In the hot, dry conditions today a blaze erupted just off Highway 37, due to what responders think could have been a spark off of a vehicle.
Responders were called to the scene shortly before lunch around 11 a.m, with some arriving sooner than others.
On hand was a multitude of RM fire departments, from the RM of Riverside 168, Gull Lake, Hazlet, and Swift Current.
Fire Chief for the RM of Riverside, Bob Gaunt, said that the fire was still under investigation, but there was some speculation as to the cause.
"Steel dragging or [a ball] bearing or something," commented Gaunt. "It started in two spots and the wind picked up. It must have gone a mile and a half or so, burning quite a bit of pasture and fences."
The blaze was contained to the pasture, preventing any crop losses.
The fire could have gone a lot further and done more damage without the quick response of local RM Fire Departments. Leading one of the response teams, was the RM of Swift Current's Fire Chief, Louis Cherpin.
"It chewed up a significant amount of area," added Cherpin. "I don't know exactly how big it was, but it was moving fast and quick and the train was not a firefighter's dream."
Jaret Peterson was responding as a member of the RM of Pennant. He was working to put out spouts of flame with a shovel, helping to battle back the blaze. He was not the only volunteer on the scene, as the locals had turned up in force to do their part in keeping the fire contained.
"There were lots of local farmers," said Peterson. "I couldn't even begin to name all of them."
Using farm equipment and water trucks to rake and spray the land, they helped to contain the damage done to the immediate area. Their quick response helped prevent the fire from running rampant up the highway, allowing responders to arrive at the fire and fight it alongside them.
"Thank you very much to everybody that showed up," added Gaunt. "The Hutterites sent a whole bunch of trucks out and then twenty men I heard."
It wasn't just equipment that was brought to the blaze. Locals were also handing out water and sandwiches to the crews, helping them to cool off in the heat.
Most crews departed after the bulk of the blaze had been extinguished around 1 p.m. The RM of Riverside crew stayed until 3 p.m, putting out hot spots that could have reignited the flames, only leaving when they were sure that they had eliminated the pressing threat.