Nova Scotia sending firefighters to help with blazes in Saskatchewan

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill

There are several out-of-control wildfires threatening communities in Saskatchewan, prompting Nova Scotia to help out.

According to the department of natural resources, the province is sending a crew of 20 firefighters to help tackle the flames in the Prairies. The team is leaving the Halifax Stanfield International Airport on May 29 and are set to tend the blazes based on need in Saskatchewan.

“Our friends in Saskatchewan are fighting numerous wildfires that are threatening peoples’ homes and livelihoods, and they need our help,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources.

The latest update in Saskatchewan on May 29 shows that 10 fires are not contained, most of which are concentrated in the north of the province. There are two blazes that are considered contained and several more that have an ongoing assessment and crews are focusing on protecting the land.

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According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, the largest fire has burned 2,160 square kilometres of land, a bit smaller than Pictou County (2,846 km²).

This blaze is threatening the community of Lower Fishing Lake, a remote area known for camping and it’s outdoor draw.

“We all remember the deep impact and scars that wildfires can have on our communities. I thank all Nova Scotians for following the daily burn restrictions – that is helping keep our wildfire season manageable here at home and allows us to send our crew out west,” Rushton said.