Lightning sparks more wildfires in northern Sask. as evacuees flee
Hot and dry conditions across the province likely won’t improve in the next few days as several northern communities evacuate due to nearby wildfires, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations, said 122 wildfires are active as of Wednesday, up from 107 on Tuesday.
“There will be isolated storm systems that will pass through, nothing significant. These small systems that we’ve been seeing for the last number of days are producing slight amounts of precipitation, but they are also producing lightning, which is giving us new fire starts,” said Roberts.
“We do not see any significant reprieve in weather conditions over the next three to five days.”
He said there’s been 354 wildfires in Saskatchewan so far this year, which is 146 above the five-year average.
Roberts said the SPSA is working with northern leaders to get more trained firefighters on the ground, as well as looking at bringing in crews from provincial fire departments and across Canada if necessary.
Roberts said there are “several fires of concern,” including the Lock fire near Dillon, St. George’s Hill and Michel Village.
The SPSA is working with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) to provide emergency services, such as food and shelter, to 48 people in North Battleford who had to flee the Lock fire, said Director of Emergency and Crisis Support Joan Hyrcyck. There are also evacuees in Lloydminster.
The SPSA helped coordinate transportation for evacuees from Southend, she said.
There are also fires near Grandmother’s Bay, Stanley Mission, Black Lake and Stony Rapids. The Rabbit fire is posing a risk to Highway 2 North south of La Ronge and the Harding fire to Highway 106.
The province is continuing to work with the MLTC and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
"We are providing community leadership in all of these locations real-time fire information to help coordinate with them, and also to give them quality information to make decisions and help them prepare. It will be a local leadership decision should they decide to evacuate,” said Roberts.
Richard Ben, tribal chief of the MLTC, said the Canadian Red Cross is helping them through a full community evacuation in Buffalo River Dene Nation.
About 600 people have relocated to multiple communities, including Lloydminster and Meadow Lake.
Ben said other MLTC members are self-evacuating to Lloydminster. He said 188 people in 74 households have registered as of Tuesday.
“We’re just taking it day-by-day and just hoping everything gets better – hoping for rain,” he said.
“The smoke and the fire is getting pretty close.”
Ben thanked chiefs, emergency coordinators and the Canadian Red Cross for making the evacuations a smooth process.
“I just owe it all to the frontline workers, our emergency management operation team at MLTC, along with our staff. We’re doing as much as we can and we just appreciate the Canadian Red Cross for stepping in and taking a big load off of our backs.”
The fire ban for provincial parks and Crown lands will remain in place for at least another three to five days, said Roberts.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.