Cape Breton grass fires strain resources, threaten property

It's turning out to be a busy spring for grass fires in the Cape BretonRegional Municipality.

One volunteer firedepartment alone, in SydneyMines, has responded to more than50 calls in the past few weeks.

• Nova Scotia firefighters battling grass fire find hydrant clogged with fish

Cape Breton Regional Fire Service Deputy Chief Chris March says dry conditions and strongwindsthis month haveresulted in faster moving fires and more calls.

Thenumber of deliberately or even maliciously setfires is on track toexceed last year's number, he says. Last year, there were 1,090 calls for grass fires spread across 34 departments in the municipality.

"Typically, our grass fire season runs threeweeks, so if you were to do the average, that's on average 52 fire calls per day, every day for three weeks," he said.

"Youcan imagine the strain that puts on our resources and our personnel."

Sydney Mines's volunteer deputy fire chief, John MacPherson, says his department had a very difficult fireon Mondaynight at a scrapyard.

MacPherson says hesawit being set as he drove paston his way home from work.

"Ipersonally saw four young fellas set that particular fire and then take off," he said."It turned into a very serious fire. Got into a pile of scrap metal, old tires, pallets."

MacPherson says firefighters spentthreehours dousingthe blaze, even as calls came in for other grass fires.

Fast moving

Cape Breton Regional Fire Service is putting out a series of public service announcements this week warning of the dangers of grass fires.

"For anyone who hears this: Don't light them for any reason, and if you see children or anybody lighting a fire and you can communicate with them, tell them to stop, and notify 911 right away," said March.

March says police are called every time a fire is started, but without a co-operative witnessit's a hard crime to prosecute.

MacPhersonwarnsgrass fires can move quickly, especially in windy conditions.He says anyone caught up in one,either by starting it, fighting it or being in its path,could be risk of serious injury.