Mayor Upset With CP Rail Over Fire

Tuesday night's grass fire (Photo by Kim Reznechenko)

Maple Creek Mayor Barry Rudd is expressing frustration with CP Rail after he claims they caused the 15 kilometre long grass fire outside of town yesterday.

It took over 100 people over 8 hours to get the fire under control.

Click here for our story on the fire

"I guess we can say thank you to CP Rail because that's where these fires are starting," Rudd said. "This is the second time that it has threatened ranches and farms and done damage. It wasn't a few months back here where (a fire) just about took out two ranch sites (in the township of Hatton). They are CP rail fires. They start just down the edge of the railway tracks and that's the problem."

"I don't think CP rail is probably going to offer to pay too much other than the fire fighting services which they generally do pay if we sent the bill in, but this is going to be a little bill so I'm just not sure."

Rudd doesn't blame the local conductors.

"It's the head offices," the Mayor said. "It would be nice to have them out here fighting a fire to see that devastation. It will be on the news... maybe they will see it that way because something has to be done. It's a recurring problem that's went for years and years and years."

A spokesman for CP told Swift Current Online the cause of the fire is still under investigation and they have spoken to Mayor Rudd about his concerns.

Rudd also expressed gratitude to all the communities that came together to help fight the large blaze last night.

"If it wasn't for the efforts of everyone around the fire would probably still be going," Rudd said. "It's a rural Saskatchewan response because everyone comes from miles around." 

Todd Vallee interviews Maple Creek Mayor Barry Rudd: