Latest news with #PublicSafetyAgency
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
La Loche residents forced from their homes by wildfire
Roughly 500 more people have been forced out of their homes in Saskatchewan because of wildfires. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says fires, burning over the long weekend, caused residents of La Loche to flee. Officials say that brings the total number of wildfire evacuees in the province to about 4,000. Saskatchewan was reporting 82 active wildfires on Tuesday.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Around 7,000 Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees set to return to their homes
A view of La Ronge, Sask., is seen in this handout photo on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Facebook/Derek Cornet LA RONGE — Around 7,000 people in and around La Ronge, Sask., can start going home today after a wildfire forced them out of their communities a little more than one week ago. A notice says La Ronge, Air Ronge and communities within the Lac La Ronge Indian Band will reopen to residents at 8 a.m. Lyle Hannan, the director of the local emergency operation centre, has said rain in the last few days helped crews contain the wildfire near the community. He has also said the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency was able to bring in more staff and resources to fight the fire. Saskatchewan is reporting 23 active wildfires, with six considered not contained. Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government was failing to provide timely help to evacuees, has promised a $500 payout for each evacuee aged 18 and up. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Invisible smoke from Canadian wildfires detected over Europe: study
An orange-coloured haze, resulting from a nearby wildfire, is seen on a helipad in La Ronge, Sask., in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Invisible smoke from Canadian wildfires has been detected high above Europe. According to a new study from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Germany, layers of invisible smoke were detected in Europe's atmosphere during the 2023 wildfire season. Similar results were observed again in early June. 'This suggests that the atmosphere over Europe might be more polluted than previously thought, especially during the summer wildfire season,' the study explained. Published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, the study was based on lidar measurements in Leibniz, Germany. Short for Light Detection and Ranging, lidar is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to create three-dimensional models. It works similarly to radar, which uses radio waves. Lidar was able to reveal layers of wildfire smoke that were otherwise invisible on satellite images. 'In the spring and summer of 2023, huge wildfires raged across Canada, with unusual intensity in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia,' the study said. 'With the prevailing westerly winds, large amounts of biomass-burning aerosol were transported towards Europe.' Researchers say these thin layers of smoke in the atmosphere can contribute to ice cloud formation, impacting sunlight and climate on the ground.
CBC
07-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Candle Lake prepares for imminent fire threat; restaurant closes to serve firefighters only
The massive Shoe fire could reach the Resort Village of Candle Lake within the next three to 10 days, depending on the weather, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says. The fire is less than 12 kilometres from the village, Mayor Colleen Lavoie said in an interview Friday. Emergency services workers have been going door to door, removing flammable materials such as propane tanks and gas cans. A mandatory evacuation order has not been issued yet. However, there is a state of emergency and a voluntary evacuation request, with the village encouraging anyone who is not an essential worker to leave. The Shoe fire, first reported a month ago on May 7, has burned almost 500,000 hectares of land. "It's advancing slowly, so I'm hoping we have up to three to five days, maybe a little longer depending on if we have favourable winds," Lavoie said. "Everybody, please, fire smart your homes. So make sure there's nothing combustible around your home, even if you have to move it out by the road, by the driveway, where it's away from your house. That would be helpful," she said. Firebreaks have been completed in several areas surrounding the community, with more nearing completion. Additional firebreaks and backburns are also being worked on. Rain on the way, but winds add uncertainty Weather may offer a reprieve as rain is in the forecast starting Saturday in areas of northern Saskatchewan, bringing 10 to 20 millimetres of precipitation, but there is also a chance of thunderstorms, said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada. She said winds will be strong, gusting up to 50 to 60 kilometres per hour in the south on Saturday and then coming from the northwest. "Rain is beneficial when you are dealing with such dry conditions and active fire activity, so that will reduce the risk with cooler temperatures and a rainy day. But on the other hand, wind is something that we look at with wildfires because it can cause those fires to spread very quickly," Climenhaga said. She said much of Saskatchewan has had the driest spring on record this year, including in La Ronge, Prince Albert and North Battleford. "June forecast has a drier note at least for parts of west-central and southwestern Saskatchewan and a slightly wetter note for northeastern Saskatchewan," she said. Climenhaga said that climate change increases the intensity and risk of wildfires. "What we know about climate change and our fire behaviour is that as the climate changes, we're expecting longer fire seasons and an increased frequency of intense seasons," she said. WATCH | 'Memories just burned up': Wildfires in the Prairies: 'Memories just burned up': Wildfires in the Prairies 15 hours ago Duration 1:32 Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been grappling with raging wildfires, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. CBC News spoke to Canadians from some of the hardest-hit communities in the Prairies. Restaurant closes doors to serve firefighters Wayne and Jennifer Tucker, owners of Emma's Kitchen in Candle Lake, have temporarily closed their restaurant to the public to serve meals to wildfire crews. They're serving breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals to support those working long hours on the front lines. From bacon and eggs to meatballs and stew, they're cooking it up to serve the fire crews. "We really wanted to support the firefighters. We know that they're they're out there, they're working hard, long days, and they need a really good meal," Jennifer said in an interview Friday on CBC Radio's The 306. With donations pouring in from local residents and even high schools in Saskatoon, Emma's Kitchen is making a difference during these tough times. They're feeding about 55 people in a day and packing up around 80 lunch bags to go out.
Canada Standard
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Canada Standard
Wildfires force 25,000 to flee homes in Canada; US sends help
FLIN FLON, Manitoba: More than 25,000 people in three Canadian provinces have been forced to leave their homes because of wildfires, which were still burning on Sunday. Officials said the fires are also worsening the air quality in parts of Canada and the United States. Most of the people who had to leave were from Manitoba, where a state of emergency was declared last week. Over the weekend, about 17,000 people were evacuated from that province. In Alberta, around 1,300 people were evacuated, and in Saskatchewan, about 8,000 people had to leave their homes. Leaders in Saskatchewan warned that the number of evacuations could go up. Smoke from the wildfires is making it harder to breathe and see clearly in parts of Canada and some U.S. states near the border. Saskatchewan's Public Safety Agency warned over the weekend that "air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can change quickly over short distances and from hour to hour." They also said that the health risks get worse as the smoke gets thicker. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said that help was coming from other provinces and U.S. states, including Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona. Firefighters, emergency workers, and aircraft were being sent to help fight the fires. "We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you," Moe said in a post on social media.
