Saskatchewan highlights preparations made ahead of wildfire season
Saskatchewan has brought in resources early to prepare for this year’s fire season. A drier than normal summer is forecast with eleven fires currently active.
Reconna aircraft are patrolling to spot the first forest fires of 2024. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is pushing early to keep a handle on containment.
“We brought our resources back early so we can help communities deal with drought,” SPSA Marlo Pritchard told CTV News.
A total of 75 fires have already occurred in Saskatchewan this year, nearly four times the five year average – while 11 of those are currently active.
“[We’re] always looking at our risk, a risk assessment so we are at least at this point in time forecasting a drier than normal summer,” Pritchard added.
On April 24, the province announced that it will be adding four new air tankers to its wildfire fighting fleet.
The first will be delivered in 2025 bringing enhanced fire fighting capability to the SPSA.
“We’re pressurized so we can routinely go high attitude where we can go a lot faster, burn a lot less fuel,” explained Nels Kristensen, an air tanker pilot with Conair. “It’s got a 2,600 gallon tank instead of 2,100 so we’ve taken it a step farther.”
Last season, the province completed the retrofit of six CL-215 fire fighting aircraft with more powerful turbine engines. According to pilot Jeremy Hubka, the upgrades are noticeable.
“Touching down on the water, it happens a little bit quicker with the turbine to begin with more power,” he said.
Fire prevention measures are also a focus. Over 50 fire bans are currently in place, primarily in central Saskatchewan. A public education program is also being rolled out.
“Fifty percent of the fires that we have are started by individuals. That’s when the education comes in,” Minister of Public Safety Paul Merriman explained. “The SPSA is in the schools. We’re working with Prince Albert Grand Council on education.”
The 2023 wildfire season was one of the worst in nearly two decades with close to 500 fires.
This year’s season again is off to a dry start but the province will soon have enhanced equipment and measures in place stay on top of the situation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.
'Worried he might be carrying a handgun': Legislative Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, claims he was harassed and intimidated
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Apple resolves FaceTime, iMessage outage reported by thousands of users
Apple users are experiencing an iMessage outage, reporting issues with sending and receiving messages, Downdetector shows.