Heat wave sparks conditions for Sask. wildfires

The heat wave has come and gone from Saskatchewan, leaving 25 active wildfires in its wake.

Only five are considered contained.

“We’ve seen fires in the last week or so all the way from Lake Diefenbaker all the way to the far north, Stony Rapids,” said Steve Roberts, who joined joined John Gormley Live guest host Mike Couros to discuss the fires in the province.

“This heat wave covered most of the province. Very dry conditions dried out the fuels, grasses, forests, and trees.

Roberts is the vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

“Currently we are sitting on 25 fires; that’s 218 so far this year and that’s about 20 higher than our five-year average,” he said

Due to the high temperatures and dry conditions, a fire ban has been put in place until further notice.

“Anything that is an open flame is prohibited, even in the parks … If you have a natural gas stove or a propane stove, you can use that,” Roberts said. “You can’t use any open flame primarily because they produce sparks and because they are the most likely ones to escape containment, especially in dry conditions.”

Fireworks and floating lanterns with candles in them are also under the fire ban. All burning permits are also suspended at this time.

Roberts explained the cause of fires are usually split, with roughly half attributed to nature and half that are man-made.

With the weather getting back to normal summer temperatures, the province has a better chance against these fires.

“Fortunately for us, the weather has started to moderate. So we’re seeing more seasonal numbers — not the 37s, we’re seeing in the 20s,” Roberts said. “That’s allowing crews to make much better progress on these fires.”

Roberts reassured listeners Monday that this is a normal fire load for resources in Saskatchewan.

“We are able to manage these with our own resources, our own aircraft and our own crews,” he said.

By Payton Zillich, 650 CKOM

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker