Moose Jaw firefighters, police put out two large grass fires

The Moose Jaw Fire Department and Police Service had a busy Sunday dealing with two large grass fires within and on the edge of Moose Jaw.

During an especially windy Sunday, the first fire, which started around 1 p.m., started beside the north onramp of the Ninth Avenue bridge and quickly spread. That fire is now under control, and according to the Moose Jaw Police Service, the Ninth Avenue bridge, as well as High Street, have been reopened to traffic.

Just as crews were beginning to get ahold of that fire, a second blaze started up just east of 24th Avenue on the southwest edge of the city. That fire is now under control as well, and all roads in the surrounding area have been opened.

The Moose Jaw Police Service is requesting all residents stay away from the burned areas, as well as all surrounding grassy areas, as there is still a danger of flare-ups.

Moose Jaw resident Megan Wieterman was on the scene of the first fire by the Ninth Avenue bridge and said it spread incredibly quickly in the wind that was gusting up to 80 kilometres per hour. She said the fire quickly spread to a large amount of debris and rail ties that were positioned in the rail yards .

“There were citizens that were pulling up over the top of the bridge that were coming out with blankets trying to put it out,” she said. “I would say the fire department was here within four minutes, super quick. I was still on the phone with dispatch and I could hear the trucks coming.”

The causes of both fires are under investigation.

If anyone has any information regarding these fires, please notify the Moose Jaw Police Service at 306-694-7600 or Crime Stoppers at 306-694-8477.

Fire east of Regina destroys two barns

Crews from the Regina fire department were called to an out-of-control grass fire east of the city on Saturday.

They got the call shortly before 1 p.m.

Deputy fire Chief Neil Sundeen said two barns were destroyed but they managed to protect the home, with no injuries to people or livestock.

He said winds were “reasonably calm” that day, compared to the gusts seen on Sunday, which would have made the fire that much more difficult to keep under control.

Sundeen is recommending people avoid burning grass or brush piles. He also suggests people on dirt bikes and quads stay away from areas with dead grass.

With files from 980 CJME.