Experts say Sask. wildfires could remain ablaze until snowfall

Wildfires continue to rage in northern Saskatchewan as the province faces its worst fire season in more than a decade.

Increasingly warmer-than-average spring temperatures, prolonged periods without rain and strong gusting winds have only exacerbated the situation.

One thing is clear: no matter how many firefighters are sent to control the growing fires, it's up to mother nature to put out the flames.

Dry leaves, twigs and pine needles on forest floors act as a base for wildfires to ignite, and northern Saskatchewan has experienced a lack of moisture this year.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) confirmed La Ronge had its second driest spring in 60 years.

Fire specialists that CBC spoke to said rainfall is the only long-term solution.

A low-pressure weather system rolled into the province's north last week, finally bringing some moisture to the area. Some parts got up to 40 mm of rain.

But fire specialists warn it's nowhere near enough.

"You're almost at 1,000,000 hectares, which is about 40 times the size of Saskatoon," Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University, told CBC.

"It's a huge area that's on fire and it's producing lots of smoke. Every time you get a couple dry days and the wind picks up, you're going to see these fires grow unless we get two weeks of rain, or 100-plus millimetres."

If the province did get 100 mm of rain, Flannigan said many of the fires would be put out, but hotspots would still be burning in deeper organic material and on logs in the forest.

June is typically Saskatchewan's mini "monsoon" season, where upper lows come through and drop lots of rain at once. Flannigan said at least three of those rainfalls would be needed during the month to provide any tangible relief.

Although moisture is needed in the province, the risk of lightning that comes with showers could make things worse.

Lightning strikes can spread existing fires or create new ones.