Blindloss farmers neighbours, ‘not the enemy’

The farmers and ranchers who live along the boundary of CFB Suffield have a great respect for those who serve and protect our country. We are their neighbours, but we feel that they treat us as the enemy.

For 40 years we have kept a constant eye on the base. Many wake up in the morning and look at the sunrise but we look to the base to see if there’s smoke, if so how much and how close to the boundary. At one time we were able to enter and control the blaze before it crossed onto our lands, but no more. We are now threatened with arrest if entering. The military puts little effort into controlling these blazes so we are on constant alert.

We were concerned several hours before the recent fire crossed out of the base; there was no control. Once it crossed, more help was needed. We had tremendous response from volunteer firefighters as far away as Stettler and Walsh. As many as 200 people fought this blaze. It is a miracle no one was killed or injured. My three sons and I and many others fought hard and managed to save our yard, stopping the blaze within half a mile of our residence. My 89-year-old neighbour one mile east was not as lucky. He lost everything. The damage to my family’s farm is extensive. We lost our winter pasture, which experts say will take 3-5 good years to recover. We lost wheat crops, our winter supply of hay bales and miles and miles of fence. I can’t afford this kind of loss and I don’t think I should have to.

Many of my neighbours fared worse. Some lost up to 60 per cent of their cattle in the fire. Seeing the cattle that died in the fire is something none of us will forget and never want to see again.

There was a total fire ban in southern Alberta but the military blows up ordinance on a hot, dry, windy day and is amazed that a fire starts and gets out of control. Stop and think for a second, use some common sense and wait for rain.

What I want from the military is not much. Pay for our losses, make a considerably wider fire guard along the perimeter of the base and control the fire before it gets there.

We know they have a job to do out there but we live here. We are their neighbours, not the enemy.

Daryl Swenson Blindloss, Alta.