First Nations Face Isolated Conditions as Fires Cut Off Access
SASKATCHEWAN – May 30, 2025 – With wildfires burning out of control across large swaths of Western Canada, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has declared a provincial state of emergency, joining Manitoba, which issued a similar declaration just a day earlier.
Speaking from Prince Albert, Premier Moe warned that conditions are deteriorating quickly and the province is bracing for more evacuations and expanded firefighting efforts. The emergency order will remain in effect for at least 14 days.
“It’s a very serious situation that we’re faced with,” Moe said Thursday. “It doesn’t look good. It looks like it is going to further deteriorate.”
Northern First Nations in Crisis
As of Thursday afternoon, Saskatchewan is battling 17 active wildfires, with eight listed as out of control. Fires are forcing evacuations across the north, with First Nations communities hit especially hard.
Three communities — the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and Montreal Lake Cree Nation — have declared localized states of emergency, citing:
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Evacuation routes blocked by fire or heavy smoke
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Limited access to food, supplies, and emergency services
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Residents trapped in remote areas awaiting rescue
Cross-Provincial Crisis
Saskatchewan’s declaration follows Manitoba’s state of emergency, announced Wednesday, which included a request for Canadian Armed Forces assistance to airlift residents from northern and remote communities under imminent threat.
With fires spreading rapidly due to high winds and dry conditions, Western Canada is facing one of its most dangerous early fire seasons in recent years.
Thunder Bay and Northwest Ontario on Alert
While the current fires are concentrated in the west, conditions in Northwestern Ontario, including Thunder Bay District, remain high to extreme. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has issued an expanded Restricted Fire Zone, and fire crews are closely monitoring for potential cross-provincial threats.
Residents are urged to stay informed through official sources, heed evacuation notices, and avoid travel to impacted regions.
