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
Volunteer firefighter joins call for public inquiry into wildfire response
Harley Vliegenthart wants a public inquiry into the government's response to the wildfire season, saying it's the public that's still suffering, and everything should be presented in front of the public.
Nov 06, 2025
Saskatchewan NDP calls for public inquiry into 2025 wildfire response
NDP northern affairs critic Jordan McPhail said this year's wildfire response was a monumental failure. But despite his call for an inquiry, an independent review process at the SPSA is already underway.
Oct 17, 2025
Temporary homes in Denare Beach, Creighton provide much-needed relief: Councillor
The temporary homes were delivered by the Government of Saskatchewan to provide shelter to people in those communities who lost their homes in the devastating Wolf Fire during the summer.
Oct 14, 2025
There are lessons to be learned from Canada's wildfire season and evacuations
George Fontaine, mayor of Flin Flon where 5,000 were evacuated, said a key takeaway is that wildfire crews should be prepared to face blazes earlier than normal. "Nature's not waiting and we can't."
Oct 12, 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
Most wildland firefighters in Saskatchewan don't wear masks. Here's why.
Less than five per cent of personnel working the wildfires in Saskatchewan are wearing masks, and that's not likely to change any time soon despite the health risks from smoke exposure.
Aug 23, 2025
Soot from wildfires on Rocky Mountains glaciers affects Sask. water security
As 67 fires still burned in Saskatchewan on Monday, one expert says that smoke depositing soot on glaciers signals "the final end of the Ice Age," as well as affecting the province's water supply.
Aug 18, 2025
How Canadians can prepare for wildfire evacuations, from emergency plans to go bags
Public Safety Canada suggests an emergency kit should have non-perishable food and two litres of water per person, per day, along with medications, flashlights, a radio, cash and important documents.
Aug 13, 2025
Fire ban to remain in place after rain fails to quench fires in northern Saskatchewan
"Although there were periods of rainfall in the north this past weekend, the heavier rainfall was located in the south. Large fuels such as logs, stumps and tree trunks remain prevalent in the north."
Aug 12, 2025
Massive Shoe Fire remains uncontained as 84 blazes burn in Saskatchewan
SPSA's daily report showed on Sunday that the Shoe Fire is still the largest in the province, covering 565,701 hectares (more than 1,397,877 acres) - nearly 25 times the size of the City of Saskatoon.
Aug 10, 2025
Call to drop PST on labour to help communities rebuild after devastating wildfires
NDP Leader Carla Beck said the provincial tax on labour is "about 30 to upwards of 50 per cent of the cost" of building, and removing it would be a much needed gesture of practical help and goodwill.
Aug 09, 2025
Canada's 2025 wildfire season now second-worst on record, fuelled by Prairies blazes
This season has strained firefighting resources, displaced thousands of people and stifled communities across Canada in wildfire smoke, with Saskatchewan and Manitoba seeing the most area burned.
Aug 08, 2025
Learn the health risks associated with wildfire smoke in Saskatchewan
Dr. Simon Kapaj said health effects from wildfire smoke can range in severity, with mild symptoms including headache and a mild cough, along with irritation to the nose, eyes and throat.
Aug 08, 2025
Public safety agency says rainfall not enough for significant change to Sask. wildfires
Steve Roberts, the SPSA's vice president of operations, said fire conditions have improved slightly, but the rain that fell in recent days hasn't been enough to change the overall outlook on the fires.
Aug 07, 2025
Rainfall helped make Buhl Fire less intense, Parks Canada says
The blaze was holding at just under one kilometre from Ramsey Bay on Tuesday, but there are still 84 fires burning in the province and only six are considered to be contained, SPSA says.
Aug 05, 2025
Hot weather makes firefighting 'challenging' as 80 blazes burn in Saskatchewan
Hot, dry and and windy conditions are not helping firefighting efforts, and Parks Canada said on Sunday the Buhl Fire was approximately .9 km from Ramsey Bay, which is under an evacuation order.
Aug 04, 2025
Memories, valuables and hope found in Denare Beach wildfire ashes
A team of volunteers with Samaritan's Purse are donning safety gear to sift through the rubble in Denare Beach to help residents recover treasured possessions from homes destroyed by the Wolf Fire.
Aug 03, 2025
Village of Pinehouse evacuated as Muskeg fire creeps closer, Beauval evacuees return
All non-essential residents of the northern village of Pinehouse are being evacuated, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. The province continues to battle 56 active wildfires.
Jul 30, 2025
Troops arrive in Sask. to help fight fires, Beauval residents could return home soon
It's been nearly a month since 700 people from the community of Beauval were evacuated. Beauval mayor Rick Laliberte hopes people can return home by July 30.
Jul 28, 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
Buhl wildfire near Waskesiu shows no recent growth; 49 blazes burning in the north
According to Parks Canada, as of Monday the fire remained eight kilometres from Ramsey Bay, 12 kilometres from Montreal Lake, and 30 to 38 kilometres from Waskesiu, Elk Ridge and McPhee Lake.
Jul 23, 2025
Why a lawsuit about government response to Sask. wildfires isn't going ahead
"We want answers on what happened, where the ball was dropped ... now it just seems like we probably will never get those answers," said Rhonda Werbicki, who lost her Denare Beach home.
Jul 22, 2025
'Getting married no matter what': Wildfire won't cancel wedding
A Regina couple's weekend plans to wed in Waskesiu are in jeopardy because of the nearby Buhl Fire. But even if the location has to change, they said it doesn't mean their wedding date will.
Jul 18, 2025
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
