For the third year in a row, the amount of forest land burned by wildfires has been below the ten-year average.

September 30 marked the end to another season of below-average forest fires.

Since the beginning of May, 97 fires were recorded, having burned nearly 322 hectares of land. That’s nearly forty fewer than last year, which saw 396 hectares burned.

That makes this year the third in a row to fall below the previous provincial ten-year average of 114 fires and just under 34,000 hectares.

Eighty-four forest fire fighters and seven student positions were hired on to respond to fires across the province.

A 20-member crew and management personnel were also deployed from this province to help fight the wildfires in Alberta this June.