The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency presented its wildfire update as of August 13, 10:30 am. The agency reported at that time there were 83 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, six are categorized as contained, 13 are not contained, 42 are ongoing assessments, and 22 are listed as protecting values.
Nine communities are currently under an evacuation order: Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge; La Plonge Reserve; Northern Hamlet of Jans Bay; Patuanak/English River First Nation; Northern Village of Pinehouse; Canoe Lake Cree First Nation/Canoe Narrows; Resort Subdivision of Little Amyot Lake, as well as priority individuals from the Northern Village of Beauval; and, Île-à-la-Crosse.
The agency also clarified the types of firefighters engaged in the battle against the fires:
Type 1 Wildland Firefighters
Type 1 crews, identified by their yellow Nomex shirts, consist of trained and experienced staff. Sometimes referred to as Crew Members in the province, Saskatchewan's Type 1s are based in each SPSA Response Centre Area. These crews typically perform initial and sustained attacks on wildland fires, assist with helping communities response efforts and can provide support to a variety of responses, if able.
Type 2 (First Nations and Northern Community Crews)
Type 2 Wildland Firefighters are contracted through formal agreements with First Nations organizations and northern communities. These Type 2 crews are located in various communities and reserves near or within the provincial forest.
Type 2 crews provide firefighting and response services, as needed, and work on projects within their home communities in times of low fire danger. Type 2 crews are primarily used on sustained action fires. Type 2 crews may also assist Type 1 crews on the initial response to new wildfires.
Type 3 (Emergency Fire Personnel)
Type 3 crews, identified by their orange coveralls, are made up of qualified firefighters locally hired on an emergency basis.
Firefighters from the Canadian Armed Forces are trained and utilized at this level. These firefighters are used to support Type 1 and Type 2 crews working on sustained action wildfires and are normally used on a fire line that is under control or in the mop-up stage, or low in complexity and expected fire behaviour.