Public safety agency says rainfall not enough for significant change to Sask. wildfires

There are currently 87 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

So far this year, the province has seen 459 wildfires, well over the five-year average of 356.

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Steve Roberts, the public safety agency’s vice president of operations, said fire conditions have improved slightly, but the rain that fell in the province in recent days hasn’t been enough to significantly change the overall outlook on the fires.

Roberts said out-of-province resources from areas like Quebec, Mexico and Australia are being utilized to help contain the wildfires. He said 300 members of the Canadian Forces are helping with the firefighting efforts, and the agency has asked for a one-week extension to keep them in the province for even longer.

Roughly 2.3 million hectares have been impacted by wildfires this year in Saskatchewan. That’s an area almost six times the size of Prince Albert National Park.

Around 3,000 individuals are currently displaced by evacuation orders in 13 communities, including La Loche, Ramsey Bay and Lac La Plonge. Roberts said eight communities are under a full evacuation, though essential services personnel could be in the communities to provide support while residents are away.

“We have ongoing discussions with those community leaders on fire behavior, pending weather conditions, changes to those fires, access (to) power utilities, and whether there may be opportunities for repatriation,” Roberts said.

Roberts said about 2,160 items of value – including things like cabins and vehicles – have been damaged by the fires this year, primarily in the Denare Beach and East Trout Lake areas.

Due to the rain, Roberts said the public safety agency will reassess the provincewide fire ban once the magnitude of the rainfall’s impact is examined over the coming days.