As wildfires rage across Saskatchewan's north, the provincial government has declared a provincial State of Emergency.
Premier Scott Moe made that declaration earlier this afternoon, in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
In the release, the SPSA states that there are 17 active wildfires in Saskatchewan with 15 communities having been evacuated. This year-to-date, there have been 206 wildfires, well above the five-year average of 125.
“We are seeing the devastating effects of wildfires impact communities across our province,” said Moe. “Therefore, today we are making a Provincial Declaration of Emergency to mobilize the resources necessary to safely evacuate Saskatchewan residents and to protect our communities.”
The declaration provides enhanced powers to the Minister and SPSA in order to deal with the growing fire threat. The province says that these powers are not taken lightly, and they are necessary to enhance public safety.
The province states that the State of Emergency will be in effect for 30 days and can be extended if necessary.
Daily updates will be provided by the SPSA on the current wildfire situation to make sure residents have up-to-date information on the state of Saskatchewan wildfires.
Anyone who spots a wildfire is asked to call 1-800-667-9660, dial 9-1-1 or contact their closest SPSA Forest Protection Area office.