skwildfires2025

Prairie wildfires developed on two fronts Friday, as 1,000 more Manitoba residents were forced to flee their homes and Saskatchewan RCMP charged two people with starting blazes.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told a news conference that one charge relates to starting a fire near La Ronge, which has forced 7,000 people from the area.

“The RCMP have informed us that they have now charged a couple of individuals,” Moe said.

An 18-year-old woman from Montreal Lake Cree Nation and a 36-year-old man from Pelican Narrows each face one count of arson, said RCMP.

Weyburn has become a temporary home to around 80 evacuees from the Creighton and Flin Flon areas. 

Read more: Weyburn, other communities welcome wildfire evacuees

After leaving their home in Creighton under the direction of the SPSA, Amanda MacQuarrie's family arrived at the Ramada hotel in Weyburn over the weekend.

Devastating wildfires continue to rage in northern Saskatchewan, displacing thousands of people in communities including La Ronge, Air Ronge, Creighton, and Flin Flon. Weyburn has become a refuge for some of those displaced, welcoming approximately 80 evacuees. 

The Swift Current Fire Department has offered some assistance to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to combat the widespread wildfires in the northern portion of the province.

Ryan Hunter, the fire chief for the Swift Current Fire Department, said two firefighter paramedics and a rehab unit were proposed to the SPSA, but the aid hadn't been accepted as of Wednesday afternoon.

The federal and provincial governments have announced they will match Red Cross donations to help those affected by wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Both provinces declared provincewide states of emergency last week to allow various levels of government to co-ordinate resources and support.

The federal government announced Wednesday that it would match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross that will support wildfire disaster relief and recovery efforts across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba continue to burn out of control as fierce winds and bone-dry conditions intensify the crisis, forcing evacuations and threatening northern communities.

As of Monday, more than 2.1 million hectares have burned nationwide—already surpassing the annual average for Canada, with summer still weeks away. The hardest-hit regions include northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Manitoba, where relentless northwest winds are pushing smoke, flames and embers across vast swaths of boreal forest and into populated areas.

As wildfires continue to rage across northern Saskatchewan, thousands have been forced from their homes. More than 9,000 residents have been evacuated, with a number of them arriving in the southeast, including right here in Weyburn.

Weyburn-Bengough MLA Mike Weger spoke with Discover Weyburn this morning about the response to the crisis and the important role local residents and businesses are playing.

As wildfires continue to force evacuations in northern Saskatchewan, the City of Weyburn has become a temporary refuge for approximately 80 evacuees from the Creighton and Flin Flon areas. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is overseeing the emergency response, while Weyburn’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) is supporting local efforts to accommodate and care for those displaced. 

Several southeast firefighters have been deployed to help battle the growing wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

Carlyle Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Rob Klassan said the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) put out a provincewide request for assistance as fires continue to burn near northern communities.