Popular Cranberry Flats area damaged by brush fire

The Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) says Tuesday’s brush fire south of Saskatoon claimed approximately two-thirds of the Cranberry Flats conservation area.

Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately seven hours after receiving reports of a burning tree in a yard at Riverside Estates, approximately five kilometres south of the city.

The flames eventually spread south into the Cranberry Flats land and burned 100 acres inside the conservation area as crews battled the fire from the parking lot of the popular hiking and beach spot.

Renny Grilz, resource management officer for the MVA, told 650 CKOM the area represented nearly 66 per cent of Cranberry Flats. However, he said firefighters were able to protect the boardwalk and other infrastructure.

“We have a bit of a boardwalk … There’s a little bit of smoldering issues on that, so they might have to replace a few boards,” he said. “But all of it is pretty much intact.”

Grilz said the Cranberry Flats area is still open to the public, but he’s recommending that people stay away until the next big rainfall due to blowing ash.

He noted while the grass fire wasn’t planned, it wasn’t completely unwelcomed by the MVA.

“Fire is a natural process for renewing the site,” he said. “This fire is not a negative to the site. It’s just doing something we would have done over time.”

Expect more fires in MVA lands

Grilz added that after a decade of wetter seasons contributed to a lot of vegetation growth in the Meewasin Valley, the region is moving into a drought cycle.

He said that could lead to more fires in MVA-controlled areas, as the grassland and forests attempt to renew themselves.

“Typically, fires occur in these areas every seven to 15 years,” he said. “One of our concerns is an accidental fire.”

Grilz is asking people using Meewasin trails not to smoke and to dispose of cigarettes to avoid causing a fire. He also noted anyone who sees smoke while on a trail should return to their vehicles and report the fire to authorities.