Wildfires threaten northern Saskatchewan as evacuations expand across Patuanak, Beauval, and more. Roads reopen briefly for emergency convoys.
Patuanak Residents Evacuate After Being Trapped by Fire
Emergency crews reopened the only road into Patuanak, Saskatchewan early Monday morning, allowing the evacuation of roughly 220 residents trapped for over a week by the Muskeg fire.
Located approximately 425 km north of Saskatoon, Patuanak had been inaccessible since Highway 918 closed, forcing an earlier airlift of 280 people, including children. Monday’s convoy, organized at 4 a.m., moved evacuees south while critical firefighting equipment was brought in.
“We had to act quickly,” said Candyce Paul, emergency coordinator for English River First Nation. “Conditions are unpredictable, and this may have been our only chance.”
Only emergency responders and firefighters remain in Patuanak to protect the community.
Underfunded Response Raises Alarm Among Leaders
Paul said firefighting efforts are hindered by a lack of equipment, personnel, and provincial funding.
“This is our third straight year of fire evacuations,” Paul said. “We’re tired of being displaced fire refugees. The north needs more investment to protect our lands and lives.”
The Muskeg fire has already consumed cultural resources, wildlife habitats, and traditional food and medicine grounds. Paul noted that much of the region’s forest is already gone, leaving Highway 918’s corridor as the last unburned area.
National Park, Montreal Lake Cree Nation on Alert
The Buhl fire, roughly 40 km from Waskesiu townsite, prompted Parks Canada to issue a wildfire emergency advisory for Prince Albert National Park.
Hot, dry winds are pushing the fire further into the park’s northern zone. Visitors are advised to stay away or prepare for evacuation. Smoke may affect visibility and air quality.
Nearby, Montreal Lake Cree Nation issued a pre-evacuation alert Sunday. Vice Chief Dean Henderson urged residents—especially elders, youth, and the chronically ill—to prepare identification, medications, and basic supplies.
A full evacuation could be ordered if the fire reaches a designated control line.
Beauval Still Surrounded, Local Crews Battle Firefront
In Beauval, a northern village 340 km from Saskatoon, Mayor Rick Laliberte said wildfires continue to surround the area despite earlier evacuations.
“We thought it passed, but it’s still flaring,” said Laliberte. “We’re using borrowed equipment and slip tanks, fighting every hot spot.”
Although no homes have been lost, several cabins, sheds, and a community canteen were destroyed. Laliberte described the emotional toll on residents and local wildlife: “This isn’t just about buildings. It’s about the animals, the land—everything we live with.”
Île-à-la-Crosse Declares State of Emergency
The village of Île-à-la-Crosse, about 20 km northwest of Beauval, declared a state of emergency Monday afternoon. While no active fire threatens the village, smoke hazards and possible road closures led officials to request additional wildfire support from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
The local clinic has urged high-priority patients to prepare for potential relocation. Residents with serious medical conditions were advised to gather medications and equipment, though the clinic remains operational.
Dozens of Wildfires Burn Across Saskatchewan
As of 7 p.m. CST Monday, the SPSA reported 50 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Only four were listed as contained. Southern winds are forecasted to intensify fire behavior in the coming days.
Calls for a national wildfire strategy are growing louder. Mayor Laliberte stressed that outdated emergency plans, inadequate training, and resource shortfalls are no match for the evolving crisis.
“We need a federal response that matches the scale of what we’re facing,” he said. “Northern communities can’t keep doing this alone.”
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