Fire ban in effect for central, southern Saskatchewan: SPSA

A major fire ban is now in effect across central and southern Saskatchewan as extreme fire danger drives wildfire concerns. Connor Chan reports.

A fire ban is now in place for much of central and southern Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) announced the move on Friday afternoon.

“Due to current conditions and the extreme fire risk in the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is implementing a fire ban,” Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger said during the briefing.

According to Weger, the fire ban covers all Crown land south of a series of northern highways – spanning from Highway 55 on the Alberta border near Pierceland to Highway 106 on the Manitoba border near Creighton and Flin Flon.

The ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns, fireworks in the designated area and the use of ATVs and UTVs in provincial forests. The minister noted the ban does not include rural municipalities or incorporated municipalities – as municipal governments must implement their own fire bans at this time.

More than 50 rural municipalities across Saskatchewan have fire bans in place as of Friday.

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According to the SPSA, the measure is being taken as the primary cause of wildfires at this time of year is human activity.

“Human-caused wildfires typically start inaccessible areas near communities and roads. So, we encourage people to take simple actions, like not driving a vehicle on dry grass, drowning campfires until embers are cool, and talking to young children about fire safety,” Weger explained, adding the SPSA encourages all municipalities to examine the fire risks in their areas and to consider implementing similar bans.

As of Friday afternoon, there are six wildfires in the province – two are contained, two are not contained, one is currently under assessment while protecting values is the priority for the remaining fire.

The Lobstick fire, which now covers 13,000 hectares, has led to evacuations in the RM of Duck Lake and has damaged two structures.

On Friday, the fire did pass over the North Saskatchewan River, with the SPSA saying its operations in the area are aimed at halting the fire’s spread.

Despite early speculation the fire was human caused, an SPSA investigation found evidence of a lightning strike.

“The initial information we were receiving, and even from people in the area suspected there was human caused by an ATV,” Weger said. “Now we’re receiving information that they have come across a tree that was struck by lightning.”

The province’s other uncontained blaze, dubbed the Cayford fire, is located north of Hudson Bay and covers nearly 200 hectares.