Wildfires are threatening homes, campgrounds and entire communities across our near north. Some fires are already four times the size of major Saskatchewan cities, and conditions continue to change quickly.
Stay with 650 CKOM for the latest. We’re providing real-time updates from trusted sources, interviews with local leaders and experts, and the information that matters most to you and your family.
LATEST WILDFIRE NEWS
NDP criticizes Sask. Party for wildfire response delay as 2,800 remain evacuated
MLA Jordan McPhail said the province waited too long to request federal help. He hopes the arrival of additional crews will finally bring relief to front-line crews and allow more evacuees to return home.
19h ago
Why the SPSA waited until now to call in the military for wildfire help
Nearly 300 troops from the Canadian Armed Forces are expected to arrive in Sask. by Saturday to help fight the wildfires raging in the northern part of the province. The SPSA made the call to Ottawa on Wednesday.
20h ago
Ramsey Bay, Weyakwin Lake Recreation Site on evacuation alert due to Buhl Fire
According to Prince Albert National Park, visitors and residents are not required to leave yet, but should be prepared to evacuate on short notice. The fire is approximately eight km away from Ramsey Bay.
Jul 24, 2025
Saskatoon sets new record for wildfire smoke as experts say the haze is here to stay
Saskatoon has already broken its record for smoke for this time of year. Regina has tied its worst year, and experts say Canadians must prepare to live with smoky skies over the long term.
Jul 23, 2025
PHOTOS: DEVASTATING FIRES
A wildfire rages at Sucker River. (Maurice Ratt/Facebook)
Firefighters work in La Ronge. (La Ronge Regional Fire Department/Facebook)
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson thanks wildland firefighters. (Facebook)
A destroyed cabin at East Trout Lake. (Carla Beck/Facebook)
Firefighters from many regions gather for a briefing. (Jay Ar En/Facebook)
Smoke fills the skies over Sucker River. (Maurice Ratt/Facebook)
Melfort Fire and Rescue is working in La Ronge. (Melfort Fire/Facebook)
The Shoe Fire, near Little Bear Lake. (Nova Scotia Govt.)
The RONA store in La Ronge burned down on June 3. (RONA+ Saskatoon/Facebook)
Robertson Trading in La Ronge was lost to the Pisew Fire. (Brian Sklar/Facebook)
Wildfire near the bridge on the south side of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
A home destroyed in Eagle Point, near LA Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW)
Buckland Fire and Rescue is fighting wildfires at Weyakwin and Lower Fishing Lake.
MORE WILDFIRE NEWS
Warman fire crews battle 'erratic, unprecedented' Beauval wildfire
Russ Austin, the Warman Fire Chief, said even fire crews from the U.S. who joined the effort to fight the Saskatchewan fires say they've never dealt with fires like this before.
Jul 18, 2025
Outsourcing firefighting efforts to help provincial crews battle 48 blazes
Firefighters from Canada and beyond are coming to Saskatchewan to help contain wildfires, some of which were caused by campers ignoring the current fire ban, according to SPSA Vice-President Steve Roberts.
Jul 16, 2025
Waskesiu businesses, visitors not concerned about wildfire threat near community
Parks Canada has reiterated that there's no immediate threat to the community regarding the Buhl fire, but the town is on a pre-evacuation alert. "It does feel like business as usual," said Rayne Cook.
Jul 16, 2025
Wildfire smoke chokes southern and west central Sask. on Tuesday
Environment Canada has issued an air quality warning stretching from the Alberta border to central Saskatchewan and down to the US border, affecting Saskatoon, Swift Current, Prince Albert, and more in the southwest...
Jul 15, 2025
Wildfire now in Prince Albert National Park one of 55 burning in Saskatchewan
The Buhl Fire, which caused an alert to be issued on Sunday, has entered the northeast corner of Prince Albert National Park and is around 20 kilometres from the resort subdivision of Ramsey Bay.
Jul 14, 2025
'They saved our community': Beauval mayor thanks firefighters
Although a concession stand, garage, and a few vehicles were lost, Beauval Mayor Rick Laliberte said all homes were spared. Still, the danger isn't over, as wildfires continue to threaten the area.
Jul 14, 2025
NDP upset over Beauval wildfire miscalculation from SPSA
Leroy Laliberte said things got chaotic once the evacuation alert came through due to how fast everything changed. "People were in scramble mode. I'm really thankful that nobody's been hurt."
Jul 13, 2025
NDP outlines concerns to ombudsman over wildfire response
The Saskatchewan NDP has filed a complaint with the provincial ombudsman over incorrect SaskAlert updates sent during this year's wildfire evacuations, as well as delays in emergency funds and mental health support.
Jul 11, 2025
Weekend wind forecast offers relief in Saskatchewan wildfire fight
West winds over the next four days, followed by north winds on Monday, are expected to keep wildfires from moving closer to Patuanak. The Muskeg fire is 39.5 km away and the Smith fire is 28.5 km from the town.
Jul 10, 2025
Wildfires force evacuations of Garden Hill, Snow Lake in northern Manitoba
Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister for emergency management, said Ottawa has approved Manitoba's request for armed forces support and evacuations in the Garden Hill area are underway.
Jul 10, 2025
Emergency co-ordinator for English River wants to see more wildfire prevention work from Sask. gov.
"I think at some point there has to be a lot more effort and funding put into mitigation so that we can not have to be displaced just because we live in the north," said Candyce Paul.
Jul 09, 2025
In the news today: Evacuation order issued for some homes in Kelowna due to wildfire
RCMP warned of the wildfire on Sunday afternoon, saying the blaze was affecting the area and officers were conducting evacuations of homes. The BC Wildfire Service says the fire has grown to 4.31 hectares.
Jul 07, 2025
Saskatchewan's massive Shoe Fire still only 68 per cent contained: SPSA
On Saturday, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said that 22 of 64 blazes burning in the province were not contained, while another 24 of the fires were under ongoing assessment.
Jul 05, 2025
Northern Manitoba town orders evacuation as wildfire threatens power
The evacuation of Lynn Lake begins Friday, though officials haven't provided a time for when residents must be out of their homes. The town says it is offering bus transportation for evacuees.
Jul 04, 2025
Beauval general store manager stays, as village recieves mandatory evacuation order
Fab Damodharan and his family, who work at the store, were told they had to stay as an essential service for other people staying behind and for fire crews in the area.
Jul 03, 2025
Sask. law firm considering class action suit against province over wildfire response
Chad Eggerman, founding partner of Procido Law, which has an office in Saskatoon, said in the five days since his firm first asked for feedback on its website, the response has been high.
Jul 03, 2025
Fire again threatens Lytton, B.C., one of hundreds of blazes across Canada
This week marks the four-year anniversary of a deadly wildfire that destroyed the British Columbia village of Lytton and the community is again under threat, with a fire burning north of the community.
Jul 02, 2025
Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn different parts of Canada
According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, there were 64 active wildfires in the province on Wednesday morning, with 19 considered uncontained. So far this season, Saskatchewan has seen 327 wildfires.
Jul 02, 2025
Wildfire devastation will lead to a rebirth of the boreal forest
Wildfires are a natural occurrence that can create a rebirth for the boreal forest. Some plants, trees and even animals can thrive in areas that have been burned, a forestry expert says.
Jun 29, 2025
How Saskatchewan wildfires could affect future insurance policies
When the Shoe Fire near Candle Lake was at its peak, people buying homes in Prince Albert, over 50 km away, were being denied insurance coverage.
Jun 28, 2025
Wildfire crisis exposes flaws in public alerting landscape
A vague evacuation alert was issued due to a fire in Weyakwin due to a wildfire, but the area outlined in the alert map contained the entire city of Prince Albert, setting off panic and confusion.
Jun 26, 2025
Creighton residents return home, mayor says community undamaged by wildfires
Bruce Fidler, Creighton's mayor, said evacuees were able to return home as of Sunday, though the air is still smoky at times. He expressed his thanks to the fire crews that kept the community safe.
Jun 25, 2025
'Survival mode': Denare Beach evacuee reflects on losing home days before her due date
Brooke Kindel, now in Saskatoon, is now focused on securing a rental home for her family for the next year, all while navigating insurance claims and preparing for a new baby.
Jun 23, 2025
Biggest wildfires in Saskatchewan still not contained
SPSA said blazes not contained in the province on Sunday include the Pisew, Wolf and Ditch fires, as well as the massive Shoe Fire, which is nearly 10 times the size of the City of Saskatoon.
Jun 22, 2025
Denare Beach woman says more could've been done to save homes destroyed by fire
"Had those water bombers been on the fire long before that fire turned around, they probably could have saved our community, but they chose not to," said Denare Beach resident Keri Lentowicz.
Jun 20, 2025
Creighton mayor working on plan to get wildfire evacuees back home
"We're urging people, don't try and get back because right now there's nothing for support. We are working our best to make it safe and to get everybody back home safe," Mayor Bruce Fidler said.
Jun 19, 2025
SPSA says more than 350 'values' lost in Saskatchewan as fire ban lifted
Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake and Whelan Bay all remain under mandatory evacuation orders despite firefighters continuing to make significant progress on many wildfires in the province.
Jun 16, 2025
Weekend rain helps firefighters battling flames in northern Saskatchewan
"We saw precipitation on all our fires this weekend, and that was greatly needed and greatly appreciated," said Marlo Pritchard, president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Jun 16, 2025
Wildfire smoke shapes weather patterns, and not for the better
Meteorologist Matt Makens said sustained smoke and heat in the atmosphere create feedback loops that actively shape weather patterns. The presence of smoke in the atmosphere changes how rainfall develops.
Jun 16, 2025
Sask. wildfires update: No change in active fire numbers from Saturday
No news is good news when it comes to the wildfire situation in the province on Sunday, and the fire risk in most areas has now dropped to moderate, with small pockets where risk is considered high.
Jun 15, 2025
Candle Lake welcoming people back after evacuation order lifted Friday
Candle Lake Mayor Colleen Lavoie said the village resort is addressing future planning and preparation for wildfires as well as getting down to business.
Jun 15, 2025
Sask. wildfires update: 12 blazes still active, with five not contained
Blazes not contained in the province include the Shoe, Pisew, Wolf, and Ditch fires and fire bans are active in 56 urban municipalities, 115 rural municipalities and 28 provincial parks.
Jun 14, 2025
Fire chiefs association says national body could help better coordinate wildfire response
Of the 123,608 firefighters in Canada in 2024, 71 per cent of them were volunteers, a marked decline with 2,223 less of them than in 2022, the association's census data shows.
Jun 14, 2025
Saskatchewan raises $643,156 in one day for wildfire relief
Last week's Day of Caring sparked stories of hope and support through the Canadian Red Cross. An additional $37,189 was raised over the weekend while the donation link remained open, bringing the total to $680,345.
Jun 13, 2025
Around 7,000 Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees set to return to their homes
Saskatchewan is reporting 23 active wildfires. Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government was failing to provide timely help to evacuees, promised a $500 payout for each evacuee aged 18 and up.
Jun 12, 2025
Sask. wildfire evacuees to receive extra $500 in provincial funding
Evacuees and the provincial ombudsman criticized the Moe government for delays in wildfire aid, saying many are forced to sleep in cars, go hungry or run out of money while waiting for help.
Jun 11, 2025
Evacuee couple with newborn faces added stress as SPSA deals with 'backlog'
By Derek Cornet Shannon Roberts and Cory Richie were happy to learn on Tuesday that they will soon be headed home after navigating the wildfire evacuations with a newborn in tow. When Roberts travelled to Prince Alb...
Jun 11, 2025
Sask. wildfires update: Weather helps high-risk areas, fire ban changes
Despite the positive weather news, Steve Roberts, Vice President, Operations with the SPSA, explained that these fires are likely to remain on the landscape throughout the wildfire season.
Jun 10, 2025
Candle Lake residents breathe sigh of relief after weekend rain
The massive Shoe Fire is not contained and now 10 kilometers away from Candle Lake but around 25 mm of rain on Saturday gave residents of the resort village some cause for celebration.
Jun 10, 2025
'Disgraceful': Sask. wildfire evacuees, NDP call on province to step up with financial aid
Evacuees from Sask. are still waiting for any promised financial aid, while a Manitoba man says he has received an e-transfer of around $950 from his province, with another expected in two weeks.
Jun 09, 2025
Waskesiu: An oasis in a sea of smoke
As wildfires like the Shoe and Ditch fires rage in the north, the community of Waskesiu remains relatively untouched by the fire, but is seeing a dip in visitors from the south.
Jun 09, 2025
Precipitation stalls some wildfire growth; repatriation begins in Pelican Narrows
To date, there have been 256 wildfires this year, which is almost double the normal fire volume with a five-year average of 145. The total number of values destroyed so far this year is 295.
Jun 09, 2025
Thousands of wildfire evacuees receiving Red Cross support
The organization's 2025 Saskatchewan Wildfires Appeal has raised $650,000, but that figure doesn't include the matching funds sent from the federal government.
Jun 09, 2025
Wet and cool weekend weather helps firefighters in northern Sask.
SPSA President Marlo Pritchard said on Monday morning during The Evan Bray Show that the wet and cool weather from the weekend gave firefighters a reprieve as they battle the destructive wildfires.
Jun 09, 2025
Community heroes protect Wadin Bay from devastating wildfires
Firefighting efforts began last Monday when a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the community. "As soon as we knew that everything hit the fan, we got together and made a plan," said a resident.
Jun 09, 2025
Murray Wood: Wildfire worries in Saskatchewan now include arson, looting
Despite some rain over the weekend, the wildfire situation isn't seeing much improvement. Murray Wood says it's concerning seeing people being charged with arson while others loot evacuated homes.
Jun 09, 2025
Saskatchewan's biggest wildfire takes toll on Narrow Hills Provincial Park
"The fire burned so hot that the entire landscape was destroyed," said Paul Johnson "We need to let the park environment, the nature that people love, take the time to regrow and regenerate."
Jun 09, 2025
Tina's 'ark' finds temporary home in Prince Albert after fleeing Pisew Fire
Tina Johnston, her husband, sister, youngest daughter, eight grandchildren, five horses, five dogs, three cats, one rabbit and around 60 birds piled into three vehicles to evacuate.
Jun 08, 2025
'Blessed and thankful': Batoche opens doors to Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees
Batoche is hosting 136 evacuees from the wildfires in Saskatchewan with room for more, and electrified camper sites are available, according to Connor Johnston with Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
Jun 08, 2025
Saskatchewan wildfires update: No new reported fires in 24 hours, SPSA
According to SPSA, rain, favourable winds, cooler temperatures and fires reaching natural barriers like bodies of water have slowed down the growth of some fires.
Jun 07, 2025
