Latest news with #Weyakwin
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Sask.'s 4 major wildfires not growing in size, $1.8M distributed to affected communities, SPSA says
Volunteer firefighters from Davidson, Sask., load up their truck at the Provincial Wildfire Center in Prince Albert, Sask., Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The fire fighters are on their way to Weyakwin. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency's (SPSA) vice president of operations Steve Roberts says that none of the four major wildfires currently burning in Saskatchewan are growing in size or threatening new communities. During an update Wednesday afternoon, Roberts said that thanks to ideal weather conditions, crews have continued to gain ground on fires, a trend that has lasted more than a week. The four major fires are the Pisew fire near La Ronge, the Ditch02 fire near Weyakwin, the Shoe fire east of Candle Lake and the Wolf fire near Creighton, a community that remains evacuated. 'We continue to do those efforts on the ground to secure those areas that is including those communities that have not yet returned,' Roberts said. Communities that remain evacuated as of Wednesday are Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake, Whelan Bay and priority individuals in Cumberland House. 'Our staff are working with community leaders to pass on information on when the situation has been moderated to aid them in making decisions about repatriation,' Roberts said. As of 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, 17 wildfires were burning in Saskatchewan, four are listed as not contained, according to the SPSA's website. SPSA president Marlo Pritchard said the priority remains ensuring financial support is received by evacuees. 'We are continuing to send either retroactive food security support, such as payment for groceries to those that have registered with the SPSA,' Pritchard said, adding that eligible residents must call 1-855-559-5502 to confirm registration or to get assistance in registering as an evacuee. '[That is] so we can get those retroactive payments out which could be up to $200 per household per day,' he said. Pritchard also said the SPSA has identified all eligible communities whose residents will receive $500 in emergency funding that was announced by the Government of Saskatchewan. 'Some of those communities have indicated that they will administer payments themselves and other communities are requesting assistance from us,' he said. Every evacuee who was 18 or older as of June 20 are eligible for the $500 payment. 'I can announce that as of today there has been approximately $1.8 million moved to communities to start distributing to their community members,' Pritchard said.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
LIVE @ 1:30: Sask. to provide wildfire response update
Volunteer firefighters from Davidson, Sask., load up their truck at the Provincial Wildfire Center in Prince Albert, Sask., Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The fire fighters are on their way to Weyakwin. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will be providing another update regarding the province's wildfire response Wednesday afternoon at 1:30. The update can be watched live at the top of this article. On Tuesday, the SPSA said that all evacuations had ended except for five communities. Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake, Whelan Bay and priority individuals in Cumberland House remain evacuated. As of 10:30 Wednesday morning, the SPSA's website said 16 wildfires were burning in the province with three not contained. So far in 2025, the province has seen 261 wildfires, well above the five-year average of 157. The SPSA has confirmed that 350 values have been lost, with the number expected to climb past 500 once more assessments are completed. On Wednesday morning Saskatchewan's Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod said that as many as 30 individuals are currently suspected of intentional arson regarding wildfires, adding that more charges are expected to be laid. The SPSA has said that the majority of wildfires this season have been accidentally started by humans, but that at least 30 were believed to have been ste intentionally. RCMP have charged two individuals with arson regarding the Ditch02 fire near Weyakwin. More to come…
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Sask. minister says as many as 30 people under investigation for arson related to wildfires
Sask. Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod says the opposition is playing politics and spreading misinformation when it comes to use of new planes in the firefight Saskatchewan's Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety says that as many as 30 individuals are being investigated regarding intentional arson related to wildfires in the province this year. Tim McLeod said that investigations remain ongoing and he expects police to announce more charges. So far, two arson charges have been laid by RCMP regarding the Ditch02 fire near Weyakwin which forced multiple evacuations. 'I know that there are many others that are being investigated, last I heard in the neighbourhood of 30 individuals are suspected of and being investigated for intentional arson and that is just an absolute shame when you think about the devastation that these fires cause,' McLeod said during an interview with CTV Morning Live Saskatchewan on Wednesday. According to McLeod, it's the province's full belief that police investigations will lead to full prosecutions for people found to be responsible for intentionally starting wildfires. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has confirmed that 350 values have been lost in wildfires to date, with the number expected to exceed 500 following more investigations that includes assessing the community of Denare Beach later this week. Last week the SPSA said that many of the wildfires in Saskatchewan this year were set accidentally by humans, but that they believed at least 30 were intentionally set. So far in 2025 the province has seen 261 wildfires, well above the five-year average of 157. Currently there are 17 active wildfires, three are considered not contained. However, recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have allowed crews to take a more offensive approach to fighting wildfires and fire growth has been minimal for the better part of two weeks. All but five evacuations have ended in the province. According to the SPSA, Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake, Whelan Bay and priority individuals in Cumberland House remain evacuated. A provincial fire ban was also lifted this week as well as a ban on ATV and UTV vehicles. The province will provide an update regarding the current wildfire situation at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
LIVE @ 1:30: Sask. to provide wildfire update following week of repatriation, strong fire response
Saskatchewan provides wildfire update after week of repatriation, strong fire response. Watch LIVE here. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will provide an update regarding its wildfire response at 1:30 Monday afternoon, following a positive week that saw many evacuees repatriated and crews gain ground on multiple fires. According to the SPSA's website, 13 wildfires are burning across the province Monday morning. Five are considered not contained. The update can be watched live at the top of this article. The SPSA did not hold any updates over the weekend, however on Friday SPSA president Marlo Pritchard said that all but five evacuation events had ended and more than 10,000 people were being repatriated. The province said it will be working to prioritize getting a $500 payment to all evacuees 18 and older. Pritchard also said that a backlog of people calling the province for help had been addressed, adding that evacuees who call the province for assistance would now be taken care of immediately or within a day. While a provincial fire ban remains in effect, the province also announced that a ban on ATV and UTV vehicles lifted Friday at 5 p.m. The province continues to encourage the public to come forward with information regarding intentionally started wildfires. On Friday the SPSA said it has determined that 30 wildfires have been intentionally set this year. That includes the Ditch02 fire near Weyakwin where RCMP have laid two arson charges. 'We ask for public assistance if they know anything of any of those intentional acts that were conducted. If you know anything, please call Crime Stoppers or your local police jurisdiction,' Pritchard said on Friday. The SPSA also confirmed on Friday that approximately 400 values have been lost to the fires, adding that work is underway to determine more details. Saskatchewan remains under a state of emergency that will stay in effect until June 29, with the province able to extend it at that time if needed. More to come…
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Sask. to provide wildfire update following week of repatriation, strong fire response
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will provide an update regarding its wildfire response at 1:30 Monday afternoon, following a positive week that saw many evacuees repatriated and crews gain ground on multiple fires. According to the SPSA's website, 13 wildfires are burning across the province Monday morning. Five are considered not contained. The SPSA did not hold any updates over the weekend, however on Friday SPSA president Marlo Pritchard said that all but five evacuation events had ended and more than 10,000 people were being repatriated. The province said it will be working to prioritize getting a $500 payment to all evacuees 18 and older. Pritchard also said that a backlog of people calling the province for help had been addressed, adding that evacuees who call the province for assistance would now be taken care of immediately or within a day. While a provincial fire ban remains in effect, the province also announced that a ban on ATV and UTV vehicles lifted Friday at 5 p.m. The province continues to encourage the public to come forward with information regarding intentionally started wildfires. On Friday the SPSA said it has determined that 30 wildfires have been intentionally set this year. That includes the Ditch02 fire near Weyakwin where RCMP have laid two arson charges. 'We ask for public assistance if they know anything of any of those intentional acts that were conducted. If you know anything, please call Crime Stoppers or your local police jurisdiction,' Pritchard said on Friday. The SPSA also confirmed on Friday that approximately 400 values have been lost to the fires, adding that work is underway to determine more details. Saskatchewan remains under a state of emergency that will stay in effect until June 29, with the province able to extend it at that time if needed. More to come…
