Tree thinning zones for La Ronge. (Colin Ratushniak/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

community safety

Wildfire mitigation work starting soon in La Ronge

Dec 9, 2020 | 11:53 AM

A tender for forest vegetation thinning and brush pile burning services in La Ronge has closed and Mayor Colin Ratushniak expects the wildfire mitigation work to begin as soon as possible.

“I think it was in its final phase before the current sitting council went into place,” he said about the town’s Community Fuel Management Plan which was recently passed. “We sort of just had the final stamp of approval from all the experts as far as all the research goes. The different locations for La Ronge, specifically, we were advised the airport and the hospital being two vital services to the North and to La Ronge were areas that needed that further mitigation to protect in case of wildfires.”

Air Ronge, Denare Beach, and La Ronge were included as communities to have work done as part of year two of a nine-year Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) plan. The tender, which closed Dec. 4, was put out by Northern Municipal Services and the tree thinning will be free of cost to municipal taxpayers.

The areas identified for La Ronge are a large patch of trees near the hospital and several sections by the airport. Ratushniak noted the work will not only reduce the risk of wildfires but also protect regional investments like houses and businesses.

“Especially looking back to 2015, which obviously I wasn’t here, but I’ve lived in the North and I’ve experienced similar situations with wildfire,” he said, recalling the large-scale evacuation of the tri-communities. “I personally think it’s something that’s absolutely necessary.”

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According to the SPSA, forest thinning is proven to be effective at reducing fuel loads and wildfire intensity. The work is done by crews using chainsaws to thin softwood trees and burn residual material in a controlled environment.

The SPSA states the proposed thinning treatment will provide suppression personnel with more options to protect the community and other values from wildfire.

“The area is strategically located adjacent to previously cleared areas and road networks, close to values (homes, cabins, utilities and other infrastructure), to reduce potential fire loss,” the Community Fuel Management Plan states. “This not only aids suppression personnel but also residents and seasonal visitors in the event of a wildfire evacuation.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno