City of P.A. releases cause of Cloverdale wildfire
The City of Prince Albert said the Cloverdale Fire, which burned northeast of the city last week was caused by a lightning strike.
A media release posted on the city’s website explained an investigation which also involved the Ministry of Environment and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said all other possible causes had been ruled out. The release added the fire started within the city’s boundaries.
The fire led the City of P.A. to declare a state of local emergency and also saw the communities of La Ronge, Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band do the same as the fire knocked out power to those communities for several days.
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The wildfire northeast of Prince Albert that forced dozens of people to evacuate and left thousands of people without power in northern Saskatchewan last month was caused by a lightning strike, the Prince Albert Fire Department says.
“All other possible causes have been excluded,” the department said in a statement.
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The Cloverdale Fire started about four kilometres north of Prince Albert on May 17 and grew quickly because of windy, hot and dry conditions.
By Gord Wiebe
May 27, 2021 | 9:27 AM
The City of Prince Albert says the investigation of the Cloverdale Fire is now complete. The blaze threatened the City and caused evacuations, while all hands were on deck, beating the fire back with efforts made to save structures nearby. Thousands of people were left without power before cold weather and snow eventually moved in to help contain the fire.
The City says the cause of the fire was a lightning strike within the municipal boundaries of the City. Investigators from the Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and the City of Prince Albert completed the investigation.
The massive blaze near Prince Albert. (Derek Provost/Submitted)
A lightning strike has been confirmed as the cause of the Cloverdale Fire on the outskirts of Prince Albert.
Investigators from the Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and City of Prince Albert completed the investigation.
Fire Inspector Brad Antonson with the P.A. Fire Department told paNOW the fire started within city limits, about 300 metres northeast of Evergreen Road.
A scorched “tree of origin” with bark blown off one side was found in the area, indicating a lightning strike, Antonson explained.
Although it’s unclear when the bolt hit, Antonson said investigators believe it may have been “holdover lightning” from a storm on May 15 or May 16.