By TERRY PUGH
A wildfire in the RM of Corman Park on Tuesday, August 20 burned about 800 acres and consumed several buildings, resulted in an estimated $3 million in damage.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
The fire apparently started in a wheatfield during harvest operations, and spread quickly to a bluff of trees and some buildings as a result of strong winds, according to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD).
Saskatoon Deputy Fire Chief Rob Hogan said firefighters received a call shortly before 4:00 p.m. about a fire off Highway 11 and west of Victor Road.
When firefighters arrived on the scene they found the fire had alerady spread to adjacent homes, vehicles and accessory buildings. Due to the size and severity of the blaze, SFD called on Clavet Fire Rescue for an additional two fire engines.
Hogan said the fire spread north and south of its origin. Several local farmers assisted fire crews with creating a fire break using tractors and diskers. Fire crews were able to defend multiple structures, but unfortunately several assets were lost as a result of the fast-moving wind driving the fire.
“The approximate list was a house, with an attached garage and a large shop,” said Hogan in a story posted on the CKOM News website. “A detached garage, two to three medium outside buildings, six vehicles – including a large motor home – four trailers and other multiple small pieces of equipment such as a Bobcat.”
Hogan added that the fire was moving north to south and incident command had to make a tactical decision to create a fire break to prevent the fire from advancing on nearby farmland. The fire was contained at around 2:00 a.m., but firefighters were still on the scene Wednesday morning, August 21, dealing with hot spots.
Corman Park Reeve Judy Harwood said in the article posted on the CKOM News website that the incident marked a “sad day” for the community, but that area residents are already pulling together and doing everything possible to help those affected by the blaze.
She said the speed with which the fire spread forced people to move quickly.
“The folks there just had time to let their horses go and get out – that’s how quickly the fire was moving,” said Harwood in the CKOM article. “The conditions are extremley dry, there still is a fire ban in Corman Park, and of course, the winds were there, so it’s a perfect storm for a grass fire to move very quickly.”
She urged residents to exercise caution to avoid starting fires by accident when the conditions are so dry.