A wildfire that resulted in the closure of Highway 60 southwest of Saskatoon for several hours on Tuesday, April 19 was the result of re-ignition of the remnant of a controlled burn from last fall that had been smouldering underground all winter.
Delisle Fire Chief Mike Given said in an interview on Wednesday morning, April 20, that an investigation into the point of origin of the blaze confirmed it had started as a result of a re-ignition of dry brush in a wooded area near the South Saskatchewan River. The fire spread rapidly, fanned by strong easterly winds, destroying a horse trailer before crossing Highway 60 and threatening several acreages in its path.
“We’ve seen incidents like this several times over the years,” said Given. “It’s not unusual for a fire that appears on the surface to be extinguished to actually still be smouldering undetected. If it’s in the fall then the snow comes and covers it, and insulates it underground. The fire never really goes out one hundred per cent.
“Then in the spring as the snow melts and the ground starts moving because frost is coming out, then oxygen can get in there and reignite the fire, especially on a windy day when there is dry brush or grass in the area.”
Given said there had been a controlled burn last November on the property where the April 19 fire started. The re-ignition on April 19 was accidental, but the landowner may still be liable.
Given noted that reports and comments on social media blaming the landowner for having a controlled burn on a windy day were unfair because they were based on a false assumption.
The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was dispatched to the area along Highway 60 south of Valley Road at 2:54 p.m. The SFD sent one fire engine, two tanker units, and two brush trucks.
Shortly afterward Delisle and District Fire Department was called in to provide mutual aid.
Given said his department employed two apparatus from its Pike Lake fire hall and two trucks from its stations in Delisle and the RM of Montrose.
Corman Park Police, Warman RCMP and RM of Vanscoy Police also responded, closing the highway and redirecting traffic away from the affected area. Police evacuated residents whose homes were located between Range Road 3063 and Highway 60; and between Highway 60 and Range Road 3070.
(Saskatoon Fire Department photo)
The SFD said in a news release that when its crews first arrived on scene, the wildfire was moving quickly with the wind blowing from an east-southeast direction, with gusts ranging between 44 and 55 kilometers per hour.
Firefighters focused on protecting structures that were in the path of the fast-moving blaze. The strong winds, combined with poor visibility due to smoke, the need to shuttle water to the area and the muddy conditions added to the challenges faced by firefighters.
“It was not an easy one to extinguish, that’s for sure” said Given. “What happens is that fire moves faster uphill because it pre-heats all the combustible material ahead of it as it rises; and when you introduce wind into the picture, now you have a wind-driven fire that’s moving uphill; so it travels even faster.
“It started near Range Road 3063, close to the river, and by the time Saskatoon firefighters got there, it had already run quite a long ways in an upward direction toward Highway 60.”
The fire was eventually extinguished shortly before 6:00 p.m., but crews from Delisle stayed on scene until late into the night.
Saskatoon fire crews were on the scene for two hours and 20 minutes before transferring command to the Delisle Fire Chief just before 6:00 p.m.; at which time snow had started to accumulate, making travel on roadways treacherous.
Corman Park Police Chief Ron Chomyn said that at 6:15 p.m., police were able to advise residents who had been evacuated that they could return to their homes.
Chomyn said no structures were affected by the fire. The vacant horse trailer was the only thing that was destroyed by the blaze.
Given said Delisle firefighters returned to their hall at 10:50 p.m. on April 19.
He said it’s important for anyone contemplating lighting a controlled burn to first call the provincial Controlled Burn centre in Prince Albert at 1-866-404-4911. The number is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Neighbours should also be advised of the controlled burn, he added, noting that sometimes embers can travel airborne for several hundred meters.
“You could have a fire start half a kilometer away because of flying embers and not even know it,” he said.
Given said prior to planning a controlled burn, landowners should also ensure there is no local fire ban in place, and to take precautions to ensure their fire does not get out of control.
“Always do it on a calm day,,” said Given. “It’s best to do it in the morning, because the wind invariably picks up in mid-afternoon.
“Always make sure you have a good source of water, and prepare the ground around it first with a discer by making a big circle and burning only within that area. This will help mitigate the spread.”
He advised homeowners to ensure that the area around their home is free of tall grass, deadfall and other combustible material. It’s also important for landowners to have sufficient fire insurance to cover liability in the case of unforeseen circumstances.