Alberta RCMP and suspect exchange gunfire on QEII; ASIRT investigating

Alberta RCMP has released details on a police incident that occurred late on Friday night and into Saturday morning which shut down a portion of the QEII north of Airdrie, near Carstairs.

Update: Traffic being diverted after early morning police incident near Carstairs

An earlier police incident that occurred east of Carstairs has since been cleared and both the northbound and southbound lanes of the QEII near Township Road 301 and Highway 581 are re-opened to traffic. 

Earlier on Saturday, Alberta RCMP had advised that Southbound traffic on the QEII was open after the police incident, though northbound traffic was still being detoured earlier this morning.  

Local RCMP and firefighters tackle semi fire together

Didsbury Mounties said that just before noon on Friday, they received a call reporting a semi-tractor trailer unit on fire on the QEII Highway near Township Road 294.

"The driver of the semi was able to detach his load; however, the tractor unit was a complete loss. Fire departments from Carstairs and Crossfield responded to the fire, and we were able to extinguish the blaze," police stated.

There were no injuries reported.

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Carstairs Fire Department acquires new life-saving equipment

The Carstairs Fire Department now has a new piece of life-saving equipment.

Thanks to $10,000 from TC Energy and $11,000 from Alberta Health Services, the fire department was able to purchase a Lucas device.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed automatically by the Lucas device. When a patient is experiencing cardiac arrest, it will help Carstairs Fire do high quality, rhythmic, depth CPR.

Service dogs provide unique opportunity for Carstairs firefighters

Last week the Carstairs Fire Department had a visit from a few four-legged friends, but this opportunity was unique in several ways.

Carstairs Fire Chief, Jordan Schaffer, explained that the service dogs came as part of the Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society. The Society, which is a charitable organization was founded in 1996 and has since expanded to offer a program of Autism Service Dogs for children. 

Chief Schaffer said that the firefighters were acquainted with how the service dogs operate when they're working. 

Firefighters shine at Carstairs Heritage Festival

The Carstairs Fire Department has reclaimed its title as tug-of-war champion at Carstairs Heritage Festival 2024.

The fire department had enough members willing to participate in the event that they had two teams, one team finishing in first and one in third. Here are the members of the winning team that beat the CrossFit team in the final: