The wildfire hazard is extreme due to the lack of significant rainfall.
As a result, the Ministry of Environment, in consultation with Parks, Culture and Sport and Government Relations, has issued a ban on all open fires for provincial forests on the west side of the commercial forest.
According to the ministry’s news release the ban area is bounded by: the Alberta border on the west; the Clearwater and Churchill rivers, east to Highway 2; Highway 2 south to the junction with Highway 916; Highway 916 west to the boundary of Prince Albert National Park; the northern boundary of PANP; the western boundary of PANP, south to provincial forest boundary; the provincial forest boundary west to the Alberta border. The fire ban does not include the national park.
This fire ban also includes all provincial parks and recreation sites within the ban area.
It includes Meadow Lake, Makwa Lake, Steele Narrows and Clearwater River provincial parks, and Bronson Forest and Chitek Lake recreation sites.
According to the province’s news release all burn notification numbers – issued to those planning to burn in or within 4.5 kilometres of provincial forests – for the ban area are revoked. Fireworks are also prohibited.
Fire bans are also in place in many municipalities throughout the province including in North Battleford.
CSA-approved propane heating devices and barbecues, pressurized stoves or charcoal briquettes used in a ministry-approved firebox will be permitted for cooking and heating purposes for the duration of the ban.
The provincial fire ban will stay in place until conditions improve and the Ministry of Environment rescinds the order.
In addition to this fire ban issued May 10, the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport has issued a restriction on all open fires in Lac La Ronge Provincial Park and Missinipe Recreation Site as of May 11.
Again, self-contained portable gas heating devices and fire pits, barbecues, pressurized stoves, and charcoal briquettes will be permitted for cooking and heating purposes at park discretion for the duration of the ban.
These restrictions will remain in effect until public notification by the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.
There is some good news to report: conditions have improved in the southern area of the province because of the recent rain. Fire restrictions at Blackstrap, Buffalo Pound, Danielson, Douglas and Pike Lake Provincial Parks and surrounding recreation sites have been lifted.
For a complete list of parks and sites affected by fire bans or restrictions go to www.saskparks.net/FireBan2016.
