(Facebook/Bow Island Emergency Services) Cypress County Fire Services and Bow Island Emergency services battled a blaze along Hwy 879 Friday evening. The fire is now extinguished.

By Tiffany Goodwein

Cypress County Fire Services battle four grass fires in 48 hours

Jul 3, 2021 | 12:23 PM

CYPRESS COUNTY,AB- Hot dry temperatures have resulted in a busy week for Cypress County fire crews. In the past two days, crews were called out to four different grass fires.

“In the past 48 hours we have had two fires out at Suffield, and we have had a fire at Schuler and one on the north side of Bow Island,” said Cypress County Fire Services Instant Command Dustin Vossler.

All four of the fires have now been extinguished, according to Cypress County.

On Canada Day, crews were called out to the Suffield area to battle a 1600 acre grass fire that was sparked following a vehicle fire. Vossler said a landowner lost some corrals in the fire. Compromised wells were also threatened. The fire flared up twice before it was eventually extinguished. No one was hurt in the blaze.

The next day crews were called out to the area again. This time to battle a 60-acre blaze that was sparked by an individual cutting hay. Crews were called to the scene at around 2p.m. and extinguished the blaze a few hours later.

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And yesterday crews were called out to assist Bow Island Emergency Services in extinguishing a blaze along Hwy 879. Crews were called out at around 7p.m and extinguished the blaze at around 11 p.m. Traffic was slowed along the highway while crews were putting out the fire. The fire was burning on a side of a coulee, so an exact size is difficult to determine, but Vossler estimates the fire was around 130 acres. The Bow Island Fire Department will be checking for hot spots today.

A grass fire also occurred in Schuler yesterday afternoon. Vossler said that fire was sparked from an individual cutting hay. The person was able to contain much of the fire himself before crews arrived.

With hot dry temperatures expected to continue, Vossler said it doesn’t take much for a fire to spark and has this reminder for the public.

“We ask everyone to be very careful when disposing of their cigarettes. If you are traveling with a trailer please make sure your chains aren’t dragging on the highway. If you are out in the field cutting hay or bailing, please have a water source with you, and if you can please refrain from cutting if it is above 35 degrees.”

A fire ban is currently in place.