Recent rainfall reduces wildfire threat across Saskatchewan
Recent rainfall in some parts of Saskatchewan has reduced the wildfire threat in the province, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
According to officials who provided an update on Friday, firefighters have been able to gain more control over some fires, while others have shrunk in size.
“We have had some showers on some of these fires,” SPSA vice president Steve Roberts said.
“We have a lot [of oportunity] for crews to switch from indirect to direct attack and put more resources on the lines securing those critical boundaries that are near the communities.”
The SPSA also said that evacuees from Buffalo Narrows and Ile-a-la-Crosse who were staying in Regina have now returned to their communities.
“All of the communities that were threatened, we have been successful in keeping the fires from entering and damaging those communities,” Roberts said.
“We have reported damage to some of the SaskPower infrastructure, which has been repaired this time by SaskPower,” he added.
SPSA continues to provide emergency crisis support to evacuees from Dillon, St. Georges Hill, Michel Village, English River First Nation and Pimicikamak in Lloydminster and North Battleford.
“The support includes food, clothing, shelter and other services,” SPSA president Marlo Pritchard said.
The SPSA also continues to support 52 people in Lloydminister from Buffalo Narrows and 131 people in North Battleford.
Pritchard said there are still 20 active wildfires currently burning in the province.
The SPSA’s website says five of those fires are considered not contained as of Friday afternoon.
There have been 187 wildfires across Saskatchewan so far in 2023, according to the SPSA.
The five year average for this time of year is 114.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money trial of former U.S. president Donald Trump, prepared to testify about a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.