On Tuesday night, the community of Two Hills was dealt a serious blow when the local curling rink caught fire and burned to the ground, on account of a somewhat freak accident.
Authorities were alerted and called to the scene at about 7:30 p.m. on April 2, and the facility was already ablaze. According to Sgt. Ray Campbell with the Two Hills RCMP, there was a meeting taking place at the rink when the fire broke out, and a gas leak had been suspected.
According to Campbell, RCMP suspect the rink’s gas meter was damaged by melting snow and ice that had fallen from the roof. The damage to the gas meter allowed a dangerous build up of gas in the building.
“There was a meeting at the curling rink, and the people there said that they could smell gas in the air. One person attending the meeting decided to shut the furnaces and (electrical) breaker down for safety purposes. While he was shutting off the breaker, it caused an explosion with the gas. That’s when the fire happened,” explains Campbell.
The immediate area was evacuated after the fire began, but there was little that could be done to stop the flames, as they completely engulfed the rink, destroying it.
“The Two Hills, Hairy Hill, and Myrnam fire departments were on the scene and worked together to control the fire, and kept it from spreading to the arena next to it,” says Campbell. “It was a total loss, and was smoldering all night.”
The curling rink was a centerpiece of the community, and a social hub for the people of Two Hills, serving many purposes.
“It was quite devastating; the whole town is in shock,” says Two Hills Mayor Elaine Sorochan. “It was a vital part of our recreational infrastructure, and was an important place in the community to socialize.”
The mayor adds that the facility “wasn’t just for curling. There was a lobby where meetings, gatherings, and parties were held. The rink was used year-round by young and old.”
However, Two Hills won’t be taking the destruction of the curling rink lying down, Sorochan says. Once the assessment of the damage is done, and the area site is cleaned up, plans will be set in motion to build a new rink.
“The rink was insured, and we plan to rebuild as soon as it’s possible. We’re already looking into costs and options,” says Sorochan. “Volunteers built the rink, and it’s their pride and joy.”
