Corman Park Police block access to Range Road 3061 at its intersection with Township Road 384 on April 25. The wildfire is burning near an acreage in the background.

UPDATED SUNDAY APRIL 26, 9:30 a.m.: Firefighters from Dalmeny, Martensville, Warman, Saskatoon, and Osler successfully battled a massive wildfire threatening several acreages west of Martensville during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, April 25. (An earlier report on this website listed Langham Fire Department as one of the responding fire departments. This was incorrect.)

The wildfire threatened five acreages and began in the early afternoon of April 25. Dalmeny Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Joanne Elder said original reports indicated an old barn on an acreage had flared up. The barn was lost in the fire.

Fanned by southwest winds, the fire spread quickly in an area bounded by Highway 305 on the north, Range Road 3060 on the east, Range Road 3061 on the west and Township Road 384 on the south. In total, the fire was about a mile and three-quarters long and about half a mile wide.

Plumes of smoke from a wildfire burning west of Martensville

Lt. Elder said Dalmeny Fire and Rescue was first on the scene and immediately called in Martensville and Warman to assist in firefighting efforts. At 3:30 p.m. Osler Fire Department was dispatched to assist, and Saskatoon Fire Department was also called in shortly after that.

Dalmeny Fire Chief Rick Elder, who served as Incident Commander, worked tirelessly through the afternoon keeping track of the unpredictable movements of the fire; and allocating firefighters and trucks to new danger areas on they developed.

Firefighters used brush trucks and specially-equipped all-terrain vehicles to access the fire, which was located in an area that includes some heavy bush, as well as a number of acreages.

Despite dry conditions on the surface, the ground itself was soft and muddy, resulting in at least one instance of a fire truck getting stuck in a field while attempting to access the fire. The truck was eventually freed from the mud without any damage.

Firefighters battled the fire on several fronts.  Lt. Elder said five acreages were threatened. However, firefighters were able to save all the acreages. The barn which had originally caught fire was the only structure that was lost in the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.

A water-filling station had been set up at Highway 305 and Range Road 3060, and water was also obtained in Martensville.

One of the main concerns of firefighters at the height of the fire was preventing it from jumping Highway 305 because of the high concentration of acreages north of the highway.

RCMP and Corman Park Police assisted with traffic control by blocking access roads in the area. Highway 305 was blocked for several hours. Only essential traffic was allowed into the area to allow firefighters to perform their duties.

The fire departments were released one by one throughout the evening as the fire was brought under control and contained. However, Dalmeny Fire and Rescue members remained on the scene until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Lt. Elder said a crew from Dalmeny Fire and Rescue returned to the area at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to monitor for hot spots.

“We will be out there most of the day monitoring it as it’s going to be a windy day today, and with all the bush and bales, it can flare up again,” she said.