Less than a year after severe damage was done by a storm, the Village of Hines Creek has suffered from another natural disaster. Four homes were lost to a wildfire in less than an hour on Friday.
The fire began in one of the homes on the east side of the village south of the highway and quickly spread to the other houses nearby because of strong winds. Fire Chief Ed Walmsley says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Residents across the village have once again come together to help their own. Mayor of Hines Creek Hazel Reintjes says the community set up GoFundMe for all the families who lost their homes and were able to get everything they needed including personal items, clothing, and household need.
“The families who lost their homes are all with their families now. There are so many concerns in the other communities that need more attention; at this point, we are fairly self-sufficient.”
The village went through a severe storm in July 2022 that prompted a tornado warning damaged roofs, uprooted trees, and flattened crops, and are still recovering from it. Hines Creek is located 67 kilometres west of Grimshaw and 28 kilometres north of Fairview, along Highway 64.