Saskatchewan has banned open fires in provincial forests in the northwest.
The ban area does not include Prince Albert National Park, but does include the following provincial parks and recreation sites: Meadow Lake, Makwa Lake, Steele Narrows, Clearwater River, Bronson Forest and Chitek Lake.
The region has not received the rain that has been falling in the south since Monday. Any burn notification numbers that were issued to people planning to burn in or within 4.5 kilometres of provincial forests have been revoked.
Fireworks are also prohibited.
Fire bans are also in place for many municipalities in the province.
The ban in the northwest will be in place until the environment ministry rescinds the order.
Meanwhile, the two Alberta fires nearest the Saskatchewan border have merged and now cover nearly 230,000 hectares. Cooler weather has slowed the still out-of-control fire’s movement toward Saskatchewan and it remains about 50 kilometres from any community.
Eight fires are burning in Saskatchewan today.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
