County fire hall hit by blaze

It was a really close call for Red Deer County firefighters on Wednesday.

At about 4 a.m., firefighters raced out to the Fire Hall on the corner of 19th Street (Delburne Road) and 30th Avenue.

Their plan of action — stay put.

That’s because a small blaze had erupted inside the County Patrol office located next to the fire truck bays.

The fire was caused by an electrical malfunction of a battery that was being charged. A county press release says the battery exploded and set fire to a desk and chair.

Assistant county manager Ric Henderson said tackling a fire inside the fire hall was a “little bit” surprising for the crew.

“It’s not normal to respond to a fire in your own fire hall,” said Henderson, chuckling.

The blaze was contained to the one room, which suffered a lot of smoke damage and a little heat damage.

Henderson said there was equipment inside, but he’s not sure how badly ruined it is. County fire and patrol administrative staff have been relocated to the Springbrook station until repairs are made.

City transit fares to increase

Starting Sept. 1, a ride on a Red Deer Transit bus will cost you an extra nickel.

The one-way adult fare to ride the bus will go up to $2.15 from $2.10.

Youth, student and senior fares will also increase five cents to $1.85. Monthly passes are also going up $1 to $60 for adults and $52 for students and seniors.

A sheet of 12 bus tickets will cost an extra 50 cents, up to $22 for adult tickets and $19 for youth, students and seniors. Effective on Sunday, Routes 1 and 10 will undergo minor changes. Effective Sept. 2, School Overload Routes 20 and 35 will also be adjusted.

Transit riders are advised to view new route and schedule information at webmap.reddeer.ca

New Ride Guides are available at City Hall, on board all buses and at all transit ticket sale outlets. Finally, due to delays in the delivery of new low floor transit buses, the enhanced low floor service shown in the Ride Guide will not be offered until Sept. 30.

Two injured in blast caused by gas leak

CALGARY — The Calgary fire department says a plumber accidentally caused an explosion that ripped through a southwest Calgary home.

A spokesman says the blast happened Wednesday morning when the contractor mistakenly drilled through a riser that carries the gas inside the building.

A woman and her 15-year-old son inside the duplex suffered minor injuries when the blast tore off an exterior wall, sending glass, wood and debris flying.

The plumber — a man in his 30s — also suffered minor cuts and bruises.

Aboriginal fined for selling wildlife

LAC LA BICHE — An Alberta man has been fined more than $44,000 after pleading guilty to trafficking in fish and wildlife.

Steve Fred Ladouceur of Lac La Biche entered the plea to six charges last week.

Darcy Whiteside, a spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, says Ladouceur abused his aboriginal harvesting rights by selling whitefish, northern pike, deer and moose.

He must pay the fine by Dec. 15 or face two years in jail.

Ladouceur was among 30 people and one business charged in an alleged trafficking ring in the Lac La Biche and Athabasca regions.

Crackdown on unsafe housing

CALGARY — The Calgary fire department is cracking down on unsafe rental housing in light of two recent fire deaths.

The department has announced a confidential tipline that will allow Calgarians to report unsafe and unhealthy residential rentals.

The city’s growing population and booming economy means rental accommodation is at a premium, which has led to illegal and potentially dangerous units being made available. Two men died late last month when flames raced through a rental home.

Daycare operator given house arrest

CALGARY — A judge has ruled a Calgary woman won’t spend any time in jail for abusing two children under her care.

Justice JoAnne Strekaf said Wednesday that Victoria Tammam must serve three months of house arrest followed by 21 months of probation. Tammam, 56, was convicted in April of assaulting two young boys at her unlicensed daycare.

Strekaf rejected Crown prosecutor Bev Bauers call for jail time, ruling Tammam would not pose a risk to the community as long as her access to kids was restricted.

As part of Tammam’s sentence she cannot work at any day care or babysitting service for the next two years, nor have unsupervised access to any children under three years of age.

Strekaf said while a sentence was needed that would deter both Tammam and other people from abusing children, a conditional term including house arrest could meet that goal.

Court heard that in February 2007, Tammam slapped a four-year-old who wouldn’t go to sleep.

A week later, she assaulted a 17-month-old whose face was so bruised and swollen his parents took him to Alberta Children’s Hospital that evening.