By Charlene Tebbutt

Highway 106 closed due to fire threat

May 23, 2018 | 3:04 PM

Highway 106 between Smeaton and the Narrow Hills Provincial Park has been closed since Tuesday afternoon as fire crews work to put out a wildfire near the roadway.

Sixty kilometres of the highway from Smeaton north to the provincial park is currently closed due to a fire in the area. The blaze, known as the Harding Fire, was sparked by lightning Tuesday afternoon, according to the Saskatchewan Environment Ministry. The Harding Fire is not contained and is currently about 30 hectares in size. 

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways said barricades were put on the road at the Choiceland and Highway 120 junction and Harding Road. Message boards are up in Prince Albert, and at the Choiceland and Highway 55 junction to alert drivers, said Steve Shaheen with the ministry of highways. 

“The fire made it to the highway last night, or overnight. No one is currently being allowed into the area other than the firefighters,” Shaheen told northeastNOW. “There is actually fire right up to the road … so we want to keep residents out of that area.”

Anyone travelling north to the provincial park will have to use Highway 120 through Candle Lake. Shaheen said drivers in the area should check the provincial Highways Hotline before travelling.

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“It’s well-signed,” Shaheen added. “Please obey the people that are on site, not only for your own safety, but the safety of the people there as well.”

There is also another, smaller fire burning to the east of the Harding Fire. The Gull Fire is currently less than a tenth of a hectare, according to the Ministry of Environment. 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt