The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has issued a fire ban for most of east-central Saskatchewan.
This ban covers all provincial Crown lands, including provincial parks located with the fire ban area, and also includes all land within 4.5 km of the provincial forest boundary. The fire ban is effective immediately.
The fire ban includes any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks within all areas:
- South of Highway #106 from the Manitoba border to Highway #55;
- South of Highway #55 from Highway #106 to Prince Albert;
- East of Highway #2 from Prince Albert to Highway #5; and
- North of Highway #5 to the Manitoba border.
The SPSA is responding to several fires in the area near Hudson Bay, with helicopter and ground crews.
Smoke from fires north of Hudson Bay resulted in special air quality statements for eastern Saskatchewan and the northwest region of Manitoba on Saturday. Environment Canada said southerly winds would send the smoke out of the area by Saturday evening.
“With hunting season comes more human activity and, as a result, more human-caused fire starts,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said in a news release. “The SPSA encourages all residents, including hunters, to exercise caution to prevent fire starts and for all municipalities to examine the fire risk in their area.”
There are currently 11 wildfires burning in the province, including several in the area covered by the fire ban.
To date, Saskatchewan has had 603 wildfires, which is more than double the five-year average of 298.
(Pictured: the area the fire ban issued by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency covers | Photo credit: Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
