Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has expanded the provincial fire ban to prohibit all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility terrain vehicles (UTV) on Crown land and in provincial forests, effective May 29 at 5 pm.The revised ban covers all vacant Crown land, provincial parks within the provincial forest, and the entire provincial forest, including the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District.ATVs and UTVs are now banned alongside existing restrictions on open fires, controlled burns, and fireworks in the designated areas."The vast majority of the active fires in the province are caused by human activity," said Steve Roberts, Vice-President of Operations of SPSA. "By revising the fire ban to prohibit ATVs and UTVs, we are taking a significant step to reducing the number of fire starts.".Human caused wildfires in Saskatchewan typically ignite in accessible areas near communities and roads. The agency says simple precautions such as avoiding driving vehicles on dry grass, properly extinguishing campfires until embers are cool, and educating children about fire safety can reduce wildfire incidents.The SPSA is encouraging municipalities, rural municipalities, and communities across the province to assess fire risks in their areas and consider implementing consistent fire bans to prevent human caused wildfires.As of Thursday afternoon, 17 wildfires were burning in the province. Saskatchewan has recorded 207 wildfires so far this year, compared to 167 at the same point last year. The five year average for wildfires in Saskatchewan to this date is 125.
