On Thursday evening, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) imposed a provincial fire ban for much of northern Saskatchewan.
The organization says the current spring conditions, high fire activity, and fire risk across the north led to the fire ban.
The ban covers areas north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River.
On Friday morning, the SPSA provided an update to the fire situation.
The SPSA says there are 24 active wildfires in the province, 9 of which are not contained.
The safety agency also says there has been 135 wildfires to date – 19 more than the same time last year, and significantly above the 5 year average of 65 at this date in time.
Bryan Chartrand, Executive Officer of Land Operations with the SPSA, says the primary cause for the fires is human activity and reminded everyone that human-caused fires are preventable.
He says the cause of the fires are varied.
“It could be people burning brush or something on their property that got away due to the wind, right down to other fires that could be more malicious, and arson like, which are being investigated. But, to date, all fires have been human caused.”
Chartrand pointed to drought like conditions in recent years as to why the fire conditions are so concerning. Despite a decently high snowfall this past winter, Chartrand says the soil remains quite dry.
“We need some spring rains to help with green up and to get some of that moisture back into the soil and into the forest fuels to help out with the current conditions,” he said.
With this year’s wildfire numbers significantly higher than the 5-year average, Chartrand says he is concerned, but it is too early to forecast what the rest of the wildfire season will look like.
“We are hopeful that we will get some spring rains, a couple days of showers will change our our conditions quite drastically and quickly,” he said. “So it’s a little too early to tell, but, you know, wishful thinking.”
There has been some evacuations due to this week’s wildfires with some areas around Onion Lake Cree Nation being evacuated and a lodge in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park also being evacuated as well.
Chartrand says the SPSA has not been asked to assist in any of these evacuations, but says the fire near Onion Lake is one of their top priorities.
If you spot a wildfire, call 1-800-667-9660, dial 9-1-1, or contact the local Forest Protection Area office.
For the latest wildfire numbers and maps, go to the “Wildfires” tab on the top of our webpage, mbcradio.com.
(TOP PHOTO – courtesy of the SPSA Facebook page)