Northern Sask. 'Shaw fire' continues to grow while smoky conditions hamper operations: SPSA
CTV
A Saskatchewan wildfire that has forced multiple evacuations has tripled in size since the start of the week.
A Saskatchewan wildfire that has forced multiple evacuations has tripled in size since the start of the week.
The Shaw fire, in the northwest of the province, has grown to 77,000 hectares in size, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). That's up from roughly 25,000 hectares on Monday. It's one of 27 wildfires burning in the province as of Wednesday afternoon.
"That would be a priority fire for us at this time. It is affecting nearby communities, it's throwing a lot of smoke. It's the closest to the communities," SPSA land operations director Brian Chartrand said during a news conference Wednesday.
"With our current conditions, it is most probable that it will continue to grow until we get a little bit of reprieve with some rain and moisture," Chartrand said.
Smoke from the blaze has forced evacuations of high-risk individuals from the communities of Buffalo Narrows and Ile-a-la-Crosse. The wildfire is also playing a large part in the smoky haze that has spread across the province, prompting air quality advisories from Environment Canada.
While the SPSA deployed firefighters and heavy equipment in the fight against the fire, Chartrand said heavy smoke has been "hampering operations" for aircraft due to reduced visibility.
Although there was a dip in temperatures Wednesday due to a cold front, there was no significant rainfall in the forecast.
