Wind fuelling grass fire burning on outskirts of Saskatoon

Saskatoon Fire Department crews will remain at the scene of a grass fire west of the city near Highway 7 on Wednesday, extinguishing hot spots.

Crews were called out around 4 p.m. on Tuesday to an old tree farm area at George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

In a news release, the fire department said it received a call around 2:45 p.m., adding that the blaze at Range Road 3064 and Township Road 364 was fuelled by high winds and dry conditions. According to an update on Wednesday from Sean Thody, the city’s deputy fire chief, two tankers, two brush trucks, a battalion chief and a command truck were called in to help fight the flames.

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The temperature in Saskatoon was 30 C at 5 p.m. with easterly winds of 39 km/h gusting to 50 km/h according to Environment Canada.

Township Road 364 was closed as fire crews work on extinguishing and containing the fire. A statement from the city said no other fire departments had been called in around 5 p.m.

Thody said the fire has not been completely extinguished because of the long, dry grass and trees in the area. Firefighters will be monitoring hot spots for some time, with the warm, dry weather and the strong winds.

Between 20 and 30 acres, or the equivalent of about 18 football fields was burned.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.