Wildfire update: Five communities evacuated, more than 50 wildfires currently active in Sask.

(Dan Shingoose / CTV News)

While Manitoba has declared a state of emergency for the second time this fire season – authorities across the border in Saskatchewan continue their efforts at a normal pace – with current evacuations affecting a fraction of those displaced in past months.

A total of five communities are currently under active evacuation orders. They include Beauval, the Kinoosao Resort Subdivision, La Plonge Indian Reserve and Patuanak.

On Wednesday, English River First Nation declared a local state of emergency due to the nearby Muskeg Fire threatening access to Highway 918 – the community’s only route south.

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According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), residents of that community are being airlifted to Buffalo Narrows and bused to Lloydminster.

In total, there are 930 evacuees in the province – down from the peak of approximately 15,000 in mid-June.

According to SPSA vice president of operations Steve Roberts, many of the current evacuations are community-led – with the SPSA being in the background for support.

“There’s a number of different supports that are available depending on what the community’s choices,” he said. “If the public safety agency is requested, we will be there to support them directly or also to assist the primary providers.”

As of noon Thursday, there are 56 active wildfires in the province, according to the SPSA’s website. Six are considered contained, 12 are not contained, 21 are subject to ongoing assessments while protecting values are the priority in 17 blazes.

• Northern Sask. community of Patuanak declares state of emergency due to wildfires

Fires of Note

Shoe Fire – 533,614 hectares

Ditch Fire – 186,470 hectares

Hawk Fire – 35,000 hectares

A relatively new wildfire, the SPSA noted that it had to pull some of its staff out of the area due to the fire’s intensity. Work continues regarding containment.

Pisew Fire – 188,622 hectares

Little activity aside from the fire’s north section. Westerly winds will lead to smoke in communities such as Missinipe, Grandmother’s Bay and possibly Stanley Mission. The SPSA says there is little worry about the local highway being affected.

Wolf Fire – 159,903 hectares

Fire crews still engaged on the fire’s south side, near the Manitoba border and just north of Highway 106.

Muskeg Fire - 33,962 hectares

The Muskeg Fire, Dore Fire and the Trail Fire are all listed as high priority – as they are affecting the communities of Patuanak and Beauval.

SPSA officials say that wind patterns over the next several days should push the flames away from populated centres. However, drastic shifts in weather are always possible.

“We do know that a majority of the clustered new starts near Beauval were through lightning, but there are some that are still yet to be determined,” executive director of land operations for the SPSA Bryan Chartrand explained.

“Just the fire activity has been too intense to get investigators out there.”

A fire ban is now in effect for all lands north of the provincial forest boundary – up to the Churchill River.

The ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks within the boundaries – which includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

The ban does not include any ATV/UTV restrictions at this time.