KRONAU, Sask. – There have been two high profile grass fires in and near Regina in the past month.
“If someone has a cigarette (and) throws that out their window as they’re travelling down the highway, that can result in the grass fire itself,” said Gerard Kay, deputy fire chief of Regina Fire and Protective Services.
The fires can start from lightening strikes and mischievous activity, as well, he added.
On Wednesday, a grass fired made its way into Regina.
In Kronau, approximately 30 km southeast of Regina, a grass fire on May 9 destroyed several homes and farms.
Ron Euteneier, who lives beside the train tracks in the town, believes he is lucky his property didn’t suffer more damage.
The retiree was mowing his grass when, suddenly, the area around his home became engulfed in flames.
Dozens of volunteer firefighters helped battle the flames.
“It was just a feeling you can’t explain. It’s overwhelming to have that many people come and help you out when you really are in need of it,” said Euteneier.
Euteneier resorted to using a tractor to move a pile of snow from his property to help battle the flames.
“You do whatever you can. That seemed to be a possibility, so we tried it and it worked,” he said with a laugh.
Euteneier isn’t sure what the damage to his property will cost, but there are things that insurance can’t fully repair, such as the fatally damaged trees he and his wife planted in the 1960s.
“When we first moved out here they were one of the first things that went in, and I guess we won’t be around long enough to see another tree get quite this big,” he said.
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