maple creek fire 2

A view of the grass fire outside Maple Creek

*UPDATE: RCMP now say the fire is under control and Environment Canada has lifted the wind warning for the Maple Creek Area. We will have more details tomorrow.*

Fire fighters and volunteers are battling a large grass fire near Maple Creek tonight.

RCMP report the fire is burning north of Highway 1, 6-7 kilometres west of Highway 21. The wind has now turned it north.

Sargeant Jeremy Allard told Swift Current Online the fire is about half the size it was when they were first called to the scene at approximately 4pm.

At one point police reported the fire was over 15 kilometres long. Allard said it may never have been that large, but the smoke plume was at least that long.

There are fire crews from Maple Creek, the RM of Maple Creek, Fox Valley, Walsh, Medicine Hat and some of the local Hutterite colonies joining in the effort.

Allard noted basically everybody with a water tank has shown up to help reload their trucks.

The RCMP appreciates all those who have volunteered their services, but have asked anyone not trained in fire fighting or bringing a water tank to stay away from the area.

They have also been asking residents in the immediate area to either move to a safer location now or at least keep a very close eye on the progress of the fire.

Allard said the fire has at times burned through the yards of some residences.

He can't say how much longer they will be fighting the fire tonight.

Interview with RCMP Sargeant in charge of the Maple Creek Detachment, Jeremy Allard:


One Maple Creek resident told Swift Current Online they could see the smoke from the fire from their home just after 6pm, but it had started to cloud over at 7pm.

Readers on Swift Current Online's facebook page say:

"The clouds look really dark as if they are going to pour rain on us or snow,   everybody driving out on the highways, drive safe or stay where u are."

"Very, very smokey looks brutal"

"Its pretty smokey in Gull Lake!"

"Good luck to all the people fighting the fire." 

"Apparently you can't see the fire yet from the #1. Hopefully it's under control soon."

There is a wind warning in the sourthwest tonight with winds gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour.

SWIFT FIRE

There was also a grass fire 6 kilometres east of Swift Current this afternoon.

The city fire department told Swift Current Online they were called to the scene at 3pm and had put it out by 4:30pm.

They believe it may have been caused when a CPR contractor was working at removing some signs from the area.

If you have any information on the fire or pictures from the scene e-mail us at scnews@goldenwestradio.com or call 773-NEWS