Cambridge (Ontario, Canada) Pump 5 was dispatched to 1498 Cheese Factory Road for a grass fire April 12, 2015 at 13:45. Cambridge covers this portion of North Dumfries Township (Waterloo County) for the first hour. P5 had smoke showing from the hall and requested their tanker to respond. P5 arrived on scene and reported a large field on fire and hundreds of large connected hale bales burning. They immediately requested a second tanker (North Dumfries) and an additional Cambridge crew to the scene (A1).

Cambridge firefighters worked to contain the fire which was spreading very quickly. North Dumfries responded with two pumpers and two 2,500-Imperial gallon tankers (3,000 US gallons). Once on scene they were tasked with assisting Cambridge firefighters in extinguishing the fast moving grass fire. An excavator was being used to create a fire break in the hay bales which were over 1,000 feet in length. Once the perimeter fires were knocked down, Cambridge picked up and returned to the station at 15:00.

Command requested crews respond from neighboring Brant County. St George firefighters responded with two 2,500-Imperial  gallon tankers and 10 firefighters. Water was shuttled from a hydrant in Cambridge approximately a mile and a half from the scene, and from a hydrant in St George approximately four miles away. The fire was declared out at 18:15.

Box 690 Canteen was on scene 4.5 hours to provide rehab.

 All photos by Gary Dinkel, Box 690 Canteen

Grass fire extended up to forested area in left of shot. The blue pipe in the middle of the shot is a 24” high pressure gas line. Gary Dinkel photo

North Dumfries P4 setting up to take over from Cambridge P5. Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo

Gary Dinkel photo