‘It has never come this close’: Aggressive grass fire becomes close call for Regina farmers

A Regina couple had a close call Thursday as a grass fire ripped through a region northeast of the Queen City.

For Joe and Mervina Repetski, one of the two fires along Tower Road became a cause for great concern as flames drew as close as 30 yards away from their home.

“We’ve lived here for over almost 40 years and this is the first time a fire has come this close,” Joe said. “There have been fires before this one, but particularly with the wind, it made things different.

“It has never come this close.”

Firefighters in the Regina area had their hands full Thursday after dealing with a blaze at a recycling centre in the morning and then the grass fires in the afternoon.

Joe was not home at the time the fire started near his house. Mervina called 911 when she saw smoke along the train tracks near their home.

She proceeded to call Joe, who made his way home in a hurry.

“When I came down the road here, I couldn’t even see, literally. I’m not exaggerating, I could hardly see a foot in front of me,” he said. “I know this road really well but the two posts at the end of the road is what guided me home.”

It's been a very busy day for firefighters in the #YQR area.

Crews are out here north-east of the city tackling two large grass fires @CJMENews #regina #saskatchewan. pic.twitter.com/om37LYJqpm

— Logan Stein (@L0ganStein) April 8, 2021

The cause of the fire has not been officially released, but the Repetskis believe a train is to blame.

“I saw smoking just along the tracks and then the wind took hold of that and away it went,” Mervina said. “I think the sparks were coming off of a bearing that wasn’t working or something; we don’t know for sure.”

Fire crews had both grass fires in the region under control before 6 p.m., before they proceeded to suffocate hot spots in the area.

Both grass fires east of the city are under control and crews are putting out hot spots. Crews managed to keep the fire from reaching any structures. White City and Pilot Butte were on scene as well. #YQR #RFPS pic.twitter.com/MxGxqvmjEK

— Regina Fire (@Regina_Fire) April 8, 2021

Still, the smell of smoke sat heavily in the air as fields in the region lay black and charred by the fires.

The Repetskis were very thankful for the quick response by fire departments in the region as Regina, White City and Pilot Butte crews all responded to the blaze near their home.

“We’re very fortunate (and) we’re very grateful,” Joe said.

“We’re grateful for the fire departments that showed up,” Mervina chimed in.

Depending on how fast firefighters showed up, Joe says he was ready to fight it himself.

“I got my garden hose out. I was definitely ready to try to try dousing it,” he said with a laugh.