A wildfire burns south of Enterprise, N.W.T., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

By paNOW Staff

WILDFIRES

More Sask. firefighters heading to Yellowknife to battle wildfires

Aug 22, 2023 | 6:30 PM

The Provincial government is doing what it can to help its neighbours in the Northwest Territories as they battle wildfires that have forced thousands to flee.

Last week, a nearby fire forced more than 20,000 to evacuate from Yellowknife, with many staying in Alberta.

While the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) couldn’t confirm if any evacuees have made their way to the province but did confirm they are prepared to provide accommodation for evacuees.

In an email to paNOW, a spokesperson for the SPSA said last week they sent a number of air tankers and staff to support firefighting efforts in the Northwest Territories. They have also sent an Incident Management Team (5 staff), two Agency representatives and 37 Type 1 Wildland Firefighters.

An additional 39 wildland firefighters were deployed on Tuesday.

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“These groups are expected to be out of the province for approximately two weeks, but they can be called back to Saskatchewan at any time should the need arise,” said Kara Slobodzian with the SPSA, adding that 16 firefighters are expected to return this week from firefighting efforts in the Yukon.

Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan, the SPSA said there are 24 wildfires currently burning in the province as of Tuesday evening. So far this year, the province has reported 413 fires.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com