Cypress County, Sask. fire bans in place to combat increasing wildfire risk

By Medicine Hat News on July 18, 2024.

Local fire bans are in place on the Saskatchewan portions of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park while that province enacted a blanket fire ban in northern parks to deal with a worsening wildfire situation on Wednesday.

The Specials Areas in Alberta also issued a fire advisory on July 15, as did the Village of Empress on the provincial boundary this week.

Hot weather led Cypress County to restrict fires in late June, while the Saskatchewan RMs of Gull Lake and Clinworth, east of the Leader, enacted fire bans last weekend.

Each provincial park in the southern part of the province will continue to work with the SPSA to determine risk and implement campfire restrictions if required,” said Saskatchewan Parks Minister Laura Ross. “We encourage all residents and visitors to remain diligent in preventing human-caused fires in all areas of Saskatchewan.”

As of Thursday, there were 95 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, bringing the total to date this year to 367 wildfires – 119 more than the five-year average of 248, according to a release.

Of 91 active fires in Alberta on Tuesday, 25 were considered out of control, 30 were being held, and 36 were under control.

Alberta has restricted fires in northern parks and forested areas of the eastern slopes of the Rockies, but that has not yet extended to provincial parks in the southeast, aside from Kennedy Coulee, near Onefour.

Lethbridge city and county also enacted fire restrictions this month, though there are no current measures in the Counties of Forty Mile or Newell.