Cypress County fire crews along Highway 1 put out a hot spot from the grass fire on Thursday, August 18, 2022. (Image: Bob Schneider)

By Gates Guarin

Cypress County grass fire accidental, RCMP say

Aug 20, 2022 | 9:22 AM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB – RCMP now has answers about a late evening grass fire that was initially reported as suspicious in origin.

In a statement, RCMP says at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2022, Redcliff RCMP responded to a grass fire on Highway 1, east of Range Road 82.

The fire was estimated to be close to 100 yards in width, or about the size of a football field.

Initial reports were that the fire may have been intentionally set, but a completed investigation concluded the fire was accidental. Evidence obtained by RCMP deem the fire was started by a vehicle malfunction, specifically a spark from a tire.

Candace Boyne was on the way to a wedding with her family when she was able to capture the scene on video just as fire crews from across Cypress County arrived to fight the blaze. Boyne describes the scene as “odd.”

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“We were driving past and I could see in the distance there was smoke billowing, and there was an orange glow on the horizon, and we weren’t sure what it would be,” Boyne says. “When we got closer, we could see there was lines of fire, and it went right from the edge of the roadway, from the edge of the highway, all the way through the ditch and up into the field; but it was in single strands.”

Emergency crews on scene were able to contain the blaze, but have kept units close by to monitor any potential flare-ups. Jason Linton, the emergency services coordinator for Cypress County, is stressing the public use extreme caution and safety with the current grass conditions.

“Have a water source available is really – we encourage even for farming and swathing and ranching activities,” Linton says. “Have a water source readily available. Watch for hot spots, make sure your equipment is well maintained. Make sure underneath your vehicle is clean and free of agricultural and extra debris, and just be alert for your surroundings.”

Linton adds to be mindful of crews who may be working along the highways and to slow down when emergency vehicles and personnel are present in an active area.

On Friday, country crews and other fire stations were called to a grass fire near the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary along Highway 528.