SASKATCHEWAN — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe formally declared a wildfire state of emergency for the province at a news conference with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) Thursday, due to the raging wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.
He describes the situation as "very serious."
"There are over 200 wildfires that we've had this spring due to a significant lack of moisture," he said. "Today, 17 of those are active and we've had to support the evacuation of about 15 communities. Looking ahead to the weather forecast, it doesn't look good. It looks like it is further going to deteriorate with no rain in the forecast."
Moe said plans are to do what needs to be done to support wildland firefighters working in the communities affected, and the residents of those communities.
He noted that under the state of emergency, there are a number of initiatives the province may need to use in the days ahead to support firefighter activities in the north and residents who have been evacuated or may need to be evacuated.
Many communities have already declared state of emergency as a result of the many out-of-control wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.
In a joint statement, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck, Athabasca MLA Leroy Laliberte and Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail said previously there needs to be a provincial state of emergency declared due to the wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. They also want to see better communication and support in response to the wildfire crisis in northern Saskatchewan.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band, together with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, have declared a joint state emergency on May 28.
"We are urgently calling for additional resources and the immediate hiring of more local firefighters to assist in combating these devastating fires and protecting our communities," they said in a news release.
The SPSA said in a news release that anyone who spots a wildfire can call 1-800-667-9660, dial 9-1-1, or contact their closest SPSA Forest Protection Area office.
Jim Arnold, Fire Chief for the Resort Village of Candle Lake, told SaskToday that since Wednesday a voluntary evacuation has been in effect for Candle Lake for seniors and children and people who are medically compromised, who are more vulnerable to the smoke from the wildfires.
"The wildfires are definitely accelerating," he said.
Fortunately, no properties have been lost in Candle Lake. The closest point to the wildfires is about 120 kilometres.
"There have been properties lost in other vicinities in Saskatchewan," Arnold noted.
He added that more resources would help, adding that "you can never have enough resources for a wildfire."
"We've reached out to all kinds of different people and lots of different communities have offered help," Arnold said. "We kind of have them in our back pocket if it gets to the point where we need them, we are more than willing to make the call.
"The residents are taking this in a calm manner, at least I hope they are," he added. "The bottom line is we're trying to do the best we can for the citizens of Candle Lake and the surrounding area that we can, and we'll continue to attempt to try to have everybody remain calm and continue in an orderly fashion."
