From setting up displays on fire safety to celebrating Canada Day to accidents and cattle wrangling, the Estevan Fire and Rescue did a bit of everything this Canada Day Weekend. 

"It was right around dinnertime yesterday," explained Fire Chief, Dale Feser, "we were called to a single-vehicle rollover which involved a highway tractor-trailer unit. That was on Highway 39 approximately 20 km from the city, just about to North Portal."

"Once crews arrived on the scene, we did indeed find a tractor-trailer unit that was hauling an emulsion of crude oil as well as salt water. The driver was uninjured as a result of the collision however, crews had to stabilize the vehicle. North Portal International Fire Department was on scene and pretty much had everything stabilized and started mitigation of the leak. There as a very minor leak that we were able to control so we just assisted them."

At no time was traffic hindered during the process.

Crews were also called out to a different sort of call shortly after that.

"We noted that there were some farmers and ranchers in distress right around the area. It appeared that they had some livestock that was on the loose. We had one steer that we assisted in finding and securing and then providing traffic control as it was located on King Street not too far from Arthur Avenue until we could get a livestock trailer in place and safely load the animal onto the trailer." 

"You never know what you're going to get and that's the beauty of the job. No two days are alike."

As for the celebrations portion of Canada Day, EFRD were busy as well. 

"Canada Day Long Weekend was very eventful for us. We had a series of PR engagements starting off with the True North Celebration that the City of Estevan was putting on."

Photo courtesy of Estevan Fire Rescue Facebook"We had some static displays that were on display at Affinity Place due to the inclement weather. We had Engine #1 which is our first out engine apparatus for people to come and take a look at and tour. And we also had the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs Public Education Division trailer. It is a safety trailer that is designed to teach family members whether they are young or old, parents, grandparents, or young children, all about fire safety."

"We can simulate a fireplace fire where it can come out the venting for the fireplace. We can simulate a stove-top fire, we can simulate an oven fire, a garbage can fire. Then the biggest simulation that we like to get across is what to do in the event that kids may be trapped in a house that is filling with smoke and there is an actual house fire going on."

He added that in the back portion of the trailer, there is s simulated bedroom that can be filled by a smoke machine to simulate the conditions of a real fire. 

"The other thing we really want to hit home is making sure that kids are rolling out of bed, adults as well as opposed to sitting up or standing up so that way they are staying out of that smoke."

Later on that night, as part of the True North Celebration, fire crews were stationed to provide suppression should the fireworks go awry. Luckily everything went off without a hitch and everyone enjoyed the fireworks show. 

That wasn't the end of the ERFD Canada Day celebrations. On Sunday, they participated in the Bienfait parade. 

"We'd like to thank our counterparts and community businesses who support that. We're very happy to partake in this and show off our aerial truck."

"Later on that afternoon, we just finished off with the parade and we made it back to the city and cleaned up the truck a little bit and took off to the Canada Day in the Park to assist the Kinsmen in their ventures in putting on a wonderful event until the weather decided to change the venue a little."

After dark clouds rolled in a lightning was seen, kids were quickly evacuated out of the pool and eventgoers sought shelter from the rain in their vehicles. 

"As soon as we saw the lighting in the area, of course, we assisted the lifeguards just to make sure that everyone safely evacuated from the pool. It's standard practice that as soon as lighting is visible int he area, we want to pull everybody out of any outdoor pools."