Tinder dry conditions and a westbound train were responsible for a string of fires along the CP rail line between Fleming and Moosomin, Sask. yesterday (Wed. Aug. 15) afternoon.
Firefighters from Virden, Elkhorn, Moosomin and Wapella attended and fought the flames for four hours until around sunset.
The Wallace District Fire Department (WDFD) alone dispatched five trucks and 12 firefighters. Chief Brad Yochim says when they left the scene, fires were still burning in some areas but another department was monitoring the hot spots.
Responsibility
Yochim says, “Rail lines are responsible for all costs associated with a fire that is started by their trains. We will be issuing an invoice for our services to CP Rail.”
Meanwhile, the drought continues with grasses, crops and trees parched. Three of the RMs in this region (Wallace-Woodworth, Pipestone and Archie-Ellis) have burning bans in effect, but Yochim expects others to follow suit if it doesn’t rain soon.
There's no moisture in the forecast until Saturday when less than 1 mm is predicted with only a 40 per cent chance of thunderstorms.
