(Story updated at 6:15 a.m. in accordance with updated information from SPSA)

According to the Active Wildfire Map provided by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency there are 15 wildfires burning in the province this morning and three are indicated as not contained including two, the Shaw and Vermette fires, between Buffalo Narrows and Isle-a-la-Crosse.  There is one more “not contained” burning between Dorintosh and the Alberta border.

There are several more contained forest fires burning in proximity to Saskatchewan communities including one south and one north of Prince Albert; the Saulteaux fire north of North Battleford; the Rocky fire northwest of Nipawin and LL01 southwest of Meadow Lake. The SPSA says there have been 85 wildfires to date in the province and in the first five days of May there were over 190 grass fires. The five year average for wildfires is 45.

By Friday, leadership in La Loche made the decision to evacuate, with the Loco fire between that community and the Clearwater River Dene Nation. Residents were transported to Regina.

Alberta is also contending with an extremely active wildfire season with several wildfires of note including the Grizzly Complex which is now three fires combined and is classified as out of control at 58,000 hectares. Their largest fire is located 14 km Southeast of Edson and is still classified as out of control at 77,920 hectares.