Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot and who's not. Today's list includes tho...
Regina Regina Fire & Protective Services were battling wind conditions to control a large grass fire near the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina on Saturday.
Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt of Regina Fire told 980 CJME News that crews were called to the Uplands neighbourhood along Winnipeg Street and 9th Ave N around 1:40 p.m. Traffic was restricted on Winnipeg Street by refinery security.
Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt of Regina Fire told 980 CJME News that crews were called to the Uplands neighbourhood around 1:40 p.m. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
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Regina Fire was still trying to get the fire under control around 4 p.m., with several fire trucks, a pump, and water tanker at the scene.
A 980 CJME listener sent in video of the blaze.
(Submitted Video)
The blaze has not affected any structures, Hewitt said, but a second pump truck has been called in as winds gusting to 50 km/h made controlling the flames difficult.
“We are currently working to try to get it under, under control and stop it from spreading to any properties or buildings,” Hewitt said.
He said it was too early to say how the fire might have started and that crews from the nearby Co-op Refinery Complex were on scene at their property as well and ready and able to assist if needed. Refinery security told 980 CJME that they believed the fire was sparked by a train.
(Video by Murray Wood/980 CJME)
In Saskatoon, city fire crews were called to a grass fire west of Highway 16 near the city on Saturday afternoon.
Heavy smoke filled the air in the area and Dalmeny Fire and Rescue were also called in to help out.
Traffic restrictions in place did not affect Highway 16.
I’m west of highway 16 where a grass fire has broken out this afternoon, fire crews are on scene and traffic doesn’t appear to be affected. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/E9xTPicWM0
— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) May 3, 2025
As well, a third grass fire in the province in the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation area near Highway 4 was affecting visibility in the area, Battlefords RCMP said in a news release on Saturday afternoon.
RCMP said its officers were assisting fire and emergency services with the blaze. No further information was provided.
Fire risk high to extreme
Saskatchewan Public Safety fire risk map for Saturday showed most areas of the province had a high or extreme fire risk.
The hot weather, with temperatures hovering around 30 C in parts of the province on Saturday, means conditions are ripe for grass fires. Fire bans are in effect in more than 60 RMs in Saskatchewan.
Mike Steckhan, Aberdeen and Blucher Fire Chief, said earlier this week that any little thing could spark a major grass or wildfire.
“You flip a cigarette butt out onto the grass and if there’s a breeze blowing that could do it,” he said.
“A couple years ago some people were having a fire in their backyard and sparks got away from them and got into the grass and the low lying bush a few yards away … it doesn’t take much.”
Steckhan said there isn’t much that property owners can do to prevent a grass fire but added it is important to remove anything that can help fuel a blaze.
“The best thing you can do is prevent a fire in the first place,” he said.
“Don’t let the grass get long in your yard, keep the grass trimmed down and cleaned up … same with trees, brush, don’t let a lot of dead underbrush lay around.”
Watering a lawn won’t help much, Steckhan said.
“… that’s just a small piece of very carefully cultivated grass in front of your house,” he said. “Water your lawn if you want, that’s great but it’s not going to deal with a 10 or 20-acre grass fire.”
— with files from 650 CKOM News and Will Mandzuk, 650 CKOM
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