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Dry conditions have increased the risk of wildfires, leading the Saskatchewan Public Safety to put a fire ban in place across much of northern Saskatchewan.
The ban stretches from the provincial forest boundary north up to the Churchill River. The agency said the ban was put in place due to current conditions, a large number of fires already burning, and the “extreme fire risk in the province.”
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According to the public safety agency, there were 28 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan as of 3 p.m. on Thursday. So far this season the province has already seen 133 wildfires, 20 more than the same point in time in 2024.
“At this time, implementing a fire ban is a necessary action to protect lives, communities, major infrastructure and resources from wildfire,” Steve Roberts, the public safety agency’s vice-president of operations, said in a statement.
The fire ban stretches from the provincial forest boundary north to the Churchill River. (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
“The primary cause of the current wildfires in the province is human activity. We are strongly reminding the public that human-caused fires are preventable.”
The agency said human-caused wildfires are typically sparked in accessible areas near communities and roads, and noted that simple actions like avoiding driving on dry grass, properly extinguishing campfires and talking to kids about fire safety can make a big impact on the number of fires in the province.
Additionally, the agency encouraged municipalities and communities to take a look at fire risks in their area and consider implementing local fire bans as well.
A map of current fire bans in Saskatchewan can be found on the public safety agency’s website, and Saskatchewan Parks publishes a list of fire restrictions in provincial parks and recreational sites.
