A home on the Red Pheasant First Nation is seen surrounded by scorched land following a grass fire over the long weekend. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Tyler Marr

BATTLE THE BLAZE

No homes but some sheds lost in Red Pheasant, Mosquito grass fire

Apr 23, 2019 | 1:56 PM

Nearly 50 people were needed this weekend to help tame a quick moving grass fire on the Red Pheasant and Mosquito First Nations.

Smoke could be seen from North Battleford, and Highway 4, about 25 kilometres south of Battleford. Traffic was restricted to one lane for a period of time Saturday as wildfire teams doused the blaze.

Red Pheasant band councillor Shawn Wuttunee said the fire sparked up Friday. He initially thought it would be easily contained until the wind picked up and started to fan the flames, shooting the fire across the Mosquito First Nation and into Red Pheasant.

While no homes were lost, he said a few small sheds burned up and some siding was melted on a handful of homes.

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“The fire did get near a trailer and it was almost in flames,” he said. “We got there in the nick of time. In a couple more minutes that trailer would have been up in flames.”

He said the owner was panicking and crying as she worked to move some valuables out of her home.

One thing led to another, he said, and the fire started to span a greater area. Howling winds helped it jump the highway. A government fire crew was dispatched and joined the First Nation volunteers from both communities to fight the fire.

More fires sparked up over the weekend and into Monday, Wuttunee said, adding the fire was quite bad compared to years past.

“It was an intense weekend for both communities,” he said.

Wuttunee, who oversees operations and maintenance in Red Pheasant, advised residents to be vigilant, asking them to not throw cigarette buts around or burn garbage on a windy day.

“There is still lots of dry grass out there and it is still not over yet until it gets green,” he said.

Provincial Fire Commissioner Duane McKay said the fires are believed to be human-caused.

“Most reserves will have houses spread in multiple areas,” he said. “Our response to those are primarily around carelessness. Their fires are started around multiple areas.”

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr