The provincial government has expanded an open fire ban in northern Saskatchewan due to the extreme risk of wildfires. The expanded ban now includes Lac La Ronge provincial park and all Crown forest north of the Churchill River.
The original open fire ban issued on May 10 remains in place for those regions.
READ MORE: Fire ban expanded in northern Sask., lifted in the south
Prince Albert National Park is also under a fire ban along with all areas administered by the northern municipal services branch of the Ministry of Government Relations located within the ban area, including northern settlements and resort subdivisions.
All burn notifications for the ban area have been revoked until further notice, including those issued within 4.5 kilometres of provincial forests.
Fireworks are also not allowed.
The use of CSA-approved self-contained potable gas heating devices and fire pits, barbecues, pressurized stoves and charcoal briquettes used in a ministry-approved firebox are permitted for heating and cooking purposes only for the duration of the ban.
Government officials say there has been no significant rainfall in the entire region, leading to extremely dry conditions. The ban will remain in place until conditions improve and the ban order is rescinded by the Ministry of Environment.
As of Tuesday morning, there were seven active wildfires in Saskatchewan, two which are contained and five that are under ongoing assessment.
There have been 146 wildfires to date in 2016 compared to 135 for the same period last year.
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