File photo. (La Ronge Regional Fire Dept./Facebook)

By paNOW Staff

Wildfire update

Wildfire worries diminishing in northern Saskatchewan

Aug 20, 2025 | 3:52 PM

If Steve Roberts had to grade the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) wildfire response this year, he’d call it nothing short of excellent.

Asked the question during a Wednesday wildfire briefing, the vice president of SPSA operations emphasized the priorities: protecting human life and communities.

“There were no fatalities even though we had extremely aggressive fire behaviour, many people on the fire lines and many aircraft in the air…in addition, we had severe losses at Denare Beach…but many communities were protected from any losses,” Roberts said. “When you consider that most communities were impacted by wildfires this year, our success rate and ability to protect people is extraordinary.”

Fire crews are also celebrating a better handle on the wildfire situation thanks to recent weather. There are still 49 active wildfires burning in the province, but only eight of those fires are not yet contained. The Buhl fire by Prince Albert National Park, the Ditch fire by Weyawkin, Pisew fire by La Ronge, Shoe fire near the Lower Fishing Lake area, the Wolf fire and the Sturgeon fire by Denare Beach and the Hawk fire by Hall Lake are now listed as contained.

“This continued weather that we’ve seen that is improving our situation has also resulted in the removal of the provincial fire ban. All closures of provincial highways have been removed at this time, and, currently there are no communities evacuated,” Roberts said.

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As a result, some of the help from outside the province has been released, including firefighters from Australia and aircraft support from Quebec. Crews from Mexico and North Dakota, Yukon, Ontario and Parks Canada continue to help.

SPSA president Marlo Pritchard and members of the Canadian Armed Forces who assisted with wildfire fighting efforts in northern Saskatchewan. (Submitted photo/SPSA)

Meanwhile, the last of military personnel deployed to northern Saskatchewan will head home at the end of the week. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Litzenberger said over the past four weeks, three Royal Canadian Air Force CH146 Griffin helicopters and 300 Canadian Army soldiers from various regular force and reserve force units across Western Canada have been providing help combating Type 3 wildfires.

“The support from the Canadian Armed Forces enhances local resources through unique capabilities, aiming to stabilize the situation and reassure residents in the affected areas. Once the situation improves, our soldiers and aviators return home to prepare for their next mission,” he said.

It’s unlikely the SPSA will require the military’s help again this wildfire season, according to Roberts.

So far this year, there have been 467 wildfires, well above the five-year average of 385.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com