More than 36 millimeters of precipitation on Monday were a very welcome improvement after a dry spring and fire bans across the region. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Vital moisture

Rainfall improves dry conditions, fire bans lifting

May 25, 2021 | 4:55 PM

The rainfall over the past weekend came at a critical time for Northwest Saskatchewan.

Several communities saw more rainfall between Sunday and Monday that they see on average in the month of May. North Battleford had 36.6 millimetres of precipitation, compared to an average rainfall in May of 32.8 mm, coming off of just 3.6 mm in April. Meadow Lake had a little less, with a rainfall total of 32.4.

Meterologist Terri Lang said these totals don’t quite compare to the drought in past weeks, but added that every last drop will still have an impact.

“No matter what we get it’s welcome and it’s well timed for most producers as well,” she said.

Farms have largely been unable to get crops going into the ground, outside of southern Saskatchewan. Lang said getting that burst of rain on Monday will make the coming two weeks easier for producers, who will plant and seed over the next few weeks. Meadow Lake’s forecast has a high probability of showers Friday and Saturday, while North Battleford is predicted to see rain on Saturday as well.

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“It at least gets some moisture into the soil,” Lang said.

North Battleford Fire Chief Lindsay Holm echoed that sentiment, stressing the dry conditions in the province were of major concern with Prince Albert’s recent wildfire as an example. At this time, he said they’re going to take a more cautious approach and keep the fire ban in place.

“What I’m hoping to see in the next few days are areas around the city starting to green up,” Holm said. “I want to make sure that the rainfall we had was sufficient enough to make sure that our surrounding areas within the city have moisture taken on by a lot of the vegetation.”

The city’s fire ban does have some limited options for those who have approved fire pits to still utilize them. Holm said that since those were inspected by the department personally, it wasn’t necessary for those pits to be included.

“Having said that, if conditions got really unfavorable, we would put a total ban on all fires, which would include approved fire pits,” Holm said.

“It’s going to be a slower process, but we’re being diligent.”

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Town, RM’s lifting restrictions

Several other communities decided to lift their restrictions Tuesday following Monday’s rainfall. The Town of Battleford and the Rural Municipality of Battle River both had their fire bans lifted Tuesday.

Jeff Thompson, Deputy Fire Chief for the Battleford Fire Department, said they felt good about lifting the ban, following a check in of ground moisture levels throughout the area. If the following days and weeks are dryer than expected, then they will consider bringing the ban back.

“When we reach that bridge, we will cross it at that time, but I don’t think we have anything to worry about after Monday,” Thompson said.

The main focus for fire departments like Battleford’s hasn’t been in town residences. Thompson said most people water their lawns and take good care of them.

“We don’t have problems in those areas. What we were most worried about was out on the edge of farms where they have a lot of dead grass,” he said. “That will spread like crazy and go for miles and that takes a lot of manpower and equipment to tackle.”

Thompson thanked residents of their service area, who he said have been compliant with following the fire ban.

“Haven’t had any campfires or grass fires or anything go astray,” he said. “People have followed it to the letter.”

Fire bans in the RM of Medstead, RM of Mervin and RM of North Battleford have been lifted as well. Trevor Watts, Co-Fire Chief of Rm of North Battleford, said they will keep a close eye on the conditions in the area over the next week, noting they could reverse course based on what the weather does in the next little while.

“There’s a little bit more moisture coming soon, according to the weather network,” he said. “But if we feel that we’re not getting the precipitation that we need and things are starting to dry up again, we could reinstate the fire ban.”

As communities adjust to being able to have fires again, the same care needs to be taken during the peak of the dry period. Watts said it’s incumbent upon the public to be aware of the conditions of where they are burning.

“Be aware of dry grass areas around the pit and extinguish any fires when you’re done,” he said.

Residents having backyard fires, campfires and more are being reminded to make sure that they have the ability to extinguish any potential flames that could pop up and to put out fires when they are done.

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josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports