Volunteer fire fighters from two fire departments, plus a number of area farmers and oilfield workers, combined their efforts to fight a large grass fire on Saturday evening southeast of Halbrite.
Members from the Midale-Cymri Fire Department, and the “737” Fire Department, representing volunteers from the RM of Lomond and RM of Souris Valley, joined their efforts in fighting the fire, said Midale’s fire chief Laverne Hockey.
The initial call came in around 8 p.m. after a grass fire was started, sparked by a power line. It spread quickly, and about a half-hour in they called the 737 Fire Department for mutual aid, and they responded to the scene.
Hockey said the Midale-Cymri department had two water tankers, two pumpers and a gator, with the gator allowing them to get down into the valley area where the trucks couldn’t make it.
He noted the fire was mostly on pasture land, so there weren’t any roads into the area.
Up until the rain and snow began falling on Sunday night, it had been very dry in the area, with the Midale-Cymri fire fighters responding to two or three grass fires before this one, said Hockey.
The moisture that came Sunday and Monday was extremely welcome, he added, although it was a day late to help them with this fire.
The 737 department was released from the scene around 11 p.m., and Hockey said the Midale-Cymri volunteers were there until just after midnight.
“We mainly respond to grass fires and some vehicle fires,” said Peter Deis of the 737 Fire Department. “This was a large undertaking between the two RMs and we have many dedicated volunteers.”
Deis said there were some oil field tanker trucks and farmers with water tanks and manpower who came out to help fight the fire.
