The NDP MLA for Athabasca returned to his hometown of Beauval on Tuesday and thanked frontline responders for working around the clock to fight wildfires which are surrounding the town on three sides.

Leroy Laliberte says more than a thousand people have been forced from their home. He says last Thursday officials indicated it would be four days before the fire reached Beauval and instead it was four hours.

Saying the Government of Saskatchewan is missing in action, Laliberte points out his constituents are literally borrowing equipment from local agencies and their neighbours to fight fires.

Meanwhile, Parks Canada says there are 48 personnel (up from 29 Tuesday), three helicopters and heavy equipment responding to the Buhl Fire in Prince Albert National Park. The Buhl fire is estimated to be 37,787 hectares with 6,838 hectares within park boundaries and in the latest update Parks Canada says, “The fire is out of control and has the potential to grow.”

Parks Canada indicates the fire is currently 31 km from the townsite of Waskesiu and does not pose a threat to the community at this time. In its fire update issued shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday Parks Canada stated the temperature in Prince Albert National Park is forecasted to be up to 24 degrees with no precipitation. Conditions will remain warm and windy.

Prince Albert National Park is accepting reservation cancellations during the current pre-evacuation alert with waived cancellation fees. Campers are advised to contact the Visitor Centre to cancel.

As of 11 a.m. this morning there are 49 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan. The total to date this year is 372 eclipsing the five-year average of 273. Ten of the wildfires are not contained and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is responding to eight evacuation incidents.