A potentially catastrophic situation on Saturday was mitigated by the quick actions of southwest residents coming together to battle a blaze south of Neville.

The column of smoke from the blaze, which started in the mid-afternoon on Saturday and eventually grew to roughly 130 acres, could be seen for miles in any direction.

The Neville Volunteer Fire Department immediately put out the call for assistance.

Nora McLearn, Fire Chief of the Neville Volunteer Fire Department, called the response both amazing and immediate.

Fire departments from Neville, the R.M of Swift Current, Vanguard, Ponteix and Cadillac arrived soon after. As well as the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).

Area farmers made their way with their water trucks to help with the blaze. Residents of the Spring Lake Hutterite Colony arrived to assist.

The R.M. of Whiska Creek supplied graders while the Ponteix RCMP provided traffic control.

It was the kind of community response that McLearn says makes her proud to be a part of the southwest community, and witness first hand the mindset of those residents who immediately come together to help out a friend and neighbour in need.

As a result of the quick action, McLearn says that there were no injuries or loss of equipment.

The fire burned approximately 130 acres of land, including an abandoned farmyard.

The initial blaze was sparked by a stone striking the bottom of a combine. Two more fires broke out as they were battling the first. While they are unsure of the cause of the second; possibly an ember carrying over, the third broke out when another rock struck another piece of equipment as they were constructing a fire break.

Thanks to the response, McLearn added that the fire was largely under control after four hours.