The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is reminding people to be safe as conditions start to warm up. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

spring fires and COVID-19

Be fire aware as conditions warm

Apr 22, 2020 | 5:30 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan is asking the public to be fire safe amid the COVID-19 situation.

Steve Roberts, acting vice president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, said they felt it was important to get the message out as the spring season has arrived. He added they would especially like to avoid being called out as dealing with a fire presents exposure risks for firefighters.

“It’s that risk of exposure that is not day to day that we’d like to avoid if we could,” he said.

In terms of mitigating fire risks, Roberts said they recommend people follow fire smart practices in regards to their property, which means removing anything which could help fuel a fire. It is also recommended people be careful to make sure cigarette butts are fully put out.

The agency also wants to remind property owners looking to do controlled burns to make sure to follow all the procedures, including calling in to report the burn and observing any local fire bans.

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Roberts said they also recommend parents make sure to properly supervise children when they are outside.

“Even if they’re for instance taking the quads out for a drive and then leaving them parked in the high grass where the exhaust could start a fire,” he said.

Local departments weigh in

Garry Schrader, chief of Buckland Fire and Rescue said right now there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground throughout the RM. He added if weather conditions continue the situation could change in a big way.

“If temperatures stay the way they’re supposed to be here for the next couple weeks, we could be looking at wildland fires pretty quick,” he said.

Schrader explained snow being on the ground does not necessarily mean conditions will be wet. He said it doesn’t take long for the sun to dry the ground.

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of water standing around, so it’s evaporating pretty good, so the undergrowth for the trees and all that will be pretty dry right away,” he said.

The Buckland fire chief said it is too early to talk about putting possible fire bans in place.

In Prince Albert, deputy fire chief Alex Paul reminded people in the city about regulations that are in place.

“Within city limits you are not allowed to burn grass and debris in terms of a spring cleanup,” he said.

Paul added the problem is not a widespread one, but explained a few people do try to burn yard waste every spring which leads to firefighters getting called out.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn