The provincial government expanded its fire ban to include all provincial crown land, provincial parks and recreation sites south of the Churchill River.

The ban prohibits the “setting or propogation of any outdoor fire, other than a fire using charcoal briquettes in a firebox, CSA-approved self-contained heating devices, pressurized stoves or other facility approved by the Ministry of Environment.”

All burn notification numbers issues for outdoor fires have been revoked, and the setting off of fireworks is prohibited.

The provincial fire ban is in addition to individual fire bans enacted in the R.M. of Buckland, in the City of Prince Albert north of the river, the Nipawin area and in the District of Lakeland.

Prince Albert National Park also introduced a fire ban Thursday, prohibiting all open fires, even those in camp kitchen shelters, cabins and cottages in the park. Only propane or naptha camp stoves are allowed.

Hot and dry weather has led to an extreme fire risk for much of the province, including the Prince Albert area. There is no reprieve from current weather conditions expected for about a week.