Weekly roundup: Commercial Hotel lost in early morning blaze in Alliance over the weekend

The Alliance Fire Department was called out to the fire at the Alliance Commercial Hotel early on Sunday morning.

“The call came in at 2:30 a.m.,” said Flagstaff Regional Fire Chief Kim Cannady, that there was smoke and flames on the roof of the Commercial Hotel In Alliance.

“I immediately requested mutual aid from Forestburg and Galahad Fire departments.”
In all, 25 firemen attended the blaze.

When the Alliance department arrived on scene, fire had already burned through the roof and the entire second floor was engulfed in flames.

Cannady says, “We were forced to take a defensive position, meaning we could not enter the building for safety reasons.

“The chance of structural collapse while fire fighters are inside is just too great, we had to set up a collapse zone immediately to ensure if a wall came down we would not injure any firefighters.”
The fire department was unable to save the building, despite their best efforts, Cannady says, “it was just a matter of containing the fire from there on in.”

A vehicle that had been left at the hotel was in the zone, couldn’t be moved right away due to the heat and flames. Cannady says that the vehicle incurred heat damage to the front end, probably to the point where it is a write-off.

Cannady released the Galahad and Forestburg departments at 6:30 a.m.

Cannady confirmed that police finally got in touch with the Hotel manager at 8:30 a.m., but until then, her whereabouts were not known for sure.

Although the cold weather hampered the firefighters, with nozzles trying to freeze up, it actually also helped contain the fire to just the hotel.

“If this had been a summer fire, we would have had a bigger fire,” he said.

“The snow saved us, and without the cold, the radiant heat alone would have started adjacent buildings on fire.

“The embers from the burning building were flying around and were extremely dangerous.”

Firefighters had to contend with sub-zero temperatures, and working with frozen gear and equipment.
“It was -31˚C when I left Forestburg” Cann-ady said.

Cannady said that the Alliance Valley Inn supplied the firefighters with sandwiches and coffee; and that they tried to set up a rotation for the firefighters to warm up, as well.

There is no word as to the cause of the blaze, Cannady says the inspectors were on the scene until 4 p.m. on Sunday, and will return Tuesday to continue their investigation.

“We can not conclusively say what started the fire as of yet.”

The fire also damaged the phone lines and has cut telephone service to part of the village, there is no word when service will be fully restored.

The 9-1-1 service continues to work from any working phone in the area.

Cannady also confirmed that officials have as yet been unable to contact the manager of the hotel and said that the building’s owner lives in Edmonton.