With spring slowly creeping in, brush fire season has already begun.
On April 8, Britannia Fire Department extinguished the first one locally.
“Pumper 1 and Tanker 1 staged on the road as the hills were too much for them,” said Britannia Fire Department in a recent post. “Command 1, Wildland 1 and Utility 1 roamed up the hill to quickly knock down a small brush fire.”
Read more: Regional fire departments extinguish three grass fires
A quick response stopped the fire before it spread.
“Thanks for all the members that responded and getting the trucks back in service,” said the post.
Fire crews across the region are getting ready. County of Vermilion River firefighters spent time this past week preparing equipment for spring grass fires. This included priming water packs and loading portable tanks and specialized hoses and equipment for the season.
Legacy Regional Fire Services recently did the same.
“Tanks are full and pumps are primed in anticipation of spring fires,” said Legacy Regional Fire Chief Dean Peters.
This time of year can be more dangerous for fires.
“Spring conditions before green-up are very volatile,” said Peters. “A spark will ignite dry grass and it will spread very quickly.”
Even small sparks can start fires.
“A spark from a lawnmower hitting a rock, trailer safety chain dragging or catching rock, or a discarded cigarette will start a grass fire in the dry conditions,” said Peters.
These fires can spread fast and catch even those who are standing there watching them off guard.
“We have attended fires every year that are actively supervised,” said Peters. “Fire gets into dry grass and in the seconds it takes to reach the fire has overwhelmed the supervision and necessitated a fire department response.”
However, he advises to be ready when working outside.
“Power equipment striking a rock, engine backfire, cutting or grinding metal, gopher control practices, you name it we have responded to a fire caused by it,” said Peters.
Having water ready, meaning more than just hanging on a reel or in buckets nearby is a must. Also, making sure the department knows you’ll be burning ahead of time also helps.
“Have a garden hose hooked up and ready,” Peters said. “Get a Controlled burn permit from the RM office … Refer to RM website to monitor any area fire bans.”
Meanwhile, he has responded to multiple situations where fires started in seconds.
“When our crews arrive at your house you will say ‘Wow, that happened fast. I was just … and I turned around and it was gone,’” said Peters. “Be prepared.”
More Tips to Stay Safe:
- Cut grass short around buildings.
- Remove dead leaves and dry branches.
- Keep fire pits clean and follow fire bans.
- Store fuel and tools safely away from grass.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
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