Fire bans issued across northern Saskatchewan
The recent upswing in warm, dry weather has created extreme fire hazard conditions across Saskatchewan, prompting provincial wildfire management officals to raise the warning system to the highest level.
Northern Saskatchewan is even more susceptible to fires, resulting in the Ministry of Environment, in consultation with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, invoking a fire ban over most of the northern half of the province, including Prince Albert National Park, provincial parks and recreation sites within forests. Steve Roberts, wildfire management executive director, was involved in making the decision Thursday at midnight.
“We have not called a fire ban of this magnitude for the last five years,” Roberts told reporters at the provincial emergency operations centre Friday.
Twenty-one fires are active across the province, three of which are in excess of 100 hectares — a 660-hectare fire near Black Lake, a fire over 450 hectares near Turtle Lake and one near Darcy Lake that is upwards of 6,000 hectares.
Of those three wildfires, only the one near Black Lake, which forced the evacuation of some residents last week, is under control.
According to Roberts, this is an “above average” fire load, with 183 fires — only two of which were not manmade — having popped up across the province so far this year. At this time in 2014, there had been 97 fires.
“There will be no open campfires and no open burning,” said Roberts. “So in other words you cannot burn yard debris ... briquettes and natural gas (are the) only things allowed.”
Pressurized stoves and self-contained heating devices are also permissible to be used throughout the ban.
Bob Wilson, acting director of northern park operations, said people lobbied for a fire ban to be put in place.
Wilson does not expect the ban will result in a decline in campers or business in northern provincial parks and recreation sites.
“I would suspect on the weekend our visitors that are planning to come will still come, and they’ll cook their meals over the briquettes as we’ve asked them,” said Wilson.
Any individuals caught defying the ban could be ticketed, or face hefty fines should they start a fire and have it spread.
Each of wildfire management’s 500-plus yard crew workers have been made available to fight existing and future fires, as has the provincial air fleet and seven medium-lift or heavy helicopters that are on contract throughout the fire season. Additional resources from outside jurisdictions can be called upon if necessary.
Provincial fire commissioner Duane McKay said he has not seen such an extreme fire risk in seven or eight years. His concern over wildfires has increased.
“It’s odd that we would see this type of risk to fire all the way across the province, from the 60th parallel all the way down to the 49th parallel, and east to west,” he explained.
Although Roberts declared the fire ban for most of northern Saskatchewan, municipalities can choose whether or not to declare their own bans.
There are no fires causing threats to communities, yet some have been alerted and chosen to self-evacuate.
“Human life and communities are our No. 1 priority,” Roberts explained. “That’s where our focus will be.”
A dose of moisture would also be welcomed.
As per the Ministry of Environment, the ban will remain in effect until further notice.