The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has announced there are some changes to the fire bans that are in effect at the provincial level
Starting today, areas south of the provincial forest boundary, or south of Prince Albert, will no longer be under the provincial fire ban for provincial parks and Crown lands. Instead, it will be up to the individual municipalities, First Nation communities, rural municipalities, and parks to determine if they will be putting any bans in place. For provincial parks south of the boundary, they will be working with the SPSA to determine if and when any fire bans will be enacted.
For all of the areas north of the provincial forest boundary, the fire ban on Crown lands, as well as in provincial parks and provincial recreation sites, as well as the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District is still in effect.
"While we are modifying the current fire ban, the situation is dependent on weather, temperature, soil conditions and overall fire risk," said Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Paul Merriman. "People need to be aware of, and adhere to, all fire bans and burning restrictions placed by municipalities, First Nation communities, rural municipalities and regional parks."
As of 8:00 a.m. this morning, 95 wildfires were burning in Saskatchewan. So far this year, there have been 367 wildfires in Saskatchewan, 119 more than the five-year average of 248.