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Calls to enact a provincial state of emergency over this year’s northern fire situation are mounting. Fires continue to burn unchecked resulting in evacuation alerts or orders near many northern settlements. Manitoba’s government has issued a state of emergency declaration with the community of Flin Flon now under an evacuation order. Calls are increasing for Saskatchewan to do the same.
President of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union Tracy Sauer spoke on behalf of SGEU members.
“Our SGEU 500+ members working for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) sacrifice a great deal to protect our communities and help Saskatchewan residents displaced by fire return home,” said Sauer. “Many of them are working at great personal risk right now. They need our government to take these fires seriously.”
A release from SGEU notes that an emergency declaration would allow federal, provincial and local resources to become available to bolster the front-line forces.
“We’ve been urging the government to provide our members with the tools they need for some time. For example, replacing Saskatchewan’s fire tower observers with camera technology was a step backwards when it came to preparing for wildfires.” noted Sauer. “The government needs to properly prepare our members for the ever-lengthening wildfire season.”
Also on board with the call for a state of emergency is Saskatchewan’s Opposition New Democrats. A joint statement from Leader Carla Beck, Athabasca MLA Leroy Laliberte and Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail demands the emergency call along with better communication and supports.
We’re calling on the Premier and Minister of Public Safety to immediately declare a provincewide state of emergency and commit to daily public briefings to ensure all essential — potentially lifesaving — information reaches people impacted by this wildfire crisis in Saskatchewan’s North.
We have been attending meetings with leaders in the North for much of the day and they are unanimous in their calls for clear communication and support to ensure the safety of people fleeing from communities caught in the path of these fires.
Right now, firefighters are doing everything they can to fight the growing blaze. Hundreds of people have been ordered to leave behind their homes and take only what they can fit in their vehicles.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, in response to wildfires in that province, has already ordered a provincewide state of emergency and received assurances of emergency military aid from Ottawa. Premier Scott Moe and the Sask. Party government must immediately do the same.
Every available resource in our province and our country must be deployed to fight these fires — the safety of our families and the future of our communities are at stake.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is expected to release a situation update today.