The Prince Albert Grand Council thinks it’s time for a change when it comes to the province’s wildfire management strategy.
Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte says there are several recommendations that were put forward in 2017 by the House of Commons Standing Committee that would benefit the province.
Those recommendations include hiring more firefighters, utilizing type three firefighters as much as type one and two firefighters, increasing the forest firefighting budget, and looking to people in northern communities to assist in fighting fires. According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety a Type 3 Firefighter is a basic emergency firefighter while a Type 1 crew leaders and crew members may also supervise Type 2 and Type 3 crews on sustained action fires.
“Our objective is to ensure the safety of all firefighters on the fire line this summer and meeting the new Occupational Health and Safety requirements will help us do that,” Environment Minister John Nilson said.
Beginning this year, there will be a minimum fitness requirement for all Type 3 firefighters. The test for fitness involves walking one mile in 16 minutes without a pack. In addition to passing the fitness test, all prospective Type 3 firefighters will have to complete a four-day Wildfire Crew Member course (formerly known as Basic Firefighting).
He says communication with the province is the only way this will be solved. Ideally, the PAGC would meet with the province and discuss ways in which Indigenous and northern communities can assist in the wildfire crisis.
Hardlotte adds that the constant evacuation that wildfires cause is hard on all members of First Nations communities, but especially the Elders.
A much smaller area of Saskatchewan is under a special air quality statement Tuesday morning. Wildfire smoke is causing air quality issues in the region which includes La Ronge, Prince Albert National Park, Narrow Hills Provincial Park, Pelican Narrows, Cumberland House and Creighton.
There are 33 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan this morning and seven are out of control. There have been 235 wildfires to date this year while 157 is the five-year average.
