Dry conditions, high winds have southern Sask. under high grass fire risk

As forest fires rage in northern Saskatchewan, grass fires are spreading across fields in the south.

Fire crews spent much of the Labour Day weekend containing rapidly-moving grassfires.

A grass fire near Glentworth was burning seven miles long and reaching up to two miles wide on Monday night.

The fire was out by 9 p.m. and no losses or injuries were reported during the fire.

The incident is indicative of how dry the season has been.

“The threat level is very, very high,” Duane McKay, the province’s emergency management and fire safety commissioner, said. “And certainly we’ve seen that in the (recent) fires.”

The Regina Fire Service responded to two grass fires just outside of the city over the weekend.

On Saturday, one was caused by a bird coming into contact with electrical equipment. On Sunday, another grass fire sparked in the ditch near Wascana Parkway south of Ring Road. Strong winds caused that fire to rapidly spread over 20 acres of farmland.

Fire crews had the fire contained in under two hours.

“That was most likely caused by a discarded cigarette or something hot coming off a vehicle,” Regina Fire & Protective Services Fire Marshal Randy Ryba said, who added that the public needs to be extra vigilant in these conditions.

“We do urge people to dispose carefully of their smoking material. Don’t use your window as a way to discard it,” Ryba said.

“It does not take long for that fire to spread and with wind conditions what they are sometimes in Regina, it’s a recipe for worse things to come.”

Officials say it’s a message that they want to get across, especially with the arrival of hunting season in Saskatchewan.

“Any vehicle traffic off roads and trails through tall grass can certainly cause fires. Even the muffles of ATVs can start a fire,” Sgt. Steve Dobko, with the Ministry of Environment, said.

“So we recommend hunting on-foot only if you have the ability to hunt on foot only.”

Sgt. Dobko also recommends that hunters carry a fire extinguisher with them.

There are currently 37 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, according to the province’s most recent update. A fire ban remains in place throughout central and southern Saskatchewan.