Update: The wildfire, north of Dalmeny, that Dalmeny and Martensville fire departments responded to on Wednesday, April 7 was from a control burn of a brush pile that had been smouldering for months and was not lit that day.
According to the landowner, the brush pile was initially lit last December which had been slowly burning and was being monitored on a daily bases. However, because of the strong wind it flared up some hot ash which then caused the burn to get out of control.
The landowner said a small shed was burnt down by the fire, but the barn and shop on the property didn’t catch fire and were not damaged.
This pile was the last remnants of 80 acres of dead bush the landowner said he had been carefully and methodically burning for the past two years and it was set to be buried by an excavator very soon.
Dalmeny fire crews returned to the scene of the fire on Thursday, April 8 to ensure there were no hot spots.
In an interview, Dalmeny Fire Chief Rick Elder confirmed the fire was the result of strong winds on April 7 that had “rekindled” a fire from several months earlier. “It’s not unusual for that type of thing to happen,” said Elder. “We’ve seen several instances over the last few years. A controlled burn can be done in November or December, when there’s plenty of snow on the ground, and it can be extinguished, but sometimes it will still smoulder undetected underground for a long time. In the spring when the snow melts and the brush becomes very dry, a windy day can rekindle it. This kind of situation is very unfortunate and stressful for the family involved, and no one is at fault.”
Elder said there were no injuries and damage was contained to the yard. Fire crews were able to contain the blaze and protect the house and main outbuildings, although one shed was damaged.
Elder said as soon as Dalmeny was dispatched, he called on the Martensville Fire Department for assistance.
“The strong wind, combined with the warm temperature and low humidity, meant it was going to be challenging,” said Elder. “We wanted to ensure we contained it quickly. We had enough equipment and enough water to handle the situation.”
Crews were on scene until a bout 11:30 p.m. on April 7 mopping up hot spots.
Elder said the decision by the North Corman Park Fire Chiefs to institute a fire ban in the RM of Corman Park was made earlier in the afternoon of April 7.
“With the big fire we had already on March 28, and the prospect of ongoing dry conditions, we felt it was necessary to put a fire ban in place,” he said. Fire bans were also issued that day in the RMs of Rosthern, Great Bend, Mayfield, and Vanscoy.
Story Posted on April 7: Firefighters from Dalmeny and Martensville are currently on the scene of a wildfire north of Dalmeny.
They have apparently been able to save buildings in a farmyard that was threatened by the fire. They also prevented the blaze from spreading.
Dalmeny Fire and Rescue was dispatched shortly before 4:00 p.m.on Wednesday, April 7 to a fire that began as a controlled burn, but later apparently got out of control. Sustained winds about 30 kilometers per hour are blowing from the southwest, with gusts reaching well above 40 kilometers per hour.
Farmers using heavy equipment built firebreaks around the farmyard. By 5:30 p.m. the fire had apparently been brought under control, although the strong winds still threaten to create flare-ups. Firefighters are working to ensure no hot spots remain.
Police have closed off Township Road 400 west of Range Road 3062 to allow fire trucks unimpeded access to the yard site.
Ironically, the RM of Corman Park officially declared a fire ban, effective immediately, at 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7.
Corman Park Administrator Adam Tittemore said the full fire ban was implemented at the request of the area Fire Chiefs and is due to the dry conditions prevailing across the RM.
The ban is effective immediately, and does not allow for any open flame fires to be lit within the R.M. of Corman Park until such time as the ban is lifted.
All fires within the R.M. are banned. This requires all outdoor fires presently burning be extinguished and the lighting of any outdoor fires is prohibited. This ban includes fire pits, burning barrels, controlled burns, and fireworks, with the only exceptions being internal household fire places and gas fueled equipment such as a propane barbecue or propane fire pit.
As per Corman Park R.M. Fire Services Bylaw 05/21, the Total Fire Ban will be in effect until deemed appropriate to change.
The RM of Rosthern also implemented a fire ban on April 7 to take effect immediately.