The Saskatchewan government is launching an immediate overhaul of its wildfire strategy after an independent review labelled the 2025 season the worst in provincial history.
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On June 12, the province announced the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will immediately implement 11 directed actions following an independent evaluation by consulting firm MNP.
The 2025 wildfire season saw more than 500 fires burn nearly three million hectares of land, forcing the evacuation of mover 10,000 people from more than 50 communities.
“This independent review was developed based on the experiences shared by individuals directly affected,” said Michael Weger, the minister responsible for the SPSA.
He added the recommendations ensure “lessons learned from last year’s wildfire season are actioned to protect Saskatchewan people now and into the future.”
To oversee the transition, the province has established the Future Preparedness and Implementation Unit within the SPSA.
A central focus of the new strategy relies on local and Indigenous partnerships. The government is introducing a FireSmart Grant Program to fund local mitigation practices. The northern community of Wadin Bay will be the first participant, receiving a retroactive $40,000 grant.
The province also plans to train and deploy “community wildfire reservists,” a new tier of local firefighters designed to boost emergency response capabilities in remote areas.
“We heard from local communities that no one knows their community better than them,” Weger said.
MNP was commissioned in October 2025 to evaluate the province’s wildfire prevention, preparedness, evacuation and recovery strategies. The review included consultation with affected residents, emergency responders, Indigenous organizations and municipal partners.
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