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Wildfires

Wildfire fleet adjusted
SPSA grounds three Bird Dog aircraft pending safety review
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has temporarily suspended three Bird Dog aircraft from wildfire suppression operations while it conducts a comprehensive safety review.The aircraft are the same model as one that recently crashed in the Northwest Territories, killing all three people on board."The safety of ou...
Jul 11, 2026
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wildfire update
Fire season conditions better than 2025, but challenges remain: SPSA
Although there are 72 active fires burning in Saskatchewan as of July 9, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) reports conditions are better than they were in 2025. "We are not experiencing as many fires as last year or even the size, but essentially when these fires do get up and go, we are experiencing th...
Jul 09, 2026
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Wildfires near Southend
SPSA reports no evacuations as lightning-sparked fires burn near northern communities
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said there are no current evacuations in the province, but officials are working with several northern communities as wildfire activity increases and smoke affects residents. As of 9:30 Tuesday morning, the SPSA reported 56 active wildfires across Saskatchewan. Seven were li...
Jun 30, 2026
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fire watch
Lightning sparks seven new wildfires in Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is keeping an eye on several new wildfire starts due to lighting activity over the last few days.Newly confirmed fires as of Friday included five in the Northern Response Area, which are all under one hectare in size and being actioned by helicopters and initial attack crews.There ...
Jun 26, 2026
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Wildfires

Cost concerns
Melfort raises concerns over new SPSA wildfire deployment compensation model
The City of Melfort is raising concerns about changes to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency's (SPSA) compensation rates and operational requirements for municipal fire departments responding to wildfire emergencies.The issue was discussed at a recent city council meeting, where administration outlined the potential ...
Jun 16, 2026
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"There's more work to do."
Scott Moe says province committed to doing better after report criticized wildfire response
Saskatchewan's premier says the province is committed to doing better after an independent review criticized the government's response to the destructive 2025 wildfire season.The review, conducted by accounting firm MNP, found that the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) "was not fully prepared for a wildfire...
Jun 15, 2026
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wildfire season
Several fires burning near Lac La Ronge Provincial Park
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) continues to respond to several fires burning near La Ronge. There's an ongoing assessment underway for the Highway fire (0.2 hectares) approximately 30 kilometers south of La Ronge. The SPSA noted crews will continue to monitor with infrared scanners over the coming days f...
Jun 15, 2026
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Wildfires
Wadin Bay receives $40,000 for defending community from 2025 Pisew Fire
The northern resort of Wadin Bay is the first Saskatchewan community to receive compensation for fighting a 2025 wildfire from a new government program.Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) FireSmart Grant Program was announced last week by Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger.Wadin Bay will be given $40,000 f...
Jun 15, 2026
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Need for Change
'Everybody's got to be on board': Communities urge preparedness after wildfire review
Communities that found themselves on the front lines of Saskatchewan's devastating 2025 wildfire season said that a new independent review confirms many of the challenges they experienced as wildfires swept across the province.The MNP review, commissioned by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), found the agenc...
Jun 12, 2026
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unique delicacy
Buyer expecting large morel crops in Northern Sask.
A mushroom buyer is expecting a bumper crop year for morels near La Ronge and other parts of Northern Saskatchewan. Andrey Vinogradov of White Raven Foraging has set up a camp at the junction of Highways 165 and 912 in anticipation of the harvest. "This is the year which will be absolutely awesome," he expla...
Jun 12, 2026
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Independent review
Review finds Sask. Public Safety Agency 'was not fully prepared' for 2025 wildfire season
An independent review into the Government of Saskatchewan's response to the destructive 2025 wildfire season - the worst in Saskatchewan's history - found the province's public safety agency wasn't adequately prepared.The review, completed by accounting firm MNP, was made public on Friday. The report found "signif...
Jun 12, 2026
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Natural warming cycle
El Nino is here and scientists fear it'll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires
El Nino, Nature's chaotic climate agent, has formed in a warmed-up Pacific Ocean and is expected to grow to historic strength, meteorologists announced Thursday.Experts said the El Nino, a natural warming cycle, should further heat a globe already warming from fossil fuel pollution and will likely turbocharge extreme w...
Jun 12, 2026
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SPSA operations
Behind the fire lines: Inside Saskatchewan's Lobstick fire base
About 19 kilometres west of Prince Albert, nestled in a field by the Satellite Station, is an entire temporary village built around a crisis. It's the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency's (SPSA) site for the Incident Management Team (IMT) working the Lobstick wildfire near Shellbrook - a blaze that grew bigger than the ...
Jun 08, 2026
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Enough precipitation
City of Prince Albert fire ban ends at noon
A fire ban for all areas north of the North Saskatchewan River, including Little Red River Park, will end at noon today (Thursday, June 4).The ban is being lifted, 10 days after it was imposed, because of recent rainfall.Residents must still follow city burning rules. Violating Bylaw 15 of 2021 could result in a $300 f...
Jun 04, 2026
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Wildfires
Red Earth Cree Nation residents returning home as evacuation order lifted
Residents of the Red Earth Cree Nation are preparing to return home after wildfires in the area prompted an evacuation.The Cree nation northeast of Nipawin was evacuated on May 30 after a wildfire in the area began to threaten travel on Highway 55. Some residents left in their own vehicles, while others boarded charter...
Jun 03, 2026
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Wildfire update
Wildfire costs climb into millions as Saskatchewan lifts fire ban
Saskatchewan's wildfire season has already cost millions of dollars, even as cooler temperatures and recent rainfall have helped ease fire conditions across much of the province.During a wildfire briefing Wednesday, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) officials estimated firefighting costs for the province's two l...
Jun 03, 2026
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Reduced wildfire threat
Red Earth Cree Nation residents returning home as evacuation order lifted
Residents of the Red Earth Cree Nation are preparing to return home after wildfires in the area prompted an evacuation.The Cree nation northeast of Nipawin was evacuated on May 30 after a wildfire in the area began to threaten travel on Highway 55. Some residents left in their own vehicles, while others boarded charter...
Jun 03, 2026
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Remnants of the wolf fire
Denare Beach rebuilding at remarkable pace: deputy mayor
Denare Beach residents are experiencing a wide range of emotions today as they mark one year since the Wolf fire destroyed nearly half of their community. That's according to Deputy Mayor Karen Thomson, who explained while some residents have been able to begin the rebuilding process, others have not as they continue ...
Jun 02, 2026
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Cooling down
More evacuation notices lifted as wildfire conditions improve
Another evacuation alert that was issued due to the Lobstick fire has been lifted. The alert for the RM of Duck Lake was lifted on Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) announced in a Facebook post. The notice was originally issued on May 28 as an evacuation order but was downgraded a day later to an a...
Jun 02, 2026
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Small community, Big heart
Shellbrook pours out support for fire crews and evacuees
As the massive Lobstick wildfire continues to burn nearby, businesses and residents in both the town of Shellbrook and the neighbouring rural municipality (RM) have stepped up to help those in need. About 130 people from the RM are staying with family and friends, while businesses and organizations in Shellbrook have o...
Jun 01, 2026
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Still rebuilding
Many Denare Beach families still not home a year after wildfire
Nearly one year after the Wolf Fire destroyed more than 200 homes and structures around Denare Beach, many families are still waiting to come home.While cleanup has been completed and new houses are beginning to arrive, the recovery has proven far slower than many expected. Insurance delays, contractor shortages and re...
Jun 01, 2026
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Wildfires
Sask. Premier Scott Moe addresses Lobstick Fire
The Lobstick Fire in the RM of Shellbrook isn't under control yet, but as things seemingly start move in the right direction Premier Scott Moe shared the next steps for his hometown and riding.Following a Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) briefing Sunday morning which he attended, Moe spoke with CKOM News in the...
Jun 01, 2026
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