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The number of wildfires burning in 2026 is below to five-year average as of July 9. (Image Credit: Facebook/Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
wildfire update

Fire season conditions better than 2025, but challenges remain: SPSA

Jul 9, 2026 | 5:11 PM

Although there are 72 active fires burning in Saskatchewan as of July 9, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) reports conditions are better than they were in 2025. 

“We are not experiencing as many fires as last year or even the size, but essentially when these fires do get up and go, we are experiencing the same heat intensities and intensity in class,” said Executive Director of Lands Operations Bryan Chartrand during a media briefing on Thursday. 

“Recently, though, we did receive precipitation and that did give us some reprieve and an opportunity to get some line put in. Definitely, we’re sitting better at this time than last year. Conditions aren’t as bad, but they are still pretty dry and these fires are still presenting challenges for us. We’re just fortunate enough we have been receiving reprieve here and there, whether it is just cloud cover, a little but higher relative humidity. We are expecting a little bit more precipitation on these fires in the North as well.” 

Of the 72 active fires in the province, eight are considered contained, nine uncontained, 46 are ongoing assessment, and nine are protecting values. Fifteen fires have been reported or started in the last seven days with one fire declared out. 

So far, there have been 223 wildfires to date compared to 366 in 2025. The five-year average is 266.  

As for fires of note, the Border Fire (uncontained) is 12,116 hectares, Costigan (protecting values) is 13,089 ha, Church Lake fire (uncontained) is 9,926 ha. 

La Ronge 

The Egg Lake Fire is 37 ha in size and about 26 kilometers southwest of La Ronge. SPSA reports there is no blaze, just smoke, and they expect the fire to be contained momentarily.  

Southend  

The Gulak Fire about 12 kilometers east of Southend, is contained at 309 ha, and very little, if any, smoke has been detected.  

SEIR01 is sitting at 5,113 ha. SPSA has been engaging the southwest and western portion of the fire to slow it down and suppress the progression towards Southend, although not much action is being taken on the east side as there are no communities or infrastructure being threatened at that end.  

The new Fleming Fire west of Southend is 30 ha in size. It is 17 kms away from Southend and half-a-km away from Highway 905. Aircraft and personnel are currently engaging the fire, and SPSA is hoping to have it contained, so it doesn’t get any larger than it is. 

Wollaston Lake 

The Kerslake Fire is at 9,926 ha and 14 kms east of Wollaston Lake. The fire is fairly inactive and the SPSA has been conducting backburn operations on the south and southwest portions to secure it into natural barriers. It is currently burning itself out. 

The Red Fire is 5,269 ha, is contained, and no growth is expected. It is approximately 13 kms south of Wollaston Lake. SPSA conducted backburn operations on the northeast, north and northwest concerns of the fire. 

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com