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Let's Join Forces to Protect our Forests
A large number of forest fires are caused by landowners, ranchers, farmers and forest workers. Each year, fires destroy thousands of hectares of prime forest land and cost the people of Saskatchewan millions of dollars to extinguish.

Burning Permits Required from April 1st to October 31st
It is illegal to use open fire for any purpose within 4.5 kilometres of a provincial forest without first obtaining a burning permit from Saskatchewan Environment. This includes grass in ditches and pastures, stubble, windrows or any other potentially dangerous burning.

Free burning permits and accurate fire weather hazard information are available from your local forest protection officer. He/she will be happy to provide advice on the necessary safeguards required for controlled burning.

In addition to conditions prescribed by your local forest protection officer, permit holders are also responsible for:

• notifying the occupants or owners of adjacent land before starting the fire;
• damage caused by the fire.

Construction of a Windrow

The proper construction of a windrow will ensure an easy and clean burn. Make sure each windrow is tightly packed and dry. The windrows should, if possible, be placed at right angles to the prevailing winds. To avoid groundfires ensure windrows are not constructed on peat soils.

Each windrow should not be more than 60m in-length, with 8m between the ends of each and 16m between parallel windrows.

There should be a 16m fireguard on each side of the area in which you will be burning and at least 25m between the windrows and any standing timber.

Start your fire deep in the middle of each windrow then light the ends. The larger fire in the middle will draw the fire from both ends, giving you better control.

If you are unable to run the windrows at right angles to the wind, it is best to begin your fire on the downward end and let it burn well into the windrow before lighting the remainder. Plan to burn in the evening when the wind is low. Burning on a hot, windy day is risky and should be avoided.

Spring Burning Conditions Deceptive
Don't be misled by water-filled sloughs and potholes. Early spring forest fire conditions can be extremely deceptive and hazardous after the snow melts, but before the forest greens up. When warm temperatures and dry winds team up with dry ground cover, conditions become explosive.

Every year, some of our worst spring fires are caused by windrows burnt the previous fall. These fires appear out, but have actually "gone to ground" and smoulder all winter. The hot dry winds of spring can fan them back to life suddenly, creating raging forest fires.

If you started fires last fall or winter, check this spring to ensure they are out. You could be held responsible for fire suppression costs and damages caused by fires which escape from you lands.

In a burning permit area during the spring, or elsewhere later in the fire season, sufficient precautions must be taken to keep fires under control. Be sure to choose safe weather conditions when lighting fires. Making sure that fires don't spread and are dead out, after a burn is completed, it is up to you.

To receive more information on burning permit requirements or safe burning practices, please contact your local Saskatchewan Environment Fire Management and Forest Protection Branch District Office or Saskatchewan Environment office.

lfremont@serm.gov.sk.ca 
1-306-953-FIRE or 1-306-953-3473
Box 3003, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan