No wildfire risk to Ness Creek Music Festival: organizers

Despite wildfires raging in northern Saskatchewan, a popular music festival in the Boreal forest will go ahead this weekend.
 
The fires are far enough away that they don’t pose a risk to the Ness Creek festival site northwest of Prince Albert.

“It’s looking really good at this point, you know, barring some unforeseen act of God,” Emma Roy, administration manager with Ness Creek, said.

Roy said smoke conditions in the area have improved and at times, have been better than in Saskatoon.

“We’re actually really excited about the forecast having had a really good rain last night, so things are a little bit less crispy out here.”

Even though a fire ban was lifted for the RM of Big River as of Tuesday, the festival site is still subject to a provincial fire ban because it’s so close to the forest. That means campers can use propane stoves to cook their food, but nothing that sparks or has embers is allowed.

Roy admits there have been moments when event organizers weren’t sure if the festival would go ahead. A contingency plan is in place in case the fire situation drastically changes, she said.

And although the wildfires don’t appear to be an issue, Roy said they have been seeing more bears in the area than usual. Organizers are reminding people to keep food in their vehicles or in a hard-top container.

“We also have a really crack-team of bear-aware folks who are constantly patrolling the festival and making sure people are safe,” Roy said.

The four-day event runs from Thursday until Sunday, with headliner Buck 65 taking the stage Saturday night.