More than 30 people evacuated as number of Sask. wildfires grows saskatoon.ctvnews.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from saskatoon.ctvnews.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SASKATOON Fire crews are managing multiple uncontained fires in the province as high temperatures and a lack of moisture are creating favourable conditions for the fires to spread. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has issued a fire ban for provincial parks, Crown land and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District that includes open fires, controlled burns or fireworks. The ban comes on a day when the province is again expected to see scorching temperatures. There are currently 17 active fires in the province, four of which are still not contained as of early Friday afternoon according to the province s active wildfire map.
Fire ban issued province-wide
Daily Herald File Photo
Due to hot, dry conditions and an extreme fire risk that covers most of the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has issued a provincial fire ban for Crown lands, provincial parks and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, effective immediately on Friday.
The fire ban includes any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks.
Many municipalities already have fire bans in place. The SPSA encourages all municipalities to examine the fire risk in their area.
The RM of Prince Albert and RM of Buckland have both issued fire bans. The fire ban in both was issued on June 30 and will be in effect until a notice is issued by the municipality.
Saskatchewan issues province-wide fire ban
SHARE ON: A campfire. (File photo)
In a response to ongoing dry and hot conditions causing wildfire conditions in the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has issued a provincial fire ban.
The ban is in effect for all Crown Lands, provincial parks and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, effective immediately. It covers all fires, including firepits, open fires, controlled burns and fireworks.
Currently, there are 18 wildfires burning across the province, and there have been 202 to date, slightly over the five year average of 195.
“We know that this is a popular weekend for camping and outdoor activities, but due to the extreme conditions across the province, implementing a fire ban was a necessary decision,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts explains.
(980 CJME file photo)
Like its neighbouring provinces, Saskatchewan is facing extreme fire conditions due to the high heat and low precipitation.
So far this year, the province has dealt with 202 fires, which is slightly above the five-year average of 195.
Steve Roberts, the vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, explained two fires the Briggs and Lock are not yet contained and are posing a concern.
“The Brigg fire, it started June 29 in the afternoon,” Roberts said Friday. “By 8 p.m. the next day, it had exceeded 1,500 hectares. The fire is adjacent to the Cigar Lake Mining Facility.”
On Thursday, the facility self-evacuated all non-critical staff. Currently the fire is being managed and there has been no report of structure losses due to the fire.