Grass fire northeast of Airdrie scorches farmland, destroys machinery

Rural fire crews have extinguished a grass fire northeast of Airdrie that scorchedtwohectares of open farmland and destroyed a large piece of farm machinery.

District Chief Gary Barnettwith the Rockyview County Fire department says there were no injuries.

The fire broke out east of Range Road 290 around Township Road284.

Crews from Airdrie, Irricana,CrossfieldandBalzacfire stations stamped out the flames before 2 p.m Monday, butremained on scene for hours afterward to monitor the situation and deal with additional embers and hot spots.

Much of the field around the burn area has been plowedup to eliminate potential flammable areas.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.