RCMP say they now know what caused a grass fire that burned near Keoma yesterday afternoon (October 29th).

At around 3:20pm, RCMP from Beiseker responded to calls of a fire in a ditch along Highway 9 near Keoma, west of Balzac.

Photo Courtesy: Beiseker RCMP

Firefighters from Rocky View County, Beiseker, Irricana and Crossfield were called to the scene to help keep the fire under control.

Nearby farmers and residents of the Tscheder Hutterite Colony were able to use farm equipment and create barriers which prevented the fire from reaching any nearby residences.

Corporal Curtis Peters of the RCMP says after the fire cleared and they investigated, the cause was found.

"After we brought it under control, going along and trying to find the source of the fire, it became very obvious that this was caused by a cigarette butt along the Highway 9. My theory would be that that cigarette butt had been tossed out of a vehicle that was traveling along the highway."

This is the second time a grass fire in Rocky View County has been started by a discarded cigarette after a blaze destroyed property in Sharp Hill on October 17th.

"The message is pretty simple: don't throw your cigarette butts out the windows," says Cpl. Peters, "It takes very little heat to cause a fire with these dry conditions and then with the wind going, that fires move very rapidly. We've seen houses lost this year and we've even had a volunteer firefighter who died as a result of a fire in Southern Alberta."

RCMP warn that there are legal actions you could face for discarding your cigarette that can cause a fire. They include a fine for littering, charges of mischief or criminal negligence and financial responsibility for costs associated with fire response and repairs.

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