Dry conditions are fuelling grass fires near Saskatoon.
The Saskatoon Fire Department responded to at least four grass fires Tuesday — two of which were still burning in the evening.
The first fire call came in just after 8 a.m. near Buck’s Auto Wrecking, southwest of Saskatoon. The department says a loader hit a power pole and dislodged power lines, which ignited the grass.
The second call came in just before 11 a.m. at Grasswood Road and Clarence Avenue. A controlled burn escaped the owner, the department says.
Crews needed nearly three-and-a-half hours to extinguish the first blaze and 37 minutes to put out the second fire.
Two of the four fires were still burning west of the city as of Tuesday evening.
One, which was reported before noon, was located on Valley Road. The second, reported around 3 p.m. and again caused by a controlled burn getting away from the owner, was burning west of the Dalmeny Grid intersection.
No one was injured in any of the blazes and, as of the evening, no buildings were damaged, the fire department says.
Grass fires are generally more frequent in the spring, but with the low amount of snowfall this winter, firefighters are preparing for an increased number of fires, according to the department.
Anyone planning to conduct controlled burns is asked to consider weather conditions or to postpone the burn until dry conditions let up.
The department had been called to four grass fires this year prior to Tuesday.
