On one of the hottest and windiest days of the year, Weyburn Fire Chief Trent Lee reminds farmers, ranchers and everyone in the rural areas to be mindful of fire risks and how to prevent flareups from occurring. Multiple RM’s in the southeast have enacted fire bans including the RM’s of Laurier, Bengough and Willow Bunch. Lee predicts more RM’s will follow suit.
“It's getting very dry, lots of tinder out there now and the chances of having any wildfire, especially in this heat and with the risk of high winds definitely puts everybody at risk of losing control of a controlled burn. Having a controlled fire is very difficult when it's so dry, so we always recommend that it is surrounded by a fire break, either rocks or gravel and away from combustibles.”
It's much easier to prevent a fire before it starts than to put it out when it's burning. Chief Lee recommends before getting out in the field to take the time to check your equipment and make sure it's in proper working condition.
“You know we all get super busy, we get far behind in our daily activities and it's easy to just jump right up in the tractor and hit the field in road gear just trying to catch up. A minute walk-through before we start swathing, combining or bailing can save downtime trying to repair damaged or replace burnt equipment. Keep all your bearings and gears well lubricated as it helps prevent heat buildup and repair any fuel leaks, damaged wiring, exhaust systems, etc.”
Accidents can still occur even with properly serviced and lubricated equipment. It's important to prepare and have an emergency response plan just in case a fire starts. Lee recommends having extinguishers ready and in working condition, both in the cab of the tractor and either in the service truck or on the outside the tractor. Also, some helpful tips for if you have hired hands working on your farm.
“If you have helpers out there, make sure they know what land location they're on. Make sure they have a cell phone to call 911 and that they call right away because the faster we can get emergency services out, the faster we can put the problem to rest.”
If farmers are doing a controlled burn, they must call the Saskatchewan Controlled Burn Notification number at 1-866-404-4911 and for more information about fire safety, contact the local Weyburn Fire Department at 1-306-848-3240. If an emergency occurs, always call 911.