Saskatoon fire crews spent nearly five and a half hours battling a blaze south of Saskatoon.

Just a day after the province urged residents, farmers and landowners to take precautions in preventing wildfires and grass fires, the Saskatoon Fire Department was called out at 5:10 p.m. on Thursday about a significant grass fire on private property near the Beaver Creek Conservation area. Multiple fire department resources were aiding in the fire fighting effort including fire engines, water tankers, brush trucks, and a rescue unit.

Fire crews could see heavy black smoke in the area as they approached a yard on fire where approximately three acres of land and miscellaneous items in the yard were on fire. The power line was also arcing so power to the area was shut down. Water tankers had to shuttle water to the fire scene and create supply pools so firefighters had uninterrupted access to water as they fought the fire. A, “Loss stopped,” was called at about 10:26 p.m. There will be no cause or damage estimate from the Fire Department as the property falls outside of their investigative jurisdiction.

On Wednesday, in the province issued its warning about taking precautions against wildfires and grassfires, Public Safety Agency President Marlo Pritchard says a huge difference can be made just by making sure a cigarette is completely extinguished and by teaching kids not to play with fire.

As well, anyone planning to burn within 4.5 km of a provincial forest is reminded to practice safe burning, obey all fire bans, and obtain approval from their nearest wildfire base. Anyone planning to burn should contact their local RM Office first as well as the Control Burn Line.

COVID-19 even comes into the picture here as the Public Safety Agency adjusts training to reduce the risk to staff.