By Derek Cornet

Firefighters anticipate quiet season after busy summer

Sep 12, 2018 | 5:00 PM

The number of calls received by the La Ronge Regional Fire Department has already surpassed last year’s total.

That’s according to Fire Chief Wayne Tchorzewski who said as of last month, the department responded to more calls for service than in 2017. He noted spring and summer were very busy as there were a lot of brush and grass fires, adding firefighters have also been to kitchen fires due to cooking incidents on a regular basis.

“Fire season is coming to an end for the bush fires,” Tchorzewski said. “We anticipate a quieter fall this year and it all depends on what happens in the winter months once people start using their wood-burning appliances.”

Fire season is also winding down across Saskatchewan as Provincial Fire Centre Manager Dennis Truman said the last seven personnel who were sent away to assist wildfire relief efforts returned to Prince Albert Tuesday. He said currently wildfire hazards are low to moderate over most of the forested areas of the province, with high to extreme hazards across most southern parts.

With 408 wildfires in 2018 compared to five-year average of 433, Truman noted wildfire season went well. He added there was a mid-season surge which threatened places like the Key Lake mine site and Southend, but by August the lower amount of activity allowed the province to send resources to other provinces as part of mutual aid agreements.

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“The 2018 wildfire season is winding down, but it’s really important to let people know they still need to be cautious with their fires,” Truman said. “There still is potential like always, so just to be careful.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno