Latest news with #ThorhildCounty
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Downed cell tower has left many Thorhild County residents without service for weeks
Many residents in Thorhild County, Alta., have been without cellphone service for three weeks, after thieves downed a 106-metre Telus tower. Businesses are scrambling, while families worry about their inability to reach each other or access help during an emergency. Monique Janice Chartrand, who owns a roofing company, sends her children to stay with their father in the hamlet of Thorhild when she is working out of town. "Just in case something ever happened — like if one of the kids fell down the stairs, or something like that, and you need to call 911," Chartrand told CBC News Friday. She recalled how much she relied on her mobile phone during the wildfire evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alta., where she used to live. Residents in parts of Thorhild County, about 85 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, were forced to flee wildfire in May. "Just imagine trying to get a hold of your loved ones and you're in a panic trying to get all your stuff out of your house," Chartrand said. Just after 9 a.m. MT on June 14, RCMP say officers responded to a call about the downed cell tower on Range Road 233. All of its copper wiring was stolen. Investigators believe the vandalism occurred around 5 a.m. that day, when the roughly 150 farmers served by the tower lost service, police say. Telus customers between Clyde, Alta., and Thorhild County have had wireless services disrupted, a company spokesperson told CBC News via email. They did not specify how many customers have been impacted. "As a temporary solution, our teams have adjusted nearby antennas to provide as much coverage as possible to the community, though there may be some customers who experience intermittent or no service," the spokesperson said. "We are working quickly to build a new tower, which we anticipate will be completed in September." Telus encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact police, they said. The incident is the second such act of vandalism to affect a Telus tower north of Edmonton in less than three months, the company spokesperson said. RCMP confirmed to CBC News that, in late March, vandals destroyed another tower near Bruderheim, Alta., a town roughly 45 kilometres northeast of Edmonton and 50 kilometres south of Thorhild County. Although, police said nothing was stolen. Police said a cut guy wire — a tensioned cable used to stabilize freestanding structures — caused the tower, located off of Highway 15, to collapse. "We are deeply concerned about the increasing frequency of these acts of vandalism," the Telus spokesperson said. That tower's rebuild is expected to be finished at the end of the month, they said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Downed cell tower has left many Thorhild County residents without service for weeks
Many residents in Thorhild County, Alta., have been without cellphone service for three weeks, after thieves downed a 106-metre Telus tower. Businesses are scrambling, while families worry about their inability to reach each other or access help during an emergency. Monique Janice Chartrand, who owns a roofing company, sends her children to stay with their father in the hamlet of Thorhild when she is working out of town. "Just in case something ever happened — like if one of the kids fell down the stairs, or something like that, and you need to call 911," Chartrand told CBC News Friday. She recalled how much she relied on her mobile phone during the wildfire evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alta., where she used to live. Residents in parts of Thorhild County, about 85 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, were forced to flee wildfire in May. "Just imagine trying to get a hold of your loved ones and you're in a panic trying to get all your stuff out of your house," Chartrand said. Just after 9 a.m. MT on June 14, RCMP say officers responded to a call about the downed cell tower on Range Road 233. All of its copper wiring was stolen. Investigators believe the vandalism occurred around 5 a.m. that day, when the roughly 150 farmers served by the tower lost service, police say. Telus customers between Clyde, Alta., and Thorhild County have had wireless services disrupted, a company spokesperson told CBC News via email. They did not specify how many customers have been impacted. "As a temporary solution, our teams have adjusted nearby antennas to provide as much coverage as possible to the community, though there may be some customers who experience intermittent or no service," the spokesperson said. "We are working quickly to build a new tower, which we anticipate will be completed in September." Telus encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact police, they said. The incident is the second such act of vandalism to affect a Telus tower north of Edmonton in less than three months, the company spokesperson said. RCMP confirmed to CBC News that, in late March, vandals destroyed another tower near Bruderheim, Alta., a town roughly 45 kilometres northeast of Edmonton and 50 kilometres south of Thorhild County. Although, police said nothing was stolen. Police said a cut guy wire — a tensioned cable used to stabilize freestanding structures — caused the tower, located off of Highway 15, to collapse. "We are deeply concerned about the increasing frequency of these acts of vandalism," the Telus spokesperson said. That tower's rebuild is expected to be finished at the end of the month, they said.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Downed cell tower has left many Thorhild County residents without service for weeks
Many residents in Thorhild County, Alta., have been without cellphone service for three weeks, after thieves downed a 106-metre Telus tower. Businesses are scrambling, while families worry about their inability to reach each other or access help during an emergency. Monique Janice Chartrand, who owns a roofing company, sends her children to stay with their father in the hamlet of Thorhild when she is working out of town. "Just in case something ever happened — like if one of the kids fell down the stairs, or something like that, and you need to call 911," Chartrand told CBC News Friday. She recalled how much she relied on her mobile phone during the wildfire evacuation of Fort McMurray, Alta., where she used to live. Residents in parts of Thorhild County, about 85 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, were forced to flee wildfire in May. "Just imagine trying to get a hold of your loved ones and you're in a panic trying to get all your stuff out of your house," Chartrand said. Just after 9 a.m. MT on June 14, RCMP say officers responded to a call about the downed cell tower on Range Road 233. All of its copper wiring was stolen. Investigators believe the vandalism occurred around 5 a.m. that day, when the roughly 150 farmers served by the tower lost service, police say. Telus customers between Clyde, Alta., and Thorhild County have had wireless services disrupted, a company spokesperson told CBC News via email. They did not specify how many customers have been impacted. "As a temporary solution, our teams have adjusted nearby antennas to provide as much coverage as possible to the community, though there may be some customers who experience intermittent or no service," the spokesperson said. "We are working quickly to build a new tower, which we anticipate will be completed in September." Telus encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact police, they said. The incident is the second such act of vandalism to affect a Telus tower north of Edmonton in less than three months, the company spokesperson said. RCMP confirmed to CBC News that, in late March, vandals destroyed another tower near Bruderheim, Alta., a town roughly 45 kilometres northeast of Edmonton and 50 kilometres south of Thorhild County. Although, police said nothing was stolen. Police said a cut guy wire — a tensioned cable used to stabilize freestanding structures — caused the tower, located off of Highway 15, to collapse. "We are deeply concerned about the increasing frequency of these acts of vandalism," the Telus spokesperson said.
Globe and Mail
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Wildfires near Boyle and Radway, northeast of Edmonton, prompt emergency and evacuation orders
A shoulder patch of the Alberta Wildfire service is pictured in Fort McMurray, Alta., May 16, 2024. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press Residents in rural areas northeast of Edmonton have been ordered to leave their homes because of separate wildfires. Thorhild County has issued a state of local emergency and an evacuation order for an area south of the hamlet of Radway, Alta., while Athabasca County has issued an evacuation order for an area south of the village of Boyle, Alta. The village has declared a state of local emergency and is under an evacuation alert, with residents being told to prepare to leave by packing a bag for the next 72 hours. Athabasca County is directing its evacuees to a reception centre at Parkland Motels II in Lac La Biche, Alta. Explainer: What you should know about wildfire evacuation orders, alerts, and how to prepare Earlier in the afternoon, Sturgeon County issued an evacuation order as a fire burned near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area. It says the order affects people living east of Redwater, roughly 61 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Affected residents are being told to gather important documents and medication and sign up for supports at the Pembina Place reception centre. The municipality says major fire activity was expected due to high winds and that crews are working to put out the fire. Officials have said the out-of-control blaze started over the weekend because of an all-terrain vehicle that caught fire after an apparent electrical or mechanical failure. They say crews would be conducting air drops of retardant materials in the area.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Mandatory evacuation order remains in effect as Redwater wildfire flares
Social Sharing An evacuation order Sturgeon County issued Tuesday afternoon remains in place for homes northeast of the town of Redwater, Alta., due to the threat of wildfires. The wildfire, which started over the weekend, is burning near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area. Fire officials warned that there was a chance of high fire activity due to wind and dry conditions and the bounds of the evacuation order fluctuated throughout the evening Tuesday as crews battled the flames. According to an alert issued shortly after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, the evacuation order is still in effect for Range Road 213 east to Range Road 203 and between Township Road 580 south to Township Road 573. Everyone forced to evacuate should head to the reception centre at Pembina Place, in Redwater, about 65 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. The fire covers 1,500 hectares as of Tuesday at 8:20 p.m., up from 408 hectares the day before. At 9:10 p.m. an evacuation order was issued for Thorhild County for everyone living on Range Roads 203-211 and Township Roads 580-584. There is a reception centre for evacuees at Thorhild Community Hall. The county has also issued a state of local emergency.
