FortSask

Crews are continuing to work on a grass fire in Strathcona County.

Members of Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES) and the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department responded to the fire Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 31) near Township Road 540 and Range Road 232.

"Members have been battling the hot temperatures working to control and minimize the spread of the blaze," SCES said in a post on social media.  

Crews will remain on the scene throughout the evening to continue to put out hot spots.

No word on the cause. 

Crews are continuing to work on a grass fire in Strathcona County.

Members of Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES) and the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department responded to the fire Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 31) near Township Road 540 and Range Road 232.

"Members have been battling the hot temperatures working to control and minimize the spread of the blaze," SCES said in a post on social media.  

Crews will remain on the scene throughout the evening to continue to put out hot spots.

No word on the cause. 

Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced that effective Thursday (Sept. 1) at 11 p.m., the labour and delivery unit at the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital will temporarily close. 

In a press release, AHS says the decision is due to the absence of an Obstetrician regular and on-call coverage. 

Parents who were planning to deliver their children at the hospital are urged to instead head to the Sturgeon Community Hospital located in St. Albert. 

Women’s services are planned to resume next Wednesday (Sept. 7).

A blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) advisory has been issued for a Strathcona County lake ahead of the Labour Day long weekend. 

Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued the advisory on Wednesday (Aug. 31) after blue-green algae was identified in Hastings Lake. Blue-green algae can harm human health, so advisories are issued when blooms are identified or confirmed by sample results. 

Strathcona County RCMP is on the lookout for two suspects in relation to the arson of two residential developments. 

Police were called to Sedium Way in Sherwood Park around 3:49 a.m. on Jul. 23 after reports of a fire. On arrival, they found two houses under construction that had been set ablaze. 

Local fire services were able to control the fire, and the cause was deemed suspicious. 

RCMP say two suspects were seen leaving the developments moments before the fire started. 

The sentencing hearing for a Fort Saskatchewan man convicted of killing his one-year-old son and assaulting his daughter will resume next Wednesday (Sept. 7).

In late June, Damien Starrett was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of baby Ares and assaulting his daughter, whose name is protected by a publication.

The CRTC says it will launch a new emergency crisis number for people in need of immediate mental health or suicide prevention support.

It says starting at the end of November 2023, Canadians will be able to call 988 to be connected to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service, free of charge.

The Public Health Agency of Canada will decide which group will provide the service, along with the scope of care it will offer.

The move will bring Canada in line with the United States, which launched its 988 service last month.

A local golfer hit the shot of a lifetime over the weekend during the 2022 Mixed Open Championships at the Fort Sask Golf and Curling Club. 

Jake Letourneau, 28, has been playing golf for most of his life and was participating in the championship alongside his girlfriend. 

When they reached hole eight, he went into the tee-off shot with the aim of giving his girlfriend an easy putt. 

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is putting out a worldwide challenge to stop the theft of catalytic converters.

Catalytic converters are stolen to recycle the metals inside, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium -- some catalytic converters that can cost thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise. In the last three years, thefts in Edmonton have increased 219 per cent.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP Constable Lauren Mowbray went to the podium on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 30) to talk about online safety. 

As the back-to-school season arrives in the community, the threat of criminals using social media posts to find information on children and families rises.