An aerial view of the charred remains of Lobstick fire as crews are seen fighting on the ground. (Image Credit: Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency/Facebook)

By paNOW Staff

Cooling down

More evacuation notices lifted as wildfire conditions improve

Jun 2, 2026 | 5:00 PM

Another evacuation alert that was issued due to the Lobstick fire has been lifted.

The alert for the RM of Duck Lake was lifted on Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) announced in a Facebook post. The notice was originally issued on May 28 as an evacuation order but was downgraded a day later to an alert.

The news also comes a day after an evacuation order was rescinded by the RM of Shellbrook, which covered a large area east and southeast of the town of Shellbrook, including the hamlet of Holbein.

The Lobstick fire was caused by lightning and originally sparked in the Nisbet forest between Duck Lake and MacDowall. It measured 18,923 hectares as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, and the SPSA reported that containment lines are holding, aided by weekend rainfall and cooler weather conditions. Crews are also working to continue strengthening fire guards to the east and the north, with the fire now 80 per cent contained. A high-level scan of the area will be conducted using infrared devices to scan the fire boundary by air to detect lingering heat signatures.

Meanwhile, the Cayford fire continues to burn south of Red Earth Cree Nation and has grown to 11,500 hectares, as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. Crews are using bulldozers to limit northward growth and protect transportation corridors as winds have pushed the fire westward. However, the fire experienced very little growth over the previous day.

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Evacuation orders still remain for nearby Red Earth as well as Shoal Lake Cree Nation, as the fire has forced over a combined 1,000 people from the communities, mostly due to excess smoke. Additionally, officials reported that no homes, cabins, or critical infrastructure have been lost, and that portions of the fire have been burning into areas previously affected by wildfire in 2021, and natural barriers have aided firefighters in slowing down the blaze.

Since May 25, 2026, the SPSA has recorded 30 new fire starts. Of those 30, the Agency successfully extinguished 20 of those fires using ground and air operations. (Image Credit: SPSA/Facebook)

Despite improving conditions, the SPSA still warns that wildfire season is far from over.

Fire bans and restrictions remain in effect across large portions of central and northern Saskatchewan, and residents are urged to remain vigilant, avoid outdoor burning, and monitor emergency alerts for rapidly changing conditions.

There are currently 12 active wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, with 93 reported so far this year. Two of those 12 fires, the Lobstick and Cayford fires, are not fully contained; while five other wildfires are contained, four are labelled as ongoing assessment, and one as protecting values.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

by paNOW Staff

More evacuation notices lifted as wildfire conditions improve

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