Fire ban continues in SK, more than 200 wildfires this year
Digital Reporter
Sunday, May 24, 2015, 8:05 PM - Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment has extended a fire ban as many parts of the province remain under extreme high risk as the pattern of dry, hot weather continues across the Prairies.
There are 25 wildfires burning in the province, according to Saskatchewan's Sunday morning Daily Wildfire Report. A total of 213 wildfires have been reported thus far this season, with 13 new fires added since Saturday.
Officials say there has been no significant rainfall since the snow melted, leading to extremely dry conditions.
The fire ban is in effect for nearly all areas north of Saskatoon. Provincial forests under the restriction include: Canwood, Fort a la Corne, Nisbet, Northern, Porcupine and Torch River. All provincial parks and recreation sites within the forests are under a strict fire ban. Campers were told to limit campfires and barbeques to natural gas or briquettes. Fireworks are also prohibited.
Residents near the town of Love, Saskatchewan northeast of Prince Albert were moved to safety due to fires burning in the area, CBC reports.
Several parts of southern Saskatchewan are also under extreme high risk of fire.
The fire ban is expected to stay in place until conditions improve and the Ministry of Environment rescinds the order.
Other wildfire news:
- The pilot of a plane that crashed during firefighting efforts in Alberta has died. His aircraft crashed into a lake around 4:30 p.m. Friday while fighting wildfires in the Slave Lake area.
- B.C.'s Little Bobtail Lake fire has grown 25,000 hectares and is 80 per cent contained.
Source: Daily Wildfire Report | CBC
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