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Shifting winds create challenging conditions for crews fighting grass fire

Click to play video: 'Shifting winds create challenging conditions for crews fighting grass fire'
Shifting winds create challenging conditions for crews fighting grass fire
WATCH ABOVE: As Jacqueline Wilson reports, challenging conditions made the job of putting out a grass fire even harder for firefighters – May 6, 2017

It took crews 11 hours to bring a large grass fire just west of Saskatoon under control.

The fire along the 11th Street West extension was reported at around 5:30 a.m. CT on Saturday.

READ MORE: Saskatoon firefighters knock down flames at Avenue H South house

One engine, two water tankers and two brush trucks from the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) were dispatched.

Firefighters from the Delisle and Vanscoy fire departments, along with CN crews, helped in fighting the grass fire.

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Crews were hampered in their efforts by the dry conditions and shifting winds.

“Wind is a challenge and the fire is spread over the wide terrain,” Saskatoon battalion chief Mike Ralston said.

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“This time of year, the ground isn’t drivable, even with our heavy four-by-fours.”

READ MORE: 2 adjacent houses catch fire on Avenue H South in Saskatoon

At least one shed that housed a race car was destroyed.

Firefighters worked on protecting other buildings.

“It’s taken out a couple of sheds [and] a car of a friend of mine’s,” Jacob Dyck said.

“But other than that, it’s taken out penning.”

The fire was brought under control at around 4:30 p.m. as crews had to deal with hot spots popping up throughout the day.

The cause of the blaze has not be determined and there is no damage estimate.

There is currently a total fire ban in the rural municipality of Vanscoy, including the communities of Delisle, Vanscoy, Grandora and Pike Lake.

The ban includes open flames, fire pits and burning barrels.

It does not include the town of Asquith, though officials said that could change at any moment.

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