Smoky River fire chief’s truck stolen

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

Smoky River fire Chief Ian Fox was on the other side of an emergency call last week after the fire chief’s truck was stolen from the fire hall in Falher. The 1998 Chevrolet half-ton truck on Sept. 18 around 3:50 p.m. and recovered behind Honeycomb Inn in a grain field locked, undamaged, and nothing stolen around 4:10 p.m. “We are still investigation the incident because the suspect is involved in another theft in the area,” says McLennan RCMP Constable Dave Ouellet. “The description of this suspect in the second theft matches the description of the person in the first theft.” No charges had been laid by press last week’s publication deadline. Early in the evening, an older model truck was stolen in Falher and recovered just before midnight with the suspect inside, says Constable Ouellet. The suspect also had a Canada-wide warrant, he says. Rather than responding to a fire-rescue, Fox was now a victim. “I was working at the fire hall and I heard the truck start,” says Fox who also serves as the regional director of protective services. “I went out to see why the truck had started and saw a person with an unfamiliar face in the driver’s seat.” “It was almost surreal,” says Fox who then phoned 911. “I took off in one of the other trucks and pursued the perpetrator.” Police were in the Falher area at the time and quickly began the chase, setting up roadside screening checks in the area. While the police dog was called out, the tracking did not lead to the suspect, says Constable Ouellet. “A lot happened in 20 minutes,” says Fox. Police continue the investigation.