UPDATE: Wildfire on Edge of Cochrane Being Held

UPDATE: The wildfire just across the Bow River from the West Pointe neighbourhood is now listed as being held. Fire crews remain on scene this morning putting out hot spots and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Watch for updates here.

Firefighters combined resources to quickly slow a wildfire on the southwest boundary of Cochrane just across the river from the West Pointe neighbourhood in the mid-afternoon that rapidly grew in size.  No homes appear to be at risk from the blaze.

Fire officials report significant progress has been made in controlling the fire, currently listed as 15 hectares in size and out of control by Alberta Wildfire.

Alberta Wildlife information officer Matt Bell says crews have a good hold on the blaze.

"It's listed as out of control but we do have air tankers on scene fighting the fire and we do have a solid base around it so we don't anticipate any substantial growth at this time," says Bell.

"It's something they will be fighting into the evening but they do have a good strong hold on it. Then it will be something monitored throughout the night."

Cochrane and Rocky View crews responded rapidly to a report of a grass fire on Stoney Nakoda Nation land. People lined the pathway in West Pointe to view and capture images of the fire while several people with homes facing the river could be seen monitoring it from their balconies.

Fortunately, a westward wind was encouraging the fire west to travel west of town.

RCMP and bylaw officers eventually arrived on the scene asking people to move back to give the aerial firefighters room. An increasing number of helicopters responded to the fire over time to pour a rapid succession of buckets of water on the blaze while a fixed-wing air tanker dropped fire retardant.

"It's really important we give the space necessary for the firefighters and the air tankers and helicopters to do their job," says Bell.  "We ask people to keep their distance and let the firefighters do their job," says Bell.

It's too early to determine the cause of the fire, says Bell, and likely fire investigators won't be on scene until the fire is in a more controlled state.