SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Fire Department estimates that the property damaged in a brush fire southwest of the city on Tuesday, Aug. 20, could exceed $3 million. The cause of the fire remains undetermined as of posting time.
The SFD, with the help of the Clavet Fire Rescue and local farmers in the surrounding area, contained a grass fire southwest of the city on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The smoke can be seen on Circle Drive heading to Highway 11.
Some firefighters were defending multiple structures by spraying them with water, but the wind pushed the fire further, causing several assets to be consumed by the fire.
The air temperature, humidity, and wind gusts of up to 48 kilometres per hour contributed to the fire's rapid spread to adjacent homes, vehicles, and accessory buildings. Those conditions proved challenging for the fire crews and residents who assisted them in containing the blaze.
At 3:37 p.m., the SFD received a report of a grass fire between Highway 11 and west of Victor Road in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park. The first fire crews arrived on the scene at 3:50 p.m. and saw a field on fire spreading into some brush north and south of its possible origin.
Due to the size and severity of the fire, the Battalion Chief called nearby Clavet Fire Station to send two more fire engines for additional water supply resources. Several local farmers also assisted in creating a fire break using tractors and disc harrows.
SFD and CFR had controlled the fire at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, but remained on the scene to monitor hot spots. SFD, CFR, and the farmers had completely extinguished the fire.
The SFD has three fire engines, two tanker trucks, two brush trucks, the Battalion and Deputy Chief on the scene and the mobile command unit.
