Captain Michael Frayne said when the PRFD responded, smoke and flames were visible under the north part of the bridge, adding the fire appeared to be started at a homeless encampment. Nobody was present at the encampment when PRFD personnel arrived.
It doesn’t appear there was any structural damage to the Heart River bridge, however Alberta Transportation will be inspecting it for potential safety concerns.
Traffic was re-routed around emergency vehicles while the fire was being extinguished. Cpt. Frayne thanked Peace River residents for their compliance during the event, but emphasized the importance of slowing down, moving over, and obeying the directions of emergency personnel who are diverting traffic. “The biggest reason to obey emergency vehicles is that they may be responding to a life and death situation, and every second counts. It’s also vital to the safety of first responders and motorists.”