Firefighters in northern Saskatchewan had to deal with shifting winds and hot, dry weather as they continue to battle wildfires.
The dynamic conditions caused two of the three wildfires burning near Pelican Narrows to grow during the weekend.
READ MORE: Air quality statement for southern Saskatchewan
The Granite fire, which is one kilometre east of Jan Lake, has grown to approximately 107,000 hectares, roughly six times the size of Regina.
Government officials said highways 135 and 106, along with SaskPower lines, are threatened by the wildfire.
Crews are focusing on the southern and western flanks to protect communities and critical infrastructure.
The Preston fire, approximately three kilometres north and six kilometres west of Pelican Narrows, has grown to approximately 47,000 hectares.
Firefighters are focusing on the southern flank of the wildfire to protect the community and infrastructure.
A third wildfire in the area, the Wilkin fire, is currently not a threat to communities. Crews are working on securing the northern flanks of the fire.
READ MORE: Sask. wildfire evacuees rally government to allow them to aid in firefight
More than 1,700 evacuees remain in Prince Albert and over 800 are in Saskatoon.
Officials are setting up support for students.
“Teachers are coming into the soccer centre, as well as the evacuation centres, and working with students, whether it’s on trips within the city, anything specific that they feel that they should be offering their students at this time,” Thomas Sierzycji, with the Ministry of Education, said.
There is no timeline for when the evacuees, now in their third week of evacuation, will return home.
Saskatchewan Environment reported Tuesday morning there are currently 34 active wildfires in the province.
Comments