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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
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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.
