A screenshot of a video posted by LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of the Pisew Fire burning near Hall Lake. (Cook-Searson Tammy Jim/Facebook)

By paNOW Staff

From the fire lines

Northern wildfires force another campground evacuation northeast of Candle Lake

May 23, 2025 | 6:49 PM

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) confirmed late Friday afternoon that people at Little Bear Lake Campground have been told to leave.

It’s located about 4 kilometres off of Hanson Lake Road at Mile 62, Highway 106, north of Smeaton.

The area is being threatened by the Shoe Fire that started around Lower Fishing Lake. It has already caused significant damage and the closure of some campgrounds in Narrow Hills Provincial Park and has now grown to 21,522 hectares in size. Some highways in the area remain closed.

East Trout Lake has also been evacuated due to the wildfire threatening a portion of the access road Highway 927. The resort subdivision issued a Declaration of Local Emergency as well. East Trout-Nipekamew Lakes Recreation site is closed and the communities of Whiteswan and Whelan Bay are on pre-evacuation alert.

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On Thursday, residents of Hall Lake were placed on evacuation alert due to the Pisew fire burning about 4 kilometres away from the community which is southwest of La Ronge. The SPSA confirmed on Friday that one structure, a cabin, has been lost in the Pisew fire. The wind is currently pushing the fire and the smoke away from the community, but in a post on social media, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said the community team at Hall Lake brought in air scrubbers to improve indoor air quality in case the wind shifts.

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement Friday afternoon for Prince Albert National Park, Candle Lake Provincial Park, La Ronge and areas north. It said wildfire smoke would cause poor air quality and reduce visibility. Conditions will be the worst overnight and early in the morning.

An aerial view of the Pisew fire burning near Hall Lake. (Cook-Searson Tammy Jim/Facebook)

The Camp fire burning north of Snowden did not grow overnight according to the SPSA’s daily wildfire bulletin, however, it is still not contained.

Crews are working hard to protect values from the Jaysmith fire burning northeast of Missinipe. It was sparked by lightning on Monday. The SPSA said there are cabins, an outfitting lodge, and SaskPower infrastructure within less than 20 kilometres of the blaze.

The Wolf fire, also sparked by lightning, is burning west of Denare Beach and led to the evacuation of the McIlveena Mine site earlier in the week.

Firefighters returned to the Beatty2 fire burning northwest of Creighton on Friday. A helicopter assisted in containment efforts of the blaze that has only charred about 4 hectares so far.

Two wildfires burning near Pelican Narrows – the Bear and Point fires – were both human caused.

A small fire that started Thursday night east of Christopher Lake was listed as not contained and about 20 hectares in size as of Friday.

There are currently 15 active wildfires burning in Saskatchewan; of those, eight are not contained.

The seven-day forecast from Environment Canada shows sunshine for much of the northern part of the province and temperatures between 25 C and 30 C.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com