(The Canadian Press)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Rainy weekend weather provides assistance to fire crews in the North

Jul 30, 2024 | 1:00 PM

According to the latest update from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, there are 85 active wildfires in the province and 11 are listed as not contained.

One of those fires, dubbed the Flanagan Fire, is located in the Sandy Bay area and is about 85 square kilometers in size.

The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Emergency Response Team advised on Tuesday that while the fire remains burning out of control, it has slowed in intensity due to the amount of rain that was received over the weekend.

“Crews are working on the control line established by the fuel reduction exercise done last week to ensure that this portion of the fire is extinguished and will no longer pose a threat to the community of Sandy Bay,” they said in a statement.

Crews, graduates of last weeks course, have been hired and are patrolling and servicing the value-protection resources on the cabins along the fire line. They will also be working on putting the fires out around the cabins.

FRAUD

Scam posing as Red Cross targets Sask. wildfire evacuees: FCAA

18m ago

Tariffs

Beck calls removal of counter-tariff measures 'cowardly' and 'tone deaf'

3h ago

preparations

Staff from gas stations, food stores, restaurants permitted to re-enter tri-communities early

Jun 11, 2025

An aerial ignition specialist, form La Ronge, is assessing the northeast fire line to determine if a fuel reduction would be beneficial to controlling that portion of the fire line.

The Arms Fire at Deschambault Lake, about 49 square kilometers in size, also continues to burn out of control but has diminished activity as a result of the weekend’s rain.

“The fire was not able to be assessed on Friday due to smoke cover. It did not spread as far as had been first feared and remains a comfortable distance form Sandy Narrows and the community of Deschambault Lake,” the PBCN Response Team advised.

An aerial Ignition team will be assessing the fire to determine if fuel reduction would be beneficial in controlling the fire line between the community of Deschambault Lake and the south west fire line.

Crews remain diligent in monitoring and servicing the value protection set up on the cabins at Sandy Narrows. And community members are advised to remain diligent to changes in smoke levels.

There’s been no evacuations.

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell