Flames escaping from a burning barrel were the cause of a fire at a Rimbey area farm that could have gotten out of hand, Saturday.
Ken Stemo gives the Rimbey Volunteer Fire Department kudos for its quick response and professional action in keeping the fire at his farm located west a few miles west of Rimbey under control.
“They were out here in five to 10 minutes and they took over right away. I’m grateful there was no more damage than what was caused already.”
Stemo said he was burning some dried up thistles in the burning barrel that morning.
“I had a good cover on it and I kind of forgot about it and went in the house for lunch.”
When he was having lunch he noted smoke on the south side of the house.
“My truck had caught fire already,” he said.
The fire quickly spread to an old shed that the Stemo’s had planned to demolish and an unused camper trailer.
The 1998 truck had a full gas tank and was completely destroyed.
“It was the biggest loss,” said Stemo. “It was old, but I liked that truck.”
Stemo is grateful the fire didn’t spread to the tall Spruce trees, his shop and house.
“It had the potential to be very dangerous,” he said.
The fire department was on the scene around noon.