While Okotoks Fire Services may have had a relatively quiet week, they spent their down time preparing for the worst.

Deputy Fire Chief Pat MacIsaac says the Fire Department received 23 calls for aid in the past several days.

"We had a number of alarm calls and medical responses.  We had one motor vehicle accident and the rest were assisting outside agencies like EMS by extracting people from difficult situations, so it was kind of a run of the mill week for us."

MacIsaac says the Fire Fighters were busy in their downtime though as they ensured we were prepared to send aid to Waterton, fortunately that call never had to be made.

"Calgary was asked and sent crews and so did some of the departments closer to Waterton, but we were never requested to go." The Deputy Chief adds "We would have absolutely helped out as much as we could, but our department wasn't asked."

While the Okotoks crews never saw the lights of the Kenow fires, they did have their hands full preparing for a wild land fire here in the Foothills, just in case.

Deputy Chief MacIsaac says they spent the days watching, waiting and preparing.

"We have 'bush trucks' as we call them, and we were keeping those maintained daily.  We kept an eye on the weather while discussing any 'going on's' with the M.D. of Foothills Fire Chief, and the surrounding departments and just try to keep abreast of all the situations."

Although we've seen a great couple days of precipitation, the Okotoks Fire Department is not off of full alert yet.

It's been so hot and dry all summer, MacIsaac says there's probably not a chance that they'll be lifting the fire ban in town any time soon, since the grass and  vegetation in the area is still just too dry.

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