Released on May 5, 2016
Both our Wildfire Management (WFM) branch and our Emergency Management and Fire Safety (EMFS) office have been in contact with their Alberta counterparts to offer and provide assistance.WFM is supporting Alberta wildfire response along our shared border to free up their resources. WFM is also providing air strikes in Alberta. We have not moved aircraft to Alberta but we have aircraft attacking new fire starts in Alberta. This has already occurred on a new fire north of Fort McMurray and will occur at any other location they require. We also have cleared the use of the airstrip in Buffalo Narrows to provide refueling and retardant supply to any aircraft working the fires.
EMFS is sending a team to Alberta to assist in the Emergency Operation Centre. Once our team is there, we will determine what further assistance they need and we can provide. We are also assessing possible locations in Saskatchewan that may be available to house evacuees, should that become necessary.
Meanwhile, the fire risk in our own province remains high and so our officials will ensure that our resources and assets are at the appropriate level to be prepared for any event in Saskatchewan.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927