Just as the provincial wildfire State of Emergency expired – that was at midnight last night – there has been a significant spike in the number of wildfires that are not contained in the province.

Yesterday at noon there were 19 wildfires with five not contained. This morning at 5 a.m. there are 25 wildfires burning and 11 are not contained. There have been 273 wildfires so far this year which more than a 100 above the five-year average of 171.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is responding to two evacuation incidents and reports that over $5.1 million has been transferred directly to residents as well as communities that are distributing the $500 Government of Saskatchewan Financial Assistance to their residents that have been impacted by the wildfires. The SPSA says the financial support will reach over 10,000 individuals who qualify.