There is now a fire ban north of the river in P.A.as the wildfire risk jumps quickly from moderate to extreme. (Submitted/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Glenn Hicks

wildfire danger

Fire ban for areas north of river in P.A. and for RM

May 29, 2019 | 6:05 PM

A wildfire in the city’s Nisbet forest area could be catastrophic at this time according to Prince Albert’s acting fire chief.

Kris Olsen was speaking after ordering a fire ban for all residential parts of the city north of the river as well as Little Red River Park. A fire ban was also announced Wednesday for the RM of Prince Albert.

“It’s just so dry out there, especially north of the river” Olsen told paNOW.” People have to be so careful regarding any flammables. We’re taking a proactive approach and asking them not to burn.”

He said despite the decent rains we had late last week, things had changed very quickly.

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“I was looking at the fire mapping for this region Tuesday and we were in the ‘moderate’ zone, but that moisture did nothing [because] looking at the map this morning it was in the ‘extreme’ zone.”

He said while it wasn’t unusual to have a fire ban this time of year the risk was “on the high end.”

The ban is for all open fires. This also applies to fireworks within these areas. Properly maintained fuel gas appliances are still permitted.

Cooking fires in designated receptacles (such as Kinsmen Park) as well as recreational use of approved fire pits within the City located south of the Saskatchewan River are not affected by the ban at this time.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow