Fire bans issued southwest of Saskatoon

With temperatures rising and fields drying up, fire bans are coming into effect west and southwest of Saskatoon.

The rural municipalities of Vanscoy and Montrose issued fire bans Tuesday afternoon, prohibiting any open burning activity and fireworks.

The bans include Asquith, Vanscoy, Delisle, Grandora, Donovan and Swanson.

“The Provincial Wildfire Risk forecast shows our area in a fluctuation between moderate and extreme risk, and with humidity dropping and temperatures rising we need to be proactive,” said a post on the Delisle and District Fire Department Facebook page.

Gas barbecues and propane fire pits are permitted. Fines start at $1,500.

According the province on Tuesday, there were 26 fire bans in effect across the province.

Crews battle grass fire near Highway 16

Saskatoon fire crews battled a grass fire northwest of the city on Tuesday afternoon.

The Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call at around 2:30 p.m., from a farmer about a controlled burn that had become unmanageable.

The fire was located near Highway 16 and Range Road 3062, only a few kilometres from Redekop Manufacturing.

The fire department said a fire break was built to slow the spread of the flames that had “expanded across a significant area.”

The fire was declared under control before 6 p.m.

There was no report of any property damage.