With 24 wildfires currently burning across Saskatchewan and 18 communities evacuated, including La Ronge, Air Ronge, Denare Beach, and Creighton, Ombudsman Sharon Pratchler issued an urgent public call to the provincial government to address widespread complaints from evacuees who say they are being left without food, shelter, or timely communication.
At a press conference held Monday morning, Pratchler revealed that her office has been inundated with complaints from displaced residents, local leaders, and frontline workers, all detailing gaps in the province’s emergency response. So far this year, Saskatchewan has reported 257 wildfires, nearly double the five-year average of 146, creating what she called an “unprecedented situation.”
“We’re hearing that northern residents are not feeling heard,” Pratchler said. “Some have lost everything but the clothes on their backs, and they are seeking information, resources, and reassurance about their futures.”
In what she described as a rare move, the Ombudsman’s office is stepping in before the conclusion of an investigation, citing the urgency of the situation and the immediate risk to evacuees’ health and safety. Among the most pressing concerns: people sleeping in their vehicles, evacuees going without food for days, children without diapers, and widespread confusion about how and where to access help.
Pratchler presented a detailed list of recommendations to the provincial government, calling for:
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24-hour emergency services to triage shelter and food requests.
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Proper staffing to prevent exhaustion and ensure accuracy in communication.
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Clear, simple messaging that is accessible for traumatized evacuees.
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Immediate responses to calls, rather than delayed referrals.
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Equitable and consistent emergency payments, with retroactive support.
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Critical incident debriefings for firefighters and affected communities.
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A centralized list of evacuees and locations to help reunite families.
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Access to phones at evacuation sites to enable contact with loved ones.
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Seamless, cross-provincial support for those evacuated to Manitoba or beyond.
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Medical continuity, including prescription transfers and patient care.
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Support for mental health, both for evacuees and workers at emergency shelters.
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Children’s activities to ease trauma and reduce family stress.
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Long-term housing plans for those who have lost their homes.
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Financial support to bridge insurance gaps and unaffordable deductibles.
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Transparency and accountability in future government planning.
“Words that should not be used right now by any government or public entity are ‘We are working on it.’ The time for working on it has passed,” Pratchler said. “An immediate response is required.”
While Pratchler said her focus remains on short-term solutions, she confirmed that her office will launch a systemic investigation into the province’s response to the wildfire evacuations. The scope is still being determined, but it will likely examine the timeliness and effectiveness of emergency services, financial assistance, and cross-jurisdictional coordination.
Notably, she refrained from directly criticizing the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency or other government departments, citing the need to avoid prejudgment. Still, she acknowledged that her office has had difficulty obtaining clear answers from officials.
“We are not here to assign blame. We are here to find solutions,” she said. “But it is unprecedented for us to have evacuees contacting us to say they are hungry and have no place to sleep, and then for us not to get a clear, timely response.”
Pratchler emphasized that the decision to speak publicly during an active crisis is highly unusual for her office, which typically responds only after investigations conclude. However, the volume and severity of complaints have compelled her to take what she described as a “megaphone” approach on behalf of northern residents.
She said her 30-person office has launched a 24/7 line for firefighters and evacuees, and is manually tracking lists of displaced individuals, including pages of names provided by one mayor, handwritten due to the lack of formal systems.
“People are confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed,” she said. “But they’re also incredibly resilient. Communities are triaging and helping each other when the systems meant to support them are not functioning.”
Pratchler also called on the government to ensure trauma-informed care, consistent messaging, and a centralized response structure. She noted cases where evacuees were denied support because they had crossed into Manitoba, and instances where individuals were given vague promises of callbacks, sometimes four days later.
“A man driving across Saskatchewan not knowing where he’ll sleep tonight, cannot wait 24 hours,” she said. “That is not a trauma-informed response.”
While her office will continue to operate its emergency line as long as staff remain healthy, Pratchler stressed that the government must step in with scalable, sustainable solutions.
“The trauma doesn’t end when the fires do,” she said. “People will return home to loss, uncertainty, and rebuilding. The government must be ready, not just to respond now, but to guide them through what comes next.”