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The Buhl Fire, which caused a Wildfire Emergency Advisory Alert to be issued by Parks Canada on Sunday, has entered the northeast corner of Prince Albert National Park.
Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said in its July 14 update that the 35,000 ha (just over 86,486 acres) blaze that was first reported on June 29 was not contained and around 20 kilometres from the resort subdivision of Ramsey Bay.
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SPSA said in the 10 a.m. update on Monday that dozer crews would continue to work on building contingency lines north of projected fire growth in anticipation of winds from the south, which would will lessen the hazard posed to Ramsey Bay.
The Buhl Fire has entered the northeast corner of Prince Albert National Park. (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
The fire is around 40 kilometers away from Waskesiu, and some cabin owners are packing their bags and heading home.
“We are aware of people that have health concerns or might be more elderly and they made the decision that they would like to be elsewhere,” said Jim Kerby, Chair of the Waskesiu Community Council.
“But … I was just downtown and there’s still lots of people in town.”
Kerby said that the community is doing its best to make sure cabin owners and business owners in Waskesiu are aware of what is happening.
The community council is working with both SPSA and Parks Canada to expand communication so that everyone is informed.
“We’re trying to encourage everyone to sign up for the SaskAlerts app,” he said. “Just in case you have to move quickly, think about how you can fire smart your own yards and cottage.”
Kerby said people in Waskesiu have been doing a good job all spring and summer of being informed in what is going on with the wildfires as they burn on.
“It’s very difficult to be in northern Saskatchewan in a year like this an not have your antenna up to be watching what’s happening with the wildfire situation,” he said.
“People are very aware that this has been a tough spring and summer generally through northern Saskatchewan.”
Kerby said Monday didn’t start off super smoky in Waskesiu and despite the fire being 40 kilometers north of them, Monday wasn’t their worst day of smoke this year.
“It’s been a combination of clear skies and smoke,” he said. “We certainly had worse days up here earlier in the year so people are still here active and doing things.”
Ness Creek Music Festival under a fire ban
Meanwhile, the Ness Creek Music Festival, which is west of Waskesiu in the RM of Big River, is battling fire bans as it prepares for its 34th year.
The festival starts on July 17 and runs until July 20 with close to 3,000 people expected on the festival grounds.
Paige UnRuh, Ness Creek Music Festival marketing manager, said when the fire ban was issued on Thursday they immediately began notifying festival goers.
“We do our best to prepare in advance we let festival goers know that while there is a fire ban in place. Propane fire pits and barbecues are both allowed and encouraged,” she said.
“That’s how we ask our festival goers to adjust their plans.”
UnRuh also noted that the fire ban doesn’t change too much for the festival.
“Normally our festival has pretty stringent fire rules as it is,” she said. “They always have to be dug out and there has to be a five gallon pail of water nearby.”
While smoky conditions could play a factor UnRuh said people have to make their best judgement ahead of time
The festival isn’t affected by the Prince Albert National Park alert but they are keeping an eye on it.
“I don’t think that we’ve ever had to evacuate the full site on that level,” she said. “But it’s something that the management team is meeting basically every day (to discuss).”
Only four of 55 wildfires contained in province
The Buhl blaze is just one of 55 active wildfires burning in the province, with only four of them considered to be contained.
The agency said around 1,700 people had been evacuated because of the wildfires across the province, with 1,200 being supported by the SPSA in hotels or staying with friends and family.
Eight communities in Saskatchewan are currently under an evacuation order including the resort subdivision of Lac La Plonge, La Plonge Reserve, Beauval, and Jans Bay.
As well, SPSA said people considered to be priority from Patuanak/English River First Nation, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Pinehouse and Canoe Lake Cree First Nation were also under evacuation orders.
Kinoosao is no longer under an evacuation order, SPSA said, and people from the community would be returning Monday.
SPSA said in the update that as well as the four contained blazes, 12 fires were not contained, 21 were subject to ongoing assessment and crews were protecting values in 18.
Contained means suppression action is taking place and the fire is not expected to grow in size, ongoing assessment means the fire is being monitored regularly to assess risk to values in the area and not contained means suppression action is taking place but the fire is expected to grow in size, according to SPSA. Protecting values means a fire is active and action is focused on protecting things like cabins and infrastructure.
A provincial fire ban is in place in the area north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River. The fire ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the area, that includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District within the boundary.
Fire bans in the province on July 14, 2025. (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
As well, fire bans are active in 20 urban municipalities, 32 rural municipalities and four provincial parks in the province, with the fire danger considered xxxx over much of the southern part of Saskatchewan.
SPSA says there have been 369 fires in Saskatchewan so far in 2025. The five-year average to date for Saskatchewan wildfires is 260.
— with files from Will Mandzuk, 650 CKOM
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