A controlled burn quickly became uncontrollable south of Saskatoon on Tuesday.
The fire destroyed a trailer and possibly other vehicles, according to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD).
SFD fire crews were putting out spot fires until 6:30 p.m. and have confirmed the fire is no longer a danger to the area.
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl said that although the fire started out as a controlled burn, the windy conditions quickly made the situation uncontrollable.
“We just have to be very mindful even though we’ve had a lot of snowfall over the winter, a lot of moisture, the ground is still dry,” said Hackl.
The fire was reported along Highway 60, south of Valley Road. SFD said four fire engines, two tanker units, two brush trucks and the Battalion Chief were dispatched to the location.
On arrival, SFD said a large grass fire was moving quickly with winds blowing from the east southeast direction at speeds from 44 km/h up to 55 km/h.
According to Hackl, the main reasons grass fires start are controlled burns involving old materials and discarded cigarettes in ditches along highways.
The SFD said it prioritized protecting structures in the fire’s path and the fire was difficult to extinguish and get ahead of.
“It is serious. It requires a lot of resources. It can have an impact on people’s land, on people’s property, buildings. So it’s very important that we try to keep safety top of mind,” said Hackl.
Partner fire services from Pike Lake and Delisle, Sask. were on scene assisting with fire extinguishment.
Support was also provided by the Corman Park police and the RCMP, who were on scene redirecting traffic due to the possibility of fire crossing the highway.
The SFD said 3,000 litres of water was used during the duration of the fire.