Controlled burn fire. (Ronald Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Safe Flames

Large fire near Birch Hills a controlled burn

Oct 22, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Motorists travelling on Highway 3 may have been a bit alarmed to see a large fire burning near Birch Hills Monday evening.

Concerned citizens need not worry; it was controlled burn conducted by Birch Hills Fire and Rescue.

“The fire department was asked by the town to burn their brush piles they’d made over the last couple of years that were stored at the garbage dump,” Fire Chief Lyle Evans explained. “We got approval by (Sask) Environment. We did our burn permits and everything was done according to the laws.”

Evans said now is a good time to remind farmers and the general public that they need to notify the proper agencies when taking the stubble off fields and burning brush piles.

“There’s more (controlled burns) this time of year than any other time of the year. So make sure to phone it into the call line. That way you don’t have extra people phoning, calling in the fire,” he said.

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Potential fires can be registered by calling the provincial controlled burn line, to help notify various agencies where and when fires are being lit.

According to the town of Birch Hill’s website, a person who lights a fire but fails to call ahead can be charged for the cost of fire crews coming out to suppress the blaze.

Be prepared

Duane McKay, Saskatchewan Fire Commissioner said when people call in to register their controlled burn they should make sure to provide some key pieces of information.

“The location that you’re going to do that burn, your name, your contact information in case we need to get ahold of you and what you’re burning as well as how long you expect that burn to operate,” he said.

McKay stressed it is important for people to call ahead before burning so that fire departments are not being called out. He said people who do controlled burns need to remember to be in contact with their municipality to make sure their are no bans in place. McKay also recommended touching base with neighbors to ensure a burn will not cause any problems.

McKay added their should be proper fire breaks around the property and equipment available to deal with a fire in the event weather conditions change.

“Any fire that you start on your property, if it escapes you’re 100 per cent accountable legally for all the damage that fire might do,” he said.

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ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni