The province is moving to the next level in the effort to deal with wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to help co-ordinate actions taken by various provincial government ministries, agencies, and Crown corporations.

As of mid-afternoon on Wednesday, there were 25 wildfires burning, including six that are not contained. Thirteen are under assessment, eight have been contained and one was listed as protecting property. There have been 169 wildfires so far this year or double the usual number. The large majority of fires have been human-caused with only a small number started by lightning.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says food and fuel is being moved to northern communities on highways that have been closed when it is safe to do so.

Two of the largest fires are in the Dillon area west of Buffalo Narrows. The Shaw and Vermette fires have now burned about 300,000 acres. Bryan Chartrand is the executive director of land operations with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

Marlo Pritchard is the President of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. He says none of the evacuated communities are in direct fire danger right now.

A toll-free line was set up on Wednesday for Saskatchewan residents seeking information about fire bans or evacuations. That number will be in service seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.

A fire ban is in place for all Crown Land and Provincial Parks north of Highway 16. The Minister in Charge of Public Safety, Christine Tell is encouraging all residents to take extra precautions, such as not parking vehicle on dry grass and limiting the use of ATV’s.