Extreme fire risk, crop 'stress' result of Sask. heat wave

If you plan on making the most out of the hot weather in Saskatchewan this weekend, be careful about lighting any bonfires.

Natural Resources Canada shows most of the southern part of the province is at an extreme or high risk for wildfires.

The risk is lesser in areas of the province north of Prince Albert, with the risk returning to high around the Lac Brochet region.

• Saskatchewan to keep riding the heat wave
• Heat warning issued for Saskatchewan as high temperatures continue

Map legend:

• Purple- low
• Green-moderate
• Yellow-high
• Brown-very high
• Red-extreme

To illustrate just how hot temperatures have been as of late, a map of fire danger for this time last year showed theprovince was at a low risk.

According to Environment Canada, temperatures will stay at around30 C throughoutthe weekend andin the high 20snext week.

The hot weather is also causing "stress" to some crops, particularly in the south, according to the province's latest crop report.