Update on the fire situation as of 3:40pm Thursday

The following messages were posted on the Battlefords Agency Tribal Council Facebook page:

Moosomin Fire: We need all the help we can get, we are picking up shovels and leaf blowers. All firefighters are to report to the band office at the back door once they are due to refill at the truck fill. You will get updates for duties. There is food being served at Moosomin School. The contact person at the band office – back door is Cecil Kahpeaysewat 306.441.4471

Saulteaux Fire: All firefighters are to report at the Saulteaux Community Hall once they are due to refill at the truck fill. You will get updated at the ADHOC command post for duties. (Saulteaux Community Hall) contact person at the hall Steve Vandall EMAP Coordinator BATC:

The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs say in a news release that as of Wednesday morning, about 7,000 acres had burned and it is posing a significant threat to the Nation of Moosomin. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency reports that the Saulteaux fire north of the Battlefords is uncontained. Hot, dry weather, along with consistent winds have made getting the fire under control challenging.

The BATC urges residents to be vigilant and watch for any changes in the fire’s behaviour. There is an evacuation plan in place, if needed.

Much of the western half of the province is considered at extreme risk of a wildfire, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s Fire Weather Index, and the eastern half is at high risk. There are 11 active wildfires in the province of which four are contained, five are not contained, one is under ongoing assessment and at one, SPSA crews are protecting infrastructure. The five-year average for the number of fires by this date is 37, but this year there have been 62 fires to date.