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2025 wildfire season

Largest fire in Sask now 50 per cent contained

Jun 23, 2025 | 4:25 PM

Saskatchewan’s largest wildfire, the Shoe Fire, is now 50 per cent contained and has not grown much, remaining around 550,000 hectares in size.

Multiple days of rain and cooler temperatures have allowed crews to continue making headway on that fire, the Pisew Fire near La Ronge, the Wolf Fire at Denare Beach, Creighton and Flin Flon and the Ditch Fire, north of Weyakwin.

The Jaysmith fire, northeast of Missinipe, is no longer considered a fire of note.

SPSA Vice President Steve Roberts gave the media an update on the situation Monday afternoon, but warned that Saskatchewan’s north is not out of the woods yet.

“We won’t be walking away from these other fires. They will continue to have staff, whether they can use RFPs or Type 3 firefighters, plus any staff that aren’t currently engaged in an active wildfire, we will rotate those through to make sure we have those fires continue to receive focus and get them fully contained if at all possible before anything happens.”

There are 19 active fires right now, and 267 have started so far this year. The five-year average for this time of year is 162 wildfires.

The Pisew and Wolf Fires are 30 per cent contained, and the Ditch Fire is 80 per cent contained.

“We have received some favourable weather, and crews have been active on these fires, so we’ve seen an increase [in] containment.”

The Ditch Fire was listed as fully contained for a time, but an increase in activity on the north end of the fire led to a change in status.

Highway 912 is closed, as is Highway 167 between Creighton and Denare Beach.

The number of homes, cabins and other major items has not changed since the last update.

Evacuees that are being helped by the SPSA has dropped to 46 people. Denare Beach and Creighton both repatriated their residents who do not have medical issues, starting on Sunday. Only evacuees who registered with the SPSA are counted.

Many of the First Nations that were also forced out by wildfire had evacuation services from the Red Cross, which has a contract with Indigenous Services Canada.

East Trout Lake remains evacuated until road access is restored.

Because there are far fewer evacuees, the toll-free line for them should they have questions will be reduced from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will now open at the same time but close at 5 p.m.

The recovery task force has the job of coordinating the large number of people who lost their homes.

If the homeowner had insurance, the insurance company should be providing financial help just as they would normally.

“But for those that don’t, that’s one of the questions the recovery task team will be looking at is what other supports might be available for those individuals,” said Roberts.

In Denare Beach, where 218 homes burned out of the 277 primary residences lost, three days have been set aside in Creighton.

If people need help, the SPSA will be handing out assistance checks to residents who have returned to Creighton. That will include the $500 check promised last week and any outstanding food security support checks.

SPSA staff will be there to answer questions.

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social