Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Fire ban in place in R.M. of North Battleford

Aug 31, 2017 | 2:54 PM

With 34 wildfires currently burning in Saskatchewan, including three that have forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from Pelican Narrows, the North Battleford Fire Department has announced a fire ban in the R.M. of North Battleford effectively immediately.

“After consultation with the R.M. of North Battleford, everyone involved thinks it prudent that we issue a fire ban until further notice,” said NBFD Acting Fire Chief Trevor Brice. “That means any controlled burning and any kind of burning outside of an approved fire pit is strictly prohibited.”

Earlier today the province announced that they were issuing a fire ban in every single provincial park for the Labour Day weekend.

Brice said that legal fire pits are permitted in the R.M. as long as extreme caution is exercised.

“I strongly recommend you keep a close eye on your fire pit,” said Brice. “Just pay close attention to the wind conditions and other hazards that may be ignitable.”

He also urged fire pit owners to have water on hand to extinguish the fire and to make sure the fire is out completely before you leave it unattended.

“We don’t suspect this ban will be on very long,” Brice added. “However, with everything that is going on right now in the province we want to be cautious.”

Propane and charcoal barbecues are also permitted, however you should keep them away from buildings and vegetation.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Geoff Thompson of the Town of Battleford, no fire ban has been issued at this time in his community.

Keep updated on fire bans in the province with battlefordsNOW.

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW