Paynton's 5th Annual Christmas Craft Sale is coming Saturday, Nov 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. MST at the Paynton gym. Come get yourChristmas shopping done early and help support local entrepreneurs. You can find all sorts of gifts likeart, baking, crafts, ceramics, sewing,loose tea, photography, spices and so much more.
Paynton and Maidstone Volunteer Fire Departments were called into action at approximately 11:30 p.m.CST Monday to a bush fire 12 kilometres west and one kilometer southof Paynton just off Highway16.
Sixteen to 18 firefighters left the warmth of their homes to battle the fire, which was intentionally set. On this cold and windy night, the volunteers slipped, tripped andgot down right cold on the rough and dangerousterrain including a frozen slough causing feet to go through the top layer of iceright up to their knees at times.
There is currently a fire ban, with information posted at the post office, and it is important to call and get a permit before starting a fire. A permit is not just permission to burn but also a notification to emergency services that you are burning. This allows the 911 operator to know you have planned a burn and if passersby call in, the operator knows it is under control so the fire department is not called out.
It is the land owner's responsibility to watch the fire and if it does get out of control to call 911 immediately to prevent the fire from spreading too far. It is also the landowners' responsibility to make sure the fire stays out after the fire department has doused the flames. High winds can ignite the embers and the fire can start up all over again causing the emergency response teams to put out the same fire twice.
If you are planning a burn, call the RM office to find out if there is a fire ban. Get a permit. Watch the fire and have water on hand. If the fire does get out of control, cal 911 immediately. Check on the site of the fire and if it flares up again, call 911
These simple steps will prevent the call out of, one water hauler, two fire trucks, 16 - 18 volunteers, five personal vehicles driving on rough terrain and lowered moral and desire to help when the landowner is un-grateful.
