Fire crews were busy over the weekend battling two separate blazes in the vicinity of the Battlefords.
One of the fires happened about 14kilometres east on Highway 40 Sunday. According to North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services, approximately 20 to 30 straw bales and a round baler were destroyed by fire. The fire started around 12:30 p.m.
The fire department said they were able to quickly contain the blaze so it would not spread to rolls of adjacent bales and crops. The farmers' front-end loader was also used to break up the round bales and put out some of the hot spots, according to the fire department.
In total, five apparatus and 12 personnel from the fire department were on scene for almost an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. Also on the scene were EMS, the RCMP and city bylaw enforcement. No injuries were reported.
As well, fire crews responded to a brush-and-grass mixture fire, about a half kilometre north of the 19th Tee on McMillan Road Saturday.
Two acres of grass and bush burned. The cause of the fire is unknown. Again, there were no injuries.
The two fires, and extreme dry conditions have prompted NBFES to issue an advisory to residents of the RM of Battleford. Rural residents, who are served by the service, are advised to use extreme caution.
Chief Pat MacIsaac, says these conditions are making for a hazardous situation. MacIsaac advises against any open fires, including the use of burning barrels, until conditions improve. Exercise caution when welding or using other equipment with the potential to start fires, he says.
In these dry conditions, all fires have the potential to get out of control very quickly.
