Sask. currently dealing with over 80 wildfires, none threatening communities, SPSA says
CTV
As the devastating wildfire in Jasper National Park continues to burn, Saskatchewan is currently batting more than 80 active wildfires of its own. However, none are currently encroaching on any communities, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said on Tuesday.
As the devastating wildfire in Jasper National Park continues to burn, Saskatchewan is currently batting more than 80 active wildfires of its own.
Steve Roberts, vice president, operations at the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) says what started out as a very wet spring and summer in the province has given way to heat and lots of dry lightning activity.
“We are currently dealing with over 80 active wildfires in our province right now, that number has come down somewhat from our peak of over 100. That being said, it will take some time to get all of them contained, extinguished and off the books,” Roberts said in an interview with CTV News on Tuesday.
He added that significant precipitation is needed throughout the province with more heat and dry weather forecasted in the coming days.
Of the 83 active wildfires burning, Roberts says as of July 30 none are threatening any communities. Only one community in the province has been threatened by a wildfire this year to date, that being Creighton, Sask. near Flin Flon, Man. Roberts says that situation is now under control and no evacuation alerts are in place anymore.
All the fires currently burning are north of Prince Albert, according to SPSA’s active wildfire situation map. However, Roberts says conditions in southern Saskatchewan are also favourable for wildifres, adding that people need to be just as vigilant down south as residents need to be in the north.
When it comes to preventing a situation similar to what occurred in Jasper, Roberts knows there are limitations as to what can be done sometimes, but said for them it begins with an extensive public campaign surrounding prevention.
