The Cloverdale fire started within city limits about 300 meters north of Evergreen Road. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Farmers and fires

MLA wants province to work with rural residents, farmers when fires threaten

Feb 24, 2022 | 5:09 PM

With the very real threat of the Cloverdale forest fire that burned 5,583 hectares of land near Prince Albert a not-too-distant memory, one MLA is hoping the province will find a new way to work with landowners in future situations.

Independent member Nadine Wilson said she thinks the province would do well to think of farmers and the fact that they are nearby — with equipment — when fires threaten.

“I would like to see more involvement with the stakeholders, the landowners, because they sit idly by with their large equipment they could help with, and it’s very frustrating for them when they want to engage and they’re told to stand down,” said Wilson.

In some incidents in last spring’s fire, which started just north of the city but spread rapidly north along Highway 55, rural landowners were limited when the blaze was in their vicinity.

“Those farmers would be utilized in these community emergencies,” said Wilson. “I know it came right by the farmers’ buildings and they wanted to help out and they weren’t allowed.”

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Whether farmers wait for permission to do something in an urgent situation is another story, and one that the Reeve of the RM of Garden River thinks may be moot.

“I’ve had experience in my life with a number of fires and farmers are usually the first ones on site and they’re not asking what they’re allowed to do,” said Ryan Scragg.

Whether farmers use their own discretion on whether to use their own equipment may resolve short term situations, but it can lead to bigger problems down the road.

An issue of potential liability for damage to equipment would likely need to see a deal struck between the province and farmers to make sure there was insurance coverage.

This is what Wilson is hoping will happen.

“I think we need more consultation and explore the idea of how to get the community involved, as well as the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA),” she explained. “Some of the RMs are having discussions with the governments. Where they are today, I don’t know.”

“They are looking at ways that maybe they could get insurance through the government to help protect the communities when this is such a major crisis right around,” she said.

Last year was a record-setting fire year brought on by a lack of rain across Western Canada.

For 2022, the province will be making a few changes as wildfire season approaches, expanding its response times.

“For the 2022 wildfire response season, SPSA aircraft will be operational two weeks earlier and two weeks later than in prior years to increase response capacity,” said Amanda Dauk, director of Stakeholder Relations and Public Education with the SPSA.

As far as including landowners in the fire suppression efforts, Dauk said that the province is part of the National FireSmart program.

“The SPSA is a partner in the national FireSmart program, which provides skills and knowledge required to implement FireSmart practices that are tailored to homes, property and communities. Residents can learn how to be fire safe by visiting saskpublicsafety.ca,” she stated.

The general concept of FireSmart is to have property owners in communities and rural areas reduce the amount of combustible material around buildings, such as homes, shops or barns.

This could include piling firewood away from buildings and removing shrubs and bushes next to buildings.

Another way rural residents can help mitigate the potential for damage is to be part of their local fire department.

Some departments train members in how to fight fires that start in wooded areas — which can then spread to settled areas — but training is needed.

The idea of involving rural landowners in the fire suppression effort has not been discussed at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), said president, Roy Orb.

“It hasn’t come across our table necessarily, but I know that there are farmers out there that do it,” he said.

In fact, it is exactly this approach that has stopped a lot of fires in the past and local fire departments may not have the equipment needed to drive across fields.

“It would be better if they were a member of their local fire association, but they need to have all the training that goes with it,” Orb said. “I think there are ways that farmers and local fire departments can work together.”

While some concerns remain, the municipalities are content with how the Cloverdale fire was suppressed.

“Overall, we were very happy with the response from the Cloverdale fire,” said Scragg.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow