Crews extinguish grass fire near Pilot Butte, Sask.

PILOT BUTTE, Sask. – A grass fire that burned two to three acres in Pilot Butte, Sask. marked an early start to the grass fire season, the Pilot Butte Fire Department said Tuesday.

At approximately 1 p.m., firefighters from Pilot Butte, Balgonie and White City were called to a grass fire northeast end of the Regina Wildfire Federation gun range. The fire also extended into the White Butte trails.

“It’s rough terrain in there,” Kevin Dell, the Pilot Butte fire chief, said.

“It’s filled with buckbrush, lots of hills. It’s tough to get round.

Dell said the wind, which gusted around 30 kilometres per hour, also helped the fire to spread around the dry grass.

The fire was extinguished in around two hours. One firefighter was put under observation for heat and stress, but no other injuries were reported. The cause is being investigated.”

Dell said this is the first large grass fire in the area this year and weather conditions have increased the risk in the area.

“There’s very little moisture laying around this spring,” Dell said.

“The snow melted and went pretty quick. Everything is drying up quite well. Grass fire season is a little earlier than normal, almost two weeks early.

To help prevent grass fires in the future, Dell said it’s important for Saskatchewan residents to make sure a fire is out before they leave the area.

“Never leave one unattended and any sparks, any ignition points, cigarettes, matches, don’t just throw them away,” Dell said.

“Make sure they’re extinguished.”