The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) estimates between 10,000 and 15,000 people in about 30 communities have been evacuated due to wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 27 active fires, bringing the year-to-date total to 246 — well above the five-year average of 138.
Of the active fires, six are not contained, six are contained, 12 are undergoing assessment, and three are protecting values.
The SPSA has confirmed that 267 values — including houses, cottages and other infrastructure — have been lost to the fires. However, the agency continues to investigate and believes the number could be closer to 400.
The north recently received a small amount of rain, but SPSA vice-president of operations Steve Roberts said more significant rainfall is needed to make a real impact.
“A little bit of weather over a longer period of time will help the issue. A much larger amount over a shorter period of time (would help), but what isn’t helping is even a short event — three to five millimetres — followed by the heat coming in behind. It is really just giving us a short-term reprieve,” Roberts said.
The Shoe fire remains the largest active wildfire. It has grown to over 471,000 hectares and is not contained. Several communities — including Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, and Whiteswan/Whelan Bay — have been evacuated.
The "Pisew" fire is burning west of La Ronge. It is approximately 141,000 hectares in size, not contained, and has forced evacuations in La Ronge and other nearby communities.
Roberts said there were a number of firebreaks in the La Ronge area, but the fire has been too intense for them to be effective.
“Because of the activity and the behaviour of these fires being so hot and spotting so far ahead, a simple firebreak is insufficient to prevent fire spotting half a kilometre in front of the fire,” he said.
The SPSA has set up a wildfire and evacuation information hotline at 1-855-559-5502. Roberts added that if you are asked to evacuate by officials, it’s essential to follow that advice for your safety.
“We have a number of people that, it happens, that we are going to evacuate and we’ve advised them to evacuate and they refuse,” Roberts said.
“Their issue becomes will we have to do an emergency rescue? But, if the firefighting community says it’s too risky to be on site, then you should probably heed that advice and think about leaving when they ask you to leave your premises, because the risk is too high to stay.”
In southern Saskatchewan, the situation may not be as dire, but the wildfire risk remains very real.
The SPSA’s fire risk forecast lists the majority of the south as being at “extreme” risk.
In the Moose Jaw area, fire bans are in place in the RM of Eyebrow No. 193, the RM of Wheatlands No. 163, and the RM of Dufferin No. 190. The RM of Huron No. 223 has fire restrictions in place, including a ban on fires and fireworks. Only CSA-approved appliances and campfires in approved containers are permitted.
You can find a map of rural municipality fire bans here.
Fire restrictions are also in place at the following provincial parks and recreation sites:
- Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
- Douglas Provincial Park
- Danielson Provincial Park
- Elbow Harbour Recreation Site
Under provincial park fire restrictions, all wood-burning fires are prohibited. CSA-approved, self-contained portable gas heating and cooking devices are permitted, along with charcoal briquette barbecues and pellet barbecues or smokers.
More information on provincial park fire restrictions can be found here.
As for the smoke forecast, there may be some smoke in the area this morning, but a reprieve is possible later in the afternoon. The most up-to-date smoke forecast can be found here.
Road closures due to the wildfires can also be found on the Highway Hotline.