(Submitted photo/Curtis Wailing)

By Derek Craddock

WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT

PAGC to review wildfire task force recommendations after alarming year of fires

Sep 23, 2021 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) said it’s returning to recommendations outlined in its Wildfire Task Force report on the management of wildfires in the territories of its member communities.

In a release, the PAGC said the 2021 wildfire season in Saskatchewan rose at an alarming rate, with 591 wildfires burning over 864,669 hectares of land throughout the province including a significant loss of commercial timber.

More than 2,200 community members were evacuated and received emergency assistance from the Canadian Red Cross, including Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Shoal Lake Cree Nation, and Red Earth Cree Nation.

Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said there is a need to address current fire management practices and improve the handling of evacuations in the future.

“I want to commend the efforts of our valued partners in fighting the wildfire and supporting the evacuation efforts,” Hardlotte said. “This past year was marked by a series of disasters, but it also displayed the resilience of our people and the generous support of many others who helped them through it.”

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Hardlotte goes on to say the PAGC has made progress with its partners and some changes have been made but they need to re-shift their thinking around wildfires amid climate change.

“It is important that we revisit the recommendations in our wildfire task force report and look at ways to strengthen our relationship with our partners and discuss opportunities for a closer and more integrated working relationship that will improve supports in place for disasters in the coming years.”

The recommendations include fire crew configurations, remote camp models, Type 2 and 3 fire crews, climate change factors, and the state of emergency procedures.

PAGC’s Executive, Chiefs, and Task Force members plan on meeting with officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and the Canadian Red Cross soon.

PAGC’s Wildfire Task Force was first created in January 2018 to review and provide recommendations to the Saskatchewan Public Service Agency and consists of representatives from PAGC communities who have experience in management, firefighting or emergency services.

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Derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @PA_Craddock