The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has lifted the provincial fire ban effective 11 p.m. Wednesday. The SPSA says conditions have improved. and the provincial fire ban will be lifted on all Crown lands located north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River, along with the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

However, officials say provincial parks, municipalities and R.M.s may still have their own local fire ban, restriction or advisory in place.

Residents can check online for local bans.

As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday there are 79 active wildfires in Saskatchewan and 11 are listed as not contained. There have been 466 wildfires this year, fairly comparable to the 476 at the same time last year but in excess of 372 which is the five year average.