Black Diamond firefighters prevented extensive damage from occurring when a shed caught fire and burnt to the ground in a Maplewood yard on March 27.
The fire department responded to a call from a neighbour who noticed the blaze from her kitchen window. The fire caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to the shed, a truck parked near the shed and siding to the home.
Fire chief Jamie Campbell said they are unsure what caused the fire as there was no power or gas hooked up to the building.
“It was closed up,” he said. “There was nothing inside that would be indicative of anything like gas or lawn mower gas. We’re just not sure how it got going. We are still trying to figure it out.”
Campbell said firefighters were able to determine that the fire started inside the shed and they don’t suspect foul play was involved.
He added the residents were home at the time of the blaze, yet no one was injured.
Two days later, the department responded to a grass fire in Sandy McNabb caused by sparks from a fire pit that was being used at the time. Firefighters were able to douse the blaze quickly.
“The wind came up and took it into the dry grass,” he said. “It was easily taken care of.”
Campbell said the fire risk level is currently rated very high due to the warm and dry temperatures, in addition to windy conditions, the last few weeks.
“With the wind and the fact that we’ve got lots of cured grass, that’s part of why they move it to very high,” he said. “It moves up and down, depending on precipitation.”
Despite rainfall that occurred for several hours the previous day, Campbell said the risk for grass fires remains high throughout the region and cautions people to ensure they’re always around fire pits that are in use.
“Last year we had a significant amount of more snow in the lower areas in and around the community at this time than we had this year,” he said. “We don’t typically get a lot of snow here. Last year was the exception to the rule.”
With above average temperatures last winter and into the spring, the chances of wild fires occurring are even higher this year, Campbell said.
“It doesn’t take much with the wind to dry the grass back out,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing we battle is the wind because it takes the moisture out of everything.”
High to very high fire hazards is forecasted for all grassy areas in the region due to early show melt and recent warm weather.
Fire spreads quickly and easily in windy conditions and the dry grass will act as fuel in snow-free areas.
“It is very dry so watch your campfires and backyard campfire pits,” he said.
Campbell also cautions residents to stay away from rivers, lakes and streams this time of year with the early spring runoff and increasing water volumes.
If you witness a wild fire, immediately call 310-FIRE.
