MACKLIN — The snow is gone, and the April showers have been minimal, which means grass and stubble are extremely dry.
Area fire departments are reminding residents to remain diligent and vigilant, avoiding unnecessary or unmonitored burning, as well as careless disposal of cigarettes.
“Grass or field fires can spread very quickly,” warns Pat Stang of Macklin Fire Department.
“It is very difficult to fight these types of fires in spring because the grass and straw dry out in the wind, but the land can be very soft and muddy underneath. This makes it very difficult to get around with our trucks and getting stuck in the mud is not uncommon. It is very hard on our equipment to work in these conditions.”
Stang makes note that this time of year, it is not unusual to have people burning brush piles, slough, and garbage pits as they prepare for summer. Firefighters say they have seen cases where there is light precipitation in the morning, and they are chasing a grass fire just hours later when the sun and wind comes up.
“Brush piles can burn for weeks and all it takes is a little wind gust on a sunny, warm day and the fire will reignite,” Stang adds.
It is believed that a number of spring fires are started by carelessly discarded cigarettes.
“It is dry already and windy most days,” says Unity Fire Chief Dwaine Kopp.
“Try not to burn until we get some moisture, especially in rural settings.”
Kopp reminds residents that there is no burning of yard waste or household garbage in backyard fire pits. Residents must have a permit for their backyard fire pit, and they must be inspected and meet town bylaw requirements, with only wood being burned in the unit. Permits for backyard pits in Unity can be picked up from the town office. If someone has recently moved into a house that has an existing fire pit, a permit must be changed over the new homeowner’s name.
Coming soon, residents will be able to access the daily fire risk map for the province from http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/firefiles/DailyFireDangerMaps/today_fwi.pdf
