history reflects the rise and decline of many rural communities across Western Canada. Today, this quiet settlement stands as a testament to the transformative power of railway expansion in the early 20th century and the subsequent shifts in economic and social patterns that have reshaped rural Alberta. Bindloss is located within Special Area No. 2, approximately 10 kilometers west of Highway 41 and 97 kilometers north of Medicine Hat, positioned at coordinates 50°52′48″N 110°16′25″W1. While now largely depopulated and considered among Alberta's ghost towns, Bindloss holds a unique place in the province's historical narrative, offering valuable insights into settlement patterns, economic development, and cultural identity in southern Alberta.

Origins and Early Development

Bindloss was established in 1915 during a period of significant railway expansion across the Canadian prairies6. The hamlet's founding directly coincided with the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) branch line construction in southern Alberta, which was creating new communities and economic opportunities throughout the region. Its existence owes much to the CPR's ambitious expansion strategy that saw numerous small settlements established along newly constructed rail lines to facilitate agricultural shipments and provide services to surrounding farming communities.

The hamlet was officially named after Harold Edward Bindloss, an English novelist who had gained considerable popularity for his Western-themed adventure novels18. Born in Liverpool in 1866, Bindloss had spent his youth exploring Western Canada and Africa before returning to England in 1896 with his health affected by malaria8. Drawing on his experiences abroad, he went on to write more than sixty novels, many of which depicted life on the Canadian prairies and helped shape British perceptions of Canada's western frontier48. His works, including titles such as "Alton of Somasco," "Delilah of the Snows," and "A Sower of Wheat," often featured narratives of English immigrants building new lives in Canada's western landscapes4. The CPR's decision to name the hamlet after this prolific author in 1914 reflected both the railway's promotion of western settlement and the literary connections between Britain and its former colony8.

By 1916, Bindloss had established its own post office, signifying its recognition as an official community with basic services6. This development came during a period when the Canadian prairies were experiencing significant population growth, largely driven by government and CPR immigration campaigns that attracted settlers from Eastern Canada, the United States, and Europe.

The Railway and Community Formation

The establishment of Bindloss exemplifies the profound influence of railway development on settlement patterns across Western Canada during the early 20th century. The Canadian Pacific Railway, completed as a transcontinental line in 1885, had created a transportation network that made large-scale settlement of the prairies possible7. By the early 1900s, the CPR was expanding its network through numerous branch lines to facilitate the movement of agricultural products from rural areas to larger markets.

The railway was not merely a transportation system but a powerful institution that shaped community development across Alberta. As historian Alan Vanterpool notes, "Railways were built to serve the transportation needs of the settlers of the West," creating an infrastructure that determined which communities would thrive and which would struggle16. For communities like Bindloss, the railway station represented the economic and social center of town life, serving as the critical link between local agricultural production and distant markets.

The development of Bindloss occurred relatively late in Alberta's railway expansion period. The first railway in Alberta had been the CPR's main line, which was built through Medicine Hat, Calgary, and Banff in 1882-8316. Over the subsequent decades, the CPR completed numerous branch lines throughout the province, with a somewhat higher concentration in southern Alberta, where Bindloss would eventually be established16.

Community Life and Infrastructure

Though limited records exist about daily life in early Bindloss, the hamlet developed the basic infrastructure typical of prairie settlements of its era. Beyond the essential post office established in 1916, Bindloss featured a school, which today is commemorated by a school marker visible in the townsite6. A small modern school building also exists but appears to have been closed for some time, reflecting the demographic challenges faced by rural Alberta communities in recent decades6.

Religious life was represented by a United Church, which stood alongside what appears to have been a freestanding bell tower—an unusual feature noted by visitors to the site6. These institutions formed the core of community identity and social life in small prairie settlements, providing important gathering places for dispersed farming populations.

Given its position along a railway line, Bindloss would have likely featured grain elevators—those distinctive prairie sentinels that facilitated the storage and shipment of locally grown grain. While specific details about Bindloss's elevator history are not well-documented in the available records, the economic focus on grain production and shipment would have been central to the hamlet's purpose.

Commercial establishments in Bindloss included what appears to have been a gas station, auto repair services, and possibly insurance offices or other small businesses situated along the main street and Railroad Avenue, with some buildings featuring the wooden sidewalks characteristic of early prairie towns1. These businesses would have served both local residents and travelers passing through the community.

Natural Resources and Economic Activities

Beyond agriculture, the Bindloss area held economic potential in its natural gas reserves. The Bindloss Gas Field, located near the hamlet, remains an operating gas field in Alberta5. According to geological records, the field contained an original gas volume of 17,224 million cubic meters, with remaining reserves estimated at 580 million cubic meters as of 20235. This resource, while significant, did not generate sufficient economic activity to prevent the hamlet's eventual decline.

The broader region's economy has historically been dominated by agriculture, primarily cattle ranching and grain farming. The importance of agriculture to the identity and economy of the Bindloss area is reflected in the existence of the Empress Bindloss Agridome, managed by the Empress/Bindloss Agricultural Society12. This facility, which includes a horse riding arena (converted from a skating rink), a two-sheet curling rink, a restaurant, lounge, and games room, continues to serve as an important community hub for the sparsely populated region12.

Decline and Current Status

Like many small prairie settlements established during the railway era, Bindloss experienced significant population decline throughout the latter half of the 20th century. This demographic shift resulted from multiple factors, including agricultural mechanization (which reduced farm labor requirements), the consolidation of farm operations into larger units, improved transportation (which made services in larger centers more accessible), and the general urbanization trend across Canadian society.

By the early 21st century, Bindloss had been largely depopulated, with only a handful of inhabited homes remaining among the abandoned buildings of the original townsite6. Its status as one of Alberta's ghost towns reflects the fate of numerous small communities across the province that have experienced similar patterns of decline1014. This transformation is vividly captured in contemporary accounts that describe Bindloss as having "only a couple of homes... inhabited now with some old abandoned buildings making up the townsite"6.

Despite its diminished population, Bindloss continues to appear in real estate listings, suggesting that property remains available in the hamlet, though demand is presumably limited913. For those seeking an extremely rural lifestyle, Bindloss has been described as "a refreshingly rural and peaceful place, where time seems to move much slower"2.

Notable Recent Events

In September 2017, Bindloss was affected by a significant environmental incident when an attempt to dispose of unexploded ordnance at nearby Canadian Forces Base Suffield led to a wildfire. This fire burned approximately 220 square kilometers on the base itself and an additional 58 square kilometers beyond its boundaries1. The fire had severe consequences for local ranching operations, resulting in the death of 260 head of cattle that were either killed directly in the fire or had to be euthanized due to severe burns1. This incident highlighted both the continued vulnerability of the region's agricultural operations to environmental hazards and the ongoing military presence in the vicinity of Bindloss.

Geographic and Climate Characteristics

The physical setting of Bindloss is characterized by the open prairie landscape typical of southeastern Alberta. The hamlet experiences a continental climate with significant seasonal temperature variations. Weather records indicate extreme temperature ranges, from winter lows averaging -17.9°C (-0.2°F) in January to summer highs reaching an average of 27.4°C (81.3°F) in July1. The area's climate has shaped both agricultural practices and building designs throughout its history.

This prairie landscape, while challenging due to its extreme climate, offers distinctive natural beauty that continues to attract some visitors. The region around Bindloss provides access to natural attractions including the Great Sand Hills and is relatively close to Banff National Park and Lake Newell Resort, though the hamlet itself is decidedly off the usual tourist paths2.

Preservation and Cultural Memory

Today, Bindloss exists as much in cultural memory as in physical reality. The hamlet appears in lists of Alberta ghost towns and has been featured in documentary videos exploring abandoned places in southern Alberta1. These contemporary interactions with Bindloss reflect a growing interest in rural heritage and the documentation of disappearing prairie settlements.

The hamlet's name continues to honor Harold Edward Bindloss, whose literary legacy includes numerous novels that helped shape international perceptions of the Canadian West8. Though not widely read today, Bindloss was once considered "probably a more capable craftsman than any native Canadian writer of the period" who "had spent enough time in the West to make his settings authentic with real observed details"8.

Conclusion

The history of Bindloss, Alberta embodies the broader narrative of prairie settlement, railway expansion, agricultural development, and rural transformation that has shaped much of Western Canada. From its establishment as a CPR station in 1915 to its current status as a near ghost town, Bindloss represents the complex and sometimes difficult evolution of rural communities in a changing economic and social landscape.

While its population has dwindled and many of its buildings stand abandoned, Bindloss remains significant as a physical reminder of an important chapter in Alberta's development. The hamlet's story illuminates how transportation infrastructure, natural resources, agricultural practices, and broader economic forces have interacted to shape settlement patterns across the Canadian prairies. In its quiet streets and weathered structures, Bindloss preserves the memory of a vibrant period of growth and optimism that characterized early 20th century Western Canada, even as it stands as a testament to the profound changes that have reshaped rural life in the decades since.

Citations:

Thursday, February 27, 2025

History of Drought in East Central Alberta

Research article by Perplexity AI:

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/history-of-drought-in-east-cen-lUaXMEfKTo6zYA2MGQ05Fw

Alberta West News

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Friday, February 28, 2025

Arrogant Army?

The 2017 CFB Suffield Fire: Devastating Impact on Bindloss, Alberta

Origin and Spread of the Fire

Immediate Impacts on the Community

Livestock Losses and Animal Suffering

Long-Term Agricultural and Economic Consequences

Military Response and Community Relations

Changes and Lessons Learned

Conclusion

Citations:

A History of Bindloss

Origins and Early Development

The Railway and Community Formation

Community Life and Infrastructure

Natural Resources and Economic Activities

Decline and Current Status

Notable Recent Events

Geographic and Climate Characteristics

Preservation and Cultural Memory

Conclusion

Citations:

Thursday, February 27, 2025

History of Drought in East Central Alberta