Humans blamed for most forest fires in Sask. this year

The number of forest fires in Saskatchewan is up this year and the province is reminding people to take extra care.

So far, there have been180 fires, whichthe Provincial Wildfire Centre says is aboutdouble the usual number.

Scott Wasylenchuk, a manager with the centre, said humans startedalmost all of those blazes.

• Wildfire risk deemed high, extreme in southern Sask.

"Because of the dry, hot, warm conditions, we ask the public to be very careful with any type of burning," Wasylenchuk said.

He said it's important to make sure fires are completely out before leaving them behind.

"All but two of these fires are believed to be human-caused, so they're all preventable," Wasylenchuk added.

There are currently 22 forest fires burning in Saskatchewan.

• VIDEO:Joel Galbraith captures water bombers fighting Saskatchewan forest fire

The city of North Battleford, Sask., and the surrounding rural municipality haveinstituted a ban onopen-air burning effective this Friday. The ban is due to the high-risk conditions in the area and does not apply tolegal fire pits at this time.

In the northern town ofCreighton, Sask., near the Manitoba border,footage of water bombers battling a forest fire on Wednesday was caught on camera.