Fire bans spread throughout region

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 11, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Fire bans in the region have expanded into southwest Saskatchewan.

Cypress County has had a fire restriction in place since March 28, which cancelled burn permits and restricted open fires.

This week, the RMs of Fox Valley and Enterprise just across the provincial boundary from Empress, Alta., have put fire bans in place, according to that province’s public safety agency.

They are the only areas in southwest Saskatchewan to show restrictions.

The County of Newell issued a fire ban on April 5. The County of Forty Mile and Special Areas No. 2 both have had fire advisories in place for several months.

There was no fire restriction in either portion of Cypress Hills Interprovincial park, but one is in place at Kennedy Coulee Provincial Park, near The Milk River natural area, west of Onefour.

Low water

The spring startup of the Riverhurst Ferry across Lake Diefenbaker has been delayed due to low water levels, according to the Saskatchewan Department of Highways.

That service completes Highway 42, near Central Butte.

Border hours

The Port of Wild Horse will not move to extended summer hours on May 15, instead remaining with its temporary hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for traveller traffic and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, except holidays, for commercial traffic.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Wild Horse border crossing would be moving to extended summer hours.