Expert says Sask. forest fire season depends on day-to-day weather

Despite dry conditions and a massive forest fire across the border in Fort McMurray, wildfire expert Mike Flannigan said it's still too early to predict what Saskatchewan's wildfire season will look like this year.

"The conditions are conducive for another bad fire season," said Flannigan, a professor at the University of Alberta.

"It really depends on the day-to-day weather. If we get showers every three to five days, even if it's not heavy, that's enough to stop fires from being a problem."

Flannigan said if conditions stay hot and dry, it could lead to another bad year for fires in northern Saskatchewan.

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"It's kind of bone dry," he said. "Sometimes when you walk through the woods, you hear crunching. That's how dry it is."

Ironically, last year's forest fires could end up helping neighbouring communities this year. Flannigan said it normally takes between 15 to 20 years after a major fire for it to become a fire hazard again.

"Those areas that burned last year will not burn this year," he said. "If there's any remaining fuel that can burn around the town, there's still a chance of fire there."

Difficult to control

While there are things governments can do to prevent forest fires, like stop man-made fires through fire bans and cut down trees around houses, Flannigan said fire is very difficult to control.

"We need to co-exist with fire," he said. "Do we manage hurricanes and tornadoes and earthquakes? Of course we don't. Yet, we think we can manage fire."

Ultimately, Flannigan thinks we will see more extreme fire years as the climate heats up.

"The warmer it gets, the more fires we get," he said. "Longer fire seasons, more lightning activity and drier fuels, associated with the warming — I expect more fire in the future."