The controlled burns will occur along walking paths in the tri-communities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

fire update

Fire department planning controlled burns next month

Apr 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM

The La Ronge Regional Fire Department, in conjunction with Wildfire Management, will be doing controlled burns on the weekends of May 1 and May 8.

The fire department released a number of images this week outlining where fire crews will be working in the coming weeks. The images show they will mostly be focusing on forested areas with walking paths and targeting dry grass, small shrubs and surface fuels.

“Areas selected for the 2021 spring season were chosen based on factors such as historical problem areas for fire department responses and areas that have great potential to ignite and quickly overwhelm the departments resources,” Fire Chief Keaton Cloud said. “No tree or brush thinning activities will be taking place and it will generally be near walkways. The highlighted areas are approximate, and will mostly be in open spaces, not in the bushes.”

In the warmer months, Cloud noted firefighters find that a lot of our brush and grass fires caused along the trails and boardwalks year-over-year are typically caused by improperly disposed cigarettes.

For instance, he explained the boardwalk near the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre (JRMCC) is particularly troublesome.

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“Rather than being reactive to known problem areas, we want to be proactive and stay ahead these,” Cloud said. “Last year, we had a very close call when grass along the JRMCC boardwalk caught fire and quickly made its way into the heavily forested area and got into the crowns of the trees. We were lucky.”

The La Ronge Regional Fire Department has been working with Wildfire Management for several years at wildfire mitigation in the tri-communities. Cloud noted the work to be done next month was approved by local leadership and there is no risk to wildlife or the ecosystem.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno