November/December 2016 | The Davey Bulletin 17
Other stuff, we just had to roll with it."
Air quality due to the smoke proved
particularly challenging. During the fire,
officials measured air quality on a scale
of 1 to 10 – with 10 being the worst.
"There were many days up there where
air quality was a 45," Hill said. "So our
crews were all fitted and equipped
with respirator masks, which use a
charcoal cartridge designed to last one
person doing physical work for six to
10 hours. They were blasting through
cartridges every one to two hours."
The crews lived in temporary camps
used by oilfield workers. One day, the
fire changed direction and prevented
the crews from returning to their camp
and the small niceties – like clean socks
and toothbrushes – that helped them
endure weeks away from their families.
But they persevered, and they learned
valuable lessons, Hill said. For example,
one of Davey's chainsaw vendors
loaned a covered trailer, so they filled
it with tons of extra gear, including
chain oil, two-stroke fuel mix, bars,
chains and other power saw materials
that the crews were burning through
in 12-hour days, seven days a week.
That prep proved essential.
Of course, safety had to be top-of-
mind. Davey's involvement started
in mid-May and wrapped up in early
July with no recordable injuries –
a considerable accomplishment given
the working conditions, Hill said.
"I was very proud of the crews,"
he said. "It was impressive."
The wildfire destroyed thousands of structures, including houses, in Fort McMurray.
Six Canada offices or accounts
contributed to the Fort McMurray
fire cleanup, with various
equipment, including:
• Fortis AB Central;
• Fortis AB NW;
• ATCO Electric;
• EPCOR;
• Vancouver Isle utility;
• and 258 Lower Mainland utility.
35 employees helped with power
restoration efforts, using:
• 4 aerial lift trucks, and 1 aerial lift
on a skidder with 75 feet of reach;
• 1 track chipper;
• multiple Argo ATVs and other
off-road vehicles.
FORT MCMURRAY
BY THE NUMBERS
Smoke lingers in the air from the Fort
McMurray wildfire, which devastated
assets of Canada client ATCO Electric.
