Pasqua First Nation subdues quick-moving grass fire

Fire crews at the Pasqua First Nation were breathing a sigh of relief, along with some lingering smoke, after a grass fire burned through the community's south side on Thursday afternoon.

"It came from off-reserve. It was a farmer west of the reserve that was burning (stubble), and on a day like today, not good," Chief Matthew (Todd) Peigan told the Regina Leader-Post.

Environment Canada data shows the high temperature for the Regina area was 21 C in the afternoon, with wind gusts hitting a top speed of 78 km/h.

"That thing went through like a son of a gun," Peigan said of the fire's speed as it burned west to east. "Our reserve is about eight miles (12.8 km) long, and it went right through."

He first got news of the burn just after 1 p.m. CST.

The First Nation had its own firefighters dealing with it shortly after 1:30 p.m. CST, while the Fort Qu'Appelle Fire Department sent its crew members to battle the flames burning off-reserve, he said.

Peigan thanked neighbouring Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, Peepeekisis Cree Nation and Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation for sending their fire crews and equipment to also help out.

The four different units were working four different areas, he said.

The chief said no one was injured, but firefighters were suffering from smoke inhalation.

Fire crews had the flames under control by about 5:30 p.m. CST.

Peigan said he was told one home in the community was damaged; a corner of a house was burned. He hadn't yet been able to check its severity.

Dealing with a quick emergency like that, Peigan said, "creates a lot of excitement but it also creates a lot of concern, because this time of year it's dry out and today was windy.

"We have homes on the south border of our First Nation, so that was our main priority to make sure those homes were safe ...It moved fast. It was scary."

The community's fire crews were spending the evening in the denser bush areas to put out any hot spots they found.

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