This photo of a fire near Beauval was taken over a week ago. The blaze has gotten much closer since. (Facebook/Erick Erickson)

By Susan McNeil

Wildfires

Cluster of fires threatening Beauval are hard to access, says SPSA

Jul 10, 2025 | 4:12 PM

As northern Saskatchewan continues to make its way through a very busy wildfire season, a new ‘cluster of fires’ is not far from the community of Beauval.

The Muskeg Fire is about six kilometers from the community but only slightly further away are the Dore Fire (13.5 kms) and the Trail Fire (20 kms).

Bryand Chartrand of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said on Thursday that the agency is doing its best to respond to fires that have spread across the north.

“There’s a lot of fire on the landscape and it’s spread throughout the province. So, when we do get a cluster of fires, ones that are burning in such rapid pace and intensity, it does take a little bit of time for us to logistically get resources to where they’re needed and come up with plans.”

Thursday afternoon, Beauval issued a new call for any remaining residents to leave immediately.

Landfill decommissioning

Landfill decommissioning work continues in Melfort

2h ago

PUBLIC SAFETY

RCMP report shows violent crime spike in Sask.; premier vows action on drugs, bail reform

Jul 23, 2025

Senior Golf Championships

Local golfers in hunt to defend titles at Senior Championships

Jul 23, 2025

The emergency operations centre said that people should make their way to the BDI Centre if they cannot get out on their own. Transportation is being arranged to pick people up there.

People leaving on their own should register with the EOC so organizers know where they are.

The EOC itself will be re-located, possibly to Green Lake. The public will be updated when they are set up in their new location but residents can still use the previous phone numbers which will be forwarded to a cell phone.

Remaining residents are asked to stay calm in order for the EOC to be as efficient as possible. .

In May and early June, over 13,000 northern residents were evacuated, but most have gone home, except for those who lost their homes.

On July 3, Beauval was evacuated with 700 residents , who mainly drove out with their own vehicles. That was not the case in Patuanak, however, as its only egress road is closed by fire.

The province has been facing questions over its handling of this year’s fire season as hundreds of homes have been lost, and residents have multiple complaints over lack of information on how to access resources.

MLA Jordan McPhail (NDP-Cumberland House) called on the provincial ombudsman to expand its existing investigation into the fire response to include why a bid for an evacuation app was cancelled right as fire season began heating up.

“Plans for a new emergency alert system were abandoned,” he said. “Why did this happen? We know this government’s own documents admit their current system doesn’t work as well as it should.”

A class action lawsuit is being considered by a Saskatoon law firm on behalf of over 100 people who lost homes in the fires.

The NDP would like a full review of the provincial response, McPhail said in a news conference Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, multiple communities have been announcing their fire bans are being re-instated across the north.

As of July 10, the Muskeg Fire near La Plonge and Beauval, was 34,000 hectares and not contained.

In addition to threatening Beauval, the fire is less than 20 kilometres than La Plonge, Île-à-la-Crosse and Pine Ridge Camp.

The Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge, Northern Village of Beauval and Patuanak/English River First Nation Priority 1 and 2 individuals have all been evacuated.

Highway 918 is closed as is Highway 165 between Junction 155 and 914.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social