Penned by Bev Biggeman.
Until it happens to you, you cannot appreciate the tragedy of a fire burning out of control in a rural community. Dwellings, farm equipment, grain bins, grain fields and large grassy areas are all at risk.
On a quiet Monday afternoon, I was washing the windows on the verandah in my home on a farm east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan when I happened to take a sideways glance and noticed smoke drifting into the yard from the west. I quickly called for my husband who thankfully was in the house. The word “Fire!” immediately demands a response.
We dropped everything and got into the truck and left the yard. We could already see the smoke climbing into the sky in the neighbour’s yard and as we approached their front gate we could see a shed on fire. It was fully engulfed by this time and we could see the grass nearby had caught fire.
We called the owner who was in town 20 miles away and we turned back to pick up the water fighting unit which was parked in another neighbours yard close by. It is usually in the field at harvest but we had not started in on the wheat yet.
My husband and his good friend/neighbour have mounted a 500 gallon tank on a trailer with a high pressure sprayer. It has saved us in the field for small fires that have occurred during harvest. It is always filled with water and ready to go. Many farmers in our community, and I dare say in other rural areas, have done the same. Some have 1000 to 2000 gallon tanks they use for spraying purposes, which also serve as their fire fighting units.
We picked up the unit and started to call the neighbours and 911. One neighbour had already posted a note on WhatsApp asking what the smoke was southeast of his yard. It was getting immediate responses and in very quick order we started to see neighbours coming down the road from as far away as 12 miles. We live in a 110 year old house so most people in the area know our place and the neighbour’s.
The fire had now consumed half of the neighbour’s yard taking with it many outbuildings, a hangar and small plane, several pieces of farm equipment and many old vehicles, a fuel tank, and a lot of ground. My husband and the neighbours stayed on the leading edge of the fire as it was rapidly moving across the hay field and to the edge of the caragana row at the edge of our property. The wind was very strong and relentless. We were concerned it would get into our yard and buildings, but the northwest wind was taking the fire to the southeast. More hay and grain fields could be affected.
The fire department and about 75 neighbours and friends fought valiantly with whatever they could get their hands on to beat back the fire: old clothes, leaf blowers, spades, chain saws and buckets. The fire department identified priority areas and hot spots and people readily worked at getting the fire contained.
We have diligently worked at cultivating a fire guard around our yard and it truly saved our yard and the nearby wheat field from catching on fire. The farm community in our area answered the call that Monday. Approximately 75 people showed up and many stayed until midnight that night.
Many neighbours volunteered to keep watch over the following week, patrolling at night looking for hot spots and walking the yard during the day keeping an eye out for smoke, smouldering, or flareups. The neighbour has suffered a tragic loss, but we only lost trees on the southwest corner of our property.
The following Sunday we had a few millimetres of rain which set our hearts at ease. We have all been through a roller coaster of emotions and thoughts including: What if? We’re lucky it didn’t… and How will we move on? We are reminded of so many others who are still battling fires or are dealing with the aftermath, financially and emotionally. Sometimes we think about how fragile life can be and how quickly fortunes can change. We are reminded of when people work together, problems can be solved or tragedies can be averted. We are reminded of the good works of others and are so thankful. Big thanks to those who are helping anyone affected by fires this summer.