Near-record warm temperatures and dry conditions aided a grass fire in a farmer’s field just south of Stettler last Thursday afternoon.
The blaze carried smoke into the town.
“It was a typical harvest field fire,” said Stettler Fire Chief Mark Dennis.
“We think it’s attributed to the harvest, as equipment probably hit a rock that caused a spark.”
About two quarters of field was scorched west of Highway 56 and just north of Township Road 38-4 in the fire, which was called in at 1:46 p.m.
Fire was under control within an hour, as several farmers and Future Ag and Agro Stettler dealerships arrived with cultivators to create a firebreak.
“That helped a lot,” Dennis said.
This was the second grass fire in two days for Stettler Fire and Rescue, which extinguished a blaze the day before along Highway 56 near Ross Lake Road.
While temperatures hit near-record 30 degrees last week, conditions remain dry.
“We’re not putting a fire ban on yet, but it’s on the radar,” Dennis said.
Much of that will depend on the weather, he said and Stettler county would place a ban if neighbouring counties in Paintearth or Camrose take the first step.
However, he said such weather is typical in September and October.
Eastern parts of Stettler county are typically drier than in the west.
The fire chief advises people to be cautious when burning outdoors.