10 months after fire from military base torched 36,500 hectares and 160 cows, landowners await compensation

Nearly a year after a massive fire that started on a military base in southeastern Alberta torched an area nearly half the size of Calgary and killed at least 160 cows, surrounding landowners who were affected are still waiting for compensation.

The firesparked on CFBSuffieldin September 2017burned more than 36,000hectares of land, forcing people to flee their homes, killing at least 160 cowsand destroying pastures.

• CFB Suffield to implement changes after fire that destroyed crops, livestock

Daryl Swenson still remembers the dark, the dust and the flames he helped put out, which started when soldiers were blowing up unexploded ordnance on the base, which is the largest military training facility in Canada.

Swenson hasn't submitted his claim yet. He'swaiting to see what this year's crop yields.

But Swenson said he'sdreading the process, after speaking with his neighbours.

"It just seems like they're doing their best to perturb us until we go away without getting anything done," he said."Not giving us what we're due, but giving us what they'll offer us."

John Campbell and his wife, Donna, are further into the claims process.

But they feel adjusters are trying to diminish the impact of the fire on their operation and delays areimpacting business.

"I can't operate the way I have been in the last few years by running cattle on the two sections that were burned," he said.

In a letter, base Cmdr. Mike Onieusays he's advocating to the Department of National Defence that the claims be made a priority.

"We have advocated extensively and have taken exceptional steps, as have the headquarters we are subordinate to, to have these claims considered as a matter of high priority," he said.

Onieu said that to date, they have received15 claims. Only two have been finalized.

"Each claim is unique and the time required to process them is dependent on numerous factors," he said.

Those factors include when the claim was first submitted, the complexity of the claim, and the completeness of the information given.

Swenson said although he is frustrated, the military base has learned to be a better neighbour since the fire.

He said he understands the mitigation work the base has promised will take time to implement, and he's OK with that, he just doesn't want a repeat of the September 2017 fire.

"It's dark and dusty, you don't have any idea what direction you're going, you're just trying to keep ahead of the fire and put it out," he said."It's something you don't want to have to do again."

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