For the most current information, read the latest updates provided by Parks Canada at Important Bulletins
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This email is being shared by Parks Canada using information available from the joint morning bulletins and information specific to Prince Albert National Park. For the most up to date information relevant to your community or region please be in touch with the local authority.
Hello neighbours, residents, businesses, partners and friends of Prince Albert National Park,
We are now entering the fifth week of operating under Incident Command and I gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Team Charlie and leadership of Incident Commander Kris Johnson over recent weeks. It is with mixed emotion that we say goodbye to our colleagues and friends. We are also grateful today to welcome the incoming Incident Management Team (Team Delta), lead by Incident Commander Landon Shepherd. Please join me in welcoming this new team of talented fire and emergency management personnel. Parks Canada continues to manage this wildfire in unified command with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Despite what seems like a lot of rain recently, the fire danger remains ‘extreme”. A fire ban for Prince Albert National Park and area closure for part of the park remain in effect while the wildfire response is ongoing. For the safety of yourself and others, please respect all closures. If you see any wildfires, illegal campfires or suspicious smoke, please report it to 911 or Parks Canada Dispatch at 877-852-3100.
The Buhl Fire has burned approximately 95 666 hectares – 12 740 hectares within park boundaries and 82 926 hectares on provincial Crown land. Please find attached the daily joint Parks Canada and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Information Bulletin and the latest update.
Please note that we will reduce the frequency of these updates to Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Jennifer Duquette
Field Unit Superintendent, Northern Prairies
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What Parks Canada is doing: During periods of extreme fire danger, Prince Albert National Park fire crews enter a heightened state of readiness. We proactively prepare for wildfire by anticipating where and when wildfires will start by closely monitoring fire indices. We have fire management personnel and equipment in place and are ready to respond. Daily aerial patrols are also conducted via helicopter. The plans and protocols to respond to wildfires within the park are in place. A dedicated team of fire personnel is on site to provide additional support. Residents may start to see fire suppression equipment placed on some buildings and more fire personnel on site as part of this preparedness.
We continue to plan and prepare for all emergency scenarios that could happen in Prince Albert National Park. Earlier this spring, we did some valuable emergency planning - refining our wildfire preparedness plans and updating the townsite evacuation plan. The internal tabletop exercise conducted in June tested the park’s emergency response plan – clarifying roles and responsibilities within the incident command team, identifying gaps in communication and coordination, practicing timely decision making and evaluating the effectiveness of the evacuation plan. As always, we continue to work with our partners including the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Parks Canada thanks visitors, residents, business operators for their care and cooperation in reducing wildfire risk and to sharing accurate and timely information. Please take care of yourselves and each other. We share in our passion for Prince Albert National Park and we will manage through this challenging time together.
