An aerial wildfire attack team crosses paths with a heavy equipment team creating firebreaks in northern Saskatchewan. (Jay Are En/Facebook)

By paNOW Staff

Tuesday wildfire update

Weather cooperating with firefighting efforts; provincial fire ban to be revised

Jun 10, 2025 | 1:50 PM

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast. A low pressure system in the north may bring 5 mm of rain, but with that a risk of thundershowers and winds gusting up to 60 km/h.

However, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency vice-president of operations Steve Roberts said Tuesday that some recent rain and cooler weather has allowed crews to get into areas that were previously too dangerous and high risk to attend.

“We will be revising the provincial fire ban this afternoon. All areas north of the Churchill River that have received significant rain will be removed from the fire ban,” Roberts said.

More details are expected later today.

The Shoe Fire is now confirmed to be 9 kilometres away from Highway 120 along the northeast edge of Candle Lake. So far, it has charred 503,940 hectares.

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Crews are taking advantage of recent rainfall and will be concentrating efforts along the western flank, north of the Torch River and on the southwest corner. The Resort Village said a firebreak is now complete, and additional protective measures are being evaluated for several neighbourhoods.

“Because cutting a firebreak would significantly alter the character of these areas, we will move forward only if daily assessments show a clear and growing risk of the fire advancing toward these homes. At present, the fire is not advancing, and no decision has been made,” said a post on the Resort Village of Candle Lake’s Facebook page.

The Jaysmith fire, northeast of Missinipe, is 139,503 hectares. The SPSA said one crew will work from the road to Burnt Lake, and two crews will be moved into Sucker Lake by helicopter to secure the fire line while it’s not active. There is also values protection equipment to the west and east of the fire.

The Pisew fire, west of La Ronge is now 181,765 hecatres. Crews continue to patrol hot areas in Sucker River, English Bay, Wadin Bay and Nemeiben Lake and continue mop up along the dozer guard west of La Ronge.

Melfort Fire and Rescue posted a photo of some of the damage caused by wildfires near Sucker River and Hall Lake. (Melfort Fire and Rescue/Facebook)

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said 13 helicopters, two tanker groups,10-12 water trucks, 45 Type 1 wildfire crews, mostly from Saskatchewan, 75 Type 2 and more than 48 Type 3 crews are actively fighting the fires in the area. The resources include teams from Onion Lake, Cote, and Beardy’s. There are also eight volunteer fire departments assisting with eight bulldozers working on the fire guards and dozer lines.

The daily wildfires of note bulletin said, “Helicopter pads have been cut along the northeast flank and crews have begun being inserted into those areas to establish hose lay and secure perimeter. Helicopters and heavy equipment will continue to support ground crews.”

The LLRIB Emergency Operations Centre announced Tuesday that evacuation orders will be officially lifted on Thursday, June 12, for Hall Lake, Sucker River, La Ronge, and Stanley Mission. They said coordination is now underway for a safe, phased return of community members.

Also, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Emergency Operations Centre is advising that their evacuation order has now been fully lifted, including for individuals classified as Priority 1 (P1) and Priority 2 (P2), for Pelican Narrows, Sturgeon Landing and Birch Portage. All evacuees are now authorized and expected to return home. Denare Beach remains under evacuation along with Creighton and Flin Flon.

The Wolf fire, west of Denare Beach, has now merged with the Club fire, that started north of Creighton. The SPSA said all current community and infrastructure impacts in the immediate area are due to the Wolf fire and will be reported under that blaze.

The SPSA said two engine crews were released from Denare Beach and crews are now moving from the community outward into the wildland. Evacuees at Birch Portage have been given permission to return home. There is an excavator and heavy water tender working on a dump fire at Denare Beach that started as a result of the Wolf Fire.

The Pelican2 fire, northeast of Pelican Narrows is 40,580 hectares. Crews are working hotspots within the community and in the area west of the creek to prevent the fire from jumping it.

The Ditch-02 fire north of Weyakwin is 170,000 hectares in size. Crews are working to reopen Highway 969 to Molanosa. The SPSA said it will be prepared to conduct fire operations south of Ramsey Road to Montreal lake. The north division will continue to scout and construct direct and indirect lines from Highway 2 to Highway 165 along the fire’s edge.

There are currently 23 active wildfires burning in Saskatchewan.

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Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 11 to provide clarification on evacuated communities.

panews@pattisonmedia.com