Davey Tree Flipbooks

6 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | September/October 2023 POWERLINE REMEDIATION FOR FIVE MID-ALBERTA WILDFIRES NIPISI, KAYBOB AND WASKAHEGAN WILDFIRES ATCO Electric account Davey Canada employees have cleared an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers of powerline in the Nipisi, Kaybob, and Waskahegan fires, which are named for the oilfield properties. "There were hot spots and helicopters with buckets dropping water, zoning in on where the fire was burning underground. Every now and then fires would erupt above ground, and we had to be prepared to evacuate at any moment. We were all set up with satellite phones and radios to get us out if needed," said Dave McCaveney, foreman, ATCO Electric account. McCaveney has been supervising the crews at the Nipisi wildfire. The Nipisi crews used amphibious all-terrain vehicles (Argos) to access where they needed to work on powerline restoration. "The ROWs are built right through the bush and there aren't many roads present. If we're going along the ROWs and we come across a muskeg or swamp, Argos allow us to make it through," McCaveney said. McCaveney and the crews stayed in a camp together. "I have a good team in terms of their abilities, skill level, and the fact that we can all get along – we all rally around each other. On average we have been removing 60 trees per day," McCaveney added. Jim Brown, manager, forest operations, ATCO Electric expressed his gratitude for the work of the Davey crews. "I've been dealing with forest fires for 40 years, and the cleanup work is a nasty job," Brown said. "The crews are out there in 30 degrees Celsius weather, with huge horseflies and insects, and are breathing in the smoke. My hat goes off to them. I was talking to them all, telling them how much I appreciate having them out there," Brown said. MISSION A Davey mulcher truck is pictured near Rainbow Lake in Northwestern Alberta in early May 2023, with an early-stage wildfire burning in the distance. "This was at the start of the wildfires. Our crews were finishing up a project we started in September 2022 with only a couple of days left on it. The wildfire turned and we had to evacuate immediately," said Jesse Imbeault, Alberta regional utility manager, Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited. Nipisi Wildfire: Brenton Ballantyne, Glen Ballantyne, Jesse Draycott, Jeffery Jobb, Marvin Jobb, Dave McCaveney, Delores Starblanket and Perry Young. Kaybob wildfire: Jonathan Curtis, Travis Deitsch, Dawson Guindon, Nick Guindon, Carey Goosen, Evan Goosen, Leyna Kenzle and Mike Vojnovich. Waskahegan wildfire: Rob Bernard, Richard Elarmo, Wayne MacDonald, Kyle McAuley, Peter Visztenvelt and Judit Toth. ATCO Electric account employees who assisted: Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited crews on the ATCO Electric and FortisAlberta accounts worked to clear trees and debris from the Alberta wildfires starting in May.

• Cover