Northeast of Little Bear Lake 5:30 p.m. May 28, 2025. Photo credit: Facebook Dorri Peterson

There are now 19 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan this morning and nine of them are not contained.  Overnight Weyakwin residents received an immediate evacuation order due to the wildfire that was threatening the community. Dramatic footage on social media shows residents scrambling to get things together to leave with the fire burning in the trees on the edge of the community.

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation have declared a joint state of emergency in response to rapidly growing wildfires in central and northeast Saskatchewan.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band says they have already seen more than 5,500 of their members evacuated which includes the full evacuation in Denare Beach, Hall Lake, and Pelican Narrows.

Chief Peter Beatty of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation says the joint declaration reflects their urgency and unity. He says they are asking for timely and coordinated action so that they can continue to protect residents with the full backing and partnership of government.

Chief Joyce McLeod-Naytowhow of Montreal Lake Cree Nation “We are urgently calling on Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney to deploy more firefighting personnel, increase air support-including water bombers-and ensure emergency accommodations for evacuees.”

The NDP is calling on the Premier and Minister of Public Safety to immediately declare a provincewide state of emergency and commit to daily public briefings to ensure all essential – potentially lifesaving – information reaches residents impacted by this wildfire crisis.

Image from Firesmoke.ca