Sask. Public Safety Agency forecasts 'average' wildfire season after destructive 2024 season

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says they are expecting an "average" wildfire season in 2025 after one of the more destructive seasons in recent years.

Saskatchewan is forecasted to have for a wetter and colder April before transitioning to more average conditions in May, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).

"Once we get our summer weather it'll really determine how much precipitation and holding capacity we actually have in the soils," said Steve Roberts, the SPSA's vice-president of operations, during a news conference on Wednesday. 

The season is expected to contrast with last year, when the province recorded the third-largest area burned in the last 10 years. 

The SPSA said 942,173 hectares were burned during last year's wildfire season. The agency says that is just behind the 1,722,610 hectares burned in 2015 and the 1,868,695 hectares burned in 2023. 

Whatever comes, the SPSA is ready to respond, according to Marlo Pritchard, the organization's president. 

"Our Type 1 wildfire crews and Type 2 crews have returned or are in the process of being recalled ... Our air operations staff were returned for the season and the first air tanker group is already operational," Pritchard said. 

He added that the agency's emergency response team is ready to respond year-round. 

New dashboard

The SPSA also revealed a new dashboard for media and the public. 

According to the agency's own data, there have been 23 wildfires so far this year. At this time last year there had been 34 fires. In both cases, that's above the five-year average to date, which sits at 12 wildfires. 

The SPSA only has one active emergency support active at this time. That's its response to the ongoing drug overdose crisis in Saskatoon. 

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency also provided an update on the province's spring runoff. 

Agency president Shawn Jaques said they are not expecting any kind of significant flooding risk in the province this year. 

Saskatchewan experienced a drier fall than normal and a lower snow pack throughout the winter, so the province's runoff is projected to be lower than normal this year, Jacques said.

New water bomber to be deployed this year

The SPSA confirmed that it will receive the first of four replacement water bombers next month. 

Four repurposed planes — two Dash 8-Q400AT models and two Dash 8-Q400MRE models — were purchased by the province to replace its aging air fleet, many of which are expected to reach the end of their useful lifespan in 2027.

The first plane to arrive will be one of the AT, or air tankers, models.  

"We'll go into training our staff and then become operational throughout the summer, making sure that our crews are well versed in using this aircraft," said Roberts. 

Roberts confirmed the remaining three planes are expected to arrive by the end of 2027.

The province has spent $187 million on the project, while the federal government contributed $16 million.