Maple Crest residents worry about emergency access
A Maple Crest resident is worried about access to the community after emergency crews were blocked by a train for several minutes when they were trying to respond to a vehicle fire.
Christina Jarvis said a vehicle fire on Tuesday has highlighted the danger that comes with having so few roads in and out of the neighbourhood. She said her neighbour alerted her that smoke was coming out of a car down the road and as they were waiting for emergency crews they heard sirens approaching and then turn off.
“All of a sudden, the sirens stopped and we couldn't hear them anymore and we at first were wondering what is going on, why did the sirens turn off, and we realize it's because there was a train on Maple Road,” said Jarvis. “Honestly, we were just bracing, we were just waiting for an explosion. We could hear crackling and popping, the flames were getting bigger and bigger by the second.”
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) spokeswoman Brittany Lewchuk said calls regarding the fire were first received Tuesday evening around 6:41 p.m. Crews first arrived at the scene near 39 Avenue and 6 Street and had the fire fully extinguished by 7:29 p.m.
Lewchuk said crews were delayed by three minutes due to the train crossing.
“The safety of our citizens is our top priority. Any delay that has an impact on the service and possibly the outcome of an emergency event, is a risk that the City of Edmonton and Fire Rescue Services attempts to manage,” said Lewchuk in an email.
Maple Crest is in the southeast, at the corner of Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive. To the west of the community is a protected marshland. The only major access road is Maple Road NW, however it is crossed by a railway.
There is one other way from the south, through 23 Avenue. Jarvis said the secondary route is unpaved and takes much longer.
Lewchuk said EFRS has processes in place to ensure crews arrive via the fastest route and in this instance, crews were aware of the second access point.
“This secondary access route is not normally used as it is much farther from the closest fire station and in the opposite direction of travel that would normally be taken,” said Lewchuk.
Jarvis said the community raised concerns several years ago after a similar situation but she felt those concerns fell on deaf ears.
Moe Banga, the city councillor for the area, said he is aware of the concerns of the neighbourhood and has been speaking with the fire chief, city administration as well as other politicians who represent the area to find a solution.
He said he plans to put forward a motion at the next council meeting for city administration to examine how often emergency crews have been delayed trying to get into the community and what can be done to address the issue.
“Personally, my feeling is, I don't care if the delay is one minute or five minutes, everyone in Edmonton should have access to emergency services when they require them, without any delay.”
He is planning a virtual town hall next Thursday alongside Edmonton-meadows MLA Jasvir Deol and MP Tim Uppal with residents of Maple Crest.