The first wildfire of the season in the Grande Prairie Wildfire Management Area was extinguished on Tuesday, after burning out of control for part of Monday.

The grass fire, which grew to seven hectares, was discovered around 2 p.m. on Monday north of Valleyview, around Deep Creek.

“This is our first big one of the season,” said Kelly Burke, wildfire information officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD).

“We’ve had some other fires since March 1, permit fires and other grass fires, but this is definitely the biggest one we’ve had.”

ESRD found the fire, originally measuring 0.3 hectares, from a helicopter while doing a patrol of its Grande Prairie Wildfire Management Area.

“It was a person burning without a permit and then the winds just took the fire,” said Burke.

A four-member ESRD wildfire crew brought the grass fire under control on Monday around 6 p.m.

A helicopter was also used for bucketing water onto the fire.

When the grass fire was burning, Burke says high winds, measuring around 40 to 60 km/h,carried the grass fire in a different direction from when ESRD first discovered it.

“When you have really windy conditions in a fine fuel like grass, it can change direction quickly,” said Burke.

“It’s very unsafe around your property especially because you may think you’re burning away from your home, but the wind may change and burn it back toward your residence.”

Burke says grass fires are one of the biggest hazards for ESRD in the springtime, as the grass is dead and dry.

“Most folks want to clean up around their homes or farmland,” said Burke.

“Some believe people that burning off dead grass will help renew and make new green (grass).”

While a grass fire is easier to extinguish than a wildfire in a landscape with trees, Burke says it can still burn large areas.

“The fuel is lighter so it just burns really quick and keeps on feeding and moving,” said Burke.

A fire advisory is still in effect for the Grande Prairie Wildfire Management Area.

The advisory was issued this past weekend due to high winds.

“After our windy weekend, it’s gotten really dry, so we’re going to keep the fire advisory on until it rains or until the grass gets greener,” said Burke.

To obtain a fire permit, call the Grande Prairie ESRD office at 780-538-5560. To report a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.

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