Sask. province-wide wildfire state of emergency expires

Supplied: SPSA

A province-wide wildfire state of emergency in Saskatchewan has ended.

The order was issued by Premier Scott Moe on May 27 when several out-of-control wildfires threatened numerous communities, which led to around 15,000 people being forced to evacuate at its peak.

As of Friday, evacuations had ended for all but two communities.

Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to more aggressively attack fires and reduce threats to the majority of communities close to wildfires in recent weeks.

According to the Saskatchewan Public safety Agency (SPSA), daily wildfire updates will also end. Updates will be provided when necessary, moving forward.

Officials say people can stay up to date by using the SPSA’s online dashboards.

On Friday afternoon, the SPSA’s website said there are 26 active wildfires across the province with 10 that are not contained.

To date, there have been 274 wildfires in Saskatchewan, well above the five year average of 171.

As of last Friday (June 20) the province had confirmed that 1,931 values had been lost to the fires, including 299 houses and 60 cabins. The SPSA’s last wildfire update came on June 23, when officials indicated loss totals had not risen since June 20.

-With files from The Canadian Press and Caitlin Brezinski