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Community Effort Stops Wildfire in Arena Community Pasture

Released on August 29, 2003

Fire departments from Eastend, Frontier, Shaunavon and Saskatchewan Environment, along with over 100 community volunteers joined forces to stop a 1600 hectare wildfire about 35 kilometres southwest of Eastend in the Arena Community Pasture.

The fire started early in the afternoon on August 25 and spread rapidly due to extremely dry conditions in the area. Shortly after 1:00 p.m., Environment fire program staff at Cypress Hills received a request for assistance from Arena Community Pasture Manager Dan McNaughton. Environment immediately dispatched a helicopter and fire protection staff to help suppress the blaze. Other fire departments and heavy equipment from several rural municipalities in the area soon joined the fight, along with more than 100 community volunteers.

A unified command among all of the fire agencies was formed to effectively deploy fire suppression resources against the fire. Environment's Regional Fire Manager Glen Longpre praised the co-operative effort that helped to contain the fire. "Considering how very dry the burning conditions are, it is truly amazing what can be accomplished when everyone pulls together - fire equipment and staff from rural fire departments; heavy equipment from rural municipalities; the volunteers with water trucks and other equipment; and our own staff and helicopter were all essential in the protection of property," Longpre said.

Longpre also credited the co-ordination efforts of Arena Community Pasture Manager Dan McNaughton in containing the fire. "No property was lost, only minimal crop damage reported and approximately 500 cattle at risk were moved out of harm's way," Longpre said.

As of the evening of August 28, fire protection staff were still mopping up some hotspots on the fire, but the fire is considered under control and no further threats are anticipated. A ban on all open fires remains in effect for the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park West Block and Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. Details on the fire bans are available on SE's website at: www.se.gov.sk.ca/fire/

To report a wildfire call 911 or the province's toll-free Firewatch number at 1-800-667-9660.

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For More Information, Contact:

John Bell
Saskatchewan Environment
Cypress Hills
Phone: (306) 662-7225

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