REGINA - The fight continues against wildfires in northern Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is reporting that some additional help has arrived towards that effort.
In their wildfire update released Tuesday afternoon, the SPSA noted that forty firefighters from Australia have arrived to assist with the wildfire efforts. They also said another forty firefighters will arrive from Mexico later this week.
There was also help that arrived last week with two CL-415 aircraft and 100 wildfire personnel coming from Quebec. The SPSA has also pointed to resources coming from other provinces as well.
"Saskatchewan is grateful to everyone who has helped with the unprecedented wildfire season," SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said in a statement. "Thank you to everyone local and abroad for the immense support in the air and on the ground."
As for the number of fires as of 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, SPSA reported there are 50 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those, four are contained, 12 not contained, 18 ongoing assessment and 16 listed as protecting values.
SPSA reports the following nine communities are under evacuation orders: the Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge, La Plonge Reserve, Northern Village of Beauval, Jans Bay, Patuanak/English River First Nation as well as priority individuals from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Northern Village of Pinehouse, Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse and Canoe Lake Cree First Nation/Cole Bay/Canoe Narrows.
SPSA is also reporting that a fire ban remains in place in the area north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River, which prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks within that boundary including provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.
