'It's a tinderbox out there': Wildfires prompt evacuations, state of emergency in Sask. RM
133 wildfires in province so far as of Thursday, more than double the 5-year average
A wildfire that broke out earlier this week in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Garden River, northeast of Prince Albert, Sask., prompted evacuations and led local officials to declare a state of emergency.
As of Thursday, 133 wildfires had been recorded in the province so far this year — more than double the five-year average of 60 for this time — according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
"Essentially all these current fires — they're all human-caused," said Bryan Chartrand, the SPSA's executive director of land operations. "If we took that factor out, the risk of fire would be very, very low."
Provincial fire ban issued for large part of northern Sask.
In Garden River, Reeve Ryan Scragg said a fire that started Monday near White Star Road and Highway 55 grew quickly and required support from multiple fire departments and the province.
"We had a large fire start on Monday, which necessitated a really huge response — including neighbouring RMs with their fire departments, the province and the Public Safety Agency," Scragg said.
The fire spread into the Nisbet Forest and forced the evacuation of about six homes. It has since been contained but continues to be monitored due to dry conditions, Scragg said.
"It's a tinderbox out there," he said.
The RM of Garden River declared a local state of emergency on Monday.
"The SPSA was recommending evacuations," Scragg said. "As a council, we decided to enact the state of emergency, just essentially giving us extra power and access to resources to be able to fight these fires."
Scragg said one of the fires was caused by equipment failure, while another appears to have started when a power line struck a tree during high winds.
"Definitely human-involved, but nothing nefarious," he said.
The evacuations were carried out with assistance from the RCMP and SPSA. Scragg said no injuries or property damage have been reported.
"Any time you get an emergency situation like this, things can escalate very quickly," he said. "But I would call it a successful evacuation."
Fire crews are currently working to contain another fire in the RM, estimated at several hundred acres in size. Scragg said fire guards have been built, and no homes or critical infrastructure are currently at risk.
"It's strictly in farmland," he said.
With dry conditions persisting across the province, a fire ban has been issued for much of northern Saskatchewan. Garden River enacted its own fire ban more than a week ago.
"The conditions with the lack of rainfall are just ripe for a wildfire developing," Scragg said. "Not lighting fires is the main one, and just being more fire-cautious."
WATCH | Fire ban issued in northern Sask. as wildfire season ramps up:
Media Video | Fire ban issued in northern Sask. as wildfire season ramps up
Caption: The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has issued a fire ban for a large part of the province's north. The ban prohibits open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the designated areas.
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Scragg, who is also a farmer, said local producers are taking steps to prepare for possible fires.
"We have a water truck at the ready with a fire pump on it. I know a lot of local farms have the same kind of setup," he said. "The quicker you can respond to a small fire, it limits the chance of it becoming a big fire."
Saskatchewan's wildfire season typically ramps up after the May long weekend, but conditions have already become dangerous due to dry weather and wind.
"Everybody is stretched so thin right now," Scragg said. "There are large fires burning in adjoining RMs to ours in the north — in the forest area."
Scragg is urging members of the public to avoid emergency scenes and stay out of active fire zones.
"A lot of people are interested and want to see what's going on, attracted to the flashing lights," Scragg said. "But it makes it difficult for crews and first responders to do their jobs."
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