Sask. fires could cost hundreds of millions, Greg Poelzer says

The fires in northern Saskatchewan could cost hundreds of millions of dollars with the economic impact lasting a few years, according to a professor from the University of Saskatchewan.

"It's going to be a lot larger than people realize," Greg Poelzer told CBC Saskatchewan's Blue Sky.

Poelzer is the Fullbright Arctic Initiative Scholar and is a professor at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the U of S.

He said the cost of fighting the fires was huge. Then there was the massive relocation of thousands of residents. There has also been a direct impact on different businesses and industries, including a slow-down of the mining sector. He said commercial forests have "literally gone up in smoke."

Many businesses rely on tourism dollars in the summer — from gas stations to grocery stories to fishing camps — so they can provide much-needed services to local residents year-round. But now they have lost a big chunk of change at a critical time.

"I think those small businesses are going to struggle the hardest over the next year or two."

Some of these families, it's going to be hard on them.- Greg Poelzer, U of S professor

Poelzer said another area of loss that is hard to measure is the country food economy, like family fish camps and trapping cabins that were lost in the fires. 

"Some of these families, it's going to be hard on them." 

He said nutritious food like moose, fish, and berries will have to be replaced by purchased food. Poelzer explained, in an area where household income is lower, it has a big impact on families.

However, he said the fires also provide some opportunity.

Poelzer said there will be reforestation jobs. He hopes the province and communities will also step up forest management and make broader fire breaks in light of more fires due to climate change.