Teamwork On Display As Vermilion Responders Tackle Storm Damage

Powerful winds that swept through Vermilion and area on Sunday, March 8 kept emergency crews busy for several hours as a predicted afternoon wind storm and snow squall caused damage and prompted a series of calls across the community.

According to Town of Vermilion Fire Chief Anton Krys members of the Vermilion Fire and Rescue responded to eight calls between 2 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. as the storm moved through the region.

“Sunday, March 8 was a busy day for the Town of Vermilion Fire Department,” said Krys in a public message following the event. “Crew handled a wide range of incidents such as downed powerlines, motor vehicle collisions, wind damage, and medical assistance emergency across our town and surrounding areas.”

Environment Canada had issued wind warnings for much of east central Alberta the day before as a powerful system was set to move across the Prairies. Data from the weather station at Lloydminster Airport, the closest continuous reporting station to Vermilion, recorded strong northwest winds during the afternoon with gusts reaching approximately 110 km/h. The strongest winds were recorded during the same time period firefighters were responding to calls.

Those intense gusts left their mark across Vermilion. Residents reported shingles torn from homes and businesses, loose personal items blown across properties, and structural damage in several locations. One of the more visible incidents occurred at Vermilion Health Centre where a large entrance pillar began to collapse after being compromised by the wind.

The storm also triggered widespread power outages throughout the community. The first call reporting an outage was received by crews from ATCO Electric at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday just as the strongest winds began moving through the area.

According to ATCO media communications manager Doris Kaufmann Woodcock, in the Vermilion service area 20 outages impacted almost 1,500 customers, with most people having their power restored by the evening of March 8. In some cases more extensive repairs were needed and the remaining customers were reenergized by the evening of March 9.

“This weekend’s winter storm brought challenging conditions across much of Alberta, including the central east region, impacting both transmission and distribution infrastructure and access. In advance, ATCO prepared by activating our incident management response team, coordinating resources, having extra personnel on standby, and prioritizing power restoration efforts during the event.

When severe weather hits, we know the impacts are very real. Power outages – especially prolonged ones – disrupt homes, businesses, routines, and peace of mind. Importantly, there were no safety incidents throughout and we appreciated everyone’s patience and understanding. In the central region we had over 60 outages. Accumulated snow hindered access to our infrastructure and foot patrols were necessary in some areas. Wind chill temperatures and blowing snow were also a challenge. Over 50 ATCO personnel worked to respond and restore power,” stated Kaufmann Woodcock

Much of the damage was caused by trees being blown over in residential yards, pulling down power lines as they fell, and also power poles being knocked over by the wind. One of the major outages in Vermilion occurred when a large spruce tree near the Vermilion Stadium toppled during the storm, breaking a power pole and bringing down electrical wires. The incident also impacted the traffic lights along Highway 41, creating additional challenges as crews worked to restore power and ensure public safety.

Despite the rapid succession of calls and the difficult weather conditions, Krys said the department had firefighters ready to respond to each emergency.

“With this many calls in such a short time frame, the Town of Vermilion Fire Department had firefighters available to respond to each call,” he said. “It’s a reminder that as a firefighter, you never know where you’ll be when the pager goes off, but our members are always ready to answer when needed.”

Krys said days like March 8 highlight the dedication and teamwork of the department’s members.

“Days like this show the dedication and determination of our members. No matter the call, number of calls, or the conditions, our firefighters come together as one team, ready to support each other and serve the people who depend on us.”

He also extended thanks to the many partners who worked alongside firefighters during the storm, including EC911 dispatchers, EMS, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members from the local detachment, and crews from ATCO who worked to restore power throughout the area.

Community members also played a role in helping where they could.

“We would also like to extend a thank you the local good Samaritans who stepped up to help until responders arrived. Your willingness to assist others truly reflects the strength of our community.”

While the storm brought a short but intense period of disruption, it also served as a reminder of the important role emergency responders and community partners play in keeping residents safe during unexpected events.

“We are proud of the commitment shown by our members and grateful for our continued support from our community,” Krys said.