SaskatchewanParks Canada has issued a wildfire emergency advisory alert for Prince Albert National Park. A wildfire is about 40 kilometres from the Waskesiu townsite, and air quality is poor due to smoke.Montreal Lake Cree Nation issues pre-evacuation noticeJeffery Tram · CBC News · Posted: Jul 14, 2025 5:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThis picture was taken near the Sagamiak subdivision in Beauval, Sask. (Submitted by Rick Laliberte)More areas in northern Saskatchewan are bracing for worsening wildfire threats, including Prince Albert National Park and Montreal Lake Cree Nation.On Sunday, Parks Canada issued a wildfire emergency advisory alert for the national park, as the Buhl fire is threatening the region. The fire is about 40 kilometres from the Waskesiu townsite, and could impact air quality and visibility due to smoke. Poor internet connection? CBC Lite is our low-bandwidth website. Officials are advising visitors to avoid travel to the park and for those already in the area to prepare for a possible evacuation.Just west of the park, Montreal Lake Cree Nation issued a pre-evacuation order on Sunday due to the same fire.”We don’t want to alarm people,” said vice chief Dean Henderson. “We did put that notification out in case we do [evacuate], to have your medications, your identifications or change of clothes — have those type things ready.”The pre-evacuation notice applies to elders, young people and those with chronic illnesses, who are being moved to North Battleford.Henderson said wildfire officials are closely monitoring the fire’s movement and that a decision on a full evacuation could be made soon.”We just finished meeting with fire management,” Henderson said on Monday morning. “He’s going to put a line on our map and say if the fire hits this point, then you guys should start organizing your full evacuation.”Beauval surrounded by blazeMeanwhile, the mayor of Beauval, Sask., said the village is still surrounded by wildfire, as the massive Muskeg fire continues to burn out of control around the northern community, about 340 kilometres north of Saskatoon.Mayor Rick Laliberte, who has been helping lead the emergency response, is also working on the front lines with volunteer crews, attacking flare-ups with borrowed equipment and slip tanks.”We’re the ones on the ground,” Laliberte said on Monday morning. “We see these flare-ups happening at night. We see the smoke during the day and you can’t sleep unless you put out these hot fires.””This fire by no means is under control.”A wildfire burns near Beauval, Sask., on Thursday night. (Submitted by Rick Laliberte)Laliberte said the Muskeg fire continues to burn around La Plonge Lake and into Beauval. It has already destroyed sheds, cabins and a community canteen, but no homes have been lost. He credits the firefighting efforts from local crews, helicopters and out-of-province teams.”We thought the fire was done with us when it went through the village,” said Laliberte. ” By no means it’s done. It’s still flaring up.””We’re trying to save everybody’s home. It’s not only a human habitat — we have all our relatives that we live up here with. And it’s heart-wrenching to see what the bears are going through, the eagles, the ducks, the rabbits, the moose.”Laliberte said fires are now just one kilometre from Beauval, with flare-ups threatening the edge of the village. Residents were evacuated last week to Saskatoon and Moose Jaw. He’s giving them daily updates through community radio and said it’s too dangerous for anyone to return.”I think evacuees are anxious to come home, but it’s not safe,” he said.Emergency operations personnel have been working to protect Beauval as a wildfire approaches. (Submitted by Rick Laliberte)He’s also calling for a national strategy and better federal response to northern wildfires, saying the current emergency plans are outdated and lack sufficient co-ordination and support.”We need trained personnel, modern equipment, and a better strategy to protect the north,” he saidAs of Monday at 3 p.m CST, there were 55 wildfires burning across the province, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. Just four were listed as contained.Up-to-date info on active fires, smoke and related topics is available at these sources: Current evacuation orders. Interactive Sask. active fire map. Fire danger map. Fire bans. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather alerts. Sask. Highway Hotline. Smoke forecast. Air quality. Tracking wildfires across Canada. ABOUT THE AUTHORJeffery is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan in Regina. He previously worked at CBC Toronto as an associate producer. You can reach him at jeffery.tram@cbc.ca.
P.A. National Park among areas put on alert as wildfires in Sask. grow
