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An aerial view of some of the homes destroyed by wildfire in Denare Beach. (Facebook)
Wildfire update

Supportive space for residents of Denare Beach opens; 48 active wildfires burning in Sask.

Jul 17, 2025 | 4:27 PM

A Community Resilience Centre has opened in Denare Beach to support residents who have experienced devastating losses due to the Wolf wildfire.

The centre, located in the Denareplex, will be operational two day a week going forward. It opened for the first time Thursday and will also be open Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz emphasized the importance of the centre in helping residents begin the process of rebuilding.

“The establishment of a Resilience Centre for Denare Beach is an important step in helping the community start the recovery process,” Lentowicz said. “We are appreciative of the support being provided by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Recovery Task Team and look forward to working with them to increase the resiliency of our community.”

The WOLF fire, which started on May 19, has burned more than 164,000 hectares, mostly on the Saskatchewan side of the Manitoba border. It remains uncontained and has caused significant destruction in the area, with more than half of the community lost to the flames. Some residents remain displaced and are being supported outside the community.

The Resilience Centre offers a safe and supportive environment where residents and business owners can ask questions, voice concerns, access services, and receive critical updates. Services include case management, financial assistance, help navigating government programs and applications, and individual counselling. Support is being provided by numerous organizations, including the Saskatchewan Provincial Disaster Assistance Program, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, the Ministry of Social Services, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Mental Health Services, and the Canadian Red Cross.

As recovery begins in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan continues to face a severe and active wildfire season. As of Thursday morning, there were 48 active wildfires burning across the province. Of those, 10 are not contained, 6 are contained, 17 are under ongoing assessment, and 15 are being managed with active efforts to protect property.

The Shoe fire near Lower Fishing Lake, which began on May 7, is the largest in the province at 554,667 hectares and remains uncontained. It has forced the closure of Hwy 912, Narrow Hills Provincial Park, and the East Trout-Nipekamew Lakes Recreation Site. Crews continue to work around key infrastructure, including communications towers and Highway 165, with support from helicopters, air tankers, and infrared drones.

The Pisew fire, located west of La Ronge, was reported on May 21 and has grown to 197,263 hectares. It also remains uncontained and has caused the closure of the bridge at Clam Crossing on Highway 935. Like other major fires, it is being fought with multiple crews, heavy equipment, and out-of-province support.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said the Wolf fire, the source of destruction in Denare Beach, remains a top priority due to its scale and the damage already inflicted on the community.

The Ditch fire, north of Weyakwin, has charred nearly 89,000 hectares. Crews are focusing efforts near Rock Lake Road and the Lynx Road junction to conduct burn operations and contain its spread.

Further west, the Muskeg fire north of the La Plonge Indian Reserve and Beauval has grown to 192,850 hectares and has triggered multiple evacuations. These include the resort subdivision of Lac La Plonge, the Northern Village of Beauval, and parts of the English River First Nation. Hwy 918 and a section of Hwy165 have been closed due to fire activity. Fire lines are approximately 50 percent contained around the Beauval area, but the threat remains significant.

The Buhl fire, west of Weyakwin, is also not contained and has expanded to 36,138 hectares. It entered the northeast corner of Prince Albert National Park earlier this week, prompting closures and active suppression work to prevent it from spreading toward Ramsey Bay, Montreal Lake, and other high-value areas. Hwy 916 has been closed as firefighting crews coordinate efforts to protect nearby communities and park lands.

More than 1,600 people have been evacuated across Saskatchewan. This includes 700 residents from the Northern Village of Beauval, 185 from La Plonge Reserve, over 100 from the Patuanak/English River First Nation, 288 from the Northern Village of Pinehouse, and others from the Canoe Lake area and Montreal Lake Cree Nation.