(File photo from Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency/Facebook)

By CKOM News

Wildfires

Nearly 100 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan

Jul 15, 2024 | 7:30 AM

There were 95 active fires burning in Saskatchewan on Sunday, all in the northern half of the province.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said in its daily report on July 14 that 18 of the blazes were not contained, firefighters were working to protect property at 13 locations and 52 of the fires were under ongoing assessment. Eleven fires were considered contained.

The towns of Creighton and Denare Beach have both placed the communities on evacuation standby as the 330-hectare Wilson fire — around 6km from Creighton, 8 km from Denare Beach, 2 km from Highway 167, and 4km from Highway 106 — was being fought with air tanker and helicopter support, with a Manitoba fire crew helping.

People in Flin Flon, Man. have also been told to prepare emergency bags and be ready to leave on short notice.

The weekend also saw significant growth in the Parker fire, now at 200 hectares in size and located north of Canoe Lake and northwest of Beauval. Crews had air tanker and helicopter support and SPSA said the blaze will be reassessed for potential indirect attack methods, including potential aerial ignition opportunities.

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Fire ban also blanket the northern half of the province. A map with banned areas can be found here.

SPSA says there have been 347 fires in Saskatchewan so far in 2024. The five-year annual average for Saskatchewan wildfires is 230. The province had a record-setting wildfire season in 2023.