Significant precipitation in the Estevan area in late May has reduced the fire risk.
According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Environment’s Daily Fire Danger Maps, Estevan’s fire risk was classified as low on May 30, the fifth straight day that it has been in that area.
“Just prior to the recent moisture that we received, we were contemplating issuing some more fire bans, but the moisture definitely helped keep us out of that area,” said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser.
The fire risk is monitored closely throughout the spring and summer months, and it varied throughout May. A fire ban, including controlled burns, was imposed by the Estevan Fire and Rescue Service for the Rural Municipalities of Estevan, Benson and Cambria on May 5 due to the extremely dry conditions in the area, but it was repealed on May 10 after the southeast region received some much-needed moisture.
And while the fire risk returned to an extreme level later in the month, a fire ban was not implemented for a second time.
A couple factors influence the fire department’s decision on a burning ban. The first is if the fire risk is at an extreme level for at least a week. The other is what Feser called the “30-30-30” rule: a prolonged stretch with temperatures above 30 C, winds above 30 kilometres per hour and the relative humidity below 30 per cent.
“That’s when it’s a really prime case where we’re not going to be able to handle a grass fire at a manageable level,” said Feser.
They have had to respond to a few grass fires this spring, but Feser believes they could have had to handle more if people didn’t heed the fire department’s warnings.
If people are conducting controlled burns, even now with the fire risk at a low level, then the fire department hopes they will exercise caution.
“We just want to make sure that the wind conditions are down when these people are conducting their burns out there, so try to make sure the wind is less than 30 kilometres an hour when they decide to do so,” said Feser.
People conducting controlled burns should notify the fire department in advance, he said, and they should include their land location, so that the fire department knows what is happening.
“Hopefully, it prevents an unnecessary response from somebody calling in, thinking it’s a fire,” said Feser.
The fire department checks the fire risk on a regular basis, and posts the daily fire danger maps on their Facebook page.
