Sask. fire risk high due to dry conditions, hot summer forecast

Saskatchewan is looking at a cooler spring that will lead into a long, hot summer.

Marlo Pritchard, president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), explained what that means for fire risks in the province this year.

He said it looks like winter has passed, even though the snow melt is still underway. Temperatures are expected to be cooler than average for the spring, with the exception of the southwest corner of Saskatchewan, which might see near-normal conditions.

Pritchard said almost all weather models the SPSA looks at are in agreement that the province will see warmer-than-average temperatures from May through October this year. He said that could mean a higher risk of fire when the warmer weather arrives.

Drought conditions still present in the southwest and central parts of the province between Saskatoon and Regina mean the agricultural region is very dry, according to Henri Dagenais, SPSA’s chief meteorlogist.

A risk of wildfires is already present in those areas, he said, but that risk will decrease when crops begin to “green up” with internal moisture.

In the north, Dagenais said there will be cooler to average temperatures in May, with normal precipitation. After May, he said, the forecast is predicting drier and warmer temperatures in that area through the season.

Fire risks

Cooler spring temperatures could mean a slower start to wildfire season this spring, Pritchard shared, as temperatures often impact the size and growth of fires.

According to Pritchard, the SPSA has been preparing for wildfire season and monitoring all potential impacts — including spring runoff and summer weather trends — to plan, prepare and mitigate wildfire risks around the province.

He said southern Saskatchewan has a higher risk of grass fires in the spring, and the risk will remain elevated in the southwest corner of the province because of how dry that area is.

Extended hot and dry days, Pritchard said, followed by severe weather like lightning, can lead to more fire starts.

Steve Roberts, vice president of operations for the SPSA, said the current conditions for grass fires are similar to agriculture areas in Alberta, where fires can grow rapidly. He said one fire currently burning grew to the size of more than 10 square kilometres within 75 minutes.

Dry conditions and spring winds can rapidly move fires, Roberts explained, and will lead to them getting out of control quickly if individuals starting them are not fully prepared.

At present, he said the SPSA is monitoring 13 active fires around the province and the single active flood situation happening in the Swift Current area. Of those fires, all but one are presently contained.

The majority of those active fires are small, measuring less than 20,000 square metres, Roberts said.

“We need the cautionary issue, because all these fires that we’re getting are human caused and, at this point, do spread very quickly,” he said.

Smoke conditions in the province this summer will depend on the number of wildfires, their sizes and where they are located in the province. Roberts noted that smoke from wildfires in other provinces can also impact Saskatchewan.

Air quality issues will be announced publicly and, in situations involving substantial smoke, the SPSA has air scrubbers — very large air filter units — that can be installed in heavily impacted communities. Those give communities the ability to escape heavy smoke conditions without having to leave their homes if they are not required to evacuate, Roberts explained.

Pritchard said the SPSA always focuses first on protecting human life and communities, then critical public infrastructure, commercial timber, remote structures and natural resources. Each emergency event will have several factors considered – like the threat demonstrated, firefighter employee safety, weather conditions and, in the case of fire, the behaviour and fuel types – in order to determine what response is best.

The magnitude of a response to an event doesn’t necessarily equate to the distance of a wildfire from a community, Pritchard shared. He noted that healthy and vibrant forests are naturally renewed by fire, and some fires might be closely monitored as a result.

Resources like highly trained wildland firefighters, water-skimming aircraft, a fleet of land-based air tankers, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and heavy equipment are part of the province’s arsenal for battling wildfires.

This year, the SPSA has seven bird dog aircraft, six amphibious tankers and four land-based tankers at its disposal.

More than 90 per cent of the SPSA’s seasonal staff have returned this year and are nearly up to date on required training, meaning they are ready to be deployed when needed.

Roberts said there were some pilot shortages the SPSA dealt with last year, but the organization is presently fully staffed to man its aircraft this season, subject to scheduling.

In an event that exceeds currently capacity or requires additional help — or if a situation arises where another agency is equipped to respond more quickly — Roberts said the SPSA will call on partners as it has in the past.

Pritchard added that fire suppression equipment has been supplied to communities throughout the province.

Flooding

No further flood-related issues in Saskatchewan are anticipated this season, a message Pritchard relayed from the Water Security Agency.

At present, the risk outlook is showing areas of Saskatchewan are still under moderate-to-severe drought conditions. Dry 2022 conditions resulted in areas of the province going into the winter months with drier-than-normal soil.

In spite of the diminished risk of flooding, staff and mitigation equipment like sandbags and steamers have already been deployed to some areas of the province, according to Pritchard.

Weather safety tips

Pritchard shared some tips for safety as the weather continues to warm.

He encouraged fireproofing of homes and properties by pruning branches in yards and cleaning up debris, especially if the material is combustible.

Pritchard also reminded campers to float and stir campfire coals to ensure embers are completely extinguished.

Those planning a controlled burn, especially within close proximity to a provincial forest, should prepare properly by checking online or calling ahead to ensure they are proceeding safely, Pritchard explained.

Anyone who sees a wildfire or grassfire was asked to call 911, and all Saskatchewan residents were encouraged to download the SaskAlert app for critical emergency information and updates.