Headlines News
Saskatchewan firefighters benefit from cooler fire season

Aug. 30, 2012, Saskatoon – A somewhat less busy year battling fires in the province's forests has allowed firefighting crews in Saskatchewan to be deployed to fight blazes in other jurisdictions.

Provincial numbers indicate crews have dealt with 387 fires so far in 2012 – slightly higher than last year, but below Saskatchewan's 10-year average of 400 fires.

Nearly 200 of the fires were started by lightning, while the rest were the result of human activity.

Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says none of the fires posed a major threat to people or property.

Steve Roberts, wildfire management director, says cool, wet weather early in the season helped keep the numbers down.

Roberts says the conditions allowed Saskatchewan to lend crews and equipment to other Canadian provinces and some nearby U.S. states, such as Idaho and Montana.