Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency staff oversee a controlled burn. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Controlled Burn

Little Red River Park to host fire investigation training course

Apr 28, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Prince Albert residents may have noticed smoke to the north of the city, as controlled burns took place in the upper plains area of Little Red River Park Wednesday afternoon.

Officials from the Prince Albert Fire Department and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency were on site, preparing 16 scorched plots for use in a wildland fire investigation course next week.

Controlled burns underway at Little Red River Park (upper plains area). Expected to wrap up by mid afternoon. Fire department says the public shouldn’t be alarmed if they see smoke in the area. pic.twitter.com/OtuO4DjhpP

— Alison Sandstrom (@AliSandstrom) April 28, 2021

Working one plot at a time, firefighters ignited the dry grass, then let it burn an approximately 10 metre by 30 metre area, containing the flames by spraying the perimeter with water.

Deputy Fire Chief Alex Paul told paNOW each section was lit in a slightly different way, with different markers left behind for the student inspectors to locate.

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“At each plot they’re going to have to find the exact point of origin,” Paul explained. “So where in this burn circle the fire started and what caused it. Was it a cigarette? Was it matches? Was it deliberately set with gasoline?”

The sixteen scorched plots created Wednesday will be used in an upcoming wildland fire investigation course. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Unlike in the regular controlled burns the fire department conducts around the city to minimize the risk of grass fires, for the sake of the course, the plots couldn’t be doused with water to put them out. Instead firefighters soaked the perimeter with water and let the flames burn themselves out naturally under careful supervision.

The wildland fire investigation course is being run by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency – the body responsible for wildfire management around the province. An inspector from the Prince Albert Fire Department will be among the 24 students.

A firefighter spays water to contain flames within the burn circle. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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alison.sandstrom@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alisandstrom

by Alison Sandstrom

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Little Red River Park to host fire investigation training course

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