As of Sunday, eight active wildfires are burning in the province. (File photo/paNOW)

By Logan Lehmann

Wildfires

Candle Lake residents remain on edge as wildfire burns out of control to the east

May 18, 2025 | 2:02 PM

Residents at the Resort Village of Candle Lake are feeling the heat as the largest wildfire in the province is burning just to the east.

The massive ‘Camp’ fire is 32,000 hectares in size and is roughly 31 km from Hanson Bay, the easternmost point of Candle Lake.

The Camp Fire is the largest wildfire in the province. (Submitted photo)

As a precaution earlier in the week, a pre-evacuation alert was issued for the village and the surrounding area. Candle Lake Emergency Services Fire Chief Jim Arnold said that the alert was intended to warn people of a possible worst-case scenario.

“The whole idea behind that is to make sure that people are prepared. We have our gas tanks, we’ve got our medications taken care of, we know where our pets are, all the stuff that if we had to pull an evacuation, they can do it on a moment’s notice. The whole idea behind that is we don’t want to have another situation that has occurred in other cities or towns, and we don’t want to have people running down [Highway] 120 with fires going on either side.”

ARSON

Two charged with setting fires in northern Sask.

Jun 06, 2025

Critical assistance

Premier Moe responds to criticism for not calling in federal, military help to handle wildfires

Jun 06, 2025

Red Cross wildfire fundraiser

Pattison Media stations to join 'Saskatchewan Day of Caring' June 12

Jun 06, 2025

READ MORE:

• SPSA wildfire update: residents near Candle Lake, Meath Park on high alert
• Several roads still closed by fires near Candle Lake, Smeaton as May long weekend starts

On Wednesday, the uncontained fire grew a whopping 14 km in size due to heavy winds coming directly from the east.

With cooler temperatures and less wind to kick off long weekend festivities, some residents told paNOW it was a minor relief, but what they want to see is some rain. According to one cabin owner, the area has only seen a few drops over the last couple of weeks.

Arnold, who became Fire Chief in 2023, said he and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) have been in close contact about the blaze and added the condition is improving.

“They’re gaining a little bit of progress on the fire. The fire did not progress as much as it did on Wednesday,” he explained, adding the cooler weather was also helping. “The SPSA is doing an excellent job at this time.”

He continued that crews are using water bombers, helicopters, and bulldozers to fight the
fire, along with firefighters on the ground clearing up hotspots.

As of Sunday morning, the SPSA says there are eight active wildfires in the province: two uncontained, two contained, and four listed as ‘ongoing assessment’. The other uncontained wildfire is the ‘Shoe’ fire, which covers 20,000 hectares and burns roughly 30 km north of the ‘Camp’ fire. That fire has destroyed a portion of nearby Narrow Hills Provincial Park, forcing its closure until May 29.

—

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @loganlehmann.bsky.social