Sask. wildfires continue to prompt evacuations from First Nations communities

Wildfires in Saskatchewan are continuing to prompt evacuations from First Nation communities.

The Saulteaux First Nation, located about 43 kilometres north of North Battleford, began evacuating areas close to a wildfire on Thursday night.

On Thursday, North Battleford's Fire Chief Lindsay Holm advised against driving into the community, as the Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) are working to evacuate the community and traffic is hindering efforts to fight the fire and move people to safety.

The BATC posted on Facebook that the wildfire on Saulteaux First Nation was contained at 4 a.m. CST on Friday and no homes were lost.

Wildfires are also affecting the nearby Moosomin First Nation. On Thursday the BATC said there were fires burning on the west, northeast and east side of the First Nation.

On Thursday evening, the BATC estimated that almost 3,900 hectares of land had burned or was burning. 

Arnold Blackstar, the Moosomin First Nation's band manager, said residents from about 15 homes near the fires had been moved to safer places on the reserve. He said he was concerned about the fire continuing to spread. 

"The concern is it is dry, it is hot and the wind is shifting, there's no rain in the forecast unfortunately," Blackstar said on Thursday afternoon. 

"The concern is for other residents and even surrounding communities to refrain from any open fire in their locations and to observe public safety orders that have been issued by the province and the municipalities."

Blackstar said he is grateful for firefighting assistance from Moosomin First Nation and other neighbouring communities, including North Battleford, Prince Albert and other First Nations.

"The current volunteers that we have now, this is their third day," Blackstar said. "The heat and exhaustion is setting in.

"If there's volunteers out there that are willing to come out and help — we would certainly welcome that now."

Blackstar said the First Nation will welcome volunteers of any kind, whether they join the firefighters on the frontline or supporting secondary or third level services, such as helping evacuees or ensuring the firefighters have proper supplies.

Blackstar added that wildfires of this significance can threaten the First Nation's traditional practices. 

"The residents of the community depend on the land for sustenance and other activities related to traditional uses," Blackstar said. "The extreme weather patterns are a signal of changes in climate. I think all residents need to be concerned about their contribution to climate change."

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), there are 14 active fires across the province and six are uncontained.

On Wednesday night, Clearwater River Dene Nation was placed under a mandatory evacuation order due to a wildfire. Around 50 people were bused to Meadow Lake and Lloydminster. Others left the community in their own vehicles.

On Thursday evening, a state of emergency was declared in the neighbouring village of La Loche. At that time the community was preparing for a handful of buses to take residents to Prince Albert overnight, before heading to Regina in the morning.

Steve Roberts, vice president of operations for the SPSA, said 147 people from La Loche arrived by bus in Regina on Friday. He added that number does not include those driving themselves.

"We will have an unknown number of people that have left the community already, but may either arrive in Regina at the designated site or may go elsewhere to family and friends," Roberts said. 

All residents of La Loche were asked to pre-register prior to leaving to identify who they are and where they will go. Roberts said that doesn't always happen.

Wildfire numbers 'above 5-year average': Public Safety

During a news conference on Friday, Roberts said 73 wildfires have been reported in Saskatchewan so far in 2023 — well above the five-year average of 39 by this time of year.

Thirteen of those wildfires were active as of Friday morning, with six uncontained. Roberts noted more than 190 grass fires were also reported in just the first five days of May, due to dry conditions.

"Our weather for the province will continue over the next 72 hours, hot and dry as we have seen for the last few days," he said.

"This will result in wildfires being active in the afternoon and also leads us having very high hazards related to starts of new fires in this dry, grassy conditions of early spring."

Roberts said the SPSA actually saw below-average fire numbers for the start of 2023, due to a delayed spring. However, once the fires arrived, they arrived in a "big way," he said.

Roberts noted the biggest fire of concern at this time, is fire one between the Village of La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation. As of 11:30 a.m. CST Friday, that fire had damaged a shed and an abandoned vehicle. No homes, businesses or infrastructure have been damaged or burnt.

Roberts said the fire covered 266 hectares at that time, and had not grown in the previous 36 hours. The SPSA had increased its heavy equipment and helicopter support in the last 48 hours. 

Roberts added that latest models show wildfire smoke is moving north.

He said all wildfires currentlyburning in Saskatchewan were caused by humans, because no lightning strikes have occurred.

"Our mandate of the public safety agency is that every human-caused fire will be investigated for cause and origin," he said.

Roberts urged people to be mindful of fire bans in an area, as conditions are drier than expected.