Sarah Mills: Early wildfire season raises questions about prevention
Wildfires have forced thousands of people in Saskatchewan to leave their homes, and the summer hasn't even started yet. ...
The Saskatchewan NDP are voicing their thoughts surrounding the province’s wildfire fight.
We’re not even in June yet and the 2025 wildfire season has already been devastating. There have been 207 active wildfires in the province this year, that’s 40 more than last year.
As of May 30, there are 15 active fires, 7 of which are considered to be uncontained.
Read More:
- Premier Scott Moe, SPSA declare provincial state of emergency
- Air quality drops in central, northern Sask. due to wildfire smoke
- Wildfires leave thousands evacuated, anxious about homes left behind
At a recent event held in Prince Albert, NDP leader Carla Beck spoke to the wildfire situation. She said that it’s time for a unified response.
“This is the time for all hands on deck in this province. It’s a time for all of us to do our part and that is certainly what we’re focused on as the official opposition,” said Beck.
When asked about the provincial government’s response to this year’s fires, she said that disagreements over how and when the SPSA responded can come later.
“The focus really has to be on ensuring that we have all of the resources available to us at the provincial level, local level, and federal level to get in here and fight these fires,” she said.
“There will be time after this emergency to deal with the response and what we need to improve. But right now, as I said, this is not a time for politics and pointing fingers. This is really a time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and do everything we can to ensure that safety and that support for those who are facing so much right now,” said Beck.
Premier Scott Moe declared a provincial state of emergency on May 29.
Jordan McPhail, the NDP MLA for Cumberland, supports the move.
“I hope that with the provincial state of emergency, we’ll see those resources deployed where they need to be, that the folks will feel supported by the provincial government, and furthermore, there is a request put forward to the federal government for additional resources,” said McPhail.
Beck reiterated the importance of having a province-wide fire ban.
“Our resources are incredibly stretched,” she said.
“Everyone needs to do their part. That means not, as much as it’s a part of summer, not having that fire, not taking that ATV through dry grass, and being very careful not to make the situation worse. And that’s something we can all do in this province,” said Beck.
— with files from PaNOW
