REGINA (Staff) – Those farming on the fringes of the northern forests are being praised for their restraint now the main forest fire season is over.
“We had great co-operation from farmers right across there,” said John Cook of the Saskatchewan environment department.
All open fires in the forest fringe areas from Meadow Lake to the Manitoba borders were banned from June 2 to July 11, preventing producers from burning brush, stubble or garbage in the time of year most want to do it.
“We know what an inconvenience it was, but we hope they understand how extreme the burning conditions were,” Cook said.
Read Also
AI expected to make itself felt in food systems
Artificial intelligence is already transforming the food we eat, how farmers produce it and how it reaches the consumer, experts say
As many as 3,000 firefighters, 85 helicopters and 25 water bombers spent most of the last two months combating the rash of fires. Because there was virtually no rain between winter and July, no fires were allowed in the forest or in the forest fringe areas.
Rains have since bathed northern forests and most fires are under control. Producers can now apply for burning permits.
But Cook warns the fire danger is not over. “If we have seven to 10 days of hot, dry conditions we could easily get more fires,” he said.
Many forest fires are caused by lightning, but others are caused by careless campers and landowners.
Cook said campers usually cause more forest fires, but last year landowners, including many farmers, caused more fires. He said this is a result of more people moving into the forest to live.
