SUMMERSIDE — The cause of a fire that ignited a field near Three Oaks Senior High School Monday afternoon is not known and likely won’t be, said Summerside’s fire Chief Jim Peters.
The fire call came in just after 3 p.m. — around the same time classes had ended at the day at the nearby high school.
When firefighters had arrived on scene, the fire, which was located in a field on the Three Oaks property just behind the city’s garage on Ottawa Street and close to the sports fields, had spread east across the field and toward the school. Flames, at times, were more than eight feet high.
Due to the location of the fire, which was far from city hydrants, there was a problem getting water to the area. Long lines of hose had to be dragged across the field from fire trucks parked off of Ottawa Street to the burning field.
Two pumpers, a ladder truck and rescue truck responded and 35 firefighters were on the scene of the fire.
Peters said with the high winds on Monday afternoon there was the fear the fire could spread to a nearby stand of spruce trees.
Luckily, firefighters were able to knock the fire down within minutes and physically knock out hot spots with shovels and brooms.
Peters did say he was surprised with just how dry the ground was in the area, adding the fire could have been much worse.
No one was hurt.
The fire chief said there is no logical reason why the fire would have started and would not speculate on a cause.
“I have my suspicions,” added Peters.
